DIYbanter - View Single Post - semi-transparent floor

wrote:
I guess this is a tough one....
I am thinking of make the most of two roof windows by letting the light
coming from these through the ceiling into the second floor of a
terrace house.

At the moment I am considering using sheets of polycarbonate
(triplewall 16mm) in the area just below the two windows. These sheets
would cover an area of about 2m x 4m around the centre of the loft
space while the rest will be covered with the usual chipboard.
Ideally, the loft area should be usable...in the same way as if it was
covered entirely by chipboard.
I've already done a quick test and I am quite positive that the
polycarbonate sheet will work just fine if not better than chipboard.

One "Gotcha".
Most transparent plasics are vulnerable to crazing, or even complete
failure if fairly small amounts of solvent get dropped on them.
You will dramatically (several times) increase the amount of light if
you build light-guides, which can be as simple as boxes sloping from the
windows into the room, foil-lined.