Greenhouse roof insulation?
I built an attached greenhouse (sunroom, attrium?) to our main house
in Missouri. It is 12X28 feet supported with 4 ducts from our home's heating and cooling system. Currently the roof is clear CPVC (tuftex) panels on 2 X 6 rafters with purlins. Picture is available at http://historicwarsaw.com/ Have seen much discussion regarding clear insulation and had some questions. Where can someone get the clear poly inflatable for between the rafters? Do you buy the material in rolls and fabricate your own, or buy them pre fab. What is a good supplier? Can anyone suggest any other alternatives, suppliers, etc? I checked out Charlie's Greenhouse Supplies, but I think their transparent insulation would be unsuitable to be between rafters agains the corrugated style roofing. Would that be a good insulator in the roof? I moved my orchids inside before the insulation was in place because of the cold weather. Am loving the room because the orchids did not sulk this year after moving them in, (Vanda and Phals in spike, catts blooming, nothing has blasted yet) but I think it may be a little cool at night. It gets down to about 50 d F. using the ducts available. With colder weather coming I wanted to be able to at least maintain or improve the current night temperatures. Day temps are around 70d F daytime Depending on the clouds. Retractible shade cloth will be added in the spring. Thanks, Nancy |
Greenhouse roof insulation?
I do not know what your rafter spacing is, so this may or may not work
for you. The easy way to do this is to get Fan Tunnels without the holes in them for greenhouses - they come in 12, 16 and 24 inch diameters. I use the 12 inch between rafters that are 16 inches on center. I use 12 inch greenhouse poly patch to seal one end and most of the other and then lay them between the rafters and take IR treated poly and staple it to the bottom of the rafters to hold the tunnels in place. (this gives me a 6 inch in the middle and 2 inch on the edges oval if I staple it in tight.) I use a greenhouse inflation fan and a set of dryer hoses to keep air in the tunnels and keep them full. I draw the air I use in thru a sidewall with a dryer vent...To make multiple runs to the tunnels I use PVC T sections and pipe clamps to T the hose - I reduce each tunnel run to 1-1/2 inch (apartment dryer hose). In the summer I toss the IR sheet I stapled up and the rest folds into a single storage bin. I use a commercial dryer vent cap to close off the dryer vent and keep the bugs out of the greenhouse. Hope this helps. Farmtek stock numbers (I have the catalog at hand - this is not a recommendation - though I have had good luck). Tape - 6inch - 102376 - 60 feet on a roll - 16.95 6 mil film - ask for the IR version - 10 foot width - $0.65 per square foot - 103023 12 inch convention tube (fan tunnel) - xr6948 - $0.53 per foot - do not have them "punch it" PVC T's and Dryer hose - see home depot or the like Same for staples and hose clamps Inflator fan - about $30 - it is not in the fall catalog -sorry Doug In article , wrote: I built an attached greenhouse (sunroom, attrium?) to our main house in Missouri. It is 12X28 feet supported with 4 ducts from our home's heating and cooling system. Currently the roof is clear CPVC (tuftex) panels on 2 X 6 rafters with purlins. Picture is available at http://historicwarsaw.com/ Have seen much discussion regarding clear insulation and had some questions. Where can someone get the clear poly inflatable for between the rafters? Do you buy the material in rolls and fabricate your own, or buy them pre fab. What is a good supplier? Can anyone suggest any other alternatives, suppliers, etc? I checked out Charlie's Greenhouse Supplies, but I think their transparent insulation would be unsuitable to be between rafters agains the corrugated style roofing. Would that be a good insulator in the roof? I moved my orchids inside before the insulation was in place because of the cold weather. Am loving the room because the orchids did not sulk this year after moving them in, (Vanda and Phals in spike, catts blooming, nothing has blasted yet) but I think it may be a little cool at night. It gets down to about 50 d F. using the ducts available. With colder weather coming I wanted to be able to at least maintain or improve the current night temperatures. Day temps are around 70d F daytime Depending on the clouds. Retractible shade cloth will be added in the spring. Thanks, Nancy |
Greenhouse roof insulation?
doug houseman wrote in message ...
I do not know what your rafter spacing is, Rafters are 2X6 20" OC Fan Tunnels without the holes in them for greenhouses - they come in 12, 16 and 24 inch diameters. I use the 12 inch between rafters that are 16 inches on center. 16 or 18" would probably fit between the rafters. Are they transparent enough to transmit lite through them. The description on line was minimal, but they looked opaque. I use 12 inch greenhouse poly patch to seal one end and most of the other and then lay them between the rafters and take IR treated poly and staple it to the bottom of the rafters to hold the tunnels in place. (this gives me a 6 inch in the middle and 2 inch on the edges oval if I staple it in tight.) I use a greenhouse inflation fan and a set of dryer hoses to keep air in the tunnels and keep them full. I draw the air I use in thru a sidewall with a dryer vent...To make multiple runs to the tunnels I use PVC T sections and pipe clamps to T the hose - I reduce each tunnel run to 1-1/2 inch (apartment dryer hose). In the summer I toss the IR sheet I stapled up and the rest folds into a single storage bin. I use a commercial dryer vent cap to close off the dryer vent and keep the bugs out of the greenhouse. Can the tubes be sealed at both ends, remain inflated, and left in place? Hope this helps. Farmtek stock numbers (I have the catalog at hand - this is not a recommendation - though I have had good luck). This was great. I've done some research and had not really checked them out yet. They are book marked now. Tape - 6inch - 102376 - 60 feet on a roll - 16.95 6 mil film - ask for the IR version - 10 foot width - $0.65 per square foot - 103023 12 inch convention tube (fan tunnel) - xr6948 - $0.53 per foot - do not have them "punch it" PVC T's and Dryer hose - see home depot or the like Same for staples and hose clamps Inflator fan - about $30 - it is not in the fall catalog -sorry Doug Thanx so much for your help. I admit being a novice. Was excited about building the room, but started late in the season. Framing the walls started in September. Building on a budget, what an adventure. The orientation maximizes the southern exposure. The end that shows in the picture faces southwest. The long row of windows faces south east. Northwest is protected by the house. It has been a real hoot. Thanks again, Nancy |
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