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

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

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

wrote in
om:

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

Look here for greenhouse insulation
https://www.farmtekcatalog.com/lg_di...age_number=202

I have not used it and it looks kind of like bubble wrap.
Hope this helps
Dusty