Can I have suggestions for alternative materials to use instead of glass for my greenhouse?

On 17/09/2012 13:47, harry.yates wrote:
Can I have suggestions for alternative materials to use instead of glass
for my greenhouse?

If you intend to heat it then twinwall polycarbonate is pretty good.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

"Martin Brown" wrote in
message ...
On 17/09/2012 13:47, harry.yates wrote:
Can I have suggestions for alternative materials to use
instead of glass
for my greenhouse?

If you intend to heat it then twinwall polycarbonate is
pretty good.

This sounds good to me as an alternative to installing the
difficult inner bubblewrap every autumn, with duck tape that
doesn't stick that well.

But as it's quite permanent, do you know how it is for
letting light through, e.g. UV and whatever rays it is that
plants need?

someone

"someone" wrote


"Martin Brown" wrote in
harry.yates wrote:
Can I have suggestions for alternative materials to use instead of glass
for my greenhouse?

If you intend to heat it then twinwall polycarbonate is pretty good.

This sounds good to me as an alternative to installing the difficult inner
bubblewrap every autumn, with duck tape that doesn't stick that well.

But as it's quite permanent, do you know how it is for letting light
through, e.g. UV and whatever rays it is that plants need?

I have it on the roof of my self made greenhouse and it's OK for most plants
but it does seem to cause some young plants to grow long and thin, tomatoes
for example.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 17/09/2012 22:39, someone wrote:
"Martin Brown" wrote in
message ...
On 17/09/2012 13:47, harry.yates wrote:
Can I have suggestions for alternative materials to use
instead of glass
for my greenhouse?

If you intend to heat it then twinwall polycarbonate is
pretty good.

This sounds good to me as an alternative to installing the
difficult inner bubblewrap every autumn, with duck tape that
doesn't stick that well.

But as it's quite permanent, do you know how it is for
letting light through, e.g. UV and whatever rays it is that
plants need?

If you use the 1cm thick stuff intended for conservatories I didn't find
there was much bother with lack of light. The light inside is more
diffuse but that helps prevent plant scorch. You do have to put it right
side out though. UV stabiliser is only on one side and it will yellow
badly if put in the wrong way up. A friend did this!

It is also worth having a panel of this stuff or plywood prepped for
emergency winter repairs on a heated greenhouse. eg.

http://www.nezumi.demon.co.uk/garden/gizmos/gizmos.htm

Not that it helped me much in the storm of Xmas '97.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Isn't there a problem with polycarbonate in that it flexes in strong winds and can pop out of it's fastening clips?

Granity wrote:

Isn't there a problem with polycarbonate in that it flexes in strong
winds and can pop out of it's fastening clips?

I've faced the tail end of a hurricane with 50+mph winds without losing any
panels. You do need to pay careful attention to how the retaining clips
are installed.
On the light level issue: I recently bought a light meter (I'm a
techno-geek, OK?) and when the midmorning sun measured 3200 foot-candles,
the inside of the GH (twin-wall polycarbonate, I think 5mm thick) read
2080 f.c., so about a third loss. Plants do very well, but I notice a
favorite red lettuce is more like pink in the GH, and full crimson only
when transplanted outdoors.


--
Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/4 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G

On 18/09/2012 11:51, Granity wrote:
Martin Brown;968990 Wrote:
On 17/09/2012 22:39, someone wrote:-
"Martin Brown" wrote in
message ...-
On 17/09/2012 13:47, harry.yates wrote:-
Can I have suggestions for alternative materials to use
instead of glass
for my greenhouse?-

If you intend to heat it then twinwall polycarbonate is
pretty good.
-
This sounds good to me as an alternative to installing the
difficult inner bubblewrap every autumn, with duck tape that
doesn't stick that well.

But as it's quite permanent, do you know how it is for
letting light through, e.g. UV and whatever rays it is that
plants need?-

If you use the 1cm thick stuff intended for conservatories I didn't find

there was much bother with lack of light. The light inside is more
diffuse but that helps prevent plant scorch. You do have to put it right

side out though. UV stabiliser is only on one side and it will yellow
badly if put in the wrong way up. A friend did this!

It is also worth having a panel of this stuff or plywood prepped for
emergency winter repairs on a heated greenhouse. eg.

'what' (http://tinyurl.com/8lu84ge)

Not that it helped me much in the storm of Xmas '97.

Isn't there a problem with polycarbonate in that it flexes in strong
winds and can pop out of it's fastening clips?

The 6mm stuff will jump out of clips at the slightest provocation and
you can't use glass style clips on their own. You have to put glazing
bars along the inside and bolt the polycarbonate down onto it or use the
dedicated structural fixings that conservatories are made of.

The latter is a much more expensive proposition but more likely to be
completely waterproof.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 18/09/2012 21:39, Martin Brown wrote:
On 18/09/2012 11:51, Granity wrote:
Martin Brown;968990 Wrote:
On 17/09/2012 22:39, someone wrote:-
"Martin Brown" wrote in
message ...-
On 17/09/2012 13:47, harry.yates wrote:-
Can I have suggestions for alternative materials to use
instead of glass
for my greenhouse?-

If you intend to heat it then twinwall polycarbonate is
pretty good.
-
This sounds good to me as an alternative to installing the
difficult inner bubblewrap every autumn, with duck tape that
doesn't stick that well.

But as it's quite permanent, do you know how it is for
letting light through, e.g. UV and whatever rays it is that
plants need?-

If you use the 1cm thick stuff intended for conservatories I didn't find

there was much bother with lack of light. The light inside is more
diffuse but that helps prevent plant scorch. You do have to put it right

side out though. UV stabiliser is only on one side and it will yellow
badly if put in the wrong way up. A friend did this!

It is also worth having a panel of this stuff or plywood prepped for
emergency winter repairs on a heated greenhouse. eg.

'what' (http://tinyurl.com/8lu84ge)

Not that it helped me much in the storm of Xmas '97.

Isn't there a problem with polycarbonate in that it flexes in strong
winds and can pop out of it's fastening clips?

The 6mm stuff will jump out of clips at the slightest provocation and
you can't use glass style clips on their own. You have to put glazing
bars along the inside and bolt the polycarbonate down onto it or use the
dedicated structural fixings that conservatories are made of.

The latter is a much more expensive proposition but more likely to be
completely waterproof.

Or f#stick it down with silicone sealant

"harry.yates" wrote
in message ...

Can I have suggestions for alternative materials to use
instead of glass
for my greenhouse?

This is the most useful thread I've read in a long time. I
shall follow up on it plus people's suggestions for fixing
the sheets.

Thanks everybody.

someone