By: Charlene Rennick
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Once you have decided what your inventory will be, where your space is and how much time you have to devote to your greenhouse, you are ready to look at the different materials available for construction.
Choosing a Material for the Panes
Acrylic is sturdy, strong and less likely to break during accidents; however, it does not provide much diffusion of direct sun rays which can cause scorching of delicate or young plants.
Glass is scratch-resistant, retains heat well, and is a stable material. The downside of glass is that it heats up and cools off quickly making it an unreliable insulator. It is breakable and can be difficult to install in tight corners. Like acrylic, it is subject to frying fragile plants with concentrated sunrays.
Contrary to glass and acrylic, polycarbonate diffuses light and averts hold and cold spot development. This characteristic makes it more energy-efficient. It is not heavy and is user-friendly to install. Although it is more expensive, it is resilient which may save on future replacement costs.
A lower budget option is polyethylene. This material is compatible with the novice builder and can be energy-efficient if applied in layers. Because of its flexibility, it can tear easily and does not recover well from accidents making it an ongoing maintenance concern. Replacement costs may offset the initial savings.
For smaller greenhouses, PVC is a likely choice because it is easy to manipulate, conducts heat well and diffuses light effectively in the smaller areas.
What do I use for the Frame?
Using less opaque material in a greenhouse makes more effective use of the light exchange. This is a good principle to keep in mind when choosing a construction material.
Aluminium is hard-wearing, easy to maintain and long-lasting. It can be expensive and does require a wider or longer measurement than steel which takes away from the amount of window pane space. This ultimately reduces the available area for sunlight.
Plastic is more energy-efficient than metal. It is easier to work with because it is lighter. Because of its light-weight composition, more of it is necessary to build a solid structure. This reduces the amount of space left for light. This same characteristic also makes it more susceptible to damage and replacement costs.
Although steel is very stable and robust, it weighs more than the other options and will rust at some point. This requires an additional cost to replace or treat. Because it is the most enduring metal, less is needed which maximizes the available space for sunlight.
Wood frames look nice. They are lighter than steel, easier to work with and modify well to adding accessories or idiosyncrasies in design and construction. Wood does get damaged and needs some extra elbow grease to maintain and protect from weathering. It also needs a wider measurement compared to metal which reduces the sunlight factor.
Making the Final Decision
Building a greenhouse is a commitment. If you are satisfied with your blueprint and have developed a long-range budget for supplies and maintenance costs you will be able to afford, your greenhouse is ready for construction. On the other hand, if the planning process has exposed areas you hadn’t planned on dealing with, a portable or indoor model may be the wiser choice for your personal needs.
Nice article. I am renovating an old shed, with recycled glass from an apartment building which is 70 years old. I removed all the glass from the old steel frames and am ready to build new frames. I am lucky in that the old shed is made of true 2 x 4′ oak. This demo and rebuild is quite an undertaking. I was hooked on a greenhouse since I was 10 years old, just retired and am enjoying every minute of it. Retire and not rehire!
Using wood frames is a good idea, but you have to be prepared for long-term maintenance/treatment costs. My mom’s greenhouse has been standing for 5 years now and I think the wood looks a lot better now compared to when it was new.
Hey, I want to start using the method of hydroponics in my farms. Where can I get to learn about requirements and costing and all? Can anyone help me?