PlasticGreenhouseSite.com

The Polycarbonate Greenhouse

Polycarbonate Greenhouses are fairly new to the market. Made from a material typically used in CDs and sunglasses and its use as an alternative to glass in the construction of greenhouses has slowly increased over the years. Manufacturers have improved the material's application and its qualities and affordability have given it a sizeable share of the market. Many people prefer it to glass and the appearance of polycarbonate greenhouses has improved too, with them now easily assembled in only a few hours.

One of the best selling features of polycarbonate is its toughness. If you are tired of replacing your glass panels after a breakage, you may turn to an alternative. Families with children know that a stray ball can do a lot of damage, as can flying branches in a gale.

Polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable. As for the question of insulation, so important in a greenhouse, single layer sheets of polycarbonate don't retain heat quite as well as horticultural glass. There are ways to compensate for this, such as adding a fleece to plants in the colder weather.

Alternatively, there is twin-wall polycarbonate on the market and this retains heat extremely well and is better than the glass. It pushes the price of the greenhouse up but it reduces the need for heating in winter. Furthermore, polycarbonate is good at maintaining an even temperature and condensation is much less likely. Plants grow at a fast rate and the panels stand up well to cold weather. This kind of greenhouse is suitable for anyone concerned with having a long growing season.

It is also important that enough natural light penetrates the panels. Again, the single layer polycarbonate is not quite as good as glass for light transmission and the twin wall lets even less light through. There is more to this than straightforward light transmission however. The light entering through the twin wall is diffused, spreading the light into every corner. Polycarbonate also has the advantage of lessening the risk of sunburn, as it filters out most of the harmful ultra violet rays.

The typical polycarbonate greenhouse comes with an aluminium frame and is quite lightweight. The standard sizes are 4' x 6', 6' x 6' and 8' x 6'. The smallest of these can be placed on soil. They often come with a galvanised steel base and are sturdy enough for most climates. Polycarbonate is a good example of a material that does the exact job needed but remains affordable. Gardeners are amongst those receiving the advantages of this multi-purpose technology and a Polycarbonate Greenhousemight be just the thing for your summer vegetable endeavours!