GREENHOUSE - POLYCARB OR GLASS

Hi, I have never had a greenhouse and i am now toying with the idea of getting one. However would i be better to look for a glass one on ebay at a reasonable price or buy a new polycarb one which wont cost a fortune. Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks

 

ive posted this in the wrong place methinks

 

It's is now in the right place

 

oh thankyou aesculus. I dont know how you did that. . Im very impressed

 

Hi Averil
I have asked admin to move it to the Greenhouse section. I prefer polycarb by the way Also pick the largest one that fits your location and purse . You never have quite enough room in a greenhouse .

 

See they do it by telepathy now , 3 minutes before I posted . Our admin never cease to amaze me

 

Thanks Harry, yes I think it probably will be the polycarb i shall go for. Thanks for your input

 

Polycarb: Safe for footballs and little kids on bikes. Panels tend to blow-out in strong winds.

Glass: my preference, bought my 2 greenhouses on eBay for about £200 (12' x 10') and £400 (30' x 10') - built in the days when they used plenty of aluminium to make a strong frame

 

Buy cheap Buy TWICE :-(

Once you have bought your greenhouse, you are stuck with it hopefully for years
Always buy bigger than you can afford, and toughed glass rather than greenhouse glass or polycarb

I bought mine BEFORE I joined here, I applied one rule but not the others and regret it

I bought bigger, but still wish I had bought bigger still, now having spent so much I can not afford to get rid of my current one and buy the biggest and best one

Kristen is right polycarb panels blow out, and are difficult to re insert once built

Yes it is easy saying all this, when you are not the one trying to find the cash, but believe me it is all so true

I do enjoy mine but after eight weeks it was I wish I had spent another 100 and got glass, then I wish I had spent another 100 and got it two feet bigger (the biggest that would fit the space)
Then joining here, it is I wish I had joined here first and asked then WAITED for what I wanted to be on ebay cheaper sometimes even free on freecycle Even if it meant missing the first season

Jack McHammocklashing

 

I don't think you need toughened glass unless you have kids-throwing-stones / footballs etc or risk of kids careering into it ?

"Horticultural glass" is relatively cheap, dunno what the price difference for toughened glass is though.

I agree with "Buy big". It is MUCH easier to control the temperature, on a hot summers day, in a greenhouse that is 10' x 8' or bigger, than anything smaller - and bigger than that becomes easier too (no white-wash on the big commercial glasshouses that cover acres ... for example)

Consider ventilation too. Enough roof "lights" and I also recommend a louvre lower down - it enables you to get convection cooling without throwing open the doors - which tends to lead to howling-draught which stresses the plants more (because of transpiration)

If you are not at home during the day then I strongly recommend automatic openers (some sort of wax in a cylinder that expands in the heat and opens the vents - so no electricity required)

Also think about heating in Winter. I have the benefit of an unheated conservatory where I can store plants over winter, and my greenhouses are unheated, but I do use them in the Spring for raising plants, and I have a small gas heater to keep the frost off. Lots of people insulate their greenhouses with bubblewrap, so the [insulation] difference of Glass / Polycarb in that regard may be important?

Consider the benches, and shelving too - can you attach shelving to the frame?

Will you have vegetable crops (tomatoes, cucumbers?) or something else (like a collection of greenhouse plants in pots?) I recommend growing crops in the SOIL - you'll need to change it each year or two, but IME it is MUCH easier to manage the crop - I only water mine every other day, when I had Tomatoes in 12" I had to water them twice a day at least during very hot weather. (You could solve that with a drip irrigation system, if you are into that sort of thing?)

 

Oh thanks everyone. Gosh so much to think about and take into account. Everyone agrees get as big as you can, so that will definitely be a consideration and now im concerned that these carb panes can blow out. I think i shall take time and look around on ebay for a couple of weeks and see whats going. If its glass then it will be a second hand one i go for (hubby will be thrilled to be sent to dismantle and collect ). If i end up with polycarb then i shall buy new ....... watch this space
Your a great bunch by the way. Thanks for all your input

 

You can search here for Polycarb - there will be plenty of threads My recollection is that people silicon them in to stop them blowing out, which makes it very difficult to dismantle (should you ever need to).

If Hubby is reasonable at DIY, and your car can take the longest bit (that's the question to ask the seller ) then no reason not to get one off eBay. You might have to wait a while for size, location and price to come your way though

Its not a step-by-step guide, but in case of interest: I wrote about the two I got off eBay on my blog [link]

 

Had no option but to silicon mine in a "Palram" greenhouse, the clips are impossible to fit
The reason for toughened glass is as you say
I have five grandkids three under the age of 3, and the eight yearold grandson loves his football, Thus I went for Polycarb, Should have been toughened glass IMHO

Jack McH

 

Thanks for all your input folks. Well ive gone and done it. Ive ordered a 6 x 10 horti glass job. Now my next question "cough" is ... the place i want to site it on is gravelled. Would it be a good or bad idea to just put it on gravel or should i pave it or something?
.
Kirsten i looked at your blog. Oh my oh my what a lovely place you have. Takes me all my time to look after my small garden. I envy your energy but I can certainly see the results of all your hard work!!!

 

CONGA RATS On your Greenhouse, smashing, the way to go, got the best well done

I am new myself, so can not offer advice on siting it

You say on Gravel, (what is under the gravel ?)

Some are on slabs, with slabbed floor
Mine is on a slab base with soil borders within

IMPORTANT
When you place it it must be perfectly square, achieved by measureing across the diagonals exactly the same measurement

Once again CONGA RATS You will love it

Regards Jack McHammocklashing