Glass or Polycarbonate? Help

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by emyloujovi, Jul 6, 2010.

  1. emyloujovi

    emyloujovi Apprentice Gardener

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    I am new to gardnening and looking to purchase a greenhouse, mainly for growing tomatoes. I have seen many glass and polycarbonate greenhouses online, both with positive and negatives against them. I can't afford toughened glass so I have ruled that out completely but any advice to help me decide on the other two options would be greatly appreciated!

    The greenhouse may or may not be heated in winter, haven't decided on that yet.
     
  2. Doghouse Riley

    Doghouse Riley Head Gardener

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    Have you any children and are they likely to be playing near the greenhouse?
    Obviously polycarbonate will be more durable. But replacement glass panes aren't expensive.

    As for cost, if you are handy with a screwdriver and a spanner, there's plenty on offer of all types on ebay. Both new self-assemby and second hand.
    There's lots of people who have all sorts of greenhouses they no longer require and there seems to be a few bargains on there at the moment.
     
  3. emyloujovi

    emyloujovi Apprentice Gardener

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    Thanks for this.

    No children yet! which is why im looking at polycarbonate and not glass, i just don't like the thought of the glass breaking lol
     
  4. Fidgetsmum

    Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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    A friend of mine bought a second-hand (aluminium) greenhouse which was complete - apart from the glass! - he was going to buy polycarbonate sheets and cut them into 'greenhouse glass' sized panes but the cost would have been extortionate and of course, the 'twinwall' would have been far too thick to fit in the glazing bars. There was the option of single-thickness acrylic but that's certainly not ideal. Greenhouse glass can be easily (and cheaply) bought from any glass merchants and for what it's worth I'd go glass every time. Our 3 daughters grew up with a greenhouse in the garden and the only 'breakage' was caused by me (not looking) and putting a rake handle through one of the panes! Children, I find, are much less of a liability that we often give them credit for, it's just a matter of teaching them to be careful.
     
  5. emyloujovi

    emyloujovi Apprentice Gardener

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    Thanks for your help fidgetsmum
     
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