What materials are best for a greenhouse in your garden? We have summarized some materials and their properties for you.
A greenhouse can provide the hobby gardener with fresh vegetables all year round. Furthermore, sensitive tropical plants get a home here and it is easy for you to raise new plants, as they find the optimal climate here. Greenhouses are offered in different materials. You should know the advantages and disadvantages of the individual materials in advance in order to select a suitable model or to use it as a guide when building a greenhouse yourself.
Greenhouses as a practical and functional solution
The range of greenhouses is large. You can opt for constructions made of aluminium, steel, wood or plastic. There are sometimes large differences in price and quality. You should clarify in advance where you want to set up your greenhouse and how you want to use it.
Tip: If you want to heat your greenhouse in winter, high-quality greenhouses with good thermal insulation will save you money over the long term.
Why buy a greenhouse?
Anyone who buys a greenhouse can garden in a relaxed manner without paying too much attention to the weather forecast. Due to our climate, the cultivation of heat-loving plants in the bed is often problematic or simply impossible. Play a trick on the weather and harvest your strawberries in spring. You also score points with lush flowering plants, since you have already planted the flower bulbs in the greenhouse. The plants are protected from wind, precipitation and cold snaps.
This benefits from the greenhouse principle. The sunlight enters the greenhouse and hits the ground. The soil heats up quickly and the heat is also released to the environment. It is always pleasantly warm in the greenhouse and there are ideal conditions for plants that love warmth, for exotic plants, for bonsai or for alpine plants.
Where to put the greenhouse?
Not only the material, but also the location should be considered before purchasing a greenhouse. The location should be freebe accessible so that the sun can penetrate unhindered. Furthermore, greenhouses should be set up as close to the house as possible so that the path does not seem too far if you want to stock up on fresh vegetables. Also pay attention to the distance to the property line so that you don't start a fight with the neighbors.
What material are greenhouses made of?
A greenhouse is not automatically made of glass. You can choose from different materials:
Glass Greenhouse
The classic method does not necessarily have to be the best solution for the greenhouse. Glass always carries a risk and the risk of breakage from storm damage and falling branches is high.
Tip: Single lens does not protect against UV rays.
In a glass greenhouse, heat can quickly build up and the plants simply get too much light. The low price and relatively easy cleaning speak in favor of glass as the starting material.
Tip: Light-resistant insulating glass is of higher quality, but also costs more.
Anyone who doesn't want to use their greenhouse all year round and only wants to garden in it between spring and autumn is well advised to go with an inexpensive glass greenhouse.
Plastic Greenhouse
If your greenhouse is made of plastic, almost nothing can shake it. Plastic sheets made of polycarbonate are often used. The material is high-quality and resilient. The plates are available in different thicknesses. These are usually between 6 and 16 millimeters. UV light is not transmitted. The light transmission is about 75%. With these plastic panels you achieve perfect thermal insulation.
Tip: Polycarbonate sheets do not break and rain and hail cannot harm them.
Plexiglas Greenhouse
Plexiglas panels made of acrylic are also very suitable for the greenhouse. Rely on high-quality material and don't be afraid to dig a little deeper into your pocket. High-quality double-walled Plexiglas sheets are UV-resistant and up to 16 millimeters thick.
Plexiglas panels have the lowest UG value (heat transfer coefficient for glass) and thus ensure perfect thermal insulation.
Greenhouse made of foil
Foil is the cheapest solution for a greenhouse. There are different strengths. Plastic greenhouses usually last about five to ten years. If you use thicker foil, this becomes lesstear quickly and you can mask any damage better. Plastic greenhouses are not suitable for the winter months. Even with rain, storms and hail in summer, compromises have to be made and it is advisable to additionally secure the greenhouse and attach it particularly securely.
We have summarized the properties of the various materials for you:
Glass:
- stable
- durable
- visually appealing
- very translucent
Plastic:
- doesn't break
- good insulation properties
- easy to maintain
Plexiglas:
- doesn't break
- very good insulation properties
- good light transmission
Slide:
- inexpensive
- easy to clean
Matching material for the frame
When choosing the frame, you also have the choice of different materials. Here, metal has proven particularly useful. Wood is also often used in self-built greenhouses for the garden. It is important to protect yourself against damage from the elements and to give the greenhouse a secure concrete foundation.
Tip: Greenhouses with an aluminum frame are characterized by a long service life. Aluminum reacts with oxygen and the natural patina creates reliable protection against corrosion.
Greenhouses with a wooden frame fit very well into the natural environment in the home garden. Many hobby gardeners choose wood because of the visual effect. However, it should be borne in mind that you have to maintain wooden frame greenhouses regularly. Wood reacts to moisture and has a high level of wear, whereas aluminum is particularly weather-resistant and requires little maintenance.
Tip: Decide on durable and high-quality wood. Hardwoods from the tropics are more expensive, but they withstand the warm, humid climate in the greenhouse far better than domestic wood.
Are there building regulations for erecting a greenhouse?
There are usually no special regulations to follow when erecting greenhouses. If you want to be on the safe side, you should inquire with the responsible building authority and ask whether the development plan contains the relevant requirements.
Tip: Certain building codes apply to conservatories and lean greenhouses.