The material of your greenhouse is a very significant factor in terms of heat transfer and the heat it can retain, durability, and the cost in keeping maintaining a warm greenhouse temperature all throughout the winter months.
There are many paneling materials available in the market that you can choose from, such as glass, polythene plastic, fiberglass, and polycarbonate are a few of the common and most popular materials today.
Each material type works well as each also has its individual strong and weak points. Certainly, some panels suit better the budget of the hobbyist’s.
When deciding on a panel for your hobby greenhouse you have to consider the following:
• The amount of light that can be transmitted.
• The toughness of climate in your area (some can be very windy).
• Easy installation.
• Easy to maintain.
• Decrease light transfer as the panel ages.
• How much heat it can hold.
• Durability and estimated life of the panel until the need of replacement.
• Price.
• Endurance to heavy rain and strong wind; tearing or breakage.
• Weight.
• Flammability.
Fiberglass, glass and polycarbonates, are excellent choices for one who is into a greenhouse hobby. Plastic panels are commonly used in commercial large greenhouses although they are not very durable and entail frequent replacing.
Glass, the traditional greenhouse paneling has a very pleasing appearance, can be easily and reasonably maintained and has high level of permanency. When one is really concerned about the look of the greenhouse, then glass can be a good choice for paneling.
Glass permits large amounts of light to pass through, in fact amongst all paneling, it is glass that can transmit light effectively, and however, it can break easily.
If you choose to use glass, just make certain that your greenhouse framing and foundation should really be strong, as glass can be heavy. An aluminum framing is best when using glass, although it can be expensive to keep the greenhouse warm as aluminum absorbs the cold during winter.
The drawback of using glass for paneling is that glass is a breakable material, initially very expensive to construct, needs a very strong framing and foundation to support its rigidity and heaviness.
Polycarbonate, although not as attractive as glass, yet it is much more durable. It likewise can not let in as compared to glass; however sunlight that passes through this material is less slightly concentrated so that plants will not catch the intense sunlight and heat that a glass greenhouses permits. To reduce the cost of heating, double or even triple polycarbonate paneling sheets can work excellently for retaining in the heat.
Fiberglass is a strong, lightweight and essentially hail-proof paneling material. However, you should use good quality fiberglass since poor grades can discolor as well reduce penetration of light overtime. Likewise, you need to use clear and transparent types only. Tedlar-coated quality fiberglass can lasts up to 20 years.
The resin coating that the glass fibers have eventually will wear off, permitting dirt to be deposited in the fibers. Therefore, after about 15 years, there is a need to put on a new resin coating. The penetration of light can be initially compared to glass, although as it ages, it will considerably drop off especially when you use poor quality fiberglass. Double-layered rigid plastic paneling sheets of polycarbonate or acrylic are available for heat-saving and long-life, covers.
These types of paneling have two coatings of rigid or bendable plastic whish are divided by webs. This double-layer type of material maintains more heat, therefore on can save energy of up to 30 percent.
The acrylic paneling is a long lasting, does not discolor; the polycarbonate generally turns yellow faster, yet typically is shielded by a “UV-inhibitor” covering on the surface that is exposed to sun and rain. Both paneling do carry warranties on light transmission characteristics for up to10 years. And both are ideal for curved surfaces, but polycarbonate paneling is the most bendable paneling material.
Just keep in mind that the best panel material for your greenhouse is the one that suits your needs and style and of course, your budget. Just purchase the best one you can afford.
Farming is normally done in an open area. Since the weather is something that man cannot control, harvests are some times lost due to floods and other calamities which will take another year recover.
To sustain the growth of the farmer, some have decided to use greenhouses which prove to be better than growing it out in the field.
Greenhouses enable the farmer to grow just about anything inside a controlled environment. Since this varies on the species of the plant, the farmer has to choose what to concentrate on to yield more money from the harvest.
The greenhouse is made up of two important things. The first is the frame which is the foundation of the structure. The other is the panels which are designed to keep the plants warm and essential for maximum growth.
Greenhouses in the past were made of glass. Since these shatter when hit by a hailstorm or break due to a lot of snow, other people have decided to shift to acrylic or plastic which are better resistant to these types of weather conditions.
Panels serve both as the roof and the walls of greenhouse. If there are plants inside that do not need that much sunlight, various covers can be used to block off some of the sunlight that enter the structure.
According to experts, the amount of ultraviolet rays coming from the sun that most plants need is about 70-75%. Anything more than that is too much and could kill those that are planted inside the greenhouse.
There are three kinds of panels that are available in the market.
The most common is glass. This does not provide the plants adequate protection from the sun’s rays which is why people want to try others things to be used as panels for the greenhouse. People have also used tempered glass which has proven to be stronger than the regular version.
People who use glass should hire a contractor to do the job since these are heavy and will require more than 3 people to do the job. This will save time and money should it break without the help of professionals.
The next is plastic. Manufacturers have been able to produce panels made using fiberglass, polyester or acrylic and polycarbonate. These have proven to withstand hail storms, heavy snow, balls and rocks that may fall upon the greenhouse. These are also very light and only allow the right amount of light for the plants.
The third is the use of film that is placed on top of the panel. There are to kinds normally used namely Polyethylene and polyester which also provide adequate protection from the sun. These are relatively cheap and are bought in rolls. Once the panels have been set up, the person can just cut it to the size of the panel and put in on.
Each of these types of panels has its own pros and cons. Choosing the right one will depend on how often the greenhouse will be used and the types of crops to be planted.
Farm maintenance is not easy and will require the proper tools to make it work. As the climate changes during the year, having the right panels will ensure that plants are able to grow under any conditions.
Panels can be purchased right from the store or made to custom fit the specifications of the greenhouse. Both the farmer and the contractor must measure the site first to make sure the right panels are made.
If these are too expensive for the farmer, there are some sites on the internet that may provide the services at a cheaper price. All the person has to do is canvass around first before making the decision of the type of panel ideal for the greenhouse.
Plants need both water and sunlight to survive. The process known as photosynthesis is essential for plant growth. The person has to do some research on the types of plants to be grown and the amount of sunlight needed to ensure a good harvest.
To be sure that the plants are getting just enough in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse, the right panels should be used to make it work.
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