Greenhouse wall materials

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kiwigander

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#998440 3-Mar-2014 21:32

I reckon you'll find polycarbonate (e.g. Sun-Tuff) much longer-lasting than acrylic (e.g. Perspex).

timmmay

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#998468 3-Mar-2014 21:53

I don't really know the difference. I'm planning on using PSP Twinwall, though it has UV filters to stop it going yellow, but some plants like UV light.

Happy to hear more thoughts and suggestions.

mattwnz

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#998495 3-Mar-2014 22:48

timmmay: I don't really know the difference. I'm planning on using PSP Twinwall, though it has UV filters to stop it going yellow, but some plants like UV light.

Happy to hear more thoughts and suggestions.

I think that stuff is more of a roofing material. I have seen a house with it over a veranda, and I recall that it did block quite a bit of light.
I am not sure if you really want to be blocking UV light due to plants using it. Although it depends on the type of plants you are wanting to grow. It would probably be fine for plants with lower light requirements. You may want to speak to a glasshouse manufacturer like redpaths, who will know the best materials to use. They aren't really all that expensive to buy an aluminum framed glass house with glass or plexiglass, which you just assemble yourself.

timmmay

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#998551 4-Mar-2014 07:37

I'll do a little research thanks. Blocking ceiling UV is fine, but I think we want maximum wall transmission.

I have an odd shaped site, so I couldn't use a standard greenhouse. My custom build is half way done - concrete pad is down, framing is up, it's waiting for roof, the last framing, and glazing materials.

It's against my shed, which has power, so I can probably get power to it easily enough if I need it.

kiwitrc

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#998566 4-Mar-2014 08:25

Dont worry about UV, I have grown tomatoes and peppers fine in the UV protected twinwall. Its not a total UV block and I read plants need bugger all UV to grow, which seems the case in my greenhouse. Light transmission is around 80% which once again is more than enough to grow things.

timmmay

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#998587 4-Mar-2014 09:43

I've been doing a bit of googling. Apparently things grow fine without UV, but UV can make them bigger or tastier. Apparently that's one reason greenhouse tomatoes aren't as tasty as open air tomatoes. You also get more vitamins/minerals when some plants are exposed to UV, and it helps their disease resistance.

I'll have to do some research into UV properties of wall cladding materials. Glass is probably best but can break (there's a big tree above it). Perspex or some other single layer clear material may be best if it lets at least some UV through.

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timmmay

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#999319 5-Mar-2014 10:45

I'm now thinking double layer poly ceiling, glass walls. Glass seems to be the only material that doesn't filter out UV, which seems to be between slightly and moderately beneficial to plant growth. It's not as good an insulator as double wall poly, but I'm planning on growing seasonal not tomatoes in winter so probably doesn't matter, and I could put a second layer of thick clear plastic inside if I wanted to anyway.

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