Think I'm taking the greenhouse plunge!

[Becca]

Hi Everyone! Finally....I think I'm about to take the greenhouse plunge! After about a year of looking at greenhouses locally and talking to a couple of you on here....I just can't steer myself away from the Sunglo greenhouses. I've been trying to look and see if anything else is available that is comparable to it insulation wise that comes as a kit. I'm not sure I would want to mess with trying to put my own together. Anyways....my local Costco has a Sunglo 10x10 on display....I called Sunglo directly and they are offering me the all inclusive package they offer on Costco's website in a 10 x 12 size. I'm not ready to put up a greenhouse right now, maybe this summer but I am thinking of going for it and thought I would check one last time if there is something else out there I may have missed? TIA!

[Daethen]

I am in the hunt for a gh as well, so I am going to check out the sunglo. Thanks for the tip.

[Gin]

Only thing I have to say is get a greenhouse as large as possible small is harder to control . Plus none are ever big enough

[Becca]

Money wise the 10 x 12 is as large as I can go right now. I can add on 30" sections down the road to the length. I'm having an entire package quoted to me at just under 5K for this size, includes shipping, an electric heater, benches, exhaust system, shade cloth, etc.

[Gin]

10 by 12 is not a bad size I have seen some that were 6 by 9 check out farmtek not sure what they have but worth a look . Greenhouses, Greenhouse Materials, Greenhouse Kits, Greenhouses Accessories, Commercial Greenhouses, Hobby Greenhouses, Professional Greenhouses, Patio Growhouses, Invernaderos, Polycarbonate Greenhouse - FarmTek

[Ray]

Yep, any one you erect will be "too small" almost immediately.

Considering the Idaho and Wisconsin locations of the two "interested parties" so-far in this discussion, I will stress VERY heavily: get the best-insulating sidewall and roof glazing you can. I would recommend 16mm, triple-wall polycarbonate. (I have 8mm twin-wall, and will go to 16 when it needs replacement, as that will cut my heating bill to 2/3rds of what it is now.)

greenhousemegastore,com has a wide variety of options.

[DelawareJim]

I agree with Gin. Get the biggest you can possibly afford. The temps will be more stable and it'll take longer to reach overcapacity.

When I was in college an older man near my apartment had an old Lord and Burnham in his back garden. When we were talking about the proper size to get, he said figure out the largest size you think you'll ever need, and then double it.

After an ever growing collection for a couple of years now I've realized it was very good advice.

Cheers.
Jim

[Becca]

Ray, Sunglo is double wall plexiglass...this is some info from their website: Sunglo greenhouses are constructed with two wall panels. This double-wall construction allows for better temperature control than glass. The two layers of high impact acrylic plexiglass create a one and a half inch "dead-air" space. This space provides ten times the insulation of a single pane of glass! This makes a Sunglo greenhouse energy efficient no matter where you live.

Also here is a link to additional info on their website: About Sunglo Greenhouses

Supports over 2,500 pounds of snow and withstood gusts of wind up to 80 miles per hour without worry! Our heavy gauge DR Acrylic Plexiglass also has 100 times the impact strength of any single pane glass greenhouse to boot!

[Ray]

Becca, the whole idea of insulation is to have pockets of still air (a relatively poor heat conductor) separated from others such that they do not "communicate" passing the heat from one to another. The Sun-glo design uses a flat piece outside of a corrugated piece of plexiglass. That means that the heat must pass through the corrugated layer into the air within, and then though the flat layer to the outside. In triple-wall coverings, there are three walls and two, non-communicating air pockets that the heat must pass though, slowing the process.

Not only that, but the corrugations increase the surface area exposed to the interior (compared to a flat layer), further enhancing heat absorption and transfer.

[Ray]

I also have to wonder what it's like cleaning the interior of a corrugated covering of algae might be like.