recovering greenhouse - Orchid Board

nutgirl · #1 10-12-2015, 12:49 PM

I'm going to recover my 8 X 16 greenhouse. It has old yellowed corrugated fiberglass that is way past it's prime.

I'm looking at a corrugated polycarbonate product called
Solar Soft 85 by Dynaglas. Does anyone have any experience with it?

I would appreciate suggestions/comments.

Thanks!

Maureen

estación seca · #2 10-12-2015, 01:07 PM

A lot of my friends really like polycarbonate. In a mild climate like yours and mine, a lot of people also use heavy polyethylene film. It is a lot less expensive to buy but it does have to be replaced more often than polycarbonate.

Lots of good information on these two divisions of the same company:

FarmTek

Growers Supply.

RosieC · #3 10-12-2015, 01:13 PM

I don't know this brand, but I've got on well with my polycarbonate greenhouse.

nutgirl · #4 10-12-2015, 05:49 PM

Since my climate is hot and sunny in summer I thought the diffused light properties would be better than a clear product.

In winter I keep the GH temp above freezing but that's about all so I don't know if a dual wall poly would make much difference over a single sheet.

I don't want to have to deal with rolls of plastic since the GH is fairly large.

estación seca · #5 10-12-2015, 05:52 PM

Whichever you use, you are going to have a much more transparent envelope, and your sun will be too intense. You'll probably need shade cloth on the roof as well.

nutgirl · #6 10-12-2015, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca

Whichever you use, you are going to have a much more transparent envelope, and your sun will be too intense. You'll probably need shade cloth on the roof as well.

Yes, I currently have an aluminum frame that raises my shadecloth about 6 inch above the GH roof. I cover the west half of the GH so it is shaded during the hotter part of the day. It also makes a nice shade porch for my Vandas and Cattleyas.
I remove the shadecloth around the end of Oct and put it back on in April/May.

This is why I'm a bit hesitant to get a clear polycarbonate material. I'm afraid of the sun/heat in the summer and maybe even in winter.

This arrangement works quite well. Depending on what GH material I choose, I will probably have to make some adjustments. I've been looking at Aluminet also.