When planning their new greenhouse, most hobby gardeners think of the traditional material glass. Building a greenhouse from Plexiglas yourself would be an alternative worth considering. The plastic convinces with excellent thermal values and a number of other advantages.

Plexiglas is an inexpensive and robust alternative to glass

First of all: The frequently encountered prejudices that glass is just glass and that it is far superior to a “plastic house”, not least because of the aesthetics, are a bit hasty. The best example is commercial gardening, where Plexiglas has been the undisputed favorite among the roofing materials for decades, especially when growing vegetables. We would like to give our readers a little more insight into why this is the case with a few interesting facts.

Plants love Plexiglas greenhouses

The quality of light, which can nowadays be analyzed very reliably using laboratory testing equipment, is almost completely identical to that of natural light, and Plexiglas is the only material with full UV transmission. This alone causes the plants to develop their characteristic aromas and colorings better, ensures optimal flowering and reduces the need for fertilizers in the form of nitrates, which is particularly beneficial for growing vegetables. And then there is the UG value:

Heat transmission value - measure of all things in greenhouse construction

Do you remember our overview of the technical parameters of certain materials that are relevant in greenhouse construction? Otherwise, compare the UG value (of 2.5) if you build a Plexiglas greenhouse yourself with our published material overview. Due to its high quality and proven resistance to aging, plastic glass is also very popular in the automotive and aircraft industries. Manufacturers of prefabricated greenhouses therefore give their products a guarantee of up to 30 years, for example against yellowing.

Greenhouse with Plexiglas, stable and heat-insulating

If you build a Plexiglas greenhouse yourself, you don't have to worry too much about hail resistance. Although hailstones the size of a table tennis ball will certainly cause local damage, a glass house and its cultures would be totally destroyed in such cases. Similar The balance of energy costs is positive for heating Plexiglas greenhouses. Calculations have shown that the energy balance with 16 mm thick double-wall sheets is a whopping 40 percent better than with a single-glazed greenhouse. Quite apart from the benefits for the environment in terms of sustainability.

Thus, on the plus side of a Plexiglas roofing for greenhouses: (72.95 €)

  • high light and UV transmission values;
  • excellent aging resistance;
  • shatterproof in the event of hail or stone impact;
  • good thermal insulation values with a positive energy balance;

tips

If you build your own Plexiglas greenhouse, it is best to choose panels with a special coating when buying them, which counteracts the formation of dripping water in the interior and significantly improves the climatic conditions for the plants.

Category:

Garden design