The choice of greenhouse panels depends on numerous factors. Depending on what exactly you want to cultivate in your greenhouse, a glass or plastic covering is more suitable. In our guide you will find out what to look out for when buying and which greenhouse panels are particularly recommended.
Greenhouse panels are mostly hollow chamber panels
Our recommendations
our recommendation
KESSER 14x polycarbonate twin wall sheets 4mm | 10.25 m² double wall panel - 1210x605 | Web panel greenhouse panel | shockproof and UV-resistant | For greenhouse horticulture carports etc
EUR 69.80 To the product| Type | twin wall panels |
|---|---|
| material | polycarbonate |
| strength | 4mm |
| Dimensions (LxW) | 121 x 60.5 cm |
| basis weight | 700gsm |
| Quantity | 14 |
The transparent multi-wall sheets from KESSER(R) are very popular with many Amazon reviewers. With the standard dimensions, they are ideal replacement panels - but are also suitable for DIY construction of a completely new greenhouse or a cold frame. Buyers praise the high-quality processing of the panels and the absolutely flawless delivery. This should convince both in terms of time and quality. In addition, cutting the panels with a cutter knife or a jigsaw (36.18€) does not seem to be a problem.
our recommendation
wolketon 14x polycarbonate multi-wall sheets (60.5 x 121cm) 4mm | 10.25 m² double wall sheet for greenhouse, garden greenhouse replacement sheets
71.99 EUR To the product| Type | twin wall panels |
|---|---|
| material | polycarbonate |
| strength | 4mm |
| Dimensions (LxW) | 121 x 60.5 cm |
| basis weight | 700gsm |
| Quantity | 14 |
In fact, the multi-wall sheets from wolketon have the same basic features as the winner in our analysis based on the Amazon reviews. The customers of the mail-order company are also very positive about these models. The plates obviously make a very stable impression when installed. In addition, the individual cutting and installation seem to be relatively easy to do.
our recommendation
Hengda hollow chamber sheets for greenhouse garden greenhouse replacement sheets 14x polycarbonate double wall sheet (60.5 x 121cm) 4mm | 10.25 m²
70.99 EUR To the product| Type | twin wall panels |
|---|---|
| material | polycarbonate |
| strength | 4mm |
| Dimensions (LxW) | 121 x 60.5 cm |
| basis weight | 700gsm |
| Quantity | 14 |
Like the wolketon greenhouse panels, the Hengda multi-wall panels are also praised for their excellent price-performance ratio. One of the advantages is the clear identification of the outside and inside (blue and white sides are on the outside, pure white sides on the inside) - this makes it easier to install the panels yourself. In summary, it is a cheap option for repairing or building a new greenhouse.
Purchase Criteria
Type/Material
glass plates: Greenhouse panels made of glass are the classics. They have been used since ancient times. Nowadays, however, they play a rather subordinate role, since the disadvantages outweigh the other materials. Although conventional glass plates are easy to care for, they are also heavy and not very shatterproof and poorly insulating. They can only be reasonably stably processed into a greenhouse by experienced professionals. Even talented do-it-yourselfers often reach their limits here.
insulating glass: Insulating glass consists of two panes running parallel in a frame - with a layer of carbon dioxide in between. As a result, the special glass insulates as well as plastic, but at the price of an extremely high weight, which makes processing a real Herculean task.
toughened safety glass: ESG panels (ESG = toughened safety glass) are also made of glass, but from a particularly high-quality variant of it. The panels have a thickness of at least three millimeters and are considered to be extremely unbreakable, generally stable and durable. In addition, they are associated with a high light transmission of 85 to 95 percent. These advantages are reflected in the price: greenhouse panels made of toughened safety glass are relatively expensive.
gristle glass: Nörpel glass is textured on one side. This property distinguishes it from other types of glass for greenhouse panels. You cannot see clearly through these plates; the sunlight still finds its way inside. The rays are even refracted by the glass structure in such a way that the plants have excellent lighting conditions. Visually, a greenhouse made of grenade glass loses some of its elegance. In addition, it is more susceptible to dirt.
double wall plates: Double-wall sheets, which are now clearly the most commonly used covering for constructing a greenhouse, are made of plastic, more precisely of polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas). They have a similarly high level of light transmission as glass plates, but insulate significantly better. Further advantages: The multi-wall sheets are insensitive to scratches, very light-weight and inexpensive to buy. In addition, they do not yellow even after several years of use. The only disadvantage is the higher susceptibility to weather compared to other plastic panels and ESG panels.
twin wall panels: Twin-wall sheets are also made of plastic, but made of polycarbonate. They basically look the same as double-wall sheets and are processed identically - but the properties are different. The polycarbonate greenhouse can turn yellow if you don't clean it regularly. In addition, HKP are more prone to scratching and more expensive than DSP. The high weather resistance is advantageous. In terms of transparency or light transmission and weight, twin wall sheets are just as convincing as double wall sheets thanks to similar values.
Insulation (k value)/temperature resistance
Plastic plates insulate better than glass plates and are therefore more temperature-resistant. This is because they trap a layer of air. The result is long-lasting constant temperatures, which in turn create optimized growth conditions in the greenhouse. The lower the k-value (insulation value), the better the insulation. Plastic sheets are available in thicknesses between four and 16 millimeters. The thicker they are, the better they insulate. But: In some cases, the light transmission suffers from a high level of insulation (keyword triple wall sheets instead of double wall sheets).
light transmission
In terms of light transmission, glass panels are ahead of the game. They let the sun's rays penetrate almost unchecked. That is why the greenhouse can become a heat boiler in the summer at midday. Of course, this is not necessarily an advantage. Plastic sheets also transmit light well - and are generally the better choice due to the significantly higher insulation performance.
Weight
In principle, plastic weighs less than glass. This rule logically also applies to greenhouse panels. When evaluating the weight of the panels, you must again include the k-value: with an identical or similar insulation value, plastic is five times lighter than glass over the same area. Example: Twin-wall sheets with a k-value of 3 weigh about four to five kilograms per square meter; Under these conditions, glass reaches a whopping 20 kilograms per square meter.
resistance
UV resistance: It is important that the greenhouse panels are UV resistant so that they do not yellow and become brittle over time. This would otherwise result in less light transmission, which would damage the plants. Normal glass, toughened safety glass and hollow chamber panels perform very well here.
breakage resistance: Plastic is generally more shatterproof than glass. In addition, there is a much higher risk of injury with a shattered glass roof than with a broken plastic roof.
maintenance effort
A glass cover scores with its enormous ease of care. You can simply rinse off coarse dirt from smooth glass plates with your garden hose. On the more sensitive areas that are at risk of breaking, it is sufficient to wipe over them briefly with a soft sponge and soapy water. In general, smooth glass in particular is hardly susceptible to dirt. Plastic sheets require regular intensive cleaning so that the light transmission remains constantly high.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What are greenhouse panels?
Greenhouse panels are the elements that essentially make up a greenhouse. They must be robust and translucent and, depending on the intended use (plants), also meet other criteria, such as a certain insulating capacity. The plates are made of either glass or plastic.
Where is the best place to buy greenhouse panels?
Greenhouse panels are available in well-stocked hardware stores and garden centers - online and offline. In addition, you can find several suitable kits on Amazon with panels cut to a certain size and intended for renovation or for building a greenhouse yourself.
How much do greenhouse panels cost?
Many manufacturers offer their greenhouse panels in sets of 14. Depending on the brand, material and quality, these usually cost between 60 and 70 euros.
Can I cut greenhouse panels to size myself?
In the case of plastic sheets, DIY cutting with a jigsaw is usually possible without any problems. You can also install these panels yourself as a practiced do-it-yourselfer. Things are different with glass plates. You should leave their processing to a greenhouse to professionals.