Topic: Glass or Plastic?

[simhop]

The snow is slowly disappearing at last and the wife is fed up with all the seed boxes on the windowsills so it's time to buy a greenhouse.

Am really struggling to make up my mind with regards to glass or plastic. On one hand I wanted glass as it looks more traditional but then if it's insulated with bubble wrap anyway I might as well just go for plastic.

Thicker plastic would be better and save all the work with the bubble wrap but then bearing in mind the weather we get here in Sweden I thought I would probably have to do that as well anyway.

With the model greenhouse that I want I have the following options: glass 3mm thick or plastic 4mm and 6mm thick. If I was going to go for plastic I would go for the thicker version. A bonus is that apparently it doesn't need shading when the sun is so hot, but then if that is the case won't I have too little light the rest of the time?

Oh I don't know. Anyone got an opinion?

Regards
simhop

[sandersj89]

Personally I would go for glass and insulate. Even with the thicker plastic you would still have to insulate I would think, especially to be frost free.

Also with glass and bubble wrap you will get higher light levels.

The glass will last longer and will not cloud or become brittle due to the action of UV sunlight.

Jerry

[derbex]

Is the plastic twin-walled (double-glazed)?

That said I think Jerry is right, go for glass.

Jeremy

[simhop]

I must admit that I think that glass looks better than plastic but I thought that was a bit of a naff reason to buy one. Glad there are more scientific reasons.

[tim]

Any vandals about??

[wardy]

Polycarbonate would get my vote.  I hate glass with a passion as I am fed up of clearing it up after the last inconsiderate nerk that had my lotty

It's safer, apparently it doesn't yellow and it's virtually unbreakable according to the blurb.  If you wanted glass I'd go for toughened just from the safety point of view.  Greenhouse glass is thinner than standard window glass these days

[simhop]

No vandals Tim - at least not yet, but then there's no greenhouse to aim for.

[Columbus]

I agree with Wardy,

I avoid taking more glass onto the allotment.

(my "new" potting shed will have one pre-existing wire-reinforced glass window)

I will only buy plastic - reclaimed multiwall polycarbonate
when ever possible.

I am still unearthing peices of glass as I get ready for this years planting. I don`t think its worth the risk to add more.

One tip I read recently was to cover glass with chicken wire
so if you ever fall against it your hand doesn`t go right through.

Col

[cleo]

Glass for me-but I no longer have an allotment and thus no little toe rags-

Stephan

[wardy]

I was glad this morning that I'd chosen a polycarb coldframe.  My dog was chasing doves round the garden this morning and he ran into the frame full pelt (he's as blind as a bat).  He cannoned off it and did two backward rolls.  He was very dazed bless him but at least he didn't cut himself.  The frame was unscathed  ;D