Just wondering can a greenhouse glass just shatter for no reason, i have had 2 glass shatter in the last two days, there does not seem any sign of vandalism.
Yes it can...but there would have need to be some sort of tension for the glass..by either something leaning on the glass...or being warped on the frame for some other reason...something heavy hanging from the frame? Extreme temperature..unlikely to happen this time of the year but heat source place near glass when outside the air is much cooler can do that.
Perhaps you've had some birds doing bungee jumping over your greenhouse.. ??? ;)
i thought it must of been birds but i have cctv on the back of my house and nothing is anywhere near it when the glass just appears to shatter, it seems funny that it happened on two separate days ??? ???
Is your greenhouse aluminium or timber?
What I am thinking is; the recent heat wave may be causing the structure to expand/contract excesively and glass panes that are fitted very tightly i.e. no gap between edge of pane and structure are being put under stress and are cracking /breaking.
Alternatively the reverse could also be true, i.e. the glass is barely big enough for the opening it covers then when expansion takes place it falls out.
Or in the case of an alloy greenhouse the patent clips might also be expanding /contracting and putting pressure on the glass.
I have both timber and alloy greenhouses and never had this problem but I have had panes blow out in high winds when the glazing bars move and the glass, particularly if it is on the small side falls out.
Like you I think it is a mystery, and these are long shot suggestions!
What I am thinking is; the recent heat wave may be causing the structure to expand/contract excesively and glass panes that are fitted very tightly i.e. no gap between edge of pane and structure are being put under stress and are cracking /breaking.
Yes..that sounds very possible..not something I've had trouble with.
I was speaking to another plotholder just this morning about this, he has had it happen a few times and always on very hot days. No other explanation save for the hot weather.
Steve...:)
Yep..its the heat
I run my own double glazing firm and weve had about a dozen calls this week already about doors/ windows catching and units breaking down. No matter the frame type - wood, upvc , ali, whatever, there will ALWAYS be contraction/ expansion.
In your case the glass is probably is a little on the tight side (?) and this weeks heat has caused the frame to move just enough to cause cracking. if your glass shattered into a million pieces it is (was) toughened. If it broke into fewer larger then it was most probably 3mm or 4mm standard glass. Toughend glass is extremely difficult to break if hit head on, but you literally need to just skim anywhere along its edge and it will shatter which doesent really make itself ideal for greenhouse purposes. All toughened should be lifted and protected by some kind of expanding packer which will move with the frame.
Funny story - my business partners Fatha in Law bought a new greenhouse- cost over a grand?! - and asked us to help him put it up. Hed paid extra for 'horticultural glass' - ahem- and decided that having seen us installing the side glass he'd have a go at the roof. He just about managed to lift the first sheet in and let it settle then *shatter*, the glass spilled all over his head. Oh how his face dropped! Luckily he wasn't hurt but it just goes to show how delicate glass can be in the wrong hands!
thanks everyone i was beginnig to think someone had it in for me :-X the worse thing is picking all the shattered glass out of my lovely plants. the greenhouse has probably gone into shock because it has never seen so many days of sun 8)