With the advent of spring, many farmers and owners of private plots begin to think about building a greenhouse. Previously, glazing was used for their shelter, but today it has been replaced by a more modern and convenient material - polycarbonate. It is transparent, more wear resistant and economical. In addition, summer residents are also pleased with the wide range of these products. It is important for them to know how to choose polycarbonate for greenhouses in order to make a building that will stand idle for more than one year.
What is polycarbonate?
Polycarbonate consists of several thin plates. There may be two or three.
Plates are placed parallel to each other and are fastened with thin jumpers, which are stiffeners. This makes polycarbonate a very reliable coating. This product has a different weight. The bearing capacity of the material will be higher if the sheet is heavy. If polycarbonate is too light, then it will be unstable to snow and wind loads. Due to the fact that such material is plastic and light, it can be used in the creation of any buildings. The advantage of polycarbonate is its incombustibility. In case of fire, it melts, but does not emit harmful substances. Despite the fact that this material has high rigidity, it bends well. Due to this quality, it is used in arched structures, as well as in the construction of translucent domes. There are also such polycarbonate models that have enhanced protection against ultraviolet radiation, which makes the use of polycarbonate more extensive.
What sizes of polycarbonate sheets are best used for covering greenhouses?
Polycarbonate is generally in standard sizes. They can be 12x2.1 m or
6.0x2.1 m. To cover the greenhouse, you can use any of them, but it’s easier to find a product with dimensions of 6.0x2.1 m. In any case, polycarbonate is easily cut and the unnecessary length is removed. The main role here will be played by the thickness of the sheet. It can be from 4 mm to 32 mm. Before choosing polycarbonate for greenhouses, you should think about the price-quality ratio. It is not necessary to purchase sheets that are too thick. It will be enough to take 4 mm products. If desired, you can choose 6 mm sheets, but in this case, the design will cost much more.
What should I look for when choosing polycarbonate for a greenhouse?
Despite the fact that all polycarbonate sheets are identical in appearance, they have
significant differences. Their range is quite wide and varied. When choosing polycarbonate for a greenhouse, you should pay attention to its strength and transparency. This determines how long the product will last. It is very important to look at the quality of the surface protective layer. If it is uneven or completely absent, the material will not last more than three years. After some time, polycarbonate becomes cloudy and brittle. Therefore, it is very important to know how to choose polycarbonate for greenhouses. If you want the product to last 10 years or more, then you should choose high-quality production. Chinese products in this case are not so attractive. It is better to purchase the products of a large company, which gives a guarantee on their products. When choosing polycarbonate, you should pay attention to its packaging. Sheets must be packed on both sides in a special transport film. On the side of the polycarbonate, which has UV protection, a colored film with inscriptions should be glued.
What needs to be thought out to make a good greenhouse?
Before you start designing a greenhouse, you need to carefully
think over and plan. In this case, it is necessary to take into account various factors that may affect the design. First of all, it is necessary to think over the dimensions of the greenhouse. Consider here the
dimensions of the polycarbonate sheets. Width will be very important in this case. Before
making a polycarbonate
greenhouse , you need to think about how it should be convenient to work in. The best option is to make two longitudinal beds and a small passage between them. The width of the greenhouse will depend on these sizes. Of course, you can make a large structure with a large number of beds, if the site and financial capabilities allow. If you need to save money and there are not so many funds for building a greenhouse, then it is not necessary to make all of its sides out of polycarbonate. It is possible that one of them will be wooden or made of any other material that is at hand.
Building a greenhouse - laying the foundation
Before you begin installing the polycarbonate greenhouse, you must lay the foundation for it. In order for the structure to stand for a long time and reliably, it is better to use a traditional tape structure. It is not necessary to do a deep screed. Of course, it will take a lot of time and labor, but subsequently the greenhouse will stand for many years without the need for repairs. If it is not necessary to make a durable construction, you can completely do without a foundation. Sometimes people make greenhouses for several years, and then demolish it or install it in another place.
The next step is choosing the shape of the greenhouse.
After the foundation is prepared, you can think about the future form
greenhouses. Many private traders on their sites build structures in the form of an arch or a house. With the use of polycarbonate, the first option becomes much preferable. This is due primarily to the fact that it is much easier to cover the roof with several large sheets in the form of an arch. Using this method, you can make more profitable and beautiful polycarbonate greenhouses. Photos, price and ease of use of finished products confirm this. Such greenhouses will be more airtight, because there will be no need to make a lot of seams, as is the case with a gable roof. In addition to arched structures, you can make a greenhouse with a direct roof, having a slope on one side. This option is also quite acceptable.
What material to use as a frame?
Before choosing polycarbonate for greenhouses, you should consider what
The material will be used as the frame. Earlier in his role was a tree. It is now quite popular, but many prefer to choose a more reliable and durable metal. If you select a tree, working with it will be much easier. In addition, this material is environmentally friendly. However, the tree must be looked after. So that it does not rot, you will have to paint the whole frame several times a year, because in the greenhouse there is high humidity, which affects the tree badly. The use of metal in this regard will be more profitable. It is enough to treat it with a
corrosion-resistant coating, and it will not require frequent painting. Here you can use a metal profile or pipes. The first material will be cheaper, and the second more durable. If the structure is arched, then it makes sense to use metal arcs as the frame. It will be more convenient and faster.
Tips for building a quality greenhouse
In order for the greenhouse to be of high quality and convenient to use, it is necessary
Follow some simple tips. So, you should choose only the best polycarbonate for greenhouses. Having decided to save money and choose Chinese low-quality products, you can significantly lose money later. If polycarbonate sheets do not have UV protection, they will quickly lose their qualities. When designing a greenhouse, its ventilation should be well thought out, otherwise there will be no benefit from it, moreover, all kinds of pests can appear because of this. Do not drill the arcs of the frame to secure the polycarbonate. It is better to use special brackets for this, which will prevent the appearance of corrosion.
How to handle a polycarbonate greenhouse?
Making a reliable greenhouse for many years, you should consider its processing. Consideration should be given to such a moment as the presence of various microorganisms in the soil. They can be quite harmful, while settling not only on the soil cover, but also on the walls of the greenhouse. That is why they should be periodically disinfected. To do this, just wash the greenhouse with soapy water inside and out. This must be done with the advent of spring. In addition, you can use bleach. She needs to spray everything inside the greenhouse. To get rid of all pests, they also use a sulfur checker, the smoke of which kills all microbes.