Why Polycarbonate is Perfect for Your Greenhouse

Whether as a small structure in your backyard, or on an industrial scale, polycarbonate sheeting has become a popular glazing material for greenhouses. When building a greenhouse, there are two decisions which the builder will need to be make: the framing material, and the glazing material.
The two most common framing materials are wood and metal, with wood excellent for smaller greenhouses, being a cheaper and easier material to work with. Commercial greenhouses however, will be made with galvanised steel, chosen for the longer life span and minimal maintenance.
However, glazing options are constantly evolving. Whereas glass was used in the past, the high cost, fragility, and poor insulating properties meant it became a less popular material when polycarbonate sheeting became a more common building material.
Polycarbonate sheeting is very lightweight, but durable. This means that it requires less framing materials to support the structure, reducing the cost of the project this way. Polycarbonate also offers both corrugated and flat surfaces, with both options offering interesting ways which greenhouse owners can maximise light penetration into the structure. Corrugated surfaces can optimise sunlight when the sun is at low on the horizon; up to 25% more than a flat surface. Polycarbonate also has excellent thermal insulation properties, and even within our product range, different colours can offer different heat and light transmission. This versatility is incredibility important in creating specific macroclimates, but also microclimates within the greenhouse.
Great for your wallet and great for your plants, give polycarbonate sheeting a go if you’re looking to build a greenhouse!