Top 5 Greenhouse Covering Materials

Top 5 materials used to cover greenhouses today.

Some Youtuber's who made greenhouses:

@Bigelowbrook
@BuildingaGreenhouse
@ShipmanAdventures
@LDSPrepper


Tropic like it's hawt -Mikey Geiger
California Valley - PALA
This City Never Sleeps - PALA
Avantageous Alligator - Mikey Geiger

[SimpleTek]

Let me know what kind of greenhouse covering you are using or planning to use and

[DavidLaFerney]

I built my first 11' x 14' poly tunnel several years ago using what I already had - a roll of 6 mil "visqueen" from Lowes. The skin lasted exactly 2 years, and it was great. I moved it and rebuilt it this spring and used the same material again for the same reason - it's what I had. The benefits of having any kind of greenhouse are so great that you really shouldn't put it off because you are waiting to afford something better.

[charlesward]

I bought a prefab greenhouse with single wall polycarbonate that was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter (SE Montana). I had to move it on the property after two seasons that required taking it apart. I took advantage of the move to put it on a block foundation, add power, lights, and ventilation, and most importantly, covered the greenhouse with Solexx twin wall. I put the original single wall polycarbonate back on OVER the Solexx and secured it all to the wooden frame, much like the greenhouse at 08:30 in this video. I mostly use the 8x16 greenhouse for starting seeds for the main garden season, and growing greens like lettuce, kale, chard and spinach under domes for winter salads with supplemental heat from heat mats. I also. Have close to 100 gallons of water in 5-gallon pails and milk jugs for thermal mass. Today is sunny and with the outside temperature of 25 degrees, the inside temperature is 74 degrees at 1:30 in the afternoon. The low last night was 13, and the low inside near knee level was about 27 degrees ( I was tracking the air temp on the water jugs) The peppers and the eggplants that I held over from last season as an experiment, that were sitting on the heat mats are OK, but a couple that were not on heat mats got frosted, though if I had remembered to cover them, they would have been just fine. Again, looking at the greenhouse pictured in the video at 08:30, my door faces east the right hand side faces north. My vertical sides on the north side are insulated with 1” foil faced bead board, and the whole north roof is faced with aluminized Mylar bubble sheet. I am still working on improving the systems.

[mikedee]

nice, use a double poly stretched over an aluminum poly is easily replaced.I got it free, as it
needed some work...some torn panels, some bent aluminum, but it has been functioning now for 2 years. Its a 10x12.

[ChrisLMartin]

Thank you. great information. We live in N.W. Montana and on the side of a mountain getting more snow and colder temps, snow shedding, very short days into the winter but still wanting to grow at least 10-11 months out of the year. So this information is important for use. We are planning and will be building ours this summer 20x40 and unless something changes will be using double wall plastic inflated. Thank you again.

[kempison]

FYI, My father built a greenhouse using corrugated semi-clear (tinted, summer temperature was too hot) corragated plastic sheets. We fastened the sheets to the roof timbers using corrugated molding strips like these from Lowes - Tuftex Wood Solid Roof Panel Closure Strip. Over the years only had sheets loosen up a few times. Installation wasn't too bad.

[BigJack]

I covered my wife's DYI 10 x 9 greenhouse 20 years back with corrugated fiberglass panels. It was great then. We moved from SC to TN and brokedown house and used panels again when raised. Moved again in TN, discarded panels at that time, but they were still good. Have just re-assembled frame of house this month and will go back to some corrugated panels on sides and poly on top. Thanks so much for you channel.

[MrVailtown]

I used the big box store corrugated panels for a chicken coup. Got clear & smoke panels both for testing.
Placed a clear then smoke alternating over sleeping/roost areA. Idea of smoke was to draw warmth from winter sun.

Worked very nice n chickens liked it & I was happy, provided winter sun to get girls up n moving n happy. I'd reach in & be quite nice even on 20° days. We get snow & of course would always melt off of smoke colored panels first. After 3-4 years, one day had a hard hail storm. Some hail measure 3/4" in width. The clear panels it punched a few holes in, (not many) & next panel which was smoke received No holes. Both panels were the same thickness and size installed same way. The smoke survived with out holes, but clear not as well. Realize in a green house only clear be used. Just what I learned.

[Jasan]

I'm impressed by the amount of relevant information and the 'good energy' in presenting it -
Thank's

[alph]

I have 2 greenhouses covered with a single layer of poly. In Tn i can grow lots of cool weather crops in the fall, winter and spring, without heat. If it makes it to next April it will be on 8 years. If not i will replace it. I bought the poly in 2013 and bought a long enough roll to cover the first one twice for about $200.00. I bought it from Amish in South West Ky in Elkton, KY. They have a high volume of sells so they can sell cheaper than some people.

[retiredlogman]

I use a corrugated Lexan in a Greca pattern from Amerilux. It is called soft lite and disperses the light so you do not have any shadows and it penetrates the canopy at multiple angles so you obtain much more growth lower on the plant. I used it on our first greenhouse and am now installing it on our second greenhouse which we are building.

[targetedtruthjahsun]

Thank you for clarifying covering materials. Excellent and concise. Thanks.

[donk.]

Great video Sir. I like your list of pros & cons of each material. Polycarb.-looks like it's my choice, until the single layer-corrogated plastic comes in 2 layers. Keep it up, post more for beginners like me. Cheers, & Tx.

[zachb]

Nice breakdown. Looks like polycarbonate panels are likely the best choice for my plans for off-house cold climate Winter solarium. I want to be able to the walls off in the Spring but leave the roof as a shade in the Summer. I may look into using the corrugated panels on top of the double walled panels as a way of protecting the roof from moisture, depending on flashing options.

[sunnyday]

2 years ago I used the corrugated panels on the outside of a framed greenhouse. Sealing all seams with silicone. The first summer day with low humidity, I used insulating 3 mil clear plastic and stapled to the inside of the frame. with the clear tape to seal all edges. I used a clear silicon exterior caulking adhesive and staples to attach. This seems to be working well. The air gap is the width of the 2x4 I have no idea what the R value is. I think because there is no wind stress on the plastic, it still looks brand new. Because I waited for the low humidity, I am not having any discoloration between. This is only on the sides, as I use the ends for ventilation. I am still working on having both on the ends. Hope this helps. BTW it was tedious to build, as I matched the hills and valleys carefully on the ends, so they could be completely sealed with the silicone and not allow moisture between the layers.

[franciscosilver]

A lot of rain this summer in my zone. I need to make my choice soon. Your video helped me a lot. Thanks!

[niallwildwoode]

Additional info : polytunnel/hoophouse polythene can last 10+years if researched. I had some that lasted 15 years before I dismantled the structure. Also, never use corrugated plastic panels in areas of extreme cold or high winds. This stuff is really brittle if hit by flying debris, or flexed in sub-zero temps. The best bang-for-your-buck is the inflated doubled polythene. A high tec example is The Eden Project, Cornwall, UK, where their laviathan greenhouse domes hold rainforests and savanas. Well worth a visit.

[markanderson]

Love this information it brought up the option of using Solex again. Thanks, show us more like this.

[jowi]

I'm just planning on building a huge Greenhouse this here so perfect timing thank you.

[kathleenhuguenin]

Imagine the weather in the area like wind storms, hail, etc. would determine what material a person would use. Recycle old windows or use more than one option within budget until afforded then wearability can be monitored like a test to see what would be best. Glass is so beautiful! Did not know there were so many options until now.