Content
- Foil greenhouse: the cheap alternative to glass
- Heat transfer values of cover materials
- Foil greenhouse and price
- Important when buying foil for greenhouses
- Tips
The foil for the greenhouse should be UV stabilized
Foil greenhouse: the cheap alternative to glass
The price of a foil greenhouse is much lower than if you use glass or plastic double-skin sheets for your roof cover. Nevertheless, there are also some quality differences in the greenhouse foils, which should be considered depending on the planting.
A foil greenhouse seen from the price is particularly interesting for gardening enthusiasts who want to start already in the last winter months, to raise their young plants. Greenhouses of this kind are not for year-round use designed as they are often set up without additional heating. Another advantage, in addition to the low cost, is a relatively high heat transfer of the films used. These are usually polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE), the latter can be disposed of after use a little more environmentally friendly.
Heat transfer values of cover materials
In the case of the pros and cons of a film house, it is important to make a comparison of the various roof coverings with regard to the expected thermal insulation (U value in W / m2K), taking into account the intended planting. The lower the value, the smaller will be the thermal insulation passage later fail. Here are some examples:
Foil greenhouse and price
In practice, the so-called grid meshes have been proven. They are very stable and tear-resistant, transparent from the starting material and reinforced with different-colored mesh fabrics. They are sold in the garden retailer by the meter. The price is in the lower midfield at about 3.00 € / m2, so with a 40-m roll (1.5 m wide) with about 150, - € must be expected. The prices vary seasonally considered quite strong, particularly favorable is the price of the foil for the greenhouse in the summer months.
Important when buying foil for greenhouses
If possible, choose a UV-stabilized gardening foil that will only slightly cloud in sunlight and will not become so brittle (light corrosion). Although lattice-reinforced foils hold, mechanically considered, long, but have the disadvantage that they adversely affect the incidence of light for planting in the greenhouse. The working horticulture works mainly with a double foil roofing, in which the values in the light and UV transmission are particularly favorable. The material has three layers per layer and has proven itself especially in the cold winter months in relation to the very good insulation values.
Tips
Even if the price for greenhouse film is slightly higher, do not use the films from the building materials department for your covering. They are only suitable for packaging or covering and reach in light transmittance, aging and plant compatibility is not nearly the desired values.