We can now laser or CNC cut & shape almost any material, from sheet plastics like Acrylic to Polycarbonate and now sheet wood including MDFPlywood and OSB.
 
 

How To Make Your Greenhouse Unbreakable

Written by The Plastic People
19/02/2018 13:20:52



Replacing broken greenhouse glazing can be a nightmare and a yearly occurance. Rouge footballs, pesky foxes, and wild winters all lead to shattered greenhouse panes that need to be fixed in the summer. This is a better way to go about this, though. 

Quick fixes rarely work too. Cracks and chips secured by duct tape or other adhesives will eventually shatter, adding another step to your week's to-do list. Cardboard is a poor alternative and will not provide the same level of protection as other materials. 

Choose to make your greenhouse indestructible this year by opting for polycarbonate greenhouse glazing. Rather than spending thousands of pounds, in the long run, on glass panels, it's time to make a change for the better! Polycarbonate is a clear plastic that is 250 times stronger than glass - and round half the weight. 

This means that polycarbonate glazing is virtually unbreakable and easier to work with. We think polycarbonate beats glass hands down for greenhouses and cold frames. At The Plastic People, we cut polycarbonate to any size or shape - including bends/curves - so all you have to do is slot the panel in place! Click here to find out more about our services. 


The Perks of Polycarbonate 

Polycarbonate is much, much stronger than greenhouse glass. In fact, it is around 250 x stronger. Think of the police riot shields (they are made from polycarbonate)- that's how strong it is. Consequently, it’s much safer and more cost effective because you don’t need to keep replacing it. Here are the primary perks of the material: 

  • Safety: Polycarbonate is much safer than glass: it is half the weight of glass so much easier to pick up, move around and install easily. If it is dropped, it will not break into hundreds of sharp pieces like glass.

 

  • UV Filters: Polycarbonate can be bought with UV protection, so it filters out nearly all harmful rays. During manufacturing, a layer of UV absorber is co-extruded onto the surface sides of the sheet, forming a barrier against UV radiation. This unique protection ensures long term optimal quality under intensive UV exposure.

 

  • Insulation: Horticultural glass is usually 3mm thick - and a single layer has a thermal insulation value of 0.93 while clear, single-layer polycarbonate retains only slightly less heat with a value of 0.83. Bubble wrap or fleece can be used to tender plants in colder weather or, choose 4mm twin-wall polycarbonate and the thermal insulation value rises considerably to 1.42. Twinwall polycarbonate lets light through to areas that glass does not which can be quite an advantage. 3mm polycarbonate has around 96% light transmission compared to 3mm glass which offers 98%; 4mm polycarbonate has around 84%. However, because the light is scattered as it passes through the twin wall, it becomes more diffuse, meaning it penetrates areas that light coming through glass does not, so this can be quite an advantage.

 

  • Workability: Polycarbonate plastic can be cut fairly easily. If you need the pane to be a custom shape or a particular size, then look for a supplier you can deliver panes cut to the size or shape you need. Here’s a shameless plug – The Plastic People can do all this for you and get it to you the next day in most cases (the exception is shapes which may take a few days longer).


5 Steps to Replacing your Greenhouse Glazing:

For aluminum-framed greenhouses:

1.    Remove the clips that hold the glass in place.
2.    Now remove the broken glass. If the above pane overlaps the broken pane, then remove the above pane first.
3.    Clean the seal strip found around the aluminum frame – check it is undamaged. Replace if it is.
4.    Install the new polycarbonate pane.
5.    Replace the clips – there should be a clip every 12 inches.

For wooden greenhouses:

1.    Use small pliers to remove the glazing pins to access the broken glass.
2.    Remove the broken glass. If the above pane overlaps the broken pane, then remove the above pane first.
3.    Remove the old putty from the edges of the pane. If the putty sticks to the wooden frame use a chisel to get it off – though careful not to cut into your wooden frame.
4.    Apply a new layer of putty around the sides and bottom of the frame – leave the top edge putty free. Set the new polycarbonate pane into the new putty.
5.    Insert the glazing pins, using a small pin hammer.


It’s fairly easy to switch from glass to polycarbonate yourself – the polycarbonate can be ordered online and delivered cut ready to put in your existing greenhouse frame.

Here’s what you will need to do:
1.   Measure your existing greenhouse glazing panes – use these measurements to order your polycarbonate panes. You’ll need the same size replacement panes
2.    Remove your existing greenhouse panes – take care for any breaks in the glass
3.  Insert your new polycarbonate panes – you’ll find this much easier than glass as the polycarbonate is considerably lighter and you won’t have to watch out for breaks. It is much safer to work with.


You’ll find your new polycarbonate greenhouse so strong it can withstand all sorts of high impact bumps and bashes. No need to be concerned with rogue flying birds, stray footballs, falling fruit any longer!

If you are converting your greenhouse or cold frame to polycarbonate The Plastic People can deliver superstrong greenhouse glazing panels made from polycarbonate ready cut to the sizes you need. Find out more about their service here or email their friendly team for advice
.

View All Blogs

Other Blog Posts