We are searching data for your request:
Upon completion, a link will appear to access the found materials.
New coating material all types of greenhouses and greenhouses have confidently replaced traditional glass and film. For most consumers, the question has not arisen for a long time: which is better than polycarbonate or a film for a greenhouse? Rather interested in what kind of polycarbonate is needed for a greenhouse?
Manufacturers have taken care of the variety of types of this plastic, which differ significantly in many ways.
Our task is choose the best optionso that the price does not hit the budget too much, and the building will serve without repairs as long as possible.
Short story
Polycarbonate - plastic based on polymer raw materials. It is interesting that the substance itself was obtained in 1953, almost simultaneously in the German company BAYER and the American General Electric.
Industrial production of raw materials dates back to the late sixties of the twentieth century. But sheet cellular polycarbonate was first made in Israel, two decades later.
The material had unique qualities:
- Transparency;
- Strength;
- Flexibility;
- High thermal insulation characteristics;
- Ease;
- Ease of installation;
- Resistance to temperature extremes;
- Security;
- Chemical resistance;
- Environmental friendliness.
The remarkable combination of technical characteristics of this polymer material is the reason for its popularity. Its scope is extensive, and in the personal household, it has become a favorite material for covering greenhouses.
Types of plastic for greenhouses
Before answering the main question: polycarbonate greenhouses, how to choose polycarbonate, let's figure out the types of this modern material on the market.
The structure is distinguished monolithic and cellular (cellular) polycarbonate. Monolithic, as the name implies, are solid sheets of various thicknesses and sizes. With the help of thermoforming, they are able to take any shape, which is very convenient for the construction of complex structures.
Strength of monolithic materials higherthan honeycomb. They can be used for slabs without additional frames. It is produced in various colors, as well as in the form of transparent colorless sheets. Monolithic plastic for greenhouses can be used, but it is quite expensive.
The optimal choice for our purposes is cellular polycarbonate. It is lightweight, transmits light well, and has a special coating to protect it from ultraviolet rays.
The air gap filling the space of the cells increases the heat-shielding properties, which is of great importance for greenhouse and greenhouse structures.
Separately, it should be said about lightweight polycarbonate grades. It is manufactured with thinner external and internal partitions, which allows you to save raw materials and reduce its cost, but the operational characteristics do not benefit from this.
The only plus is affordable price... Used for temporary greenhouses, as a worthy replacement for film coverings.
Products of domestic and foreign manufacturers are presented on the market.
Of Russian brands the recognized leaders are ROYALPLAST, Sellex and Karat, which produce high-quality quality material. Companies such as Polynex and Novattro have proven themselves well.
Polycarbonate brands Ekoplast and Kinplast specialize in producing cheaper, lightweight modifications. A distinctive feature of Russian carbonates is that they are better adapted to our weather conditions.
The main competitor of our manufacturers is China, whose products do not differ in quality, but are affordable.
Polycarbonate from European manufacturers is of the highest quality. Its price exceeds the market average.
Cellular polycarbonate for greenhouses
What kind of polycarbonate is used most often in our country? Why do many gardeners prefer exactly cellular polycarbonatebuilding shelters for your plants? Let's name the main reasons:
- The cost is much lower than monolithic sheets.
- Thermal insulation is the best.
- Low weight with high strength.
- The top plane of the sheet always has a special coating for UV protection.
Of the shortcomings, it should be noted poor resistance to abrasive impacts and cyclical expansion - compression of the material when changing temperatures.
The choice of a honeycomb polymer from a variety of its types is a crucial moment, on which both the functionality and service life of the finished structure and the cost of construction will depend.
With a free budget, it is not worth saving; it is better to purchase plastic from leading manufacturers of premium brands. But how thick is polycarbonate needed for a greenhouse? The answer is simple:
The thicker the sheet, the higher its thermal insulation properties, but the light transmission decreases. The greater weight of thick sheets also requires reinforcement of the frame, which again affects the final cost.
Therefore, it is necessary to take into account all factors - building size, appointment (spring or winter version), the amount of consumables and possible loads on the roof and walls. All this will help to avoid unnecessary costs.
Standard dimensions of sheets (2.1 x 6 or 2.1 x 12 meters) are the same for any thickness. The consumption of the required material should be considered taking into account the rationality of the cutting.
Important: Stiffeners are always vertical! Do not forget about this when cutting!
A budget option greenhouses using thin sheets of polycarbonate will really be so only with a small structure.
With large dimensions, in order to increase the parameters of possible bearing loads, the frame will require a smaller pitch of the lathing.
As a result, the cost of consumables increases, and such a greenhouse will not last long.
The everyday reality is that a fairly large segment of the population has very modest incomes. That is why, many deliberately choose the cheapest material for the greenhouse, in the hope that in the near future financial affairs will improve and it will be possible to replace the greenhouse with a better one.
This approach has a right to exist, especially in the case when it counts on growing vegetables, herbs, flowers or berries for sale. After all, if the business goes well, then already part of the income received can be used for the construction of a more solid option.
In the event that you want to build reliable greenhouse for your own needs, you need to carve out a fairly large amount from the budget - the absence of the need for annual repairs will more than pay off the investment.
Sheet thickness standards
The thickness of polycarbonate offered by manufacturers is 16, 10, 8, 6, 4 mm and lightweight series with a thickness of 3 to 3.5 mm. By special order, they produce sheets of 20 and 32 mm, which is used for especially strong structures. For the manufacture of greenhouses, sheets with a thickness of 4-8 mm are most often used.
The 10mm sheet is well suited for glazing the vertical walls of sports facilities, swimming pools, etc. The 16 mm thick sheet is suitable for roofing large areas.
Polycarbonate is widely used in the advertising industry - billboards, light boxes and other structures made of it are easy to assemble, have a good appearance and serve for a long time.
For greenhouses sheet thickness choose depending on the purpose. The minimum allowable, at which it can last at least several years, is 4 mm. The climate in Russia is not at all mild, so it is preferable to use thicker sheets.
Polycarbonate produced by domestic enterprises will be the best choice in terms of price and quality. Manufacturers have made sure that the material can be used in our climate. Its prices are lower than for similar European brands.
Bending radius sheet directly depends on its thickness. In the table below: polycarbonate sheets for greenhouse sizes. When developing a preliminary project, these data will help to correctly calculate the required amount of material and choose the best option. In addition, the actual density of the polycarbonate should be checked with the seller or supplier.
| Sheet thickness, mm | Sheet width, mm | Distance between ribs, mm | Minimum allowable bending radius, mm | Factor U |
| 4 | 2100 | 5,7 | 700 | 3,9 |
| 6 | 2100 | 5,7 | 1050 | 3,7 |
| 8 | 2100 | 11 | 1400 | 3,4 |
| 10 | 2100 | 11 | 1750 | 3,1 |
| 16 | 2100 | 20 | 2800 | 2,4 |
Cellular Polycarbonate Life
Firms specializing in the production of polycarbonate premium stamps, declare the service life of their product up to 20 years. These are mainly products of European brands. Of the Russian brands in this segment, it is worth noting the ROYALPLAST brand.
Average service life of polycarbonate, produced in Russia, is 10 years old. The Chinese counterpart, of which there is a lot in our market, is often made from recycled materials, which negatively affects the quality. 5-7 years of service of such polycarbonate will be the limit.
A photo
In the photo: a greenhouse made of monolithic polycarbonate, polycarbonate sheets for a greenhouse - properties
Practical advice on material selection and installation
Whichever polycarbonate option you choose, you should always pay attention to quality... The more famous the manufacturer is, the more it values its reputation, which means it produces better quality goods. Quality products have:
- Manufacturer's marking. Usually it is located on the front side, and contains information about the thickness, dimensions of the sheet, manufacturer, grade of material and date of issue. The protective layer from ultraviolet radiation is always located on the front side and must be outside during installation. On lightweight stamps, the designation "Light" is put, or the thickness of the sheet is not indicated at all. (3-4mm).
- Nice appearance. The surface is smooth and even, without scratches or kinks. The sheets are covered with a thin film on both sides, the company logo is applied to the front side of the film. The material should not contain cloudy opaque areas, bubbles and other inclusions.
An important indicator is packing condition... It must be clean and free of damage. In the warehouse, the sheets lie in a horizontal position and their surface should not have any bends and waves - if there is any, then the material is of poor quality.
It is not always possible even for an experienced craftsman to visually distinguish high-quality polycarbonate from cheap fakes. Read the product documentation before purchasing.
Sometimes unscrupulous "leftist" firms, hoping for ignorance or excessive gullibility of buyers, supply low-quality goods for sale and indicate on the packaging the logos of even brands that are not supplied to Russia.
Important: The trading company is obliged to provide a certificate of conformity for the product.
In many ways quality of construction will depend on the correct installation and the choice of consumables for the lathing. Holes for fasteners should be slightly larger than the diameter of a self-tapping screw or bolt in order to exclude cracking of the panels from thermal expansion and contraction. A rubber washer must be placed under the head of the fastener.
The panels themselves mount on a special H-shaped profile. All open edges of the material are closed with a special vapor-permeable profile - this will exclude the ingress of moisture and foreign particles into the sheet. Leave the bottom edge of the sheet open to allow condensation to drain off.
Subject to all the installation rules and a good choice, the cover for the greenhouse will serve for a long time and reliably. We hope that our information was useful to you and now you know for sure which polycarbonate is better for greenhouses.
In the video below: how to choose polycarbonate for a greenhouse?
