Who knows about glazing materials? Polycarbonate vs glass?

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Author Message   David_b  Posted on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 06:28 pm:    Any experts out there? I am building a cool greenhouse. From what I hear, it may not really be necessary to do more than single glazing. Anybody know about polycarbonate? I have heard it can yellow and be damaged by UV light after about 10 years. It also lets in less light though it is more diffuse and is supposed to be "favorable" for plants. But is that in Arizona or Michigan? David Michigan Zone 5-6   Kvb  Posted on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 05:52 am:    David, I wouldn't claim to be an expert, but my builder neighbour says that the downside of polycarbonate is that it's so light compared to glass that it causes the structure to be less stable and so less able to withstand high winds. I was planning on polycarb for its shatterproof qualities, but he talked me out of it. Kate in Suffolk Zone 8   Jak3  My Weather Posted on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 09:09 am:    I have recycled plate glass in mine and twinwalled polycarbonate in the vents, to make them lighter and easier for the motor to lift. The downside of the polycarbonate for the whole roof is that it might not take the snow load that we have here. The person we bought the greenhouse from had used the polycarbonate as replacement panels when any of the glass ones were broken, and he found that the poly ones flexed too much when covered with heavy snow. If I were to do it over now, I would use tempered glass for the roof and continue with the recycled plate for the side walls. The original was plain window glass which is o.k. but does break easily. The tempered glass and the plate are safer. Julie; Merrickville, Ontario, Canada, Zone 4   Cahenry  My Favorite Photo My Weather Posted on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 10:07 am:    David, the polycarbonate panels in my greenhouse have a UV protective coating applied on the outside. I went with it vs. glass largely because I have an 11 year old boy who plays baseball, etc. and glass would have never stood a chance in our yard. We've already had one nearly broken polycarbonate panel - it flattened back out, thankfully. Imagine if it had been glass. I don't have snow to worry about and my greenhouse is so anchored and sheltered that the lightness factor is not an issue. The twin wall polycarbonate is supposed to provide better insulation than glass. The more diffused light is a huge plus here - less shading is required in warm weather. cahenry (Cathy) GA Zone 7   David_b  Posted on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 04:43 pm:    Actually I have decided on glass based on lots of considerations, appearance being one. Not yet sure what type of glass I am using. I think a single pane tempered clear. Maybe a solarban which has high transmittance but better R value and high light transmittance to lower heating in the summer. This is attached to my house and going to be partly a conservatory/screened porch too. David Michigan Zone 5-6   Gto  My Favorite Photo Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 09:06 pm:    I constructed my GH with some recycled aluminum windows in a 2X4 structure that is 8' X 12'....I wish I would have made it larger!! I cover the whole GH with a layer of plastic sheeting in the fall and remove it late April or May.... Tecumseh, Ontario z.6

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