Bubble wrap or solar pool covers?

18 years ago

What works better?

Bubble wrap,what size bubbles.

Solar pool covers,clear,clear black,blue black, lots of choices whats best.

I have 2 cold frames hoop houses(weathergaurd)set up end to end ,I want to put some 6mill clear plastic over it as a air space with bubble wrap or pool cover inside.

Any idears???

Can you put the bubble wrap inside?

Thanks

Stanc

Featured Answer

barrie2m_(6a, central PA)

18 years ago

Wolfover, I installed a 2x4" kneeboard 2' off the ground on one side so that the 20x40" sheet of Magniclear would fit. I could have ordered a larger cover but it would have cost twice as much with trucking and I didn't want the exhaust fan coming on throughout the entire summer anyhow. I have only the two poly layers from the Kneeboard to the ground and I can stick styrofoam sheets in the space in the spring and roll up that side plastic in the summer.

If I were to do this again I would raise the kneeboard to about 4' so that that side could be rolled up above the benches. Some insulation from the bubblewrap may be lost but I think that a sheet of plastic temporarily wirelocked to the inside of wooden kneeboard would provide an extra airspace for insulation that would make up for that difference.

One point about those who order the pool cover. Shipping is very high for the larger covers. I remember calling the Ohio based company and offering to pickup the cover and they told me that the covers were manufactured and shipped from Canada.

But there may be a way to get around the shipping. I recently bought a second slightly smaller pool cover at Lowes that had been opened and was half price. I think that Lowes may order your size if you asked them. To check on what sizes they have in stock look in the outdoor section of their pool supplies.

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Comments (7)

birdwidow
18 years ago
If you plan to line the interior of a hoop house, just considering the need to secure it to the frame makes me think that a solar pool cover would be easier to work with, simply for the ability to get it large. wide rolls.

For light transmission, I'm presuming that clear would be your choice.

However, with a double cover, the air space between them is the real insulator, so you may also want to explore the possibility of using the same clear, heavy material for both.
Datdog
18 years ago
I think a pool cover is the way to go. I'm doing bubble wrap and I've had a heck of a time keeping it up in the GH. I did purchase the heavy bubble wrap so that may make the difference.
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greenhouser
18 years ago
What are you using to hold it up? We used selt tapping screws with fender washers.
barrie2m_(6a, central PA)
18 years ago
"Can you put the bubble wrap inside?"

If I get your question right you want to put the bubble-wrap over the arches as the inner layer and cover it with 6 mil. Yes you can do it with the Magni-clear pool cover.

I thought about doing that hard for a year and last spring I decided to put the Magni-clear bubble-wrap between two 6 mil films and inflate on both sides of the bubble-wrap. So far it seems to be working great. All three layers are held in place by a wirelock that was a little tiring but doable. My main installation problem was that I barely had the length of bubblewrap needed to cover my 40ft. gH.

The main consideration about the Magni-clear solar pool cover is that it has UV protection whereas the mailing type bubble-wrap may breakdown within the first year of use. I expect to leave mine on continuously for many years. I still can't figure why some folks only use bubblewrap for a few months, then remove it for 10 months of storage.
birdwidow
18 years ago
"I still can't figure why some folks only use bubblewrap for a few months, then remove it for 10 months of storage."

Neither can I. The insulation the bubble gives against cold in winter, also works against heat in summer.

I remove the bubble wrap from the roof vents, intake shutters and exhaust fan housings in summer, but otherwise leave it in place and it does the same thing for my GH under the blistering heat of a Midwestern summer sun, as attic insulation does for our home.
wolflover
18 years ago
I have the Magni-clear pool cover on the inside of my greenhouse, then two layers of 6 mil poly on top of it, with an air space between the two layers of poly. It has worked great and I love it. The pool cover has significantly reduced my heating bills this winter. I am extremely pleased with the solar blanket and highly recommend it.

I used the leftover solar cover pieces to completely cover my north wall. They were the perfect size to go to the floor of my greenhouse along the sides. BUT, the tape I used to attach the pieces to the solar blanket didn't hold, and now they've all fallen down behind my plants. I used poly patch tape to attach the pieces of the solar blanket to the main blanket. Does anyone here have ideas of how better to attach the solar blanket pieces together so they'll hold? The pieces are approximately 4 X 6'. I plan to redo it this spring after I get all my plants moved outside.

BMoser, does your cover go all the way to the ground on both sides? My greenhouse is 12 X 35' and the solar blanket covers the top and the sides down to about four feet from the floor. I had enough left over pieces to go to the floor along the full length of the north wall, but that is what fell down. :(