skip to main content

Greenhouses & Garden Structures

Recommendations for greenhouse material

15 years ago

Hi - I'm in St Paul, MN. I have just the spot for a lean-to greenhouse to help extend our short season. Can anyone give me advice about what glazing material to choose or experience with any of the kits out there on the market? We have such a harsh winter here, I'm wondering about how materials will hold up.

Thanks,

Anne

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

fuzzymoto
15 years ago
We have a home-attached GH and ours is aluminum frames with glass glazing. We do cover ours in a solar pool cover in winter, but we've had no problems in the previous winters when we did not cover it. We only wanted to build the GH once, so we avoided wood.
oakhill (zone 9A, Calif.)
15 years ago
Anne,
You may want to consider twin-wall polycarbonate. It has almost one-half the heat loss factor vs. glass, requires less structural support because of it's reduced weight and quality material lasts 20 years.
My now 7 year old greenhouse is glazed with polycarbonate and has withstood heavy snow and 100+ deg. summers.
Related Professionals
Lafayette Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rolla Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Odessa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Birmingham Landscape Contractors · Alexandria Landscape Contractors · Baton Rouge Landscape Contractors · Charleston Landscape Contractors · Albert Lea Landscape Contractors · Toledo Landscape Contractors · Farmington Landscape Contractors · Twin Falls Landscape Contractors · Tampa Tile and Stone Contractors · Waco Tile and Stone Contractors · Milwaukee Tile and Stone Contractors · Los Angeles Tile and Stone Contractors

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN A Luxury Greenhouse Lures Manhattanites to the Country

By Becky Harris

Industrial meets rustic in this stunning new structure for living and entertaining in rural Pennsylvania

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING See a Family Greenhouse Grown From Scraps

By Annie Thornton

Can-do resourcefulness and less than $400 lead to a new 8- by 8-foot home for plants on a Tennessee family's property

OUTBUILDINGS Studio Solution: A Kit Greenhouse Becomes a Creative Private Office

By Annie Thornton

See how an inventive work-from-home designer made an office from a greenhouse, for some inspired thinking in the backyard

MATERIALS Materials Workshop: Polycarbonate — a Low-Cost Alternative to Glass

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Looking for something lighter, stronger and less expensive than glass? Multiwall polycarbonate may be a good option

DECKS Decking Materials Beyond Basic Lumber

By Ventana Construction LLC

Learn about softwoods, tropical hardwoods, composites and more for decks, including pros, cons and costs

DECORATING GUIDES Go for a Greenhouse Effect With an Exotic Conservatory

By Samantha Schoech

Cultivate a rarified hothouse feel with or without all-glass walls; these inspiration photos and product picks show you how

GREENHOUSES A Greenhouse Rises From Texas Tornado Wreckage

By Sarah Greenman

Barn damage became a blessing in disguise for a thrifty, creative couple with a hankering for more greenery

Houzz Call: Show Us Your Greenhouse

By Becky Harris

Submit a photo of your greenhouse and share what's growing!

OUTBUILDINGS Room of the Day: An Old Shed Becomes a Spa and Greenhouse

By Becky Harris

A garden-loving couple create the perfect place to have a soak and putter with their plants year-round

THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE Design Workshop: Wonderful Material Marriages

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

See why some materials — concrete and wood, glass and paint, brick and steel — just belong together

Sponsored

More Discussions

What should buyers check before choosing a greenhouse kit?

0