With the advent of spring, many farmers and owners of private plots are beginning to think about building a greenhouse. Previously, for their shelter used glazing, but today it replaced a more modern and convenient material - polycarbonate. It is transparent, more wear-resistant and economical. In addition, pleases summer residents and a wide range of these products. It is important for them to know how to choose polycarbonate for greenhouses in order to build a structure that will last for many years.
What is polycarbonate?
Polycarbonate consists of several thin plates. They can be two or three. The plates are placed parallel to each other and are fastened with thin bridges, which are ribs of rigidity. This makes polycarbonate a very reliable coating. This product has a different weight. The carrying capacity of the material will be higher if the sheet is heavy. If the polycarbonate is too light, it will be unstable to loads of snow and wind. Due to the fact that such material is plastic and light, it can be used in creating any buildings. The advantage of polycarbonate is its incombustibility. In case of fire, it melts, but does not emit harmful substances. Despite the fact that this material has a high stiffness, it bends well. Due to this quality it is used in arched constructions, as well as in construction of translucent domes. There are also polycarbonate models that have enhanced protection against ultraviolet radiation, which makes the use of polycarbonate more extensive.
What sizes of sheets of polycarbonate are better for using for covering greenhouses?
In general, polycarbonate has standard dimensions. They can be 12x2.1 m or 6,0х2,1 m. Any of them can be used for hiding a greenhouse, but it's easier to find a product with dimensions of 6,0х2,1 m. In any case, polycarbonate is easily cut and unnecessary length is removed. The thickness of the sheet will play the main role here. It can be from 4 mm to 32 mm. Before choosing polycarbonate for greenhouses, you should think about the price-quality ratio. It is not necessary to get too thick sheets. It will be enough to take 4 mm of the product. If desired, you can choose and 6 mm sheets, but in this case, the design will cost much more.
What should I look for when choosing a polycarbonate for a greenhouse?
Despite the fact that all polycarbonate sheets are the same in appearance, they have Significant differences. Their range is quite wide and varied. When choosing a polycarbonate for a greenhouse, one should pay attention to its strength and transparency. On this depends on how long the product will have. It is very important to look at the quality of the surface protective layer. If it is uneven or completely absent, the material will not last more than three years. After a while polycarbonate will become cloudy and will become brittle. Therefore it is very important to know how to choose polycarbonate for greenhouses. If it is required, that the product has served 10 years and more, then it is necessary to choose high-quality production. Chinese goods in this case are not so attractive. It is better to purchase the products of a large company that gives a guarantee on its products. When choosing a polycarbonate, you should pay attention to its packaging. The sheets should be packed from two sides into a special transport film. On the polycarbonate side, which has ultraviolet protection, a colored film with inscriptions must be glued.
What do you need to think about to make a good greenhouse?
Before you begin to design a greenhouse, you need everything carefully Think and plan. In this case, it is necessary to take into account various factors that may affect the design. First of all, it is necessary to consider the dimensions of the greenhouse. Consider here the dimensions of polycarbonate sheets. Very important in this case is the width. Before you make a greenhouse of polycarbonate, you need to think about what it should be convenient to work with. The optimal option - to make two longitudinal beds and a small passage between them. The width of the greenhouse will depend on these dimensions. Of course, you can make a large structure with a large number of beds, if the site allows and financial possibilities. If you need to save money and money to build a greenhouse is not so much, then it is not necessary to make all its sides of polycarbonate. A variant is possible when one of them will be made of wood or made of any other material that is at hand.
Building a greenhouse - laying the foundation
Before starting the installation of a greenhouse made of polycarbonate, it is necessary to lay a foundation under it. To keep the structure long and reliable, it is better to use a traditional tape structure. It is not necessary to make a deep screed. Of course, this will take a lot of time and labor, but subsequently the greenhouse will last for many years without requiring repair. In the event that you do not need to make a durable design, you can do without a foundation at all. Sometimes people make greenhouses for a few years, and then demolish it or install it in another place.
The next step is to select the shape of the greenhouse
After the foundation is prepared, you can think about the future form Greenhouses. Many private traders on their sites build structures in the form of an arch or a house. With the use of polycarbonate, the first option is much more preferable. This is due primarily to the fact that it is much easier to cover the roof with several large sheets in the form of an arch. With the help of this method it is possible to make more profitable and beautiful greenhouses made of polycarbonate. The photo, price and convenience of using finished products is confirmed. Such greenhouses will be more hermetic, because you will not need to make a lot of stitches, as is the case with a gable roof. In addition to arched constructions, it is possible to make a greenhouse with a straight roof, which has a ramp to one side. This option is also quite acceptable.
What material should I use as a frame?
Before choosing polycarbonate for greenhouses, you should think about which The material will be used as a frame. Previously, a tree played in his role. It is still quite popular now, however, many prefer to choose a more reliable and durable metal. If you select a tree, working with it will be much easier. In addition, this material is environmentally friendly. However, it is necessary to look after the tree. That it does not rot, you will have to paint the entire frame several times a year, because the greenhouse has a high humidity, which affects the tree badly. The use of metal in this plan will be more profitable. It is enough to treat it with an anti-corrosion coating, and it will not require frequent painting. Here you can use a metal profile or pipes. The first material will be cheaper, and the second one will be more durable. If the structure is arched, then it makes sense to use metal arcs as a frame. It will be more convenient and faster.
Tips for building a quality greenhouse
In order for the greenhouse to be of high quality and convenient to use, it is necessary to Follow a few simple tips. So, it is necessary to choose only the best polycarbonate for greenhouses. Deciding to save money and choose Chinese low-quality products, you can significantly lose money later. If polycarbonate sheets do not have UV protection, they will quickly lose their qualities. When constructing a greenhouse, you should think carefully about its ventilation, otherwise it will not be of use, and because of this, all sorts of pests may appear. Do not drill the arc of the frame to fix the polycarbonate. It is better to use special braces to prevent corrosion.
Than to process a hothouse from a polycarbonate?
Doing a reliable greenhouse for many years, you should think about its treatment. Consider such a moment as the presence in the soil of various microorganisms. They can be quite harmful, settling in this case not only on the soil cover, but also on the walls of the greenhouse. That's why they should be periodically disinfected. To do this, it is enough to wash the greenhouse with soapy water inside and out. Do it with the arrival of spring. In addition, you can use bleach. It is necessary to spray everything inside the greenhouse. To get rid of all pests, use also a sulfur checker, the smoke of which kills all the germs.