Polycarbonate vs Glass Greenhouse

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Polycarbonate vs Glass Greenhouse - Which Is Better?

Polycarbonate greenhouse compared with glass covers: PC sheet is lighter, warmer and more impact resistant, while glass gives higher light transmission. .

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Interior of a multi-span polycarbonate sheet greenhouse with a galvanized steel frame and PC roof panels

Isometric drawing of a full PC board greenhouse showing the wet curtain, axial fan, main columns and shear legs

What a PC Sheet Greenhouse Is Made Of:

Polycarbonate board reached Europe in the 1970s and has since become the fourth generation of greenhouse covering material after film. The sheet we use is a double or triple wall hollow board, and a single wave board where a curved roof calls for it. Inside the board the air gap is sealed, so the cover holds light and heat at the same time, and it does not shatter the way glass does when something strikes it. Of the three coverings we build with, PC sheet is the one that balances light, heat retention and impact resistance most evenly.

Polycarbonate Against Glass, Point by Point:

Glass still gives the highest light transmission and the cleanest appearance, and it remains the first choice for a research house or a display greenhouse where the room itself is part of the value. PC sheet gives up a little light in exchange for better heat insulation, a far lighter cover and a roof that will not break under hail or a dropped tool. On a cold site, or on a house where the roof structure should stay light, the polycarbonate greenhouse range usually wins the comparison. Where light is the single factor that matters most, the glass greenhouse models are the better answer. Both are built on the same galvanized frame, so the two can be compared on the same span and the same footprint rather than on price alone.

Frame, Fixings and Sealing:

The house runs on a hot dip galvanized steel frame: main columns, string crossbeams, shear legs and side pillars, all cut and drilled in our own workshop before packing. The PC sheet is not screwed straight to the steel. It is held with purpose-made aluminium profiles and sealing strips, which is what keeps the sheets tight, keeps water out and lets the cover move slightly with temperature without cracking at the fixing points. Roof and side wall vents, cooling, heating and greenhouse irrigation are specified together with the structure instead of being added afterwards, so the house is workable from the first season.

Where the PC Sheet House Works Best:

PC sheet houses are chosen for flowers, seedlings and young plants, for vegetable production in a cool climate, and for research or teaching houses where a warmer room is wanted without the weight of glass. Growers who already run film houses often move to PC sheet once the cost of re-covering every second year, together with the heat lost through the film, starts to outweigh the lower first price. Fire behaviour is another point in its favour: the PC board is self-extinguishing and does not spread flame the way a burning film cover can.

Customer visiting a Bozong PC sheet greenhouse filled with flowering pot plants on the benches

Sizing and Ordering a PC Sheet Greenhouse:

You can start from the wider commercial greenhouse range and compare PC sheet, glass and film on the same basis, or read more about our greenhouse factory before you decide. Tell us the span and the length you need, the crop you plan to grow and your local conditions - winter temperature, snow load and average wind speed - and we will confirm a layout and a quotation. Call +86 191 5068 3942 or send an E-mail to sales@cngreenhouses.com.

Notes on protected cropping and greenhouse design are published by organisations such as the USDA, and international greenhouse trade news is reported by HortiDaily.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Is a polycarbonate greenhouse better than a glass greenhouse?

A: Neither one wins in every case. Glass gives the highest light transmission, while PC sheet holds heat better, weighs far less and will not shatter. For a cold site, or a house whose roof structure should stay light, we normally recommend PC sheet; for a research or display house where light is the priority, glass is the better choice.

Q: What kind of polycarbonate sheet does the greenhouse use?

A: The cover is a double or triple wall hollow PC board, or a single wave board where the roof is curved. The sealed air gap inside the board is what gives the cover its insulation, and the board is fixed with aluminium profiles and sealing strips rather than screwed directly to the steel frame.

Q: How is the sheet fixed so that it does not leak?

A: The sheets sit in purpose-made aluminium profiles with sealing strips along every joint, and the fixings allow a small amount of movement as the sheet expands and contracts with temperature. That is what keeps the cover watertight and stops the sheet from cracking at the fixing points.

Q: Can a PC sheet greenhouse be used in a cold climate?

A: Yes, and this is where the covering performs best. The sealed air gap in the hollow sheet insulates better than a single film or a single pane of glass, so the heating load is lower. On a very cold site the house is normally supplied together with a heating system sized for local winter conditions.

Q: Do you supply the frame as well, or only the covering?

A: We build the whole house. The frame is hot dip galvanized steel, cut and drilled in our own factory, and it is supplied together with the PC sheet cover, the aluminium profiles and the fixings. Ventilation, cooling, heating and irrigation can all be specified with the structure.

Q: How can I get an accurate quotation?

A: Tell us the span and the length you need, the crop you plan to grow and your local conditions such as winter temperature, snow load and average wind speed. With that information we can recommend a suitable covering and frame and send you an accurate quotation.

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