Creating a durable, reliable greenhouse involves using high-quality materials. Important role Not only the frame but also the coating plays a role in the design, in in this case- polycarbonate. A reliable manufacturer can provide a guarantee of quality and long-term operation.
Many gardeners are thinking about building a polycarbonate greenhouse on their property. But there are polycarbonate sheets on sale different thicknesses, size, s different shapes cells, there is a cell phone and monolithic material. How to choose polycarbonate for a greenhouse or ready-made greenhouse out of him?
Pros and cons of polycarbonate
Polycarbonate has become a popular material for greenhouses along with glass and film.
- It transmits light well.
- Has low thermal conductivity.
- Durable.
- Not afraid low temperatures.
- Does not conduct electricity.
- Has little weight.
- Plastic and thermoplastic.
- It can be recycled.
Such advantages make polycarbonate suitable material for greenhouses for various purposes. Of course, no material is without drawbacks: it is easily damaged if cleaned with abrasive or caustic agents, it expands significantly when heated, which can cause the structure to deform, and is destroyed by ultraviolet radiation. The last drawback is eliminated by applying a protective film.
Monolithic or cellular
Polycarbonate is divided into monolithic and cellular. Which polycarbonate is best for greenhouses? Cell phone is most often used for this purpose. It represents two or more sheets, interconnected by numerous ribs. It has a cellular structure, which makes it durable and flexible, and also reduces thermal conductivity. This material scatters light to some extent. This can be useful if you need to protect plants from burns.
Polycarbonate transmits light better than glass (up to 88%) and sometimes has a film that protects against ultraviolet radiation. This material is also less fragile than glass; if it breaks, it does not form dangerous fragments, is lightweight, and has good fire resistance.
To become the owner of a high-quality, reliable shelter for growing a rich harvest, you need to know which polycarbonate is better for a greenhouse and why. We propose to understand the features of this material, its advantages, disadvantages and existing types. This will allow you to choose the one suitable for growing vegetables.
Read in the article
Advantages and disadvantages of polycarbonate for arranging a greenhouse
Special attention deserve the characteristics of the site on which the structure will be installed. If the soil has a certain slope, you can level the structure by installing the greenhouse on concrete piles.
Features of manufacturing a frame for a polycarbonate greenhouse
To make the frame, you should use a pipe with a square cross-section. We invite you to watch a video that describes in detail the frame manufacturing process:
The nuances of covering a greenhouse with polycarbonate
To form high-quality coating made of polycarbonate for greenhouses, you need to lay the sheets correctly and secure them with suitable fasteners.
If you don’t know how to do this, we suggest watching a video in which you can find answers to all your questions:
Recommendations for choosing a turnkey polycarbonate greenhouse
If you can’t make a greenhouse or do it yourself, you can order it from a specialized company. Such products may have different design and dimensions. They can be prefabricated or dismountable, suitable for use all year round or only in the summer.
Advice! It is better to order a turnkey greenhouse directly from the manufacturer.
Having chosen a suitable design on the website, be sure to inspect it “live” to ensure compliance with the declared parameters. It is worth checking the thickness of the sheets, the number of parts, and making sure that the zinc coating is present and intact on the frame elements. The thickness should not be less than 1.3 mm.
If you have a choice, you should give preference to a product with a minimum number of parts. Welded ends with installed doors and windows and solid arches will increase the strength characteristics of the structure.
Attention! Snow load – important criterion choice. For middle zone it must be at least 180 kg/m2.
If you don’t know which one is better to buy a polycarbonate greenhouse, read the reviews of those who have already done it.
Review of the greenhouse from cellular polycarbonate"Orange":
More details on Otzovik: https://otzovik.com/review_187730.html More details on Otzovik: https://otzovik.com/review_2421402.html
greenhouse Greenhouse choice “Usadba KU”
Cost of polycarbonate sheet for a greenhouse depending on class and size
If you decide to buy polycarbonate for a greenhouse, the price of one sheet will depend on its class. Products made from recycled and low-quality raw materials are the cheapest. The middle position is occupied by the so-called lightweight material. Standard size premium polycarbonate greenhouse sheets will have the highest cost.
Which polycarbonate is better to buy for a greenhouse: rating based on consumer reviews
To make it easier for you to make a choice, we have prepared for you a quality rating of polycarbonate, compiled according to consumer opinions. We invite you to familiarize yourself with it:
We think you will be interested in the opinions of specific people.
Polycarbonate is a polyester formed by carbonic acid and dihydric alcohols. Belongs to the group of thermoplastics. From a chemical point of view, polycarbonate is a synthetic polymer. This material It has strength, lightness, ductility, frost resistance, durability, good dielectric properties, and is optically transparent.
The production of polycarbonate occurs by synthesis, during which granules are obtained, which are subsequently subjected to casting or extrusion.
Use of polycarbonate for greenhouses and grade of polycarbonate
Currently, two types of polycarbonate are produced: monolithic and cellular. Which polycarbonate is best to use for a greenhouse? As the name suggests, monolithic is a continuous sheet of polymer material. Cellular or honeycomb is a hollow structure with layers of air.
The monolithic sheet has higher strength characteristics, which allows it to be used on the roof of a greenhouse without installation additional frame. This is where all the advantages end. The following positive characteristics speak in favor of choosing a cellular structure:
Less weight. Cellular polycarbonate is an order of magnitude lighter. This allows you to use a less durable frame for the same sheet thickness.
The cellular hollow structure makes polycarbonate less thermally conductive, which is desirable for greenhouses.
Cellular polycarbonate is suitable for this purpose. In terms of its parameters, it is not inferior to glass and surpasses it in strength.
The following characteristics in comparison with traditional glass indicate the choice of cellular polycarbonate:
Transparent polycarbonate transmits 90% luminous flux, this is higher than the standard silicate glass. Over time, this characteristic does not change.
Polycarbonate almost does not transmit ultraviolet radiation, which has a burning effect on plants.
The material is characterized by impact resistance, which is more than a hundred times higher than that of ordinary glass and ten times higher than acrylic. This allows you to withstand wind loads well and not lose strength under the weight of snow.
The presence of air cavities increases the required for the greenhouse thermal insulation characteristics material, replacing glass of the same thickness can save up to a third of heat.
Polycarbonate does not support combustion and is a self-extinguishing material.
Polycarbonate belongs to flexible materials, without loss of integrity, changes its shape even across honeycombs, at low temperatures. This feature simplifies installation and does not require additional tools.
Operates over a wide temperature range without loss of performance characteristics. Not destroyed by ultraviolet rays.
For its production, the extrusion method is used. The process includes next steps:
■ melting of granules;
■ squeezing the resulting mixture through a mold that determines the design of the sheet.
The high ductility and strength of polycarbonate makes it possible to produce sheets with a wall thickness of 0.3-0.7 mm, which retain impact-resistant characteristics and are light in weight. They consist of several layers of polycarbonate, connected by longitudinal stiffening ribs, giving the material structural strength. Air is contained between the layers, providing high thermal insulation. Cellular polycarbonate can withstand air temperatures in the range -40º - +120º. Transparent material capable of transmitting almost 90% of the sun's color.
The main characteristics of cellular polycarbonate are given in the table.
Standard sheets of cellular polycarbonate have dimensions of 2100x6000 mm, 2100x12000 mm and a thickness of 4 mm.
Important! Do you know how to save money and avoid overuse of polycarbonate? Need to calculate required amount material, and for this you can use our
Or if you are building a semicircular greenhouse, then we have
How to choose the right polycarbonate for greenhouses
The trading network offers the buyer wide choose cellular polycarbonate. The following tips will help you navigate and distinguish a quality product from a fake.
How to find quality polycarbonate
When choosing a material, pay attention to the information printed on polycarbonate:
- Thin lightweight polycarbonate is used in warm parts of the country with light snow loads. It is short-lived, does not tolerate temperature changes well, and does not have sufficient rigidity.
- The quality of polycarbonate can be determined based on the material’s compliance with the declared characteristics. The thickness of the sheet must correspond to that indicated in the brand.
- You can control the quality of polycarbonate based on the weight of the sheet. If the mass of 4 mm of material is less than 10 kg, it is a lightweight analogue with low strength characteristics.
- Present on quality material protective film from ultraviolet radiation and one of the bluish sides has a mark about its application, which allows you to navigate when performing installation work.
- High-quality products have accompanying documentation, which should contain the following data: weight, size, warranty and information about ultraviolet protection.
- When purchasing polycarbonate, you need to pay attention to the quality of the packaging material.
Commercially available sheets differ in thickness, color, manufacturer, and may have an ultraviolet coating. Which material should you prefer and which polycarbonate should you choose for the greenhouse?
Material thickness
The thickness of the material directly affects the strength characteristics of the material. Depending on its size, polycarbonate sheets are used for the manufacture of the following structures:
from 4 mm sheet makes canopies and greenhouses,
6 mm polycarbonate is used for small-area greenhouses,
medium-sized greenhouses are covered with 8 mm sheets,
10 mm polycarbonate is used for continuous coating of vertical surfaces of swimming pools, sports facilities,
the 16 mm thick coating can withstand heavy loads and is used for roofing greenhouse complexes.
The choice of polycarbonate thickness must be approached comprehensively and all characteristics taken into account. You should not use thin, fragile material; in this case, it is necessary to reduce the size of the cells of the frame sheathing; it retains heat less well. But a thick sheet transmits light worse and has more weight, which will require a more powerful frame. Depending on the thickness, the permissible bending radius of the sheet changes.
For the manufacture of greenhouses, polycarbonate with a thickness of 4 to 10 mm is used. A comparison of the performance characteristics of polycarbonate depending on the sheet thickness is given in the table.
Color selection
The beautiful color of the greenhouse covering will undoubtedly decorate country cottage area. Only the main purpose of the shelter is to create the maximum favorable conditions for growing plants, therefore polycarbonate should provide maximum luminous flux in a color that is closest to natural. Therefore, experts advise giving preference to transparent, colorless material with light transmittance of at least 80%.
Giving preference to beautiful colors, it is necessary to take into account that bronze sheets do not transmit up to 60%, while the green-colored coating retains 40% of light. This negatively affects plant growth and productivity.
Do you need a UV filter?
Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, destructive processes can begin on the surface of the plastic, leading to the appearance of microcracks. Deterioration of the integrity of polycarbonate can occur in one season. To protect the material from solar destruction, it is applied to one of its surfaces. protective covering and an indicator mark is placed.
Some types of polycarbonate are produced with protective holes on both sides, but for a greenhouse there is no need for such precautions, since the sun's rays only affect one side of the plastic. Double-sided coating is more suitable for billboards.
Polycarbonate service life
European companies are confident in the quality of their products and guarantee 20 years of work. Domestic materials are designed for 7-10 years. Cheap Chinese plastics have a short service life, often up to 7 years.
The most popular polycarbonate manufacturers
The manufacturer is the Austrian company GE Plastics - a reliable supplier of quality materials. Currently, this polycarbonate is in high demand. The sheets have double-sided UV protection, which allows them to maintain their high user characteristics for a long time. Panels are available in 2, 3 or more layers and in a wide range of colors. Lexan polycarbonate is many times stronger than glass and has unique heat-insulating characteristics. Greenhouses made of this material allow you to harvest a rich harvest.
A new type of economy class polycarbonate. Polycarbonate brand - SafPlast Innovative (Russia). Plastic has heat-saving and light-scattering properties. UV protection is located on the top side of the panel. At correct operation can last up to 15 years.
Cellular polycarbonate produced in Russia.
Structurally, it represents hollow panels, with stiffening ribs and several polycarbonate layers that form polycarbonate thermal insulation cells. The service life is short, only 3-5 years.
Polycarbonate - type transparent plastic, used in the construction of greenhouses. This material is more practical than fragile glass and more durable than film, which is why it has gained widespread popularity. On sale you can find monolithic and honeycomb panels, as well as many variations that differ in thickness, thermal conductivity, and ability to transmit ultraviolet light. Before starting construction, study which polycarbonate is best for greenhouses, find out how the characteristics of the coating affect the energy efficiency of the building and its strength.
How to choose the right polycarbonate
What type and thickness of polycarbonate to choose for building a greenhouse depends on how it will be used. The larger the building area, the thicker the coating should be. You should also take into account the pitch of the frame sheathing, possible snow and wind loads, and the varieties of plants that will grow in the greenhouse.
Polycarbonate greenhouse
Which polycarbonate is better - cellular or monolithic?
When deciding which polycarbonate is needed for a greenhouse, you should understand the differences between the types of this material. With the same chemical composition cell phone and monolithic polycarbonate have completely different physical characteristics.
Monolithic consists of transparent sheets with a thickness of 1 to 12 mm. The main properties of this material:
- light transmittance up to 90%;
- flexibility;
- impact resistance.
Monolithic sheets
However, monolithic sheets retain heat very poorly and sag under snow cover and gusts of wind. Therefore, it is advisable to use such a coating only for small temporary structures such as greenhouses. Monolithic panels are not suitable for a permanent greenhouse.
Most often, cellular polycarbonate is used to build greenhouses. It is a layered material with stiffening ribs that form voids. Cellular coverage characteristics:
- sheet thickness from 4 to 32 mm;
- light transmittance up to 86%;
- light weight compared to glass or monolithic panels of the same thickness;
- low thermal conductivity due to the cellular structure, which is especially important in the construction of greenhouses;
- service life from 10 to 20 years.
Honeycomb panels
Before choosing polycarbonate for a greenhouse in a store, you need to make sure that the coating has quality certificates, since cheap fakes shorten the service life of the building and also reduce its energy efficiency.
Sheet thickness standards
The answer to the question of what thickness of polycarbonate is best to use for a greenhouse depends on several factors:
- size of the structure - the larger the building, the thicker the coating should be;
- roof type - flexible sheets of 4-6 mm are used for arched ceilings, while for roofs with one or two slopes, material 6-10 mm thick is used;
- expected loads - in areas with snowy winters, they install material that can withstand the weight of the snow cover;
- operating conditions - the energy efficiency of honeycomb panels directly depends on their thickness, so for winter growing a coating with a thickness of at least 6 mm is used, and for spring greenhouses sheets of 4 mm are suitable.
Greenhouse house
For the average greenhouse personal plot It is better to choose polycarbonate brands with a thickness of 4 to 8 mm. This is quite enough for growing most plants in the middle zone.
Material density value
When figuring out what thickness of polycarbonate is best for a greenhouse, it is necessary to take into account that this material has another important technical characteristic - specific density. Meaning specific gravity indicates how much stronger one sheet is than another for the same thickness.
For example, a standard sheet measuring 2.1 by 6 meters and 4 mm thick with a density of 0.5 kg/m² will weigh 6.5 kg, and with a density of 0.7 kg/m² its weight will increase to 9 kg. The denser and heavier the material, the greater the load it can withstand. For greenhouses, the optimal specific density is 0.7 kg/m².
Polycarbonate color for greenhouse
On the market, structured plastic is presented not only in the form of transparent panels. You can often find sheets of a wide variety of colors: red, blue, green, yellow, bronze. What color of polycarbonate to choose for a greenhouse? First of all, you should remember that most plants can develop normally only in good light. It is also important which components of the spectrum of sunlight fall on the leaves.
Good coverage should transmit 80 to 90% of sunlight. Only transparent panels, therefore they are most often used in greenhouse construction. IN southern regions it is permissible to choose lightly colored panels yellow color, which transmit about 70% of the light flux.
Blue and blue material is strictly not suitable for growing plants. turquoise shades. The fact is that these colors absorb exactly those components of the spectrum that are necessary for the full development of plants. You should also refrain from using saturated red, brown and green shades, because they transmit only a third of the light that hits them.
Not all coating colors are suitable for growing plants
Other material selection criteria
How long the greenhouse coating will last depends on the brand of cellular polycarbonate and the plastic manufacturer. Only quality material can last from 10 to 20 years, while cheap fakes will begin to crumble after a couple of years of use.
Advantages of cellular polycarbonate
Honeycomb panels are produced in standard sheets of 2.1 by 6 m and 2.1 by 12 m. This is the size that is convenient for installing a greenhouse. To save material, all dimensions of the building and the width of the spans are adjusted to the dimensions of the panels.
There are several types of polycarbonate for greenhouses, differing in structure:
- Standard single-chamber - consists of two layers connected by jumpers. It has the smallest bending radius, which allows it to be used in small arched structures.
- Standard two-chamber - consists of three layers with jumpers, has better thermal insulation properties compared to single-chamber due to additional air gap.
- Four-chamber - thick material, used only on large buildings.
- Reinforced - single-chamber plastic, reinforced by additional inclined bridges. It transmits a little less light, but it is able to withstand significant loads.
Types of structure
Each type has its own advantages, which makes it easier to select plastic for any need.
How to choose durable material
Choosing polycarbonate for a greenhouse is not an easy task, because there are so many brands on the market. Preference should be given well-known manufacturers, supplying their products with quality certificates and providing a guarantee of at least 10 years. Such panels are undoubtedly more expensive than their Chinese counterparts, but in terms of service life, a greenhouse made from high-quality material is cheaper.
When deciding which polycarbonate is best to choose for a greenhouse on a personal plot, pay attention to the following manufacturers:
- Marlon (England) - premium panels. They have excellent performance properties and are extremely durable. However, you will have to pay a considerable price for luxury quality.
- Polygal (Israel) is a reliable manufacturer of high-quality and durable material. Recently, the product has been produced in Russia, which has made its price somewhat more affordable.
- Carbonglass (Russia) - presenter domestic manufacturer quality panels. Its products have a guarantee of up to 15 years.
- Sunnex (Russia) - produces decent medium-sized polycarbonate price segment. Product warranty up to 10 years.
- Vizor (Czech Republic) - manufacturer of universal panels with a service life of up to 10 years.
The quality of a greenhouse depends on the material
What is polycarbonate light
When choosing polycarbonate for a greenhouse, you can find sheets on sale labeled Light, which means “lightweight.” Sometimes this mark is replaced with the words “eco”, “economy”, which does not change the essence. Thus, manufacturers sell a cheap and not very high-quality economy class product.
Profiled panels are often made lighter by reducing their thickness. For example, instead of 4 mm, they make material 3.5 mm thick. Another trick to making polycarbonate “eco” is to reduce its specific density, but at the same time the strength also decreases.
It is better not to use lightweight panels for permanent winter buildings, because cheap material shortens the service life and also increases energy consumption for heating. At the same time, economical-class coating is perfect for summer greenhouses and temporary shelters.
Lightweight covering suitable for temporary greenhouses
Sheets with and without UV protection
In a hardware store, customers can expect profiled panels with and without UV protection. Which polycarbonate is better to buy for a greenhouse?
High-quality polycarbonate for the construction of greenhouses must have protection against ultraviolet radiation. The fact is that plastic breaks down very quickly when exposed to the sun. Serious manufacturers always supply their products with a special film that protects against UV rays.
Protective layer located on one side of the sheet, as indicated by special markings. It is this side that should look outward during installation, otherwise the whole point of an expensive purchase is lost. Some brands have protection on both sides, but for the greenhouse this will be a waste of money, because the sun only hits the outside sheathing.
Cheap panels often do not have a light-stabilizing film, although they are positioned as protected from solar radiation. Inexpensive ultraviolet protectors are simply added to the composition of such plastic. Unfortunately, such additives are mostly unable to prevent the destruction of sheets. In just 1-3 years, the polycarbonate will become cloudy and begin to crack.
UV protection extends the life of the coating
Rules for installation and storage of polycarbonate
Honeycomb panels are easy to install with your own hands, even for a person who does not have construction experience. However, this matter has its own subtleties. When installing greenhouse covering sheets, it is important to do everything correctly, strictly following the installation instructions.
Transportation and storage
Polycarbonate sheets for greenhouses are transported flat in the back of a truck. It cannot be transported on an unfolded edge, as the edges of the panels may become deformed. Sheets up to 8 mm thick must fit completely into the machine, otherwise they may break.
Thicker material can protrude about a meter beyond the body. If the sheet does not fit into the body, it is permissible to roll it up, secure it with tape and transport it in this form.
The purchased panels are stored on a flat surface, preferably in a closed garage or shed out of direct sunlight. If there is no such room, you will have to store it in outdoors. In this case, the packaging film is removed from the sheets and stacked on top of each other with the light-stabilizing layer facing up.
Sheets are stored on a flat surface
DIY installation rules
So, the question of which polycarbonate is best to make a greenhouse from has been resolved, the panels have been purchased and are ready for installation. So that the material lasts no less warranty period, it must be correctly cut and secured.
Rules for installing polycarbonate:
- End sealing. To ensure that as little moisture as possible accumulates in the voids, the open ends must be sealed with a special tape. IN vertical structures The upper end is sealed hermetically, and the lower end is sealed using punched tape. For arched structures, punched tape is used everywhere.
Sealing tape
Video: how to choose the right polycarbonate
More detailed information You can learn about the nuances of choice from professionals. Watch the video to consolidate your knowledge and clarify all the details.
Video: Subtleties of choosing cellular panels
Now that you know how to choose cellular polycarbonate for a greenhouse, you can safely buy required material and start construction. If all the nuances are taken into account and all the rules are followed, the building will be strong, energy efficient and durable.
A lot has been said and written about the advantages of polycarbonate. This lightweight translucent plastic actively displaces ordinary glass not only from the greenhouse industry, but even from the field of capital construction.
Flexibility, combined in this material with high strength, allows you to create from it structures not only rectilinear, but also arched.
An important advantage of cellular polycarbonate is its good light-scattering ability, thanks to which the sun's rays do not burn young seedlings.
In addition, it plays the role of an ultraviolet filter, separating the most dangerous component for plants from the spectrum of solar radiation.
The high mechanical-optical characteristics and versatility of polycarbonate have caused active growth its production and expansion of the range. Therefore, the question of how to choose polycarbonate for a greenhouse or hotbed is for many owners. summer cottages became very difficult.
Dozens brands and varieties of cellular polycarbonate, the presence of outright low-quality products on the market and a minimum of knowledge about this material - all these factors lead to mistakes when purchasing.
As a result, instead of the expected economic benefit, the greenhouse owner faces disappointment and financial losses. In order to avoid serious problems and troubles, we will talk about the features of choosing high-quality polycarbonate for a greenhouse or greenhouse.
How should you choose polycarbonate?
The main part of the high strength and thermal insulation characteristics cellular polycarbonate lies in the features of its structure. Sheets of this material consist of two (or more) thin parallel plates, which are connected by vertical or inclined stiffeners. Thanks to this lightweight design the plastic becomes durable, and due to the air that is in the honeycombs, it also becomes quite warm.
Cellular polycarbonate is produced in sheets measuring 2.1x2 m, 2.1x6 m, 2.1x12 m, and the last two options are on sale more often than the first. In practical terms, the size is important, since it allows you to accurately calculate the flow rate and minimize cutting losses.
Since we are interested in polycarbonate for greenhouses and greenhouses, we will not consider all existing species this material, the thickness of which varies in the range from 3.5 to 50 mm.
Before you start choosing cellular polycarbonate, you need to determine what thickness of the sheet fully meets the characteristics of the structure being built. Here, in the foreground are the factors of snow and wind loads, the pitch of the sheathing and the permissible bending radius of the sheet (for round greenhouses and hotbeds).
Fortunately, we don't have to sit down to solve this issue. complex calculations, since the practice of using this material and the manufacturers’ recommendations already contain the exact answer.
Deciding which polycarbonate is best for greenhouses, we can responsibly state that for the spring-autumn version of such a structure, cellular polycarbonate with a thickness of at least 6 mm is optimal.
For winter greenhouse it is better to buy a single-chamber sheet with a thickness of 10 mm or a double-chamber sheet with a thickness of 16 mm, since here the requirements for snow load conditions for maximum energy saving are added.
On many forums as inexpensive option for greenhouses, polycarbonate with a thickness of 4 mm is being actively discussed today as a cheap replacement for thicker material. However, supporters of this option forget that such a sheet requires a frame with a more frequent lathing pitch. This leads to an increase in the cost of the design and complexity of installation.
At the same time, some owners of greenhouses covered with 4 mm polycarbonate complain in their reviews that even with a small pitch of the longitudinal sheathing (only 0.5 meters!) During snowy winters, deformation of the sheets occurs.
You should also not console yourself with the thought that by making the greenhouse round, we will thereby 100% protect it from the “snow cap”. Practice has shown that at the moment of a sharp cold snap after a thaw, on the surface round greenhouse ice forms, on which a heavy layer of ice and snow is perfectly retained.
Therefore, the first principle for choosing cellular polycarbonate is its strength, which is directly related to the thickness of the sheet.
Durability is an important selection criterion
Reading an advertisement for cellular polycarbonate, you may get the impression that this material has only advantages and no disadvantages. Actually this is not true. Any plastic is afraid of solar radiation, which gradually destroys it.
Therefore, all leading manufacturers of cellular polycarbonate apply a special film layer to its surface that protects it from ultraviolet radiation. That is why it is so important during installation not to confuse the surfaces and to place the side of the sheet on which there is a protective film facing out.
Conscientious European and Russian manufacturers pay great attention to protecting their products from ultraviolet radiation. Chinese polycarbonate often comes without any protection at all or receives it only symbolically. No film is applied to it, but only cheap “additives” from solar radiation are introduced into the raw material. As a result, such plastic stays in the greenhouse for no more than 2-3 years, after which it becomes cloudy and begins to deteriorate.
Therefore, it is better to immediately buy more expensive cellular polycarbonate for greenhouses and greenhouses under famous brand than cheaper Chinese or No-Name material. The calculation here is very simple: high-quality polycarbonate will last at least 10 years, and low-grade polycarbonate will have to be replaced 2-3 times during the same time.
Polycarbonate under the Light brand - what is it?
Many of us, when buying polycarbonate, pay the main attention to its price. This is correct, since it is a comprehensive indicator of quality. However, some unscrupulous manufacturers and sellers resort to a cunning trick, offering at the price of a standard “budget” lightweight and lower quality material under the Light label.
Therefore, when you see this word in the sheet designation or in the certificate, know that instead of 4 mm you will buy a sheet with a thickness of 3.5 mm, and instead of 6 mm - 5.5. Accordingly, for the “eight” and “ten” we get 7.5 mm and 9.5 mm.
It would seem that the difference is small. However, if we take into account that the price does not decrease, and the service life of the material is reduced by several years, then such a purchase cannot be called profitable.
Manufacturer selection
When choosing polycarbonate for a winter greenhouse, the buyer has to balance on a precarious line between saving money and quality of the product. Therefore, we will indicate which brands are most often found on the market today and what should be expected from them.
The domestic polycarbonate manufacturer Carboglass gives a 15-year guarantee for its product, so it can be classified as high-quality. The prices confirm this fact. So, for a standard 6 mm sheet (2.1x6 m) of this brand of polycarbonate you will have to pay at least 6,000 rubles.
The Russian manufacturer provides a 14-year guarantee for Novattro cellular polycarbonate and quite reasonably asks for its product from 4,600 rubles. for 1 standard sheet of 6 mm thickness.
Another popular look cellular polycarbonate, produced by the Russian concern Plastilux under the Sunnex brand, has a shorter manufacturer's warranty (8 years). The cost of a standard 6 mm sheet here starts from 5,000 rubles.
The Vizor brand, previously owned by Chinese manufacturers, has today changed its registration and is produced in the Czech Republic. The quality of this material is very mediocre, which is noticeable both in the warranty (5 years) and in the price level - from 2700 rubles. for 1 sheet.
Chinese cellular polycarbonate ITALON pleases with its low price. A sheet of this material 6 mm thick costs from 2,400 rubles. However, the pleasure of a bargain purchase is overshadowed by the short warranty period - 5 years.
We have provided a very short list of manufacturers and brands of cellular polycarbonate, which is sold today on the domestic market. At the same time, the main requirements for it are: strength, reliable protection from ultraviolet radiation and reasonable price are unchanged.