How does it sound when one says it is possible to harvest fresh vegetables and fruits all year long even without even leaving your home? Greenhouses are thrilling enclosed structures for those who are lucky enough to have a backyard. They do offer a lot varying from creating an ideal climate to grow your favorite plants all year long to creating an eye-catching backyard element. Now, this should be the right time to get to know the benefits, types of greenhouses and the options of materials closer.
What Greenhouses Offer?
The benefits of having a greenhouse are likely to be greater than you imagine. Firstly, the greatest benefit could be extending the growing season since the owner has the possibility to control the heat, humidity, protect it from undesirable weather conditions, thus creating the perfect environment for the plants. It means there is no need to wait for the perfect season to grow favorite fruits and vegetables. Secondly, they do give the owners the opportunity to harvest healthy and safe fruits and vegetables without going to grocery stores or supermarkets. Does not it sound nice to pick the tomatoes and lettuce from the greenhouse and prepare the salad for the lunch?
The last benefit to mention should be that: Greenhouses offer a thrilling hobby that does the same effect as having therapy. Furthermore, it is probably cheaper if you have enough room. It is a fact that dealing with planting helps a lot dealing with stress. In other words, they do help the owners get away from daily troubles or issues by offering solitude inside a cozy nook.
Average Cost of Greenhouses
Another good news is that: Having a greenhouse does not have to be as costly as you might think. In addition, it may not have to require much space. It is indeed possible to adapt the concept to small budgets and even small balconies. By checking out the examples we can see that: It is possible to encounter a variety of designs from the simplest one to the most extravagant ones, prices vary dependently. Building one can cost between $2,500 to $15,000 on average. This price can reach up to $20,000 for sure. For those who do not have a very wide budget, it is possible to get a nice one in 8’x8’ dimensions between $2,500 and $4500. Choosing modest materials such as Polyethylene film and PVC plastic framing helps a lot in reducing the cost.
How to Start?
Backyard greenhouses can be custom-sized or Do-It-Yourself. There is no ending to the options to make one for the gardening enthusiasts who choose to create themselves. To start with, the first step should be picking the location in the yard. There are a few considerations at this point. The directions of sun and wind matter a lot. The best location for a greenhouse is a southern exposure. The second best location is the southeast or east exposure followed by a southwest and west exposure. The northern exposure is the least desirable one so not advisable.
Another important consideration should be to protect the greenhouse from strong winds. So the best is to choose a spot near a stone wall if there is any to block the wind.
What Materials to choose?
Glass
When it comes to the material choice; Glass is likely to be the most common option. It has pros and cons just like any of them. Let us start with the pros: It is long-lasting, so advisable in terms of sustainability. The life expectancy for the greenhouses made of glass is around 25 years. On the other side, it is easily breakable- can be damaged by strong winds-. It needs to be supported by sturdy framing and foundation to work more efficiently. So, it is possible to say that it is not easiest to install. Apart from being breakable and heavy, choosing glass is an inefficient choice for heating, so not advisable for those who like to save the cost on heating. The last disadvantage of glass to highlight is that: Glass does not diffuse light and over-exposure can damage the plants severely.
Fiberglass
One of the most common materials to install a greenhouse is fiberglass. When compared to glass, it is advantageous for being lighter and cheaper. It is easier to fabricate. Other advantages include that: Fiberglass diffuses the light and is treated with a UV-resistant gel layer. It retains heat and provides good insulation better than glass. Another good point is that: Fiberglass is more resistant to strong winds than glass. However, when it comes to lifespan, it is not as long-lasting as glass. The greenhouses made of fiberglass generally have 7-12 years of lifespan.
Polycarbonate
Another commonly embraced material is polycarbonate. It is a light and cheap material just like fiberglass. So it does not take much time and effort to install.
The point to underline about this option should be that: Polycarbonate can be a single wall or can be reinforced by a few layers. Polycarbonate with a single wall is the most affordable and creates the smoothest appearance. It, on the other hand, provides weak heat retention, light diffusion, and strength than the reinforced versions. When it comes to double and triple walls; because of the air spaces between the walls, polycarbonate provides much better insulation. They’re for sure more expensive, but consider that it helps a lot saving money on heating. Polycarbonate is likely to be the best choice if the gardener likes to be overwintering sensitive plants or trying to cultivate veggies throughout cold seasons and running the greenhouse in the active growing season. Lastly, let us remind you that: Polycarbonate offers around a 15-year lifespan in most applications.
Polyethylene Film
The last material choice to mention is Polyethylene film. Polyethylene film is the lightest, cheapest, easiest to install, yet the most short-lasting. It offers only around 4 years of lifespan. The point to underline about Polyethylene film is that: It comes in sheets that can be used in single or double layers, for better insulation. It works most effectively with an air space between the layers. The material is a popular choice for gardeners since it is the cheapest and offers flexibility. The flexibility means that: It is quite practical to relocate the greenhouse since Polyethylene is a quite light material. In summary, it can be a good starting point for gardener however the extremely short lifespan should be considered.
Heating Issue
Greenhouses are typically heated by oil gas or electricity. Some gardeners choose propane as an alternative heater. Another alternative heat source could be passive solar panels. An environmentally-friendly and sustainable solution is to embrace solar panels to heat the greenhouse. This basically requires PV solar panels, a set of batteries, a solar charger, an inverter, and a heater.
By checking out the examples it is possible to say that: Heating by electricity is a practical option since it doesn’t need venting. Lastly, let us remind you that: Heating costs will also be mainly shaped by your choice of material as mentioned above.
In the end, whatever material or whatever design is chosen, Backyard greenhouses are thrilling elements that plant-lovers can take many advantages from. An enjoyable and rewarding time dealing with plants inside a cozy nook in the backyard is just one of them.
