Key Takeaways
- UV-resistant plastic lets in light, adds insulation, and extends the growing season.
- Polycarbonate walls are unbreakable, weather-resistant, and as clear as glass.
- Polymershapes’ polycarbonate panels block 100% of UV and won’t warp, discolor, or shatter.
- Acrylic walls are clear and impact-resistant, with subtle tint options for sun control.
- Porous concrete floors drain well, insulate, and help deter pests.
- Plastic framing is sturdy, lightweight, and often cheaper than stainless steel.
- Wood framing can rot over time, even when treated.
For anyone searching for how to build your own greenhouse, you must use the correct greenhouse building materials for the build you need. As more and more people are seeing the importance of growing their own food for sustainability, plastic greenhouse materials are excellent products to use as they won’t break or crack from the elements.
UV-resistant plastic greenhouse material protects from sun exposure. It will also help insulate and provide enough light for an extended growing season.
Polycarbonate for the Walls
Using durable greenhouse building materials is vital to a bountiful growing season. Polycarbonate plastic is unbreakable, it’s weather-resistant, and it’s as clear as glass. Polycarbonate panels allow light from the sun to get through while providing insulation.
Polymershapes offers polycarbonate panels that will block 100% of UV rays. Polycarbonate is exceptionally durable, it won’t warp or become discoloured over time, and there’s no need to worry about the plastic shattering.
Having polycarbonate walls for your greenhouse is a sure way to extend the growing season and provide a healthy harvest for you to enjoy.
Or Acrylic
Acrylic panels are a great alternative greenhouse building material if you want to know how to build your own greenhouse with plastic. It’s ideal for the walls of the greenhouse because it’s clear and translucent.
At Polymershapes, we also offer it in a variety of subtle colours and tints, allowing you to outfit your greenhouse with UV-resistant greenhouse plastic. It can withstand impact better than glass, so it’s unlikely to break or shatter from extreme elements.
If you have questions or concerns, you can reach out to a Polymershapes consultant to discuss which material would be best between acrylic or plastic.
Porous Concrete for the Floor
While choosing your greenhouse building materials, keep in mind the best product to use for the floor. Porous concrete is the best flooring material for a greenhouse, especially compared to dirt, grass, gravel, or regular concrete. That’s because gravel doesn’t insulate or protect the plants from pests.
Dirt and grass don’t protect from pests, either. Standard concrete doesn’t drain, which can cause significant problems when it rains a lot or in wetter climates. Porous concrete can offer protection from garden pests, particularly insects. It insulates well for temperature control, making it a good choice for long-term sustainability.
Plastic for the Structure
Using plastic greenhouse building materials for the beams and other parts is ideal for the structure of the greenhouse for anyone, even if you want to learn how to build your own greenhouse.
The frame of the greenhouse is another great use for polycarbonate. While stainless steel is a decent alternative, sturdy plastic beams won’t bend, they can be lightweight, and they tend to be less expensive than stainless steel.
Wood is an attractive choice but not advisable because it can rot over time. Even weather-treated wood experiences a lot of wear and tear over the years.
Work With Us
With so much information on greenhouse building materials, you should be able to make an informed decision about the suitable material for your own personal greenhouse.
As always, feel free to reach out to Polymershapes to help you if you’re still undecided on which would work best for your climate and conditions. Hopefully, you’ll live a self-sufficient, sustainable lifestyle in no time at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What greenhouse building materials for walls perform best in cold climates?
Multiwall polycarbonate. Its air channels improve insulation (higher R value) compared to single-skin acrylic or glass of similar thickness.
Can I create a curved greenhouse roof without heat forming?
It depends. Solid polycarbonate can be cold-bent within the manufacturer’s minimum radius; multiwall panels can curve along the flute direction only. Acrylic typically needs heat forming for tight radii.
Do greenhouse panels have yellowing or impact warranties?
Many UV-protected sheets include multi-year warranties for light-transmission retention and weathering. Keep documentation and install per guidelines to maintain coverage.
Are these plastics safe around food crops and irrigation chemicals?
Some of these greenhouse building materials grades are FDA food-contact compliant. You should verify if panels or benches will be in contact with the crops. Also, check the chemical-resistance charts before using cleaners, pesticides, or disinfectants.
