Types of Greenhouses: Glass, Large, Dwarf Wall and Victorian

Greenhouses can be made of different materials and have different designs. The idea of this is so that the different materials will provide the plants with the desired environment.

If you are a first-time buyer, then knowing which type of greenhouse that you should buy can be difficult since there are a number of ones to choose from.

What Are the Different Types of Greenhouses?

You can find greenhouses in different designs, shapes, sizes and materials which will all contribute to the effectiveness of the greenhouse. The following materials are popular choices for greenhouses:

• Glass
• Polycarbonate Panels
• Poly-Film
• Cold-frame

Glass Greenhouse

Glass greenhouses are the highest-quality material that you can find. They provide you with a long-lasting durability that keeps the quality of your greenhouse strong in all weather conditions. They can last up to 40 or 50 years and if they are cared for then they have the potential to last even longer!

In terms of appearance, a glass greenhouse can look incredibly elegant and become a beautiful feature within your garden. They resemble the stereotypical image that most people imagine when they think of a greenhouse.

Over its lifetime, a glass greenhouse will transmit almost 100% of light. The insulation for glass greenhouses is very good and if you want to increase or decrease this then you can choose from single, double or triple layered glass.

If you are wanting to build your own greenhouse, glass can be a heavy material to instal, but with the proper equipment and the right installers, it can be a manageable process.

However, glass greenhouses will cost the most out of the greenhouse material options. With that being said, they are well worth the investment if they plan to have one for a long time. Most glass greenhouses are permanent structures and so they are worth it in the long run.

Glass Greenhouse Replacements

When your greenhouse glass has broken, whether that be smashed or cracked, you are going to want to ensure that you get this fixed. Firstly, you are to want to ensure that you order a replacement glass panel for the greenhouse.

The best way to do this is to contact your local supplier and send them the measurements so that you can have a correctly sized panel delivered directly to the location of your greenhouse. Secondly, establish whether you want to replace the panel yourself or if someone is going to do it for you.

If you have chosen to replace it yourself, we have provided a list of tips that we suggest to make the experience easier.

Protective Equipment

When dealing with broken glass, it is extremely important that you have the correct equipment to ensure your safety. We recommend the following equipment:

• Glass handling gloves
• Eye protection glasses
• Protecting clothing
• Groundsheets

In the case of shattered glass, you are also want to check the surrounding areas to remove any glass that may have entered the beds and pots of the plants. This should be removed and disregarded as safely as you can.

Remove the leftover glass

If there is glass leftover in the space, this will need to be removed alongside any sealant that was keeping the glass secure. Ensure that you are holding the leftover glass so that it does not fall and shatter. Once the pane has been removed, safety set it aside ready for disposal.

A great way to remove small sections of glass is to hold a towel (with your protective clothes on) and use it to remove the glass.

Cracks

The best way to fix cracks in the glass panels is by following a similar process as listed above but instead of placing the glass pane aside for disposal, place it down onto a soft surface that is not going to cause any further damage to the glass.

Next, you are going to need to ensure that you have a solution prepared to fix the crack. This can be brought at your local supplier or brought online. Fill the crack with the solution and wait until the crack has been gone.

Once the solution has dried, you can prepare to put the panel back. Ensure that the pane has been resealed and securely adjusted.

Polycarbonate Panelled Greenhouse

Polycarbonate panels are a great alternative to glass greenhouses. If you are building your own greenhouse, these can be a great option because they are light and much easier to build and instal. They are also a much cheaper option in comparison.

These panels do not have a lifespan that is as long as the glass greenhouse, however, if they are treated with UV stabilisers. This is a substance that is placed on the panels that will prevent the process of photodegradation - this happens when the UV radiation that comes from the sun will collapse the chemical bond in the polymer.

If this process has been done on the panels then they can last between 10 and 20 years. However, it will eventually degrade. However, they are more durable than glass if something was to hit the walls. They are also shatter-resistant.

Finding polycarbonate materials are much easier than glass panels to find and there are a wider set of designs and sizes available. This makes your choice of greenhouses much broader.

In comparison to a glass greenhouse, a polycarbonate panelled one is better in terms of insulation as plastic lets out less heat than glass.

Poly-Film Greenhouse

A poly-film greenhouse is the cheapest greenhouse option. If you are only planning to have the greenhouse as a short-term investment, then poly-film is a great option. They are not as permanent as the other two options. If you are wanting to build your own greenhouse and you are a beginner, then this is the perfect material to work with.

Poly-film is flexible, lightweight and can be used to cover the greenhouse in ways that you wish. These types of greenhouses are great for growing seasonal crops and are used widely by those who grow in large quantities or wholesale growers.

This type of material is not as strong as glass or polycarbonate panels and they are less resistant to changes in the weather. With that being said, if damage occurs to the glass or polycarbonate panels, then it is going to be cost-effective to get that repaired. However, poly-film is cheaper to replace and easier to fix.

You are also going to want to consider that they are not as eco-friendly as the other two options, especially if this is something you plan to do each year. Aesthetically, poly-film greenhouses are not as pleasing. If you are wanting something that looks the best, glass is probably the best option for you.

Cold-Frame Greenhouses

A cold frame greenhouse is a structure that is made similarly to a regular greenhouse, but much smaller in comparison. They will have four walls, but the top should be removable. They do not stand as tall as a regular greenhouse as they usually sit at around three feet high.

These types of greenhouses are typically used for protecting plants against harsh weather conditions. The purpose of the removable top is so that the plants are not trapped in the heat. This doesn't mean to say that heat cannot be produced from a heat source.

The cost of cold-frames can start very cheap, depending on the size of it. If you are wanting to build one yourself, it can also be cheaper than buying a premade one. However, they are cheaper than a full-size greenhouse.

Small vs Large Greenhouse

A large greenhouse is considered to be anything that is around 10 to 12 feet wide. Generally, the size of your greenhouse will really depend on the size of your garden. However, that doesn't mean to say that if you have the space for a large greenhouse, you should necessarily buy one.

Another important factor to consider is how many plants do you plan to grow in your greenhouse and how often. If you are a serious gardener and you a producing a large number of crops and plants throughout the year then you would benefit from the larger scaled greenhouses.

But, with that being said, it is important that there is enough room in your greenhouse, so whilst you may not ve producing a large variety of plants, being able to swiftly move around and access each of your plants is important. This also eliminates the risk of overcrowding.

Dwarf Wall Greenhouses

Dwarf wall greenhouses have been popular since the Victorian period and they consist of a brick base that has half glass walls for your greenhouse. Originally, this method was implemented because the glass was expensive, so making half of the greenhouse brick cut costs and made them easier to produce.

However, this doesn't mean that the design doesn't have its benefits. At the current time, the brick isn't likely to eliminate much in terms of cost, but it will heat up during the day and slowly heat the greenhouse meaning that it helps to prevent overheating and will actually help to regulate the temperature inside the greenhouse.

This is particularly useful if you are living in an area that is subjected to dramatic weather changes. If it is hot during the day and it drops to cold during the night then the brick will help that transition and retain the heat.

Brick is a durable material and is less likely to break in comparison to glass greenhouses and other materials. A dwarf wall greenhouse can eliminate the risk of the glass being broken since some of the causes of broken greenhouses is because of stones and other objects hitting the walls.

If you are wanting to build a dwarf wall greenhouse, then if you build them yourself you can choose the height at which the bricks go up. Alternatively, you can buy a base and input this into your garden. Typically, dwarf walls are less than one meter tall.

When combining the durable and long last glass material alongside the dwarf wall, makes the greenhouse a robust structure that has the potential to outlast them all.

Victorian Greenhouse

For people who are wanting to capture the traditional image of an English greenhouse, the Victorian greenhouse captures exactly that. Before the 19th century, the idea of a greenhouse was considered to be a feature of the social elite.

However, over time they have become more and more common. The cost of greenhouses dropped dramatically and more people were able to buy them. Over time, the design of greenhouses has adapted. In earlier designs, they were made with heavier and bigger materials, which meant that they emit much less sunlight.

There are various differences in materials that Victorian greenhouses would use, these are as followed:

Bricks

As mentioned in reference to dwarf wall greenhouses, which were popular Victorian greenhouses, bricks were a popular material. This ensured that the foundation of the greenhouse was secure and well built. It was cheaper than glass and proved to be a good heating system. 

Wood Choice

The choice of wood for Victorian greenhouses was typically a form of softwood. This can be the most commonly used type of wood since it is durable and great for the framework. Over time, this has adapted and you will now see greenhouses that use metal framing instead. However, with the type of wood that Victorians would use, it was susceptible to decay. This risk was increased with wet weather conditions, on top of the lack of ventilation.

Ventilators

Victorian greenhouses were not great at including methods of ventilation. This meant that they would have to open a ventilator, but now in most greenhouses, you can have a form of ventilation that makes them much more adaptable to weather changes.

Heaters

In the Victorian era, they did not have the same types of heating systems that we have in our greenhouses today. This means that they would often use other methods such as using decaying manure or bark. This would then produce warmth within the greenhouse.