Glass greenhouses - for those who value quality

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Glass greenhouses are a time-tested, reliable and aesthetically attractive option for creating ideal conditions for garden crops to grow and develop. The cost of construction and installation depends on the materials used, dimensions and whether the owner of the site will buy the greenhouse or build it himself.

Historical greenhouse data

The history of growing vegetables using artificial methods of agricultural technology dates back to very distant times. Ancient Roman gardeners endured planting in the sun during the day and cleaned it for the night in warm rooms, built original greenhouses, covering the beds with a layer of manure, under which it remained warm.

Over time, the same ancient Romans came up with the idea of protecting plantings with fences covered with thin plates of mica that let in sunlight. These structures can be considered the prototype of modern greenhouses.

The first glass greenhouses appeared in Europe in the middle of the 16th century. They were mainly used for growing flowers and exotic plants. Glass was very expensive, so ordinary people could not afford the luxury of growing vegetables.

Invention of a method for making flat glass at 17century in Germany led to the development of the construction of greenhouses. Nevertheless, we althy citizens had the privilege of having glass greenhouses. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, when the mass rental of sheet glass began and the price of it fell sharply, did everyone have the opportunity to build glass greenhouses.

In Russia, glass greenhouses appeared under Peter 1 and were also rare, since their construction was too expensive. In the 30s of the last century, the mass construction of greenhouses on a national scale began. Soviet greenhouse plants supplied the whole country with fresh produce.

Advantages and disadvantages of glass greenhouses

Glass has certain positive qualities that determine its use in the manufacture of greenhouses:

- High transparency allows sunlight to enter the greenhouse unhindered.

- The ability to transmit ultraviolet rays gives plants the opportunity to receive the elements necessary for growth.

- The environmental friendliness and chemical inertness of glass ensure a he althy atmosphere in the greenhouse. It does not emit harmful substances when heated and does not react to the action of chemicals and the influence of an aggressive environment.

- The surface of the glass is not subject to aging and abrasive influences, therefore, it retains an attractive appearance for a long time.

- The structure of glass does not change under the influence of high and low temperatures. The shape and dimensions remain unchanged, whichsaves the structure from deformation.

- Easy maintenance. To keep the glass clean, just wash it with water and wipe it with a dry cloth.

- Resistant to atmospheric precipitation and does not sag under the weight of snow.

- A broken element is easy to replace.

The disadvantages of glass include heavy weight, brittleness, high thermal conductivity, high price compared to other materials used to cover greenhouses. Even with these obvious disadvantages, greenhouses (customer reviews confirm this) do not lose popularity. According to those who have been using a glass greenhouse on their site for a long time, the costs pay off in a couple of years, as vegetables grow and develop much better in them. The structures are strong, and damaged elements can be easily and quickly replaced without disturbing the microclimate in the greenhouse.

Features of technologies for creating greenhouses

Any greenhouse, regardless of the materials used, is a solid frame covered with sheets of transparent material. The frame is made of aluminum or steel profile or wooden beams. For glass greenhouses, aluminum or wood is usually used to reduce the total weight of the structure, since the glass itself is quite heavy.

For the same reason, a solid, reliable foundation is needed to install a glass greenhouse. For greenhouses, a monolithic strip or block concrete foundation is usually used. It should be laid to the depth of soil freezing, but not less than 80 cm.

Usually glass greenhouses are made with a gable or singlesloping roof. Here the choice can be made by the gardener himself. In order for the glass roof of the greenhouse to serve for a long time, glass 4-6 mm thick is used for its manufacture. Thicker ones may crack as the temperature difference between inside and outside can be very large.

Glass greenhouses are a worthy choice

Glass greenhouses do not lose their popularity today, although other materials have appeared that have similar characteristics and higher technical and physical properties.

Despite the fact that there are a huge number of different models of greenhouses on sale from different materials and different price categories, true connoisseurs and connoisseurs prefer reliable, durable and attractive glass structures. The price of a greenhouse frame under glass depends on the size of the structure, the materials used and the availability of additional elements. On average, it ranges from 20,000 to 150,000 rubles. The cost of sheet glass with a thickness of 4 mm - from 150 rubles / m². Despite the high cost of the greenhouse, reviews of commercially available finished structures are mostly positive. Novice gardeners should listen to them.

Experienced growers usually choose glass greenhouses, the price of which is quite high, knowing that the quality and reliability of the design will eventually pay for all costs.