I'm planning to buy my first greenhouse and I'm considering some budget-friendly options like those from Palram. They offer both twin-wall polycarbonate and single-wall clear polycarbonate greenhouses. I know the twin-wall is better for insulation as it keeps more heat in, but it only lets in 80% of the light. On the other hand, the clear panels transmit 90% of the light but are thinner and might struggle to keep things warm. I'm looking for advice based on your experiences with sturdiness, potential leaks, and overall performance. I plan on reinforcing it and using caulk, so I'm mostly concerned about the balance between light and warmth. Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
It really depends on how you're planning to use the greenhouse. If you're aiming to keep tender plants alive during winter, I’d lean towards the twin-wall option for better heat retention. But if you’re just growing seasonal plants from spring to autumn, the single-wall should work fine since the light transmission is higher, and that can really benefit growth during those months.
I have a Palram Rion Grand with single-walled clear panels (the roof has twin walls). The panels seem pretty flimsy at first, but once you put it together, the whole structure feels solid. We've had it through some rough weather since 2021, and it hasn’t leaked at all! Just a heads up, though, we don’t use it in winter, so I can't speak to the warmth it maintains during colder months.
That's great to hear! I’ll definitely consider that model, thanks!
Thanks for the tip! I do want to have some plants year-round, so maybe a twin-wall is the way to go.