For you planning to start greenhouse gardening, the greenhouse frame is something that you must pay attention to. Whether you are planning to build your greenhouse or buy one, you need to know about the common greenhouse frame materials.
(family yard greenhouse)
Not the more expensive the material is, the better it is for your needs. You need to consider various aspects and decide on the type of material that best suits your needs.
Common greenhouse frame materials
Many materials can be used to make greenhouse frames. Common materials include aluminum, galvanized steel, PVC plastic, resin, wood, fiberglass, powder-coated steel, etc.
If you are planning to make a greenhouse, the greenhouse structure material is the first factor you need to consider, which relates to the weight-bearing capacity of the whole greenhouse. Once you have determined this, you can move on to consider the choice of material for the greenhouse panels.
Fiberglass Greenhouse
Fiberglass greenhouses are commonly found in home backyards, farms, and patios. The benefits of fiberglass are outstanding, including good insulation, ease of use and setup, and affordability.
Disadvantages of fiberglass greenhouse construction include the possibility of yellowing, flammability, and possible difficulty in cleaning.
When choosing a fiberglass material, gardeners should try to choose a high-grade fiberglass material to avoid as much risk as possible.
(Fiberglass Greenhouse)
Corrugated fiberglass is considered a very durable material for greenhouse structures, ideal for high altitudes, and can withstand the challenges of strong winds and heavy snowfall. The disadvantages of corrugated fiberglass are that it is difficult to clean and can be dangerous when cutting.
Differences from glass greenhouse structures
Fiberglass greenhouses can absorb as much light as glass greenhouses and are better insulated. Fiberglass greenhouses often have a UV protective coating on the exterior that slows fiberglass rated to turn yellow.
Also, setting up a fiberglass greenhouse is easier than a glass greenhouse because fiberglass is lighter, easier to cut, and more flexible.
Wood Greenhouse Frame
Wooden greenhouse construction has long been known as traditional greenhouse framing, and the look of this type of greenhouse frame is favored by many gardeners. The advantages of wood frames are good insulation, beautiful appearance, easy setup, and durability. Because of these advantages, wood greenhouses are commonly found in home backyards, farms, and parks.
(wood greenhouse)
However, disadvantages such as easy corrosion and susceptibility to moisture have kept wood greenhouse frames in the debate. To overcome these disadvantages, gardeners usually paint the wood to prevent moisture and decay.
Some durable woods can be quality choices for wood greenhouse structures, such as acacia and mulberry orange, which have a lifespan of more than 15 years.
Durable and affordable woods include cypress, cedar, redwood, and oak, with an average lifespan of 7 to 15 years.
Aluminum greenhouse frame
Aluminum is a sturdy building material suitable for building all styles of greenhouses, with the advantage of being lightweight and less prone to rust or decay. Aluminum frames are often combined with glass, and you can find aluminum-framed glass greenhouses in many home backyards, farms, and botanical gardens, among other places.
To give the greenhouse an attractive appearance, gardeners will often paint the surface of the aluminum frame in a favorite color.
If you want to build an aluminum greenhouse, be sure to create a solid foundation at the beginning of your plans. Aluminum greenhouses are extremely durable and can last for decades if properly maintained.
(aluminium greenhouse interior)
While aluminum greenhouse frames offer many advantages, the cost of this type of greenhouse kit is much higher than other greenhouse kits.
Therefore, even though many people are aware of the benefits of aluminum greenhouses, they may turn their attention to greenhouses made of other materials due to the high cost of construction.
Galvanized steel greenhouse frame
Galvanizing refers to the process of applying a protective layer of zinc to steel to avoid rusting.
Galvanized steel is very durable and can withstand strong winds and heavy snow.
For example：
Galvanized steel can withstand snow loads of up to 360 kg per square meter.
Galvanized steel can withstand wind speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.
Galvanized steel frames are usually cheaper and lighter than aluminum or wood.
(Galvanized steel greenhouse frame)
For these reasons, galvanized steel greenhouse kits are one of the most popular greenhouse choices for gardeners.
Quictent 20' x 10' x 7' Heavy Duty Large Greenhouse is suitable as a winter greenhouse. This greenhouse kit uses a heavy-duty galvanized steel greenhouse frame that is durable and easy to set up to protect your plants from high winds and rain and snow during the winter months. In addition, 20 extra U-shaped stakes make the entire structure more stable.
PVC greenhouse frame
PVC greenhouse frames are the least expensive option compared to other greenhouse frames. PVC greenhouse frames are not as aesthetically pleasing as wood or aluminum greenhouses but are fully functional. PVC is suitable for DIY projects or small greenhouses, but if you are looking to build a large greenhouse, PVC may not be the most ideal option.
(PVC greenhouse)
PVC material will degrade when exposed to UV lights. The PVC greenhouse frame is likely to collapse when exposed to severe weather such as a snowstorm.
To provide the durability of a PVC greenhouse frame, you can combine PVC frames with steel supports and other frames.
Powder-coated steel greenhouse frames
Powder coating is a safe and dry finishing process that adds a protective film to the surface of the steel frame.
Powder-coated steel has the following advantages.
Durability. The powder coating increases the ability of the steel frame to withstand damage, making the entire frame last longer.
Corrosion resistance. Powder-coated steel is less susceptible to rust and corrosion.
Low maintenance cost. Powder-coated steel is cheap and easy to obtain, less prone to breakage, less maintenance, and less costly.
Environmentally safe. The powder coating process has little impact on the environment and is not harmful to the human body.
Quictent greenhouse made of powder-coated steel frame
- 10' x 9' x 8' Backyard Greenhouse-White
- Size: 10' x 9'
- Height：8'
- Benefits: Ease of Setup, Extended Cover
This backyard greenhouse, suitable for most gardens, has an environmentally friendly white coating on the frame surface that resists wear and fading. To add structural stability to the greenhouse, Quictent offers widened Velcro as well as a base and stakes.
- 56 "x56 "x77" Walk-in Greenhouse
- Size: 56" x56"
- Height：77"
- Benefits: Wide Side Velcro,Unique Door Design
This walk-in greenhouse can be set up in any corner of the garden. Its frame is coated with a green powder coating that resists corrosion and friction. In addition, Quictent offers 10 S-shaped hooks, 50 T-type tags, and 30 zip ties to make your gardening easier.
- 20' x 10' x 7' Large Greenhouse
- Size: 20' x 10'
- Height：6.6'
- Benefits: Reinforced Top Structure,Two Doors in One
This portable, large greenhouse is suitable for all gardeners. It uses a white powder-coated frame and weighs approximately 63.5 lbs. Just two people can install this greenhouse in a short time.
What greenhouse frame is best for you?
When you are looking for a suitable conservatory frame, there are some objective factors to consider besides your preference. You should consider all aspects and make a decision.
Durability
If you want to build or buy a greenhouse that will last a long time, you need to consider a greenhouse frame that will last a long time. If you live in a mild climate where there are few high winds and snow storms. Many frame materials are available for you to choose from, such as wooden greenhouse frames, PVC greenhouse frames, powder-coated steel greenhouse frames, etc. If it is a high-altitude area, durability is the first thing for you to consider. Severe weather such as snow storms can be a major test for your greenhouse every year, and to protect your plants, you need to look for a greenhouse with good durabilities, such as aluminum greenhouse frames.
Insulation
Insulating your greenhouse can be a major challenge in the fall and winter. To get your greenhouse plants through the fall and winter, it is necessary to choose a greenhouse that is well-insulated. Aluminum greenhouse frames, wooden greenhouse frames, and powder-coated steel greenhouse frames are ideal choices. Of course, in the fall and winter, you also need to use some assistance to enhance the greenhouse's insulation ability. For example, polycarbonate sheets, horticultural bubble wrap, reflective insulation fabric, horticultural wool, etc.
Ease of setting up
No one will want to spend a lot of time setting up a greenhouse, especially a novice gardener. Greenhouses with beautiful exteriors, such as wooden greenhouse frames and fiberglass greenhouse frames may require more time to set up and maintain. In contrast, galvanized steel greenhouse frames, powder-coated steel greenhouse frames, and aluminum greenhouse frames are much easier to set up and more suitable for the novice gardener. If you wish to have a hobby greenhouse, a portable greenhouse is an ideal choice. Most portable greenhouses have frames made of powder-coated steel or galvanized steel that are fully functional and can be easily set up.
Expenses
Before choosing a greenhouse frame, you need to consider the cost of different materials. Steel is expensive and inflexible, but durable and sturdy. Wood is beautiful to look at but expensive and easy to rot. PVC frames are easy to obtain and set up, cheap but not as durable as steel. Fiberglass is moderately priced but has high maintenance costs.
Material expenses should not be a burden to you and should be within your budget.
Appearance
The appearance of the greenhouse needs to match the style of the entire garden or farm, which is also related to the gardener's aesthetics. Usually, wooden greenhouses are more suitable for vintage-style yards, fiberglass greenhouses, aluminum greenhouses, and PVC greenhouse frames are commonly used for modern-style yards. Glass greenhouses look beautiful and stylish and are often set up in parks or botanical gardens.
Conclusion
Each type of greenhouse frame material can bring you a different gardening experience. We can't tell which material is best, but depending on your region, preferences, and habits, you can find the material that suits you best. No matter what material you choose, maintenance and inspection are essential tasks. Go find the one that works best for you.
