Glass or polycarbonate?

[araminta]

Hi, just decided to buy a greenhouse but not sure whether to go for glass or polycarbonate????

[valmarg]

The only experience we have of polycarbonate are two cold frames. The sheets warped, and dropped out of the frames, rendering them pretty much useless.

Based on that - would always go for glass.

valmarg

[araminta]

thanks for that - really missing being on the allotment at the moment as it resembles a mud bath, so looking forward to escaping to the greenhouse!

[seasprout]

glass . glass.

I personnally saved up and got a glass 6X8.

try your local The Freecycle Network site.. see if people are giving one away. You usually have to take it down yourself.

[Glasshousevirgin]

Glass has its advantages for better light transmission and heat retention, is more secure against the wind and cheap to replace but polycarbonate is lighter, safer, and less likely to be destroyed if it is attacked by vandals or hail stones.
I have my glasshouse on an allotment and have had this debate with myself for a while. After being stoned it was nearly wrecked by a following storm because once a few panes go the wind seems to be able to suck panes out more easily. I lost about 30 panes in all and the cost at £3 each added up. Getting replacement panes was difficult as many people sell new GHs but few replacement panes in my experience.
However toughened glass is about 3 times more expensive (if I recall) and polycarbonate about the same. Additionally panes that weren't a standard size ( triangular ones under the roof for example or those on the roof or in the vents) were a pain to get cut (and my attempts at DIY cutting failed miserably).
In favour of polycarbonate it is about £39 for 3 large panels that cut relatively easily with a Stanley knife and those odd shaped panels can be done DIY. I have replaced several panes of glass with just one big panel in several places on my GH and have lost one to the wind (never to be seen again) - I suspect as it wasn't fitted properly and once it is popped out thats it, gone.
As you can see there are pro's and cons and it will be a matter of what applies to you. If its in your yard and vandals aren't likely then I would go for glass, especially if its a wind exposed site. To me there's something about glass that polycarb doesn't deliver but I cannot put a finger on it so I would only polycarb from a practical point of view.

[ChocClare]

Glass!!!!!!!!

Just to add my two penn'orth - very bad experiences with polycarbonate. Between the wind chucking the panes into the next field and the edges getting so bu**ered by the slightest thing that you couldn't put them back in, we ended up packing the whole thing up and getting rid of it. How I miss my glass greenhouse! (New one still in its packaging on the patio - too wet and windy to put up at the mo!)
So, as others have said, unless you've got a vandal problem - glass every time!!
Good luck whatever you choose!

[araminta]

Thanks for all this advice- it backs up our gut instincts about the two different types - the greenhouse will be tucked away in our small back garden, not on the allotment so hopefully should be safe from any vandalism...