Which greenhouse option?

[lolanpeg]

After annoying every family member with my indecisiveness regarding my greenhouse, I figured I best ask the professionals lol.

Within my budget I have 3 options, which is the best option? The greenhouse will be in my garden & I live near London.

1. 6x8ft with toughened glass

2. 6x10ft with horticultural glass

3. 8x10 with polycarb

I should add I really want something low maintenance, I heard polycarb tend to collapse and stuff & I wouldn't be able to fix that myself. However that option gives more growing space.

Thank you

[veggiechicken]

Do you have children (or big kid adults!) who play ball in the garden? If there's a risk of broken glass choose toughened or polycarb.
From choice, I wouldn't choose polycarb for a garden - just because the polycarb doesn't look s nice!!

[Snadger]

I agree with VC the polycarb greenhouses aren't a thing of beauty in my view. They are also no good on exposed site as the panes keep blowing out and aren't much good if you want to heat them either.

Out of the other two i would have to go with the 6 foot x 10 foot as no matter how big a greenhouse you get..........it will never be big enough.

[Scarlet]

Toughness glass all the way! I’ve two greenhouses- one toughened, the other horti - and the horticultural is a pane ...every winter some get blown out,chickens peck it, sit on it or my mother puts her backside in it!
The toughened glass has been maintenance free while the other one has been a job every spring.

[Dynamo]

From choice, I wouldn't choose polycarb for a garden - just because the polycarb doesn't look s nice!!

That would depend on which type of polycarbonate sheeting was used. If it's the dual type with reinforcing built in, that can look a bit murky but the single sheet type looks like clear glass even from close up. I've had one one these for about 8 years with very few problems. The only problem I've had is one lane that fell out which is too close to my fence to fix so I wedged an old plastic plant pot between the fence and the land and it's been like that for about 3 years.

I'd definitely buy as big a greenhouse as you can though.

[Cadalot]

I'm another single sheet polycarb and touch wood no problems with wind or loosing panels since 2013, I just wish it was bigger as it only a 6x4 ft

[Thelma Sanders]

I agree with VC the polycarb greenhouses aren't a thing of beauty in my view. They are also no good on exposed site as the panes keep blowing out and aren't much good if you want to heat them either.

Out of the other two i would have to go with the 6 foot x 10 foot as no matter how big a greenhouse you get..........it will never be big enough.

This would be my choice as well.

First I bought a 6 x 8 Norfolk (clear polycarb sides twin channel roof) the cheaper option at the time.
2 years later my son got me a 6 x 6 glass one.
The first one is now 10 years old, and definitely showing its age. The roof is cracking and the clear panels are getting hazier each year. Over the years the panels popped out a few times, even in a quite protected corner of the garden, so I siliconed the panels in.

The small glasshouse is still as clear as when bought (as long as I clean the glass ) I've only had to replace one pane of glass in 8 years when an UFO landed on the roof

2 Years ago I had enough cash to add another bigger one, for flowers and just sitting in (no space for a conservatory here) and bought a double door, glass, high roof Vitavia and absolutely love it

So go for glass and the biggest you can afford/fit in the garden, although if you have kids I can understand the safety glass may be necessary.

[bikermike]

If you have kids then the following applies (I've just re-read your note and realised there is no evidence that you do): I've got a small person and a greenhouse with horticultural glass in. No problems as yet (although I've broken a few panes...). although it does worry me from time to time (the nuclear worry is him falling through a pane, but it's quite difficult for him to be running at the greenhouse)

Is it possible to mix and match? I'd look at getting toughened glass for the bottom rows (depending on height of small person). horticultural glass is dead cheap, and you can never had a big enough greenhouse...

Or arrange things so they can't run at the greenhouse.

If you don't, I'd go horticultural and the biggest you can.

[Paulieb]

My first rule when choosing a greenhouse......get as big as you can!

Guaranteed you will always want a bigger one. I know you mentioned you have a budget, but I would beg steal and borrow to be able to get the bigger size with toughened glass, and I appreciate that is easier said than done.

I also used to have a cheap polycarb greenhouse, but the metal was cheap too, just a bad example of a greenhouse. After 3 years of continual maintenance and trying to botch it back together I bought a Rhino with toughened glass.......best thing I ever bought!