Greenhouse Building Materials
The right materials to build a greenhouse are crucial for successful growing seasons. Buying quality greenhouse materials will ensure a stable structure for years to come. The last thing anyone wants is to go through the installation process and do it again the next year because something breaks or falls apart. Jiggle Greenhouse offers high-quality, long-lasting building materials for greenhouses and hoop houses. There are several must-have materials to build a greenhouse and several other components along the way.
Greenhouse Building Materials
- Plastic Grow Film: Grow film is one of the most critical parts of a greenhouse. It's what gives the structure the "greenhouse" effect! Getting the right kind of grow film is crucial. A 6 Mil (0.006") thickness will help with durability and performance. Anything thinner is more likely to tear or damage in harsh weather. A UV-stabilized film is also something that quality grow film should have. Jiggly Greenhouse has a 4-year warranty on all it's grow film.
- Light Deprivation Film: The light deprivation (Zebra) film is used in a couple of different ways. There is a white side and a black side on the film. The first way it is used is in the summertime. The white side is on the outside, which reflects the outside heat away. This prevents the greenhouse from overheating. The black inside layer is used to absorb UV light. During cooler months or the wintertime, this light deprivation grow film can be reversed. The black layer will face the outside and absorb more light which will help boost the interior temperature.
- Structural Tubing: Tubing is another material that is critical to the greenhouse. It is the foundation and will hold the rest up. Galvanized steel will offer high strength while still providing weather and rust resistance.
- EMT Conduit: EMT stands for "Electrical Metallic Tubing". It is lightweight and easy to work with. The EMT tubing is generally used for installing roll-up sides for the greenhouse because of it's low weight. The conduit is installed parallel to the ground on both sides of the greenhouse around the hip level. It is sometimes referred to as the hip rail.
- Greenhouse Cross-Connector: Sometimes called Purlin brackets, these connect the hoop and purlin. It is the most common hardware piece used to build a greenhouse. These are also made of galvanized steel and require two bolts to connect them.
- Clamps: End rail and line rail clamps are needed to attach the rails. They are what connect a lot of the frame. They come in many sizes so that they can fit various pipe sizes.
- Brace and Tension Bands: Bands are needed to fasten and strengthen posts and the greenhouse's frame. They are made out of heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant galvanized steel. These are essential to the structure and integrity of the greenhouse.
- Wood To Steel Adapters: These are great things to have if planning to construct a greenhouse out of different materials. They are designed to join round metal posts to the wooden parts of the greenhouse frame. They come in many different sizes and are usually galvanized pressed steel. Set screws are used to connect the metal tubing to the adapter.
- End Wall Bracket Adapters: These adapters are used to provide support to the greenhouse's frame. The hot-dipped galvanized steel adapters connect the structural posts to the metal beams of the greenhouse. They are compatible with both wood and metal. These easy-to-install adapters will extend the life of the greenhouse.
- Floor Flanges: Floor flanges attach the base of the greenhouse to a solid surface such as concrete. They come pre-drilled and provide a solid base for extra stability. They work well for both residential and commercial greenhouses.
- Greenhouse Plugs: Greenhouse plugs are used to protect the interior of the steel tubing from the elements, such as rain, snow, and insects. They also provide safety and offer an aesthetic value to the greenhouse.
- Manual Hand Crank Winch: Sidewall ventilation is key for having healthy crops and plants. Many people choose to have side walls that roll up to let in the fresh air. The winch can connect to the conduit and roll up the plastic on the side of the greenhouse.
- Snap On Clamps: The snap-on clamps allow the plastic to be attached to the conduit on the sides of the greenhouse. This lets the plastic roll up as the winch cranks the EMT conduit.
- Powered Ventilation: Powered fans can be used to help with ventilation as well as for fogging and misting. They can be mounted in a variety of ways. They have adjustable fogging output and come with a garden hose connector. Powered greenhouse fans are usually used in commercial applications.
- Post Drivers: Post drivers are highly recommended for the installation of posts. They protect the top of the post from mushrooming. It's worth the extra cost of these to protect the greenhouse posts.
- Aluminum U-Channel: U-channel locks are necessary when connecting the greenhouse grow film to the structure. These channels can be attached to the frame of the greenhouse via Self-Tapping Tek Screws. The channels need to be installed along the sides and ends of the greenhouse. They work by laying the plastic film over them and attaching a spring wire inside the channel, holding the plastic in place.
- PVC Coated Spring Lock Wire: Jiggly wire is needed to hold the plastic grow film inside the u-channel. They work by "jiggling" the wire back and forth, which slides the bends in the wire into the channel. Our wire has a full-length PVC coating which increases the Elongation At Break rating by 30%-50% compared to the competitors' black plastic-coated spring wire. The white PVC coating absorbs less heat and will maximize the lifespan of the greenhouse plastic grow film. The PVC-coated spring wire comes with a five-year manufacturer's quality guarantee.
Floor Flanges
Of course, all of these products do not need to be purchased separately; they come in bundles and kits. Making sure you have the best materials possible will make a big difference not only when installing the greenhouse but also in the lifespan of the greenhouse. Jiggly Greenhouse is here to help. Contact one of our knowledgeable, friendly representatives for any questions or if you would like to place an order.
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