This month, and in the following months, we’ll be exploring various greenhouse coverings or glazing.  Last month we provided a broad overview of each type.  Knowing the benefits and details of each will help you decide which choice is the best for your greenhouse in terms of aesthetics, value, and budget.  Each glazing type offers various benefits according to function and longevity, but glass is superior to all with its lifespan and beauty.  With that in mind, let’s explore the appeal of glass.

Glass greenhouses are charming, and luxurious, and provide an excellent growing environment.  The clarity of glass creates the feeling of being outdoors, making glass greenhouses the iconic choice for many.  Because glass provides so many advantages in greenhouse growing, it is not only attractive but practical and useful.  Glass is an optimal choice for not only residential customers, but also research facilities and commercial production houses.  Glass greenhouses set a precedence for all other greenhouses!  Not many would dispute their allure and elegance, but let’s take a look at the incredible benefits of a glass greenhouse.

Advantages of Using Glass:

Glass transmits almost 100% light and will maintain that clarity for a lifetime, compared to 80% light transmission with double-wall polycarbonate.  Glass allows the most sunlight to enter a greenhouse, providing the highest amount of natural light for maximum potential photosynthesis and year-round gardening.

• Due to the weight of glass, greenhouse structural framing is generally stronger than other greenhouses.
• You can choose from several glass options to improve insulation and help with solar heat gain, providing better crop protection and using less energy.
• Glass can function for 40-50 years without failure.  It is non-combustible, resistant to UV radiation and air pollutant degradation, and maintains its initial radiation transmission if cleaned regularly.
• Although glass is more costly initially, you will save long-term money by lessening your dependence on supplemental lighting.
• Glass is vulnerable to catastrophic losses such as hail and other weather extremes, but individual panes are easily and inexpensively replaced.

Glass Types:

• Single-layered glass is treated for safety and durability
• Double glass has additional insulation with two panes of safety glass pocketing a thin air barrier.  This barrier reduces solar heat gain and also aids in preventing heat loss and condensation in winter.
• Low E or low emissive glass is further coated to reduce both heat and cold transfer, as well as radiation. The coating reflects heat inside during the winter and away from the structure in the summer.
• Diffused Glass is a newer technology that has proven to benefit crops.  It helps regulate light and temperature, creating a stable greenhouse environment.  Although it is a more expensive option, the production benefits may balance the initial cost expenditure.

Glass is a fantastic choice for greenhouses, but it is also used for pool enclosures, spa enclosures, conservatories, solariums, sunrooms, and even skylights.  Gothic Arch Greenhouses can help you with each of these choices.  We offer our glass greenhouses in many styles such as Victorian, English Cottage, Grand Hideaway, American Classic, Commercial, AC Garden, and Cape Cod.  We also provide greenhouse accessories and supplies to suit every horticultural need.

Gothic Arch Greenhouses has invested time in selecting the finest glass greenhouse lines for all price ranges, architectural styles, and horticultural applications.  We have been serving growers since 1946, and we bring years of expertise in recommending a top-quality glass greenhouse for any application.  If you want a beautiful, permanent, and valuable greenhouse that will bring you a lifetime of joy, a glass greenhouse is the best choice for you.  Call Gothic Arch Greenhouses’ team of specialists today at 1-800-531-4769 for expert advice on selecting the right luxury glass greenhouse, sunroom, solarium, sunroom kit, conservatory, swimming pool enclosure, and custom-designed greenhouse enclosures for your home, business, or facility.