Hello,
I’m on the fence if I should cover the roof in tin or clear polycarbonate panels (similar to the walls). I’ve had people tell me that doing the roof in clear panels may cause the greenhouse to get too hot. Thoughts/experience?
I live in northern Alberta so lots of sunlight in the spring/summer. Front wall is 6’ of clear panels and is south facing.
by Custodianscruffy
13 Comments
Clear. The sloped roof beams could have wires from top to bottom that would allow you to create a curtain system out of synthetic material that you could raise / lower to regulate light at certain times of the year.
Maybe some with a natural shade like grey…something to give sun but still shaded.
Clear panels you can always darken it if needed if it’s too hot but you can’t make the tin ones clear if you want more heat.
If you don’t like your original choice one can be painted or shaded the other one would need a total redo. I base most home projects off this
Depends on what you are growing. I used opal twin wall for my roof and the diffusion is great, even under tree cover., but I grow a lot of understory tropicals that don’t need a ton of light.
Tin just makes it a shed. Clear makes it a greenhouse
Very nice, clear panels for sure
Clear for sure!
Clear with shade cloth as needed.
Tin will absorb and hold in heat. Clear will let through light and heat. Opaque/white will let thru light and reflect heat
My greenhouse is an opaque white – never gets to hot and the vegetables are thriving in the sunshine
IMO mixed. Unsure which the sun comes in etc. I would prep insulation with utilities.
Also wanted to say, dam that build looks great already.
Wait for input from a fellow with northern climate. Cheers from GP
Hi there, I’m in interior BC (51st parallel) and built an earth-sheltered south-facing greenhouse last year. I posted a similar question [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Permaculture/s/GRZ87YuOlK). You can read my specs on the post, but I ended up going with metal roofing. I have recycled metal roofing for interior ceiling sheathing, then rockwool insulation, then metal roofing for the exterior. I am mostly using the greenhouse for season extension (late winter through late spring, early fall through early winter). I used a sun-seeker app to see how much sunlight I’d lose by having an opaque roof and in those shoulder seasons it was barely any at all because of the low sun angles. Plus, the insulation helps moderate temperatures both in the hot summer days and the cold winter nights. Your priorities might be different! Feel free to DM with any questions/ for more clarifications.
https://preview.redd.it/fbanzsu774od1.jpeg?width=3845&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ff0b5c7ae699c15eae92ab7f9e409d61dde91f9