From the POV of greenhouse best practices, how effective are recycled window greenhouses? And are they the ultimate inexpensive way to build an aesthetically pleasing greenhouse, or are there better cost saving alternatives?
From the POV of greenhouse best practices, how effective are recycled window greenhouses? And are they the ultimate inexpensive way to build an aesthetically pleasing greenhouse, or are there better cost saving alternatives?
Kinda depends on how cheap you can find quality recycled windows locally, and what kind of greenhouse you are trying to build/what kind of plants you are growing. This is such a broad question.
FreshMistletoe
The r-value of single pane glass is not good compared to twin wall polycarbonate.
Would be harder to keep warm in winter. On the other hand glass won’t degrade like twin wall does.
iandcorey
Old windows are closer to rotting so you’ll get less life out of them. Framing all the various sized openings is time consuming. You’ll be using a lot of caulk to seal gaps unless you’re very good at carpentry. You can’t place sashes horizontally for the roof.
Polycarbonate and a simple stick frame would create a better greenhouse.
saladman425
In the words of my horticulture professor: “a well insulated greenhouse is a poorly constructed lie”
You can’t let light in effectively while insulating well. Polycarb panels are your best option (some even have one way IR and/or UV coatings) while plastic sheeting is the worst.
One advantage of glass is that its heavy and resists winds a bit better than plastic, bit its also glass and if the wind us swirly and throws something your greenhouse is a goner
BabyKatsMom
I love old window greenhouses! I liked the idea of recycling something that would have otherwise gone to the dump. I like to DIY and I thought it would be neat to build it myself. I dragged my husband all over our county to collect free windows. I even got some decorative stained glass ones. I collected 59 windows over the course of a year. I was ready to go! My son-in-law, an engineer, refused to get onboard with the idea, coming up with all sorts of reasons old wooden framed, single pane glass windows set in lead painted wood was a bad idea in SoCal (earthquakes, high heat, critters, loose or missing glass, etc). My husband finally got tired of me talking about the greenhouse I was going to build and told me to just buy one (and basically shut-up about it, lol). So that’s what we did and I love it! I still have the old windows I collected but they are rapidly degrading, some glass is broken/cracked, panes are missing, lead paint is chipping off, wood is rotting, etc… so I guess I’m reduced to building mini greenhouses like this (if I ever get out of my greenhouse and find the time!) 😹
5 Comments
Kinda depends on how cheap you can find quality recycled windows locally, and what kind of greenhouse you are trying to build/what kind of plants you are growing. This is such a broad question.
The r-value of single pane glass is not good compared to twin wall polycarbonate.
https://www.greenhousecatalog.com/greenhouse-insulation
Would be harder to keep warm in winter. On the other hand glass won’t degrade like twin wall does.
Old windows are closer to rotting so you’ll get less life out of them. Framing all the various sized openings is time consuming. You’ll be using a lot of caulk to seal gaps unless you’re very good at carpentry. You can’t place sashes horizontally for the roof.
Polycarbonate and a simple stick frame would create a better greenhouse.
In the words of my horticulture professor: “a well insulated greenhouse is a poorly constructed lie”
You can’t let light in effectively while insulating well. Polycarb panels are your best option (some even have one way IR and/or UV coatings) while plastic sheeting is the worst.
One advantage of glass is that its heavy and resists winds a bit better than plastic, bit its also glass and if the wind us swirly and throws something your greenhouse is a goner
I love old window greenhouses! I liked the idea of recycling something that would have otherwise gone to the dump. I like to DIY and I thought it would be neat to build it myself. I dragged my husband all over our county to collect free windows. I even got some decorative stained glass ones. I collected 59 windows over the course of a year. I was ready to go! My son-in-law, an engineer, refused to get onboard with the idea, coming up with all sorts of reasons old wooden framed, single pane glass windows set in lead painted wood was a bad idea in SoCal (earthquakes, high heat, critters, loose or missing glass, etc). My husband finally got tired of me talking about the greenhouse I was going to build and told me to just buy one (and basically shut-up about it, lol). So that’s what we did and I love it! I still have the old windows I collected but they are rapidly degrading, some glass is broken/cracked, panes are missing, lead paint is chipping off, wood is rotting, etc… so I guess I’m reduced to building mini greenhouses like this (if I ever get out of my greenhouse and find the time!) 😹
https://preview.redd.it/6eb7sgqfp52f1.jpeg?width=193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=977809de4d6a385c4fa0105067c7ad5f6f523db8