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Posted: Jan/01/2007 1:17 AM PST
I am wanting to build a full sized Greenhouse, and I think I have located some 4X8 foot sheets of 1/4 inch think tempered glass that is tinted. It was made for a store front. I plan to concrete some 4X4 inch square posts in the ground, build some trusses for the roof, and use these sheets of glass for the roof, and sides. Being tempered means I can't cut them, I have to use them whole. I will have to measure them first before I can finish the plans for it. My question is since they have a dark tint, would that cut out to much sunlight to the plants? |
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Posted: Jan/03/2007 6:44 AM PST
I have some drawing that are almost to scale.  Side View south Side  Front View East End  Back view West End  Roof Section North Side, South side will not have window  Offset Roof Design 1  Offset Roof Design 2 |
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Posted: Jan/04/2007 4:19 AM PST
I have heard that plants grow differently when exposed to different colors of light but I am not sure about the tint. You might be in trouble if it has a UVA/UVB blocking coat as those rays are used by the plants. Sorry I can't be any more specific than that but I am not really experienced in this area. |
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Posted: Jan/04/2007 2:09 PM PST
I think the tint would block out to much sun, especially if it's dark tint. Thats my opinion. Is the tint embedded or just applied to the glass? |
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Posted: Jan/04/2007 2:27 PM PST
Sorry that I can't help ya with the tint, i would think maybe a local greenhouse could help you out. Good luck with your project and let us know how you make out |
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Posted: Jan/04/2007 9:37 PM PST
Your design is VERY impressive and puts to shame my little glasshouse, which, coincidentally, was built using repurposed tempered glass panels. In our case, the panels were salvaged from old sliding glass doors, and were not tinted. [IMG]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/ozonetr aveler/the%20garden/5-13-0687.jpg[/IMG] Since we are in a relatively mild climate (zone 8), we didn't worry much about maximizing roof angles for optimum solar gain, we just sort of designed the structure as we went along. As you've said, the fixed size of the glass panels set some of our parameters and local codes forced us to stay at 12'x12' . . . larger would have been preferable.  Our roof has quite a low peak line (again, due to the size of the glass panels) but as we rarely have significant snow load, that didn't worry us, in fact, it's probably for the best, since our major weather concern are hurricanes, making the low profile an advantage. I would also be concerned about the tint, as it was probably specifically applied(?) to block at least part of the solar spectrum. But I must add, that is just a gut feeling on my part and I am definitely no expert. |
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Posted: Jan/04/2007 9:40 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by zuzuspetals Your design is VERY impressive and puts to shame my little glasshouse,which, coincidentally, was built using repurposed tempered glass panels. In our case, the panels were salvaged from old sliding glass doors, and were not tinted. [IMG]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/ozonetr aveler/the%20garden/5-13-0687.jpg[/IMG] Since we are in a relatively mild climate (zone 8), we didn't worry much about maximizing roof angles for optimum solar gain, we just sort of designed the structure as we went along. As you've said, the fixed size of the glass panels set some of our parameters and local codes forced us to stay at 12'x12' . . . larger would have been preferable. Our roof has quite a low peak line (again, due to the size of the glass panels) but as we rarely have significant snow load, that didn't worry us, in fact, it's probably for the best, since our major weather concern are hurricanes, making the low profile an advantage. I would also be concerned about the tint, as it was probably specifically applied(?) to block at least part of the solar spectrum. But I must add, that is just a gut feeling on my part and I am definitely no expert. I was just going to tell her about your green house you posted a few months back. Boy is that thing rememberable. I still am going to find some scrap building materials for my green house if i ever get a house to live in lol |
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Posted: Jan/05/2007 11:02 PM PST
If the tinting is not to heavy it may be ok. Terry |
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Posted: Jan/28/2007 3:54 AM PST
i know these things: 1. it is said that diffused light is better for greenhouse plants, since it causes the light to be more evenly distributed, and eliminates hotspots which can harm plants...this is why you frequently see greenhouses with glass whitewashed...the tint may, or may not, accomplish this..it really depends on how dark it is, and as stated above, whether or not there is a special coating that blocks certain wavelengths...based on what the glass was originally intended for, i would try a bit of experimentation with it before i committed to building a permanent structure with it... 2. i am in indiana's master gardener's course right now, and the other night our lecturer told us that glass cuts the candlepower of the sunlight passing through it by 50%...the example he gave was that if the sunlight measured at 10,000 footcandles right outside the glass in question, it would measure at 5,000 footcandles directly against the other side of the glass...the discussion was dealing with starting plants indoors to get a jump on the growing season, and using a sunny window for the purpose...he also said that for every four feet of distance into the room that you went away from the window, the footcandle power would again be decreased by 50%... i have no idea if any of this can be of use to you...i do applaud your efforts in trying to get a greenhouse going, and i wish you all good fortune and success in your endeavors... dagu |
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Posted: Jan/28/2007 1:33 PM PST
I am also looking into building one out of pipe. I have some chain link fence pipe that I need to do something with. I think I can use the PVC greenhouse fittings on this pipe, and make a stronger frame. I can cover it with Polycarbonite panels. What does your instructor say about Poly panels?? I will have to check to see if the PVC fittings fit over the chain link pipe first. The pipe is 1 5/8 O.D. and PVC is measured I.D. so if I have it figured correctly 1 1/4 PVC 'should' fit over it. Again I will have to do the math, and plan it all out. Man this Gardening is hard work. 
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