Glass greenhouses - for those who appreciate the quality

Glass greenhouses are a time-tested, reliable and aesthetically attractive option for creating orchard crops ideal conditions for growth and development. The cost of the design and its installation depends on the materials used, the size and whether the site owner will buy the greenhouse or make it himself.

Historical data on greenhouses

The history of growing vegetables using artificial methods of farming dates back to very remote times. Ancient Roman truck farmers carried out planting in the sun in the afternoon and cleaned at night in warm rooms, built a kind of greenhouses, covering the beds with a layer of manure, under which the heat was stored.

Over time, the same ancient Romans came up with the task of protecting the planting with fences covered with thin mica plates that let in sunlight. These structures and can be considered a prototype of modern greenhouses.

The first greenhouses of glass appeared in Europe in the middle of the 16th century. They were mainly used for breeding flowers and exotic plants. Glass was very expensive, so ordinary people could not afford such a luxury for growing vegetables.

The invention of the method of creating sheet glass in the 17th century in Germany led to the development of construction of greenhouses. Nevertheless, the privilege of having greenhouses from glass was possessed by well-to-do citizens. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, when the mass rolling of sheet glass began and the price of it fell sharply, the opportunity to build glass greenhouses appeared at all.

In Russia, glass greenhouses appeared under Peter 1 and were also a rarity, since their construction was too expensive. In the 30s of the last century mass construction of greenhouses on a national scale began. Soviet greenhouse combines supplied fresh produce to the whole country.

Advantages and disadvantages of glass greenhouses

Glass has certain positive qualities that determine its use in the manufacture of greenhouses:

- High transparency allows sunlight to penetrate into the greenhouse without hindrance.

- The ability to pass ultraviolet rays gives plants the ability to obtain the elements necessary for growth.

- The environmental friendliness and chemical inertness of the glass provide a healthy atmosphere in the greenhouse. It does not emit harmful substances when heated and does not react to the action of chemical agents and the influence of an aggressive environment.

- The surface of the glass is not subject to aging and abrasion, therefore, for a long time retains an attractive appearance.

- The structure of the glass does not change under the influence of high and low temperatures. Form and dimensions remain unchanged, which eliminates the construction from deformation.

- Does not require complex maintenance. To keep the glass clean, just wash it with water and wipe it with a dry cloth.

- Resistant to precipitation and does not bend under the weight of snow.

- The broken element is easy to replace.

The disadvantages of glass include large weight, brittleness, high thermal conductivity, high price compared to other materials used to cover greenhouses. Even with these obvious disadvantages, greenhouses (customer reviews confirm this) are not losing their popularity. In the opinion of those who have long enjoyed a glass greenhouse on site, the costs pay off in a couple of years, as the vegetables grow and develop in them much better. Structures are strong, and damaged elements can be easily and quickly replaced without violating the microclimate in the greenhouse.

Features of greenhouse technology

Any greenhouse, regardless of the materials used, is a strong frame, covered with sheets of transparent material. The frame is made of aluminum or steel profile or from wooden beams. For glass greenhouses, usually aluminum or wood is used to reduce the total weight of the structure, since the glass itself is quite heavy.

For the same reason, a solid, reliable foundation is needed to install a glasshouse. For greenhouses, a monolithic tape or block concrete foundation is usually used. It should be laid to the depth of freezing of the soil, but not less than 80 cm.

Usually, glass hothouses are made with a gable or slope roof. Here, the choice can make a gardener. To glass roof of the greenhouse served for a long time, for its manufacture use a glass thickness of 4-6 mm. The thicker can crack, since the temperature difference inside and outside can be very large.

Glass greenhouses are a worthy choice

Glass greenhouses and today do not lose their popularity, although other materials with similar characteristics and higher technical and physical properties have appeared.

Despite the fact that a huge number of different models of greenhouses from different materials and different price categories are on sale, true connoisseurs and connoisseurs prefer reliable, durable and attractive exterior glass structures. The price for the frame of the greenhouse for glass depends on the size of the structure, the materials used and the availability of additional elements. On average, it ranges from 20,000 to 150,000 rubles. The cost of flat glass with a thickness of 4 mm - from 150 rubles / m². Despite the high cost of the greenhouse, reviews of ready-made structures available for sale are mostly positive. It is worthwhile to listen to the beginning gardeners.

Experienced plant growers usually choose glasshouses, the price of which is high enough, knowing that the quality and reliability of the construction will eventually pay off all costs.