Lexan Polycarbonate Sheets Info and Facts

We get a lot of questions about lexan polycarbonate sheets as a greenhouse covering. For the most part we discover that people want to over complicate the issue. This information will address precisely what greenhouse lexan polycarbonate sheets are.

Lexan polycarbonate sheets, simply put, are a plastic. They're lightweight (1/6th the weight of glass), virtually unbreakable (impact strength 200 times greater than glass), have superb weather resistance (due to the UV protection on one or two sides of the sheets), have excellent insulation (due to the multiple layers with channels in between) and are flexible and simple to install (see specific information on each thickness). You can purchase it in solid sheets, corrugated, or multiwall. The typical configurations employed for greenhouse glazing are corrugated and multiwall. The reason the solid sheets aren't recommended is due to the fact that they are not widely available with a UV protection on one side. The actual UV protection will keep the sheets from yellowing or getting brittle. Some people will mistakenly believe this impacts the light transmission of the sheets. It has nothing to do with that. The sheets with Ultra violet protection on one side are typically guaranteed for 10 years against yellowing and hail damage. This will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. There's also sheets available with Ultra violet protection on both sides. These are generally used for vertical applications for example fencing where both sides of the sheet experience the sun. Although this may be used for a greenhouse, it's typically more expensive and unneeded.

Corrugated sheets are lexan polycarbonate sheets that are typically very thin, usually 0.8mm. It's available in the wavy or greca style. It will work great for a greenhouse, but will not have as much insulation as a double wall sheet.

The easiest way to visualise a twin wall sheet is to think about looking down the edge of a cardboard container. There is a sheet on the inside, a sheet on the outside with a rib running in between the sheets. The rib in a cardboard container will be wavy. The rib in lexan polycarbonate sheets runs straight between the 2 sheets. Both sides of the sheet are flat. The lexan polycarbonate sheets are clear, but not "crystal clear" like glass. The actual rib will distort your view somewhat. It's available in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 16mm thickness. The 16mm is typically a triple wall - which means there will be a sheet running between the 2 exterior lexan polycarbonate sheets. There's also some 8mm sheets available as a triple wall. Typically, the thicker the sheet, the better the actual insulation factor. One should consider the initial cost of the polycarbonate when considering the overall savings due to energy costs. A 16mm sheet is about 5/8" thick. Lexan polycarbonate sheets are shipped by truck because they can't be rolled and must be shipped flat.

Most greenhouses are glazed with clear polycarbonate. It's available also in bronze as well as opal. These will cut down on light transmission significantly. Of course, whether you want to consider opal or bronze will depend on the needs of your particular plants. In closing, lexan polycarbonate sheets are a great choice for greenhouse glazing. It is easy to set up and durable.

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Emco Industrial Plastics Lexan Polycarbonate Sheets Cedar Groove, NJ 888-588-0597 www.emcoplastics.com

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