Claire70
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broken greenhouse :-(One of the panes in the roof of my (new!) greenhouse broke today. Goodness knows how - about a third of the pane seems to have just cracked across and then fallen off.
The only place in our garden we could put the greenhouse is in a corner, ie. with the neighbours' fences on two sides. So replacing this pane is going to be a pain (har har). Could anyone tell me whether there is some other kind of material I could use instead that would be good enough to keep the heat in and the rain out? I was thinking of some kind of polythene sheet, that I could stick on from the inside. Are there any special greenhouse products for this kind of thing?
Any advice appreciated!
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mochyn
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Not that I know of, but you could try any clear plastic (perspex or whatever). The light transmission won't be as good as with proper greenhouse glass, which is different from window glass, but for just one or two panes you'll never notice any real difference.
Good luck with it, and welcome!
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Chez
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I think that screwfix do something like plastic sheets (kind of two pieces back to back, with an insulation gap in between) that they say can be used for cladding a greenhouse - I've just had a look on the website and I can't find them, though; and the baby has eating that particular section of my catalogue.
As Mochyn says, they won't let as much light though as glass- but if it's only for a few panes I shouldn't think it would make that much difference.
I think it is similar to the cellular stuff that people roof conservatories with - could you perhaps try to score some off-cuts of that from your local free-cycle?
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JB
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Surely anything you try to add from the inside will be prone to leaking? and if it's that close to the fence how did you ever manage to erect it?
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Treacodactyl
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| JB wrote: | | Surely anything you try to add from the inside will be prone to leaking? and if it's that close to the fence how did you ever manage to erect it? |
I assume it was glazed from the difficult corner first?
Claire, you can buy flexible plastic sheets from DIY stores, the sort of thing found in shed windows in place of glass. I'm sure some will be suitable for a greenhouse and as it's just one pane I don't think any reduction in light will matter much.
Can you manage to glaze it from the outside if you reach through an opening roof window? If not then you could try gluing the plastic using a silicone sealant, might not be a perfect fit but better than nothing.
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James
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multi-layered polycarbonate sheeting is what you need to look for. B&Q sell it, as do a lot of more specialist co's
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RichardW
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Twin & triple wall poly will be to thick to use the standard glazing clips to fix it. Single wall plastic will be ok. Or if the glass is still just in two bits some glass repair tape would sort it.
Richard
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TAVASCAROW
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I agree with Richard & before you replace it make sure you have no grit under the glass.
Usually when glass breaks soon after assembly its because grit under the glass applies pressure after the clips have been put on causing a break.
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Claire70
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Thanks for all the suggestions. Looks like a trip to B&Q is on the cards this weekend, then. It's only about a 3rd of one pane which has broken, so the light reduction shouldn't be too much of an issue.
JB, as Treacodactyl says, we worked from the most difficult corner first. It wasn't easy, which is why it's a bit of pig that this pane has now gone and broken!
The glass which fell is mostly in one piece so maybe we can use some glass repair tape - if the OH hasn't already given it to the bin men, that is...
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