Exterior Glazing Options

Sturdi-Built offers three exterior glazing options — Standard Glass, Tempered Glass, and Twin Wall Polycarbonate — and an interior glazing system called our Thermal Option™ which can be used for additional insulation. Each exterior glazing choice offers advantages and disadvantages. The best exterior glazing material for your greenhouse is determined by personal preferences, climate and budget.

Most of our greenhouse kits come with Standard Glass in the walls and roof. Customers may upgrade to Tempered Glass or Twin Wall Polycarbonate for an additional cost. Please note that Twin Wall Polycarbonate can only be used in the roof as glass in the walls provides structure for the greenhouse frame.

See below for a chart that can help as you decide which material is best for you.

	STANDARD GLASS	TEMPERED GLASS	TWIN WALL POLYCARBONATE
SUMMARY	The same material as most home window glass 1/8” thick 1.0 R-value	Same material as auto glass 1/8” thick 1.0 R-value	81% light transmission 6mm thick 1.7 R-value
ADVANTAGES	Comes with greenhouse (no additional cost) Fully transparent Long-lasting Inexpensive to replace Available at most local glass shops Easy to clean	4x stronger than Standard Glass Can withstand more snow load than Standard Glass and Twin Wall Polycarbonate Breaks in small pieces for safety Long-lasting Fully transparent Resists scratches Available at most local glass shops Easy to clean	250x stronger than Standard Glass UV-protected Impact-resistant Light-diffusing Prevents leaf burn Lightweight Better thermal efficiency than glass Provides frost protection
DISADVANTAGES	Most fragile material we offer Least forgiving to hits Breaks in shards Potential to burn plants due to the level of clarity Heavier than Twin Wall Polycarbonate	Potential to burn plants due to the level of clarity Heavier than Twin Wall Polycarbonate More prone to breakage than Twin Wall Polycarbonate	Not as resistant to scratches as glass 15-20 year average lifespan Not fully transparent
MAINTENANCE	Clean with any glass specific cleaning product	Clean with any glass specific cleaning product	Clean gently using warm water with a few drops of liquid detergent and a microfiber cloth

STANDARD ANNEALED GLASS

SUMMARY

The same material as most home window glass
1/8” thick
1.0 R-value

ADVANTAGES

Comes with greenhouse (no additional cost)
Fully transparent
Long-lasting
Inexpensive to replace
Available at most local glass shops
Easy to clean

DISADVANTAGES

Most fragile material we offer
Least forgiving to hits
Breaks in shards
Potential to burn plants due to the level of clarity
Heavier than Twin Wall Polycarbonate

MAINTENANCE

Clean with any glass specific cleaning product

TEMPERED GLASS

SUMMARY

Same material as auto glass
1/8” thick
1.0 R-value

ADVANTAGES

4x stronger than standard annealed glass
Can withstand more snow load than standard glass and twin wall polycarbonate
Breaks in small pieces for safety
Long-lasting
Fully transparent
Resists scratches
Available at most local glass shops
Easy to clean

DISADVANTAGES

Potential to burn plants due to the level of clarity
Heavier than Twin Wall Polycarbonate
More prone to breakage than Twin Wall Polycarbonate

MAINTENANCE

Clean with any glass specific cleaning product

TWIN WALL POLYCARBONATE

SUMMARY

81% light transmission
6mm thick
1.7 R-value

ADVANTAGES

250x stronger than standard glass
UV-protected
Impact-resistant
Light-diffusing
Prevents leaf burn
Lightweight
Better thermal efficiency than glass
Provides frost protection

DISADVANTAGES

Not as resistant to scratches as glass
15-20 year average lifespan
Not fully transparent

MAINTENANCE

Clean gently using warm water with a few drops of liquid detergent and a microfiber cloth

Tudor with glass in roof and walls

Trillium with Twin Wall Polycarbonate in roof and glass in walls