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 EASY CLEAN GLASS
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
  • Offered as an upgrade to standard and tempered glass
  • 1/8” thick
  • 1.0 R-value

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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

 
  • Reduces the frequency of cleaning due to its self-cleaning properties
  • Maintains clarity, improving light diffusion for plants
  • Coasting is long-lasting and resistant to degradation, even in harsh conditions.
  • Reduces the need for chemical cleaning products
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
  • Higher upfront cost compared to standard glass options
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

Generally requires less frequent cleaning, relying on natural elements like rain to assist in removing dirt

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

Exterior Glazing Options

Tudor with glass in roof and walls

Exterior Glazing Options

Trillium with Twin Wall Polycarbonate in roof and glass in walls