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 |
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| ADVANTAGES |
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| DISADVANTAGES |
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| 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
