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Post by woolybear on Oct 12, 2023 22:03:09 GMT
Greenhouse plastic sheeting...I'm getting lost in the numbers - 6 mil, 8 mil, 10 mil and on up. I'm thinking of using the plastic to toss over my little greenhouse to help keep it warmer this winter. Before I go off spending money I need to know what to look for to get the best bang for my buck.
Thanks
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Post by sunny225 on Oct 12, 2023 23:58:17 GMT
Well, I don't know so I'll be watching this thread to see what the answers are.  |
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Post by farmrbrown on Oct 13, 2023 0:00:38 GMT
Greenhouse plastic sheeting...I'm getting lost in the numbers - 6 mil, 8 mil, 10 mil and on up. I'm thinking of using the plastic to toss over my little greenhouse to help keep it warmer this winter. Before I go off spending money I need to know what to look for to get the best bang for my buck. Thanks Ok, I'll tell you what I know and then tell you what I think.  mil thickness: It's sort of technical production language that you'd think was "millionths" but is actually "thousandths". Every damn profession likes to have their own secret language, lol. This happens to be one they use in my old profession, machining. Instead of boring you with details, I'll give you a tip to remember that will always come in handy. I don't know what color your hair is, but yank one out anyway and look at it. If your eyes are getting old like mine, grab a magnifying glass too. Brown hair like mine about .005" of an inch thick. Blondes are .004" and redheads are the thinnest, maybe .003" (There's a unit of measurement used on construction sites that I won't repeat on here, but it's for something razor thin referring to "red hairs". RCH) Ok, so know you know just how thin 6 mil plastic is,(.006") just a little thicker than one of the hairs on your head. I wouldn't ever try to use it for outdoors covering that needs to last more than a few weeks, I don't care WHAT the sales brochure says. 10 mil is TWO hairs thick, 20 mil = 4 hairs and so on. That's what I KNOW. My suggestion is start around 20 mil thick and see how you like it, whatever works for you. You'll have 2 deciding factors. How much it'll cost and what you can find.When I added a roof and screen room to my mom's porch it was apparent that sitting out there in the winter was only good for Eskimos. At 30* temp and 20+ mph wind, I realized I needed a seasonal wind blocker over the screening and went looking for clear plastic. I found a place that had 10 ft. wide rolls of it which worked perfect for me. Stapled at the top and at the bottom, stapled to a 2x2. Roll up for summer and back down for winter. It's been on 4 years now and it's about time to let it down again, lol. Know where I found it? At the local Fabric store. Yep, yards and yards of it and I was prolly the only straight guy in there, lol. But the nice ladies were happy to help me out.  I even found some that was tinted, which I put on the South side of the deck. You might choose to buy online, but don't click on the 1st place you see, the prices vary - by a LOT!. Hope that helps. |
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Post by daw on Oct 13, 2023 0:48:51 GMT
The thicker it is the less sun gets through it. You would want 4- 6 if you put it one your windows. The thinner the vinyl is the easie. r it will tear. Also the more light boards or whatever you use to fasten it down
Also the heavier the plastic/ vinyl it can be used several years if you take it down every year.
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Post by woolybear on Oct 13, 2023 2:06:31 GMT
Wow thanks for the explanation farmrbrown, I have rolls of bubble wrap that I'm going to attempt to line the inside of the greenhouse with and was thinking of trying the greenhouse plastic tossed over the top of the greenhouse. I know that seems like overkill but I have a "bad" feeling about how this winter is libel to go, and there's no way I can move all the plants into the basement. Last year it got down to 3 degrees and set the figs back big time. |
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Post by Billy G on Oct 13, 2023 5:53:39 GMT
I have very little experience with greenhouses but I have read of folks using floating row covers inside the greenhouse to help protect plants. I remember reading once of a guy wrapping his figs in burlap and dumping his raked leaves inside it as he went but it seemed like way too much work and a vole hotel in the making. Check out www.greenhousemegastore.com for row cover fabric and maybe some other ideas. |
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Post by woolybear on Oct 13, 2023 13:47:34 GMT
Thanks guys for allowing me to bounce my thoughts, ideas, and half baked ideas around this forum. I really don't have much of anyone who possess the amount of knowledge that can be found on CC to get opinions from.
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Post by fordy on Oct 13, 2023 16:27:07 GMT
Wow thanks for the explanation farmrbrown , I have rolls of bubble wrap that I'm going to attempt to line the inside of the greenhouse with and was thinking of trying the greenhouse plastic tossed over the top of the greenhouse. I know that seems like overkill but I have a "bad" feeling about how this winter is libel to go, and there's no way I can move all the plants into the basement. Last year it got down to 3 degrees and set the figs back big time. ..............Just remember , the greater the angle the more inclined the snow and ice are going to want to slide off on warm days ! 1 inch of rain = 10 inches of snow ! So , snow gets very heavy when it's left to accumulate in thickness . , fordy |
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I even found some that was tinted, which I put on the South side of the deck.