The best polycarbonate greenhouses for summer cottages in 2022

A good greenhouse is the key to a rich harvest. It is possible to build a greenhouse on your own, but during the construction process you face such difficulties as the selection, purchase and delivery of material for the manufacture of the frame and covering the structure, the selection of fittings for elements such as vents and doors, as well as fitting all parts to each other and assembly all of this into one. It is for this reason that more and more summer residents prefer not to build greenhouses on their own, but to choose ready-made options designed by specialists that simplify the processes of transportation and installation, and also take into account all the features of the Russian climate.

Criteria for choosing a good greenhouse

The purchase of a greenhouse is a solid investment, so it is worth approaching the selection process thoroughly. In order for the structure to serve for many years and not cause trouble, it must have a solid base, frame and coating, provide effective protection of structural elements from environmental influences, such as moisture and ultraviolet radiation.

Which company is better to choose a finished greenhouse

Today, thousands of models of greenhouses from hundreds of different manufacturers are presented on the market for goods for summer cottages and gardens. The following rating of quality products is based on feedback from real customers. It includes only the best manufacturers in Russia and foreign countries:

1. Volya is a Russian company headquartered in Dubna. The characteristics of the products of this trade group are most suitable for the climatic conditions of central Russia;
2. Plant of ready-made greenhouses "Osnova" - the company has many branches in Russia, which a resident of any large city can find. ZGT "Osnova" not only designs and manufactures greenhouses, but also delivers and assembles;
3. LLC "OTT" - greenhouses of the brand "Very Strong". On the market since 2007. The company has its own production. It provides services for the delivery and assembly of its own products in Moscow and the Moscow Region, assists in organizing the delivery of Very Strong products by transport companies to the regions.

Choosing a greenhouse frame

The frame is a kind of skeleton that helps keep the whole structure. You should not save on materials, otherwise the greenhouse will not last long. The main materials, their pros and cons are shown in the summary table.

Construction materials	pros	Minuses
Wood	Eco-friendly, low cost	Sagging, subject to decay
Aluminum	Lightweight material, easy maintenance	Does not withstand heavy loads, breaks under the influence of strong winds
Plastic	Elegance, ease, accessibility	Low strength
Steel	Easy to assemble, reliable, stays in its original form for a long time	High price

Summing up, we can say that inexpensive materials turn out to be such only at first glance: an aluminum or plastic construction will ultimately cost several times more than a steel one. Permanent repair work to replace failed elements will be needed every season, which is unlikely to benefit the family budget.

In addition to the material of the frame arcs, you need to look at the number of arches: the more of them, the higher the rigidity of the structure and, accordingly, the service life of the building.

Greenhouse cover: polycarbonate or glass?

There are 3 main types of greenhouse cover: polycarbonate, film and glass. Each of the materials has its own advantages and disadvantages, which can be compared in a summary table.

What to consider when choosing	Glass	Polycarbonate	Film
Strength	Resistant to snow and wind, but not hail	High, the thinner the polycarbonate, the higher the strength	Low: plain film will last 1-2 seasons
Mounting	Will require professional assistance due to fragility and heavy weight	Depends on the frame of the greenhouse, can be simple and medium complexity	Simple
plant comfort	Heats up quickly, but also cools down quickly, colder than others	Provides proper temperature and humidity	Provides proper temperature and humidity
Environmental friendliness	high	May release harmful substances when exposed to high temperatures	May release harmful substances when exposed to high temperatures
Main advantages	Resistant to abrasives and pesticides: residues are easy to wash off with water, retain their attractive appearance for a long time, you can save on the frame due to the large weight of the glass	Low price, ease of weight and installation, availability, maintains an ideal microclimate in the greenhouse, unpretentious maintenance	Low price, easy operation
Flaws	Do not withstand the hail and fight	If you do not ventilate the greenhouse, on sunny days the temperature rises to 55 degrees Celsius, it can break under a thick layer of snow	The need for dismantling at the end of the summer season

Polycarbonate is often positioned as a budget analogue of glass, but in fact this statement is very far from the truth: the properties of all materials typical for covering greenhouses are very different from each other. Nevertheless, polycarbonate is the optimal coating for a country greenhouse.

What kind of polycarbonate is better to cover the greenhouse

There are several types of polycarbonate:

1. Cellular polycarbonate is the most common on the market for summer cottages, because it has a low cost and good thermal insulation properties, ideal for covering greenhouses. The most common sheet thickness is 4 mm, a sheet with a thickness of 6 mm will have special strength;
2. Monolithic polycarbonate - you can rarely meet it on the store counter, although the quality of the material is much higher than that of its cellular counterpart.The almost transparent canvas transmits up to 90% of the sun's rays, has higher strength, easy installation and high flexibility. The owner can choose what color of polycarbonate will decorate his greenhouse, an important advantage is the environmental friendliness of the material and safety for health;
3. Profiled polycarbonate is a novelty on the Russian market, which has not yet received wide distribution. At a price, its sheet will be close to the cost of cellular polycarbonate, but in terms of density, the indicators are close to monolithic. This type of greenhouse cover has a wavy structure and should be used for roofs of greenhouses and greenhouses.

Summing up, we can say that the answer to the question of monolithic or cellular polycarbonate to choose to cover the greenhouse depends solely on the financial capabilities of the buyer. If funds allow, it is better to opt for a monolithic coating.

The best arched polycarbonate greenhouses

Arched greenhouses in appearance resemble hemispheres: the popularity of models of this design is due to the high resistance to the merciless natural elements. The spherical shape provides wind resistance, and the absence of corners allows snow to easily roll off the roof.

Greenhouse "Dachnaya - Optima" (Volya company)

The greenhouse has won a special place in the hearts of summer residents of Russia for its high strength: the domed roof not only helps to roll the snow cover off the structure, but can also withstand up to 280 kg per 1 m². The basis of the frame is a metal profile 60x20 mm with galvanization, the wall thickness of the profile is 1 mm, which allows you to maintain a balance of strength and weight of the structure.A door is installed at each end - to get into the greenhouse, you do not need to go around it, and if the weather does not allow you to open the doors, there are vents to ventilate the building. The width of the structure is standard 3 meters, and the length can be chosen - available in lengths of 4, 6 or 8 meters.

How much does it cost - 4 * 3 m - 24170 rubles.

• Rugged construction;
• Anti-corrosion profile coating;
• The design can withstand a 1.5 m layer of snow;
• If desired, you can extend the greenhouse;
• Holds heat well
• Does not require a foundation.

• Complicated assembly;
• No sealing tape included
• Often there are not enough self-tapping screws and bolts in the kit.

Greenhouse Very Strong "Reinforced"

Very Strong "Reinforced" - this building demonstrates an excellent ratio of budgetary cost and effective cultivation of plants in a greenhouse. Despite the affordable price, compared to other offers on the market with similar characteristics, the greenhouse design is functional and has a decent size and roomy capabilities.

The greenhouse is installed on a wooden beam foundation, which simplifies installation. Arched elements are a double arc - 40x20 mm and 20x20 mm. This ensures the proper level of rigidity of the entire structure and allows you to cope with a load of up to 800 kg / m2. For the manufacture of frame elements, a profile pipe with galvanized outer and inner surfaces is used, which avoids corrosion during dew inside the pipes. The cover uses polycarbonate with UV protection. The length of the greenhouse can vary - 4, 6, 8 and 10 m.

The average price of a 3x4 m building is 20,000 rubles.

• Increased level of strength through the use of a double arch;
• Profile with external and internal galvanization, wall thickness 1.2 mm;
• Polycarbonate with UV protection;
• Easy to assemble;
• 10 year manufacturer's warranty.

• The need for a foundation.

Greenhouse Siberian Zinc

The width of the Siberian Zinc greenhouse is 3 meters and the height is 2.1 m. The base is made of a pipe galvanized on both sides, the dimensions of which are 20x20 mm, which ensures an excellent level of structural safety from the negative effects of corrosion processes.

The model has five horizontal connections. The design easily copes with gusts of strong winds up to 25 meters per second and snow loads of no more than 435 kg / m², which is equivalent to a 75-centimeter layer of dry snow. The model has 2 doors and 2 vents, which are located in the doors, at the ends of the structure.

How much it costs - from 21599 rubles.

• Double galvanized arches measuring 20x20 mm.
• Crab fixation system.
• Solid arcs.
• Sold in various variations with an arc interval of 1 and 0.65 m.

• Solid arcs cannot be transported in a passenger car.
• The complexity of self-assembly.

The best equal-walled greenhouses

Equal-walled greenhouses are an excellent solution for growing a large number of tall crops, as they allow you to increase the height depending on the needs of the owner. These are large greenhouses that take up as much space on the site as arched greenhouses, but at the same time have a larger internal volume.

Greenhouse "Delta" (manufacturer "Volya")

Building with straight walls and a gable roof. The absence of bent elements facilitates assembly. The frame is made of a profiled galvanized pipe 20x20 mm, which greatly facilitates the construction. The sliding roof eliminates the problem of snow load in winter and facilitates ventilation. In addition, there are two doors and two windows. The design has the usual 3 meters in width, and the length can be varied - options are available in 4, 6 or 8 meters.

The average price of a 3x4 m building is 24,750 rubles.

• Ease of construction;
• Sliding roof;
• Large internal volume;
• Ease of installation.

• The need to make a foundation;
• The complexity of the design due to the sliding roof.

Greenhouse Very Strong "Square"

Very Strong "Square" is a suitable proposal for summer residents who are anxious about the issue of allocating limited space for a greenhouse. With a small width, it has a decent internal volume due to straight walls. The arched elements of the roof are made of a solid profile pipe 40x20 mm, and there are 7 ties to increase the strength and rigidity of the structure. This technical solution can withstand loads up to 450 kg/m². The design can be 2 and 2.5 m wide. Length options are 4, 6, 8 and 10 m.

The average price of a 2x4 m building is 15,000 rubles.

• Large internal volume with small width;
• Profile with external and internal galvanization, wall thickness 1.2 mm;
• Polycarbonate with UV protection;
• Installation is simple;
• The manufacturer gives a 10-year warranty.

• The need to make a foundation;
• Limited size range of width.

The best cone greenhouses

The cone-shaped shape of the greenhouse allows you to grow plants that are gaining a lot of height: it is convenient to place climbing shoots in them. In addition, the streamlined shape allows snow to slide off easily without accumulating on the slopes of the roof.

"Oakwood" (from Glass House)

This type of greenhouse is more focused on professional gardeners than on average owners of summer cottages. The width of the structure is as much as 4 meters, while the standard for a summer cottage is 3. You can choose the length to your liking, but the minimum figure is also 4 meters. Despite the large volume, greenhouses of this type are quite compact and do not look unnecessarily bulky. The height of the building is as much as 2.8 meters, and on the roof there are triangular windows for ventilation.

Additional ties are mounted in the frame - they not only give it rigidity, but can also help in installing additional ventilation, heating elements or lighting wiring. The frame can withstand up to 180 kg of snow per 1 square meter, even if covered with cellular polycarbonate.

The average price for a 4x4 design is 47,000 rubles.

• Compactness;
• Ability to plant very tall plants;
• Strength;
• Galvanized corners, handles and doors;
• 30-year manufacturer's warranty (applies to the frame);

• Price.

Greenhouse "Dachnaya - Strelka-2.6" (Volya company)

The drop-shaped form of one of the latest models from the old-timer of the greenhouse market of the Volya company allows you to grow inside a plant up to 2.5 m in height. But the advantages of this miracle of engineering do not end there. The main advantage of "Dachnaya - Strelka-2.6" is its high strength.The frame is made of thick galvanized iron, not subject to corrosion, and is able to withstand weight up to 450 kg! Snowy winters are no longer terrible for the owner of such a greenhouse.

The average price for a greenhouse 4 m long, 2.6 m wide will be 23,800 rubles.

• High strength;
• The ability to choose the size (width 2.6 or 3 meters);
• Beautiful design;
• Easy assembly;
• Reliable manufacturing company.

• High price.

Greenhouse Very Strong "Droplet"

The gable greenhouse with a ridge on the roof is available in three widths and heights: 2.7x2.5 m; 3x2.4 m; 3.5x3.1 m. Frame profiles are galvanized, which makes it possible to protect against corrosion. An increased level of strength is guaranteed by 7 ties, thanks to which the structure can withstand a load of 340 kg / m². Polycarbonate is attached to the frame with roof bolts: gusts of wind are no longer a danger. A high arch will allow growing tomatoes and melons using pins and a tying system, which significantly saves the planting area. The maximum length of the greenhouse offered by the manufacturer is standard 10 m. The design has 2 vents on the sides as a ventilation system.

How much does a greenhouse with polycarbonate 2.7x4 m cost - 19,000 rubles.

• High design, convenient for growing tomatoes and gourds;
• The frame is durable;
• Galvanized profiles;
• Relatively low price;
• 10 year manufacturer's warranty.

• Low snow load;
• The ridge is poorly sealed.

Whatever greenhouse the buyer ultimately chooses, polycarbonate and its thickness can always be discussed with the consultant separately.If during the winter they don’t look at the dacha, the thicker and denser the polycarbonate will be, the lower the probability of breakdowns of the vegetable “dwelling”. A solid greenhouse will delight the owner for many years not only with an elegant appearance, but also with a significant increase in yield, so you should not save on it.