The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Our recommendations

The transparent twin wall sheets from KESSER (R) are very popular with many Amazon reviewers. With the standard dimensions, they are ideal replacement panels - but are also suitable for the DIY construction of a completely new greenhouse or one Cold frames. Buyers praise the high-quality workmanship of the panels and the absolutely flawless delivery. This should convince both in terms of time and quality. In addition, cutting the panels with a craft knife or a Jigsaw(€ 45.49 at Amazon *) not pose a problem.

In fact, the hollow wall sheets from wolketon have the same basic characteristics as the winner in our comparative analysis based on the reviews on Amazon. The mail-order company's customers are also very positive about these models. Apparently installed, the plates make a very stable impression. In addition, the individual cutting and installation seem to go relatively easily by hand.

Like the greenhouse panels from wolketon, the twin wall panels from Hengda are particularly praised for their excellent price-performance ratio. The advantages include the clear identification of the outside and inside (blue-white sides belong on the outside, pure white sides on the inside) - it makes it easier to install the panels in Self-directed. In summary, it is a cheap option for repairing or building a new greenhouse.

Purchase criteria

Type / material

Glass plates: Glass greenhouse panels are the classics. They have been used since ancient times. Nowadays, however, they play a rather subordinate role, as the disadvantages outweigh the other materials. Conventional glass plates are easy to care for, but also heavy and not very shatterproof and poorly insulating. They can only be processed into a greenhouse in a reasonably stable manner by experienced professionals. Even talented do-it-yourselfers often reach their limits here.

insulating glass: Insulating glass consists of two panes running parallel in a frame - with a layer of carbon dioxide in between. As a result, the special glass insulates as well as plastic, but at the price of an extremely high weight, which makes processing a real Herculean task.

ESG panels: ESG panels (ESG = toughened safety glass) are also made of glass, but a particularly high-quality variant of it. The panels are at least three millimeters thick and are considered to be extremely break-proof, generally stable and durable. In addition, they are accompanied by a high level of light transmission of 85 to 95 percent. These advantages are noticeable in the price: Greenhouse panels made of ESG are relatively expensive.

Gristle glass: Nörpelglas is structured on one side. This property distinguishes it from other types of glass for greenhouse panels. You cannot see clearly through these plates; the sunlight nevertheless paves its way inside. The rays are even refracted by the glass structure in such a way that excellent lighting conditions result for the plants. Visually, a greenhouse made of Nörpelglas loses its elegance. It is also more prone to dirt.

Double wall sheets: Double wall sheets, which are now clearly the most frequently used roofing for building a greenhouse, are made of plastic, more precisely of polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas). They have a similar level of light transmission as glass plates, but insulate much better. Further advantages: The multi-skin sheets are insensitive to scratches, very lightweight and inexpensive to purchase. In addition, they do not yellow even after several years of use. The only disadvantage is that it is more susceptible to weather than other plastic sheets and ESG sheets.

Twin-wall sheets: Twin-wall sheets are also made from plastic, but from polycarbonate. They basically look exactly like double-walled sheets and are processed identically - but the properties are different. The polycarbonate greenhouse can turn yellow if you don't clean it regularly. In addition, HKPs are more prone to scratches and more expensive than DSPs. The high weather resistance is an advantage. When it comes to transparency or light permeability and weight, twin wall sheets are as convincing as double wall sheets thanks to their similar values.

Insulation (k-value) / temperature resistance

Plastic plates insulate better than glass plates and are therefore more temperature-resistant. This is because they trap a layer of air. The result is long-lasting, constant temperatures, which in turn create optimized growth conditions in the greenhouse. The lower the k-value (insulation value), the better the insulation. Plastic sheets are available in thicknesses between four and 16 millimeters. The thicker they are, the better they insulate. But: In some cases, the light permeability suffers from a high level of insulation (keyword triple-walled sheets instead of double-walled sheets).

Light transmission

When it comes to light transmission, glass panels have the edge. They allow the sun's rays to penetrate almost unchecked. That is why the greenhouse can be turned into a boiler at lunchtime in summer. Of course, this is not necessarily an advantage. Plastic sheets are also very translucent - and are usually the better choice due to their significantly higher insulation performance.

weight

In principle, plastic weighs less than glass. Logically, this rule also applies to greenhouse panels. When evaluating the weight of the panels, you must again include the k-value: with an identical or similar insulation value, plastic is five times lighter than glass on the same surface. Example: Twin-wall sheets with a k-value of 3 weigh around four to five kilograms per square meter; Under these conditions, glass reaches a whopping 20 kilograms per square meter.

resistance

UV resistance: It is important that the greenhouse panels are UV-resistant so that they do not yellow and become brittle over time. Otherwise, this would result in less light permeability, which would damage the plants. Normal glass, ESG and twin-wall sheets perform very well here.

Break resistance: Plastic is fundamentally more shatterproof than glass. In addition, there is a much higher risk of injury with a shattered glass roof than with a broken plastic roof.

Maintenance effort

A glass roof scores with its enormous ease of care. You can easily remove coarse dirt from smooth glass plates with your Garden hose rinse off. In the slightly more sensitive, break-prone areas, it is sufficient to wipe them briefly with a soft sponge and water with washing-up liquid. Above all, smooth glass is hardly susceptible to accumulation of dirt. Plastic sheets require regular intensive cleaning so that the light transmission remains consistently high.

frequently asked Questions

What are greenhouse panels?

Greenhouse panels are the elements that essentially make up a greenhouse. They have to be robust and translucent and, depending on the intended use (plants), also meet other criteria, such as a certain insulation performance. The panels are made of either glass or plastic.

Where are the best places to buy greenhouse panels?

Greenhouse panels are available to you in well-stocked hardware stores and specialist garden centers - online and offline. In addition, on Amazon you will find several suitable sets with panels that are cut to a certain size and intended for renovation or for self-construction of a greenhouse.

How much do greenhouse panels cost?

Many manufacturers offer their greenhouse panels in sets of 14. Depending on the brand, material and quality, these usually cost between 60 and 70 euros.

Can I cut greenhouse panels myself?

In the case of plastic sheets, the DIY cutting is possible with a Jigsaw normally possible without any problems. As an experienced do-it-yourselfer, you can also install these panels yourself. The situation is different with glass plates. You should leave it to professionals to make them into a greenhouse.