The best polycarbonate greenhouses for summer cottages in 2024

A good greenhouse is the key to a rich harvest.You can build a greenhouse yourself, 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 of the structure, the selection of accessories for such elements as vents and doors, as well as fitting all parts to each other and assembly all this into a single whole. Exactly because of this reason more and more summer residents prefer not to build greenhouses on their own, but to choose ready-made options, designed by specialists, simplifying the processes of transportation and installation, as well as taking 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 a structure to serve for many years and not cause trouble, it must have a solid foundation, frame and coating, and provide effective protection of structural elements from environmental influences such as moisture and ultraviolet radiation.

Which company is better to choose a ready-made greenhouse

Today, there are thousands of greenhouse models from hundreds of different manufacturers on the market for goods for summer cottages and gardens. The following quality ratings are based on feedback from real customers. It included only the best manufacturers from Russia and foreign countries:

1. Volia 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. Trade House "Urozhai" - since 2004 the company has grown greatly and has more than 200 retail outlets in the Russian Federation. Competent employees will tell you which greenhouse is better to buy, and will make changes to the drawings based on the individual needs of the buyer;
3. Factory of ready-made greenhouses "Osnova" - the company has many branches in Russia, which can be found by a resident of any large city. ZGT "Osnova" not only designs and manufactures greenhouses, but also delivers and assembles;
4. LLC "OTT" - greenhouses of the "Very Krepko" brand. On the market since 2007. The company has its own production. Provides services for the delivery and assembly of its own products in Moscow and the Moscow region, assists in organizing the delivery by transport companies of "Very Strong" products to the regions.

Choosing a greenhouse frame

The skeleton is a kind of skeleton that helps hold the entire structure.You should not save on materials, otherwise the greenhouse will not stand for a long time. The main materials, their pros and cons are shown in the summary table.

Materials of construction	pros	Minuses
Wood	Environmentally friendly, low cost	Sags, subject to decay
Aluminum	Lightness of material, ease of care	Does not withstand heavy loads, breaks down under the influence of strong wind
Plastic	Elegance, lightness, accessibility	Low strength
Steel	Ease of assembly, reliability, remains 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 structure will ultimately cost many times more expensive than steel. Constant repair work to replace the failed elements will be needed every season, which is unlikely to benefit the family budget.

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

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 pivot table.

What to consider when choosing	Glass	Polycarbonate	Film
Strength	Resistant to snow and wind, but will not withstand hail	High, the thinner the polycarbonate, the higher the strength	Low: simple film will last 1-2 seasons
Mounting	The help of specialists will be required due to fragility and heavy weight	Depends on the greenhouse frame, can be simple or medium	Plain
Plant comfort	Heats up quickly, but also cools down quickly, colder than others	Provides proper temperature and humidity	Provides proper temperature and humidity
Sustainability	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: the residues can be simply washed off with water, retain an attractive appearance for a long time, you can save on the frame due to the large weight of the glass	Low price, lightness of weight and installation, availability, maintains an ideal microclimate in the greenhouse, unpretentious maintenance	Low cost, easy operation
disadvantages	Cannot withstand hail and fight	If the greenhouse is not ventilated, on sunny days the temperature rises to 55 degrees Celsius, it can break under a thick layer of snow	The need to dismantle 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 greenhouse coating are very different from each other. Nevertheless, polycarbonate is the optimal coating for a summer cottage.

What polycarbonate is better to cover the greenhouse

There are several types of polycarbonate:

1. Cellular polycarbonate is the most widespread 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 6 mm sheet will have special strength;
2. Monolithic polycarbonate - you can rarely find it on the store counter, although the quality of the material is much higher than that of its cellular counterpart. An almost transparent canvas transmits up to 90% of the sun's rays, has a 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 that 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 greenhouse and greenhouse roofs.

Summing up, we can say that the answer to the question to choose monolithic or cellular polycarbonate for covering 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 their high resistance to the merciless natural elements. The spherical shape provides wind resistance and the absence of corners allows snow to easily slide off the roof.

Greenhouse "Dachnaya - Optima" (company "Volia")

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 the snow cover roll 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 galvanizing, the wall thickness of the profile is 1 mm, which allows you to maintain the 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 round it, and if the weather does not allow opening doors - vents are thought out to ventilate the building. The width of the structure is standard 3 meters, and the length can be chosen - types of length are available in 4, 6 or 8 m.

How much does it cost - 4 * 3 m - 24,170 rubles.

• Robust construction;
• Anti-corrosion coating of the profile;
• The structure withstands 1.5 m of snow;
• If desired, you can lengthen the greenhouse;
• Keeps warm well;
• Does not require a foundation.

• Complex assembly;
• No sealing tape included;
• Often the kit lacks screws and bolts.

Greenhouse Very Strong "Reinforced"

Very Strong "Reinforced" - this structure demonstrates an excellent balance of budgetary cost and efficient growing of plants in a greenhouse. Despite the affordable price, relative to other offers on the market for goods with similar characteristics, the greenhouse structure is functional and has decent dimensions and spacious capabilities.

The greenhouse is installed on a foundation made of wooden beams, which simplifies installation. Arched elements represent a double arc - 40x20 mm and 20x20 mm. This ensures the proper level of rigidity of the entire structure and allows it to cope with loads 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 when dew falls inside the pipes. The coating 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 due to the use of a double arch;
• Profile with external and internal galvanized, wall thickness 1.2 mm;
• UV protected polycarbonate;
• Easy to assemble;
• 10-year manufacturer's warranty.

• The need to make a foundation.

"Harvest PC"

Greenhouse "Urozhay PK" is an excellent solution to the question of how to choose budget structures for growing greenhouse crops. Despite the low price, it has a wide range of functions and has good parameters. The arched elements are spaced 65 cm apart, ensuring sufficient rigidity for the entire greenhouse. Polycarbonate sheets are fastened with ties that do not damage the integrity of the material. The length of the greenhouse can be different - 4, 6 and 8 m, if you wish, you can purchase an additional section and fix it without problems near any element. Thus, the question of how to lengthen the greenhouse is not worth it.

The average price of a 3x4 m greenhouse is 12,600 rubles.

• Cheap;
• Polycarbonate is not damaged when attached;
• Durable;
• Easy to assemble;
• High doors.

• In winter, it can break without props;
• The body is lightweight, can not withstand strong winds.

Best Equal Wall Greenhouses

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

Greenhouse "Delta" (manufacturer "Volia")

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

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;
• Complication of the design due to the sliding roof.

Greenhouse Very Strong "Square"

Very Strong "Square" is a suitable offer 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 roof elements are made of a one-piece 40x20 mm profile pipe, and there are 7 ties to increase the strength and rigidity of the structure. This technical solution allows you to withstand a load of up to 450 kg / m²... The design can be 2 and 2.5 m wide. The lengths 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 galvanized, wall thickness 1.2 mm;
• UV protected polycarbonate;
• 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 gain great 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 roof slopes.

Dubrava (from Glass House)

This type of greenhouse is more focused on professional gardeners than on the average owner 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 according to your taste, but the minimum indicator is also 4 meters. Despite the large volume, greenhouses of this type are quite compact and do not look too bulky. The building is 2.8 meters high, and there are triangular windows on the roof for ventilation.

Additional ties are built into the frame - they not only give it rigidity, but can also contribute to the installation of additional ventilation, heating elements or lighting wiring. The frame can withstand up to 180 kg of snow per 1 square meter, provided it is even covered with cellular polycarbonate.

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

• Compactness;
• The ability to plant very tall plants;
• Strength;
• Galvanized corners, handles and doors;
• Manufacturer's warranty 30 years (applies to the frame);

• Cost.

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

The teardrop-shaped form of one of the newest models from the old-timer of the greenhouse market, the Volya company, allows growing inside a plant up to 2.5 m in height. But the merits of this engineering miracle do not end there. The main advantage of Dachnaya - Strelka-2.6 is its high strength. The frame is made of thick, non-corrosive galvanized iron and is capable of supporting up to 450 kg! The owner of such a greenhouse is no longer afraid of snowy winters.

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;
• Simple assembly;
• Reliable manufacturing company.

• High price.

Greenhouse Very Strong "Drop"

The gable greenhouse with a ridge on the roof is available in three widths and heights: 2.7 x 2.5 m; 3x2.4 m; 3.5x3.1 m. The frame profiles are galvanized, which makes it possible to protect against corrosion. The increased level of strength is guaranteed by 7 ties, thanks to which the structure can withstand a load of 340 kg / m²... The polycarbonate is fixed to the frame with roof bolts: wind gusts are no longer dangerous. A high vault will allow you to grow 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 provides 2 vents on the sides as a ventilation system.

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

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

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

Whichever greenhouse the buyer ultimately chooses - polycarbonate and its thickness can always be discussed with a consultant separately. If during the winter they do not look at the dacha, the thicker and denser the polycarbonate, the lower the probability of damage to the vegetable "dwelling". A good-quality 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.