Plastic Sheeting Blog. Click on Home for all our product categories...

What is the difference between 6 mil plastic sheeting and SolaWrap Greenhouse Plastic?

Posted by Team SolaWrap and the Green Thumbs. on Thu, Jul 27, 2017 @ 02:33

Are you looking to cover a greenhouse? Have you narrowed your choices down to a 6 mil plastic and Solawrap greenhouse covering? Are looking for the best greenhouse plastic you can find? This article will look at 6 mil plastic that has been used for years and Solawrap- the greenhouse covers that has a proven product that has a track record for 30 years in Europe, but is fairly new in the United States.  It is like nothing else that currently exists on the market.  You will see that it out-performs all its competitors, and is more cost effective in the long run.

 What factors are you taking into consideration for your greenhouse?  You are probably considering the amount and type of light reaching your plants, the overall appearance of your greenhouse, its ease of maintenance, safety and longevity. Most of all, you want something that is cost effective.

What are your greenhouse covering choices? 

Let's start with polyethylene films.  It comes in a variety of thicknesses with 6 mil being very common. When selecting a 6 mil greenhouse plastic, you need to make sure it is not a product out of China.  . Typically a single layer of polyethylene film has an R value of approximately 0.85. A double poly cover consisting of two layers of poly has an approximate R value of 1.25.  This is a quick inexpensive fix- but is it really inexpensive when you add in the labor cost to replace it more often than other options. Greenhouse plastic will offer some UV protection, and some versions have better tensile strength than others.

Greenhouse plastic tears One thing to be aware of is the plastic ripping where the plastic touches the PVC. This seems to be reported from growers who don't use a film that offers UV protection  The PVC may absorb the heat and speed up the breakdown of the plastic.  As we all know, sun is an enemy to all sorts of plastic sheeting. Another reason for the breakdown and tearing of the plastic could be the chlorine that is in PVC.  This too is a problem for greenhouse plastic.  There is a polyethylene greenhouse film that won't give you these problems called SolaWrap!  Read on to learn more.

6 mil greenhouse plastic coverings also come in white. They are often referred to as, white opaque greenhouse films. White greenhouse films are popular when reducing heat in the greenhouse is the goal.   Being white will however reduce the light transmission by almost half per layer.

Another option is to look at the reinforced polyethylene greenhouse films.  This product comes in a 3 ply laminate where a cord grid is placed between two layers of plastic.  The goal is to offer a high strength film that is durable yet light weight.

Greenhouse plastic Bubble Solawrap.png

SolaWrap Greenhouse Plastic Cover:  SolaWrap Greenhouse Plastic (Greenhouse covering) offers:

  • R-Value 1.7
  • 83% transparency
  • 10 year warranty against UV degradation (better warranty than polycarbonate)
  • up to 83% diffused light (only product on the market with both high transparency and high diffusion)
  • 120 lbs per square foot snow load rating (approx 15 feet of snow)
  • 100 mph wind rating (has survived 135 mph windstorms in Alaska)
  • Has been shown to last up to 27 years on greenhouses in Europe
  • Does not yellow or get brittle

Green_house_Plastic_SolaWrap.png

Bottom line: 6 mil plastic sheeting is a smaller initial investment, but won't last too many years. If there is a storm, heavy snow or hail it could rip.  SolaWrap holds up under heavy snow loads, high winds and rough weather.  It costs more initially, but in the long run you won't be recovering you greenhouse in a few years.

 

https://www.globalplasticsheeting.com/our-blog-resource-library/what-is-the-difference-between-6-mil-plastic-sheeting-and-solawrap-greenhouse-plastic

 

Resource page for Plastic Sheeting, Greenhouse Plastic, Fire Retardant Products, HDPE- LLDPE, Tapes  760 597 9298 Global plastic sheeting-jpg 2-jpg

Plastic Sheeting tapes HDPE Enka Products  Thickness of plastic resource page


Search for Fire Retardant films, tapes, greenhouse plastic Home page www.globalplasticsheeting.com plastic sheeting, tapes, strapping fire retardant films greenhouse plastic

Tags: Polydress Sola Wrap

Extraordinary Greenhouse Film- Polydress Sola Wrap!

Posted by Nana Hinsley on Mon, Mar 04, 2013 @ 09:19

SolaWrap greenhouse film is revolutionary in that it saves energy, offers UV protection, durability with transparency and extends the growing season. The unique bubble design is what allows Polydress Sola Wrap the capability to allow for year-round production at a fraction of the cost of traditional greenhouse films. Known in Europe as LP Keder or Polydress, Polydress Sola Wrap is now available in  U. S markets.  It's an insulated film that withstands the most extreme climates.  Sola Wrap has a track record for over 40 years of testing in the Swiss Alps, the Middle East, and across Europe. Sola Wrap provides an insulating effect that retains up to 95% of heat radiation while providing an R-value of 1.7. This energy savings is significant! 

SolaWrap guarantees an even light diffusion over the entire greenhouse.  83% of sunlight diffuses through more than 100 air burls per square foot.  30% is healthy infrared light.  This even diffusion spreads evenly thus avoiding shading and burning areas.  The results are faster growing, healthy plants

SolaWrap has a 10-year warranty against UV degradation. For over 40 years, this product has not deteriorated, changed color, become foggy or streaky. Used as greenhouse roofing or walls, Sola Wrap is waterproof, and airtight. It has withstood hailstorms, snowstorms, hurricane winds and both hot and cold snaps. Customers report picking strawberries inside the balmy greenhouse, while the temperatures outside are negative 30 degrees Celsius.  This same greenhouse withstood snows, 70 mile-per-hour winds and violent hailstorms.

Installation: SolaWrap is a flexible polyethylene film that is easily cut with a knife or scissors, and is completely recyclable and can be safely incinerated. 

Roll Size:  Rolls come in 4', 5' and 6' widths by 328' long. 

Click for pricing/ info visit SolaWrapfilms.com  the greenhouse plastic film with the 10 yr uv guarantee

Tags: Greenhouse film, Sola Wrap, Polydress Sola Wrap