If you are thinking about buying a greenhouse this season there are a few things you may want to consider. Many options are available to the backyard horticulturist these days, but in addition to their price tag there are many things that set them apart.

Perhaps one of the most important things to consider is strength and longevity. When investing such a large sum of money you want to be certain that the greenhouse will be something you can enjoy for many years to come. Things such as snow and wind load, life expectancy of the glazing material, and manufacturer’s warranty all play an important role in this.

In mild climates where snow fall and wind speeds are low, a weaker and often cheaper greenhouse may suffice. But in harsher climates where the snow accumulates and the winds blow, one bad storm could leave you suddenly out of a greenhouse and all the money you paid for it. A greenhouse company that does not state their wind and snow load ratings probably does not want you to know what they are. Over the past 35 years Sunglo greenhouses have survived everything from the snowfall of Alaska to the hurricanes of Florida, and we have structural engineering reports to back our claims of an 80 mph wind load and 34 pounds per square foot snow load. Most recently we had one survive Hurricane Sandy, and you can read more about that here: Hurricane Sandy Survivor.

The life expectancy of the glazing material a greenhouse manufacturer uses also determines how long you can expect to enjoy your greenhouse. In most cases the warranty covering the greenhouse is a good indicator of this, but not always. The 12 year warranty included with every Sunglo greenhouse guarantees that your glazing material will be “free from problems caused by the effects of sunlight for twelve years.” Sunglo uses only the highest quality UV stabilized, impact resistant acrylic, and we find that most customers enjoy at least 15 to 20 years without having to replace a single acrylic panel. Being able to replace individual panels is also unheard of in the backyard greenhouse market. More often than not your typical backyard greenhouse will require complete replacement in 10 years or less, but we see no reason to scrap a perfectly good aluminum frame that lasts a lifetime. The ease with which you can replace the individual panels is all because of our patented Therma-Truss system, and for more information about this and the differences between acrylic and polycarbonate please read : Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate.

Another thing to consider is energy efficiency. Our dual pane greenhouse panels are 1.5 inches thick. This equates to 38.1 millimeters. In comparison, your standard backyard greenhouse will be dual pane, but the the panels range in thickness from 6 to 8 millimeters. The thickness of the panel is important because the space between the panes creates insulating dead air space. Second only to a complete vacuum, dead air space is one of the best insulators known to man. If you intend to use your greenhouse all year round, as a Sunglo is designed to do, then spending a little more initially can save you a great deal of money in the years to come. For more information about another way your greenhouse can help you save money please read: Overwintering in the Greenhouse.

In addition to the unmatched value of a Sunglo, you and every other American you know benefits from buying American. Sunglo greenhouses are one of very few still made entirely in these United States of America. Almost every other greenhouse on the market is an import from countries such as Germany and China. Not only does your purchase of a Sunglo greenhouse help to bolster our economy, but you get the benefit of support from actual people who enjoy aiding our fellow horticulturists. Starting with the initial assembly and continuing throughout the many years you will own your greenhouse, we will be here to help in any way we can.

If we haven’t convinced you that Sunglo Greenhouses are the strongest, longest lasting, and most energy efficient greenhouses under the sun please call us toll free at 1-800-647-0606. Most of our staff are proud Sunglo owners themselves and would be more than happy to answer all of your questions.