Clear acrylic sheet cut to size

roccles · 21 Oct 2013 at 14:08

Hi,

I am looking to buy some acrylic sheets cut to size for a greenhouse that I am building. It is far more expensive that I thought it would be!

I am looking to purchase 5 sheets of 2mm thick and 2400x1700 and then a few smaller pieces.

Cheapest I can currently find is http://www.sheetplastics.co.uk/ which is about £67 quid per 2400x1700 sheet.

Does anyone know of anywhere that offers cut acrylic cheaper than this?

Thought build your own was gonna be cheaper but it is starting to add up now!!

Glaucus · 21 Oct 2013 at 15:01

I looked into this at the start of the year and couldn't belive how expensive it was, I've found ebay for plastic and metal is usually the cheapest. Just messgae a load of the big sellers (that sell roughly what you need) requesting exactly what you need.

roccles · 21 Oct 2013 at 15:23

Cheers I will try that, gotta be worth a shot.

I to was very surprised at the price, starting to think i would have been better off ordering a greenhouse pre built but I was put off by the polycarbonate which a lot of non glass greenhouses tend to come with, as I did not think it was very pleasing to the eye and thought acrylic would give the same aesthetics as glass.

boxman2000 · 21 Oct 2013 at 15:42

Not sure acrylic is a good idea for a greenhouse to be honest - don't think you'll find it will last more than a few years without clouding up.

I put acrylic sheets in my new shed and that was expensive enough, doing it for a whole greenhouse is going to cost a fortune.

Is it for safety reasons or longevity?

roccles · 21 Oct 2013 at 16:24

Hi, thanks boxman It was for a bit of both really, thought it would be a good idea as it is unlikely to be smashed so easy.

I was unaware that acrylic may cloud up, I did have a quick look into glass maybe I should investigate glass further.

This is what I am looking to glaze (the frame is approx 8 foot by 8 foot square):-

Cheers

Nightglow · 21 Oct 2013 at 19:19

Better to use 4mm Twinwall polycarbonate sheeting, standard thickness for greenhouse, it's cheaper & stronger than acrylic sheet.

Got the same in my workshop window, which got hit by a cricket ball back in the summer, didn't even damage it.

roccles · 21 Oct 2013 at 21:18

I am reluctant to go for polycarbonate solely because I don't like the look of it. I know it sounds funny but I would like to be able to see into the greenhouse from the outside.

Although it maybe suitable for the roof and rear as these are not as visible.

robfosters · 21 Oct 2013 at 21:22

roccles said:
I am reluctant to go for polycarbonate solely because I don't like the look of it. I know it sounds funny but I would like to be able to see into the greenhouse from the outside.

Although it maybe suitable for the roof and rear as these are not as visible.

You can get glass clear polycarbonate sheet.

roccles · 21 Oct 2013 at 21:29

I never realised you could get it clear, thought it was all that ribbed wall stuff.

Unfortunately I just checked the price of 2mm 2400x1700 on the same site as the acrylic and it's 93 quid!

Nightglow · 22 Oct 2013 at 07:31

roccles said:
I am reluctant to go for polycarbonate solely because I don't like the look of it. I know it sounds funny but I would like to be able to see into the greenhouse from the outside.

Although it maybe suitable for the roof and rear as these are not as visible.

Thermal insulation of Twinwall is better than glass or acrylic, although light transmission is slightly less than glass, it is apparently better, as it is more diffused.
And twin doesn't allow harmful uv light through, so your plants won't get scorched.

boxman2000 · 22 Oct 2013 at 08:20

Nightglow said:
Thermal insulation of Twinwall is better than glass or acrylic, although light transmission is slightly less than glass, it is apparently better, as it is more diffused.
And twin doesn't allow harmful uv light through, so your plants won't get scorched.

This definitely sounds your best bet.

My look to get some for my mini-greenhouse when the cheap perspex clouds up.

roccles · 22 Oct 2013 at 08:23

Nightglow said:
Thermal insulation of Twinwall is better than glass or acrylic, although light transmission is slightly less than glass, it is apparently better, as it is more diffused.
And twin doesn't allow harmful uv light through, so your plants won't get scorched.

Interesting thank you, sounds like it probably is the best bet then.

Thanks

the_r_sole · 22 Oct 2013 at 08:43

post on your local freecycle and get some old double glazed units?!
would look interesting with different sized panels and be cheap as chips!

Nightglow · 22 Oct 2013 at 08:59

Just had a quick google about glasshouses & twin wall polycarbonate,we seem to use 4mm, but Germany prefers 6mm, because of larger the gap between panels, the better heat insulation the panels will provide, & a higher R value.

roccles · 22 Oct 2013 at 12:39

Went to wickes to have a look at the walled polycarbonate, i personally think it looks terrible!! The greenhouse is quite prominent in my garden and i think it would constantly annoy me if I went with polycarbonate.

Now, although I initially ruled it out I think I may go down the glass route.