Welcome to OrchidsForum.com. We are a friendly online community for Orchid Growers all over the world. If you haven't joined yet we invite you to register and join our community. Hope to see you on our forums!

Bubble Wrap and Shade Cloth

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by CoveLady, Mar 16, 2017.

  1. CoveLady

    CoveLady Active Member

    Messages:
    571
    Likes Received:
    120
    Location:
    Brevard NC
    I want to put bubble wrap between the rafters in my greenhouse this summer. Has anyone done that and if so what did you buy. I don't see any that is UV stabilized and there are several different size bubbles, I don't know what is best or most long-lasting, it will be an exhausting job to get it up and staple it to the rafters and I want it right the first time. All suggestions welcome.

    I have been looking at old posts about shade cloth, I need a new one. It seems that it is best for it to be a few inches above the roof not right on it as I have had for years. Has anyone done it that way and if so how?
    Also looking at the reflective shade cloths that are out there now, what has been anyone's experience with them?
     
  2. John Klinger

    John Klinger Active Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    905
    Likes Received:
    207
    Location:
    Roseburg Ore
    On the reflecting shade cloth, check with Charlie's Green House Supply. On shade cloth, I have a frame about 6" above the roof of my green house, leaves air breathe under the cloth and roof. As for bubble wrap, I only use it to wrap my green house in the winter, on the outside. Put it up the first of November and down the first of April. I cover the bubble wrap with 6mil clear plastic. Really cuts down on the heating bill. Also keeps the little woman happy. Bubble wrap is cheap, the freight will kill you.
     
    Kipper likes this.
  3. Ryan

    Ryan Got Pleurothallids?

    Messages:
    187
    Likes Received:
    190
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    I bubble wrapped the entire inside of my new greenhouse with the largest size you can get...1/2 inch. I searched around and Home Depot had the best price. It's not UV resistant, but if you have polycarbonate panels it does not matter because they block the UV. I also bought the reflective shade cloth called Aluminet. It is meant to sit directly on the greenhouse.GreenhouseMegastore.com has prefabricated sizes, and good prices.

    All in all, I'm glad I used both. The Aluminet in particular has many benefits over traditional poly shade cloth.

    Hope this helps:)
     
  4. Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,826
    Likes Received:
    592
    Location:
    Oak Island NC
    I second the Aluminet vote. Gothic Arch Greenhouses in Alabama has the best prices, and will make it to whatever size and configuration you want.

    As to bubble wrap, you're correct, it's not UV stabilized, but your greenhouse covering ought to be sufficiently so to protect the bubble wrap for several years.
     
  5. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,770
    Likes Received:
    3,567
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    This is usually done to keep heat in in the winter. I don't think it will do much to keep it cool in the summer, but I suspect it will keep it warmer at night. I also use Aluminet. That will do a lot to keep it cooler.
     
  6. CoveLady

    CoveLady Active Member

    Messages:
    571
    Likes Received:
    120
    Location:
    Brevard NC
    Thank you everyone for your suggestions.
    I want to put the bubble wrap up in the summer because most every thing is out of the greenhouse so I'll have more room to do it. It will stay up because it would be a pain in the neck to try and take it down every spring. I do have polycarbonate, had forgotten that it blocks the UV.
    I glad that the Aluminet has worked out well, I wanted to use it, now I will. Have any of you gotten it with the 'tape' around the edges and grommets, it seems like it would be rather fragile with out it?
    Has anyone left it up all winter for heat retention, does it cut the light down too much when the sun is low in the sky?
     
  7. CoveLady

    CoveLady Active Member

    Messages:
    571
    Likes Received:
    120
    Location:
    Brevard NC
    John K.
    What sort of frame do you have over the roof, did you make it, what is it made out of, how is it attached to the roof? I want to do that because I have a hard time getting the shade cloth up on my 'leanto' in the spring.
    It was easy when I had a hoop house, 12' x 35', just tied a small rock rock to one corner and tossed it over and then pulled it in place.
    Thought about some sort of pulley system, marine pulleys that won't rust, to pull it up would be easier if it went over a frame. I need input from people who have done something like this, I don't need to invent 'the wheel' all by myself.
    The frame would give me additional cooling in the summer in addition.
     
  8. John Klinger

    John Klinger Active Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    905
    Likes Received:
    207
    Location:
    Roseburg Ore
    I have a 12" long piece of rebar attached to 3 metal risers 6" tall attached to the rebar. Have one on each end and one in the middle. The shade cloth is attached to the rebar rod by metal shower curtain holders. I move the shade cloth on and off using a piece of wood or metal rod to slide the cloth. I only have shade cloth on the south side, this is the side of the roof that gets the most sun. Hope this helps you.
     
  9. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,770
    Likes Received:
    3,567
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    None of my Aluminet has edging. You can use the clamshell clips made for holding shade cloth and string it up with cord. In some places I use large binder clips to hold it down. I'm sure it would be "neater" with edging. Without edging it doesn't fray at all, so I've had no problems that way.

    I use it in layers that are added and subtracted as the seasons progress. Except for one north facing roof that has no shade cloth for the winter, all of the other roofs have at least one layer up all year. Aluminet disperses the light by reflection so it blocks much less than the knit types do.
     
  10. CoveLady

    CoveLady Active Member

    Messages:
    571
    Likes Received:
    120
    Location:
    Brevard NC
    Thank you both Marni and John,

    Marni,
    If it disperses the light, what % do you think I would use if I use 50% of the black shade cloth, would I use a 60 or 70%. It is probably much summer in Santa Rose than it is in the NC mountains, in addition I am on a north slope with trees on the SE side. The long wall faces south but once the leaves come out on the trees I do not get direct sun till about 10:30 in the morning, then in the winter the sun is so low in the sky that the direct sun does not hit until about the same time. Not the best place but was the only place I could attach it to my house.

    John,
    How is the rebar attached to the roof, do they make attachment things like those used with galvanized pipe. Or is it just bent at a angle and clamped down.
     
  11. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,770
    Likes Received:
    3,567
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    I don't really have an answer to that, I can only guess. I think that the amount of light will be the same when the sun is high and striking the roof at a 90 degree angle. I would probably go with the same percentage you usually use. Your advantage will be when the sun is not directly overhead as you will get more light reflected in while the knit cloth would be blocking it.
     
  12. Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,826
    Likes Received:
    592
    Location:
    Oak Island NC
    Shade cloth is rated by the % of light blocked, so a 50% is a 50% shade, no matter what the color. Certainly, from the inside, the Aluminet wil will appear to be less shade, due to the color, but most of that is due to the fact that the light passing through is better dispersed.

    I didn't bother having the edges of mine taped either, but I agree with Marni that it would certainly look better.

    For a lean-to, how about attaching it to long pieces of PVC pipe at the top and bottom of the cloth, and simply put hooks above the GH on the wall, or at the very top edge of the greenhouse, if that's not possible. Then, with another PVC "lifter," straight pipe with a "Y" at the top, you can lift one end onto the hook, then go do the other, with the bottom piece of pipe keeping it flat and providing some weight. If you get wind, I'd use bungee cords to hold the pipe in the hooks at the top, and to anchor the one at the bottom, too.
     
  13. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,770
    Likes Received:
    3,567
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Greenhouse Megastore makes clips for 3/4 and 1/2" pipe to hold the shade cloth in place. I've used this at the top of a roof and at ground level on various greenhouses. I get a long strip and cut it in to 3 to 5" sections. You can see it here: http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/snap-clamps/s.
     
  14. CoveLady

    CoveLady Active Member

    Messages:
    571
    Likes Received:
    120
    Location:
    Brevard NC
    Thank you both Marni, Ray and John
    I am in the process of designing a system for this shade cloth, everyone's input has been very helpful. As my greenhouse sits under a large overhang with a rain gutter attached to it I have to be creative. I think what we are going to do is make 3 U shaped pieces, out of furniture grade PVC it's UV protected, that will be attached on the roof up almost against the rain gutter and have 3 marine pulleys to pull the cloth up. Then put the clips that Marni suggested on the edges to keep it in place. Because I am up in a cove I do not get any amount of wind. The old shade cloth had only 3 hooks in it and 2 bricks on the lower end and never had any trouble.
    You are right Ray, Gothic Arch Greenhouses has the very best price, that is where I am going to get it. I am not going to get it taped, just hope that the shark clips that GAH sells will hold when I pull it up.
     
  15. Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,826
    Likes Received:
    592
    Location:
    Oak Island NC
    I used those Shark Bites clips on mine, also "unedged," and used little bungee cords to attach the clips to the pvc framework.

    I think that if you lift the rod so that it spread the load to several clips, you'll never have an issue.