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Harrisville Primary School Greenhouse Donation.
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Greenhouses/Glasshouses
A Bit of History
Those
of you who know us from the early days know that we initially
began Hunkin Garden Products Ltd selling domestic glasshouses
imported from Halls in the UK. We stopped selling glasshouses
some time ago because we could no longer get glass at a realistic
price from NZ suppliers. We looked at importing our own glass,
and while we could have done this, freighting glass around the
country without breakage seemed impossible. Time has moved on
and the kids you see in the picture can now be seen on our Miniature
Hereford page 10 years on. The little girl in the purple gumboots
is now at university and the boy at college.
After 17 years we now have our own range of
greenhouses. As my father, a retired fitter turner says "there
is no substitute for experience" and we have used this
experience to design a stronger, higher side-walled greenhouse
using 6mm-twin wall polycarbonate. All these improvements have
been made at a very competitive price.
So what are the benefits or polycarbonate over glass? It is
a "no brainer" really.
Safety has got to be number one, especially if there are young
children playing in your backyard. Polycarbonate is one of the
toughest coverings around. Polycarbonate protects against rocks,
hail, and can even withstand the impact of a baseball that may
have ventured into your yard. It can also withstand a heavy
snow load. The safe nature of polycarbonate makes our greenhouses
ideal for schools.
Lightweight so we can supply much bigger pieces, which means
glazing, for want of a better word, is much easier. Instead
of 106 panes of glass that we used to have in a 12 x 8 greenhouse
for instance, we now have 72 large pre-cut polycarbonate sheets,
meaning fewer air gaps to leak air and less fiddling around
fitting little panes. Your greenhouse is assembled in no time
at all.
Diffused light every gardener knows plants need light to grow.
It is a vital part of the photosynthesis process. What is not
so commonly known is that plants often grow better under diffused
light because light tends to be scattered and leaves pick up
light from all directions. There have been claims of 20% to
30% increases in growth with diffused light. Direct light on
the other hand can often cause burning of the leaves, which
reduces growth. The twin-wall polycarbonate diffuses the light
so your plants are unlikely to get burnt in bright sunlight.
No need to paint the outside to prevent scorching or erecting
shade cloth in summer.
Energy saving - The more heat the greenhouse retains, the better,
especially if you want to heat the greenhouse. (See our comparative
table below in the frequently asked questions). There is also
less condensation, and little or no dripping from overhead.
Our Guarantee
Every greenhouse comes with a 10-year guarantee on the aluminium
frame against faulty workmanship, much more than you will receive
from most other manufacturers. The polycarbonate is guaranteed
in N.Z. for 7 years against breakdown (going brittle) by U.V
degradation. If U.V breakdown occurs, and is confirmed by the
manufacture's sample analysis, a pro rata replacement credit
will be allowed. A credit will be issued, based on original
invoiced value, for the unused period of the warranty. Warranty
is to the original purchaser of the greenhouse. The polycarbonate
must be installed with the UV coated side to the outside (facing
the sun) otherwise the warranty is void.
By purchasing one of our greenhouses you are making a long-term
investment that will bring you many years of enjoyment and service.
With unbeatable durability, safety, insulation and pricing,
what are you waiting for?
Frequently asked questions
What is polycarbonate?
Polycarbonate belongs to the group of plastics called thermoplastic
polymers. It is not to be confused with acrylic, which is a
much cheaper and inferior product. Polycarbonate is widely used
in industry because it has excellent temperature resistance
(125 Celsius to minus 40 Celsius), impact resistance (250 times
stronger than glass, virtually unbreakable) and optical properties
(80% of visible light, glass transmits 89%) which makes it ideal
for greenhouse applications. It is non-toxic, stain resistant
and weighs six times less than glass.
The use for Polycarbonate is almost endless. Here are a few
applications. Bulletproof windows as used in banks, safety glasses,
crash helmets and prescription glass lenses. CDs and DVDs are
made from polycarbonate. Ever tried to break one?
Will the polycarbonate get brittle after long exposure to
sunlight like other plastics?
Don't confuse polycarbonate with the cheaper acrylic plastics
that are available. The polycarbonate has a UV treatment on
one side that must face the sun. We give it a seven year limited
warranty, but polycarbonate products used for roofing in NZ
(Laserlite TM corrugated roofing for instance) is advertised
with a lifetime warranty. www.laserlite.co.nz.
What is horticultural glass?
Horticultural Glass is made by the rolled glass process
and is the cheapest form or glass. A continuous stream of molten
glass is forced between water-cooled rollers to get the correct
thickness. Horticultural glass often has optical imperfections
and sometimes depending on the source, is not as clear as window
glass (sometimes a bit green).
When horticultural glass breaks it splinters leaving sharp
jagged edges which must be handled with great care. Care must
be exercised when handling glass and you should always place
a gloved hand under the glass so it can't slip. If glass ever
shatters in your garden or on the lawn, that is the last time
you will ever be able to run around with bare feet, because
you will never get rid of all the glass splinters.
So what's the big deal about insulation?
Greenhouses work by trapping the heat from the sun. If the
heat escapes easily through the glazing or air gaps then the
whole point of having a greenhouse is lost. The best greenhouses
are the ones that can hold the heat for as long as possible.
The polycarbonate sheets fit inside the frames so there are
no air leaks. These greenhouses are the best-sealed greenhouses
I have seen and rivals a tunnel house that has a completely
welded skin.
What
is 6mm-twin wall polycarbonate?
Two thin sheets of polycarbonate are separated by a 4.5mm
still air gap, much like double insulation used on windows in
colder climates. The construction is like the coreflute used
in plastic real estate signs.
Won't water and bugs get between the twin wall?
The polycarbonate fits inside the frames so bugs and water
can't get in.
Doesn't glass insulate?
It does to a point, because infra red (heat) does not transmit
through glass very easily. Well that's the theory. However we
all know that in order to keep your house warm in winter you
pull thermal drapes across your windows, so it is not that good.
Insulation factors R ratings for different greenhouse materials.
Most people will be familiar with the R rating given for insulation.
Fibreglass insulation for instance ranges from R1.6 up to R
3.6 and more. The higher the "R" number, the better
the insulation. The table shows some comparisons.
Material Insulating "R" number
6mm twin wall polycarbonate 1.5
3mm horticultural glass 0.95
Polythene plastic as used in tunnel houses 0.83
From this table you can see twin wall polycarbonate insulates
50% better than glass traditional 3mm glass and about 72% better
than plastic. In a greenhouse situation the use of plastic is
a bit better in a tunnel house because it is normally welded
so it is quite airtight (no draughts) and glass is a little
worse in a glasshouse (more draughts) because of more joins
(smaller panes) and unavoidable air leaks. Our greenhouses are
so well sealed they rival the tunnel house welded skin for air
tightness.
What is best for greenhouse frames, aluminium or steel?
The only reason manufacturers use steel for frames in domestic
greenhouses is price. These greenhouses are often made from
electroplated galvanised sheet steel that has been cut and folded
or rolled to shape. The protection layer is very thin, and the
cut edges of course are not galvanised, so though the frames
will last quite a long time, eventually they will rust. The
sheet steel is also quite thin, so where it has been cut there
is often a very sharp edge. The only disadvantage with aluminium
is cost. It is a more expensive metal and dies have to be made
in order to extrude the product to shape. The frames are much
thicker and in most cases have rounded edges from the extrusion
process. Aluminium has a thin protective oxide layer on the
outside that forms immediately the moment the aluminium is exposed
to air. Any damage is instantly sealed off with an oxide layer.
Aluminium never rusts and provided compatible materials are
used with it, there is virtually no corrosion. Aluminium will
last a lifetime, and with the rising cost of raw materials it
is false economy to purchase a greenhouse with a steel frame
that you will eventually have to replace. We have a 10 year
limited warranty on the frame. It is quite conceivable that
a steel-framed greenhouse will have started rusting before our
guarantee has run out.
If aluminium is best, why do you use steel for the base?
Aluminium is a very reactive metal. When cut aluminium is
exposed to air it immediately forms an oxide layer which protects
the metal. In the open air this works extremely well but when
in contact with constantly damp soil it is not the best choice.
The salts in the soil can constantly attack the protective oxide
layer that can lead to corrosion. The zinc used in galvanising
will also react with salts in the soil. We supply a prefabricated
steel base that is not only galvanised but powder coated as
well (much like Coloursteel) so the part in contact with
the ground is protected from salts by the baked on paint. The
ultimate would be 316 stainless steel (which incidentally protects
itself like aluminium does) but you would have to increase the
mortgage on your house to pay for it. The base is included in
the price.
Before making a decision to purchase a greenhouse look very
closely at the construction so you can make educated comparisons.
So what is the difference between our greenhouse and others?
Our points of difference
Packaging
The greenhouse comes in three cardboard packages, base, frame
and polycarbonate. Frame parts are numbered and individually
sleeved in plastic. They are then bundled together so each bundle
corresponds to a particular part of the assembly. All cardboard
cartons consist of one carton inside the other to give a double
layer of protection. We do our best to ensure the product arrives
with no damage.
The Base
1/ 150mm high steel base powder coated over galvanised
steel. The base increases the overall height of the greenhouse
so taller plants can be grown inside. Powder coating over galvanised
steel makes the base last. The base is included in the price
to makes construction much easier.
2/
Greenhouses must be held to the ground securely so there are
multiple fixing points to the ground, not just at the corners.
Anytime we have a part of the base longer than 6 feet (1.9m)
we have an extra bracket that is concreted into the ground.
These extra brackets are thick powder coated aluminium extrusions.
The thicker extrusion used for a ground pegs makes the base
a lot more rigid and stops the rolling effect often found in
other base designs.
The Frame
1/ The aluminium frame is anodised a natural silver
colour or powder coated green, a very close match to forest
green. This results in a very attractive greenhouse that will
never rust.
2/ All the bolts and self-tapping screws are stainless
steel. Stainless steel bolts are very strong. The tensile strength
of stainless steel is around 515Mpa compared to mild steel 260MPa
and aluminium 180MPa. There is no rust and they are much stronger
than other materials.
3/
We use 3mm thick aluminium gussets in the corners and the
apex. Most greenhouses use 1mm thick aluminium for gussets.
This means our gussets are THREE times thicker than gussets
in other greenhouses. We then use stainless steel bolts to secure
the frame to the gussets. This results in a very strong corner
assembly. With our green frames the gussets are painted to match
the greenhouse and don't stand out like unpainted ones in some
other brands.
4/ Diagonal braces are in every corner and in the roof.
Diagonal bracing makes a huge difference to the stability and
strength of the structure. If you look closely at pictures of
other greenhouses you will see in many cases the braces are
absent.
5/
Our diagonal braces are made from 25mm x 25mm x 1mm thick
aluminium angle. Others may use smaller braces. This results
in a stronger greenhouse.
6/ We have braces across the apex and braces between
the sidewalls and roof to give a stronger greenhouse. You won't
find many greenhouses that have this.
7/ Most greenhouses have a horizontal piece of framing
running across the back wall (plain gable end) to reduce flexing
in the back wall. In the Orion 126 we have two of these tying
the vertical studs and the corner extrusions together via the
3mm thick aluminium gussets and stainless steel bolts. This
gives us a stronger back wall and reduced flexing.
8/ Our vertical framing is approximately every 610mm.
Many cheap greenhouses have framing as wide as 720mm. You can
easily tell. A 12-foot (3.5m) long greenhouse should have 6
sheets of polycarbonate making up the length of the sidewall.
Wider stud spacing results in fewer sheets, normally 5. Less
studs means less strength. You would not take studs out of you
house to make it cheaper so why would you do it with your greenhouse?
9/ We have a higher apex and side walls than most other
greenhouses. This means you can grow taller plants against the
side of the greenhouse and back wall. The taller apex results
in a more sloped roof making the horizontal roof braces very
effective. A higher greenhouse also increases the volume of
air inside resulting in a more stable temperature.
10/
Doors have rubber seals to keep in the heat. These greenhouses
are often better sealed than a tunnel house resulting in great
heat retention.
11/ We use 6mm-twin wall polycarbonate instead of glass.
Unparalleled safety and up to 50% better insulation than glass.
12/ The assembly instructions have been initially written
by our Chinese manufacturers and we have then modified them
using our own construction experience so the instructions are
easier to follow. All framing parts have part numbers on them
as well as the polycarbonate. We have also added photos of important
points to make things clearer.
Pegasus Series
Single
door. Price includes base and GST
Measurements are L x W x H (apex) Eave heights are 1.65m including
base
Pegasus 66 (1 roof vent) 1.90m x 1.90m x 2.38m $1595.00
Anodised frame, grey powder coat base
Pegasus 66 (1 roof vent) 1.90m x 1.90m x 2.38m $1674.00 Green
powder coat frame and base
Freight NI $120, SI $180.00
Pegasus 86 (2 roof vents) 2.53m x 1.90m x 2.38m $1795.00
Anodised frame, grey powder coat base
Pegasus 86 (2 roof vents) 2.53m x 1.90m x 2.38m $1884.00 Green
powder coat frame and base
Freight NI $130, SI $190.00
Pegasus 106 (2 roof vents) 3.15m x 1.90m x 2.38m $1995.00
Anodised frame, grey powder coat base
Pegasus 106 (2 roof vents) 3.15m x 1.90m x 2.38m $2094.00 Green
powder coat frame and base
Freight NI $150, SI $200.00
Orion 128 and 148 (128
pictured)
(Eave height 1.65m including base)
Orion 128 Double doors, 4 roof vents, 3.78m
x 2.53m x 2.55m $2395.00 Anodised frame, grey powder coat base
Orion 128 Double doors, 4 roof vents, 3.78m x 2.53m x 2.55m
$2514.00 Green powder coat frame and base
Freight NI $200, SI $250
Orion 148 Double doors, 6 roof vents, 4.40m
x 2.53m x 2.55m $2695.00 Anodised frame, grey powder coat base
Orion 148 Double doors, 6 roof vents, 4.40m x 2.53m x 2.55m
$2825.00 Green powder coat frame and base
Freight NI $200, SI $250
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" Graham - I am thrilled with the
product I purchased from you. Instructions were clear
& specific. All parts fitted perfectly. "
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Accessories
Staging
Staging single $125.00 anodised
Staging single $132.00 green powder coat
Freight NI $15, SI $24
Staging is approximately 1.26 m x 0.5m x 0.75m
Staging double $175.00 anodised
Staging double $182.00 green powder coat
Freight NI $20, SI $34
Staging is approximately 1.26 m x 0.5m x 0.75m
Louvres
Anodised $85.00
Green powder coat $95.00
Freight NI & SI $10
Automating your greenhouse
One of the first things you will notice with a greenhouse is
how efficiently it can trap the heat. This is a good thing in
winter, but as summer approaches it is very easy to have your
greenhouse overheat if you don't have the vents open. The problem
is you need to remember to open them, and if you work during
the week this can become a bit of a chore. On those frosty days
it is very important to close the vents in time otherwise all
the heat gathered through the day is rapidly lost.
Fortunately
there is a solution. You can install automatic vent openers
on your greenhouse vents. These units require no electricity.
The mechanism utilises a wax made of plant oils harmless to
humans even if licked (though you might need to stock up on
toilet rolls) that expands with heat. This expansion pushes
a piston rod out of the cylinder that then opens the window.
When the temperature falls, the wax retracts and the weight
of the window together with the force of the opener's closing
spring closes the window again. The opening temperature range
is adjustable between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.
To fit the automatic vent opener to our greenhouses you will
have to drill one small hole in the vent frame; the rest fits
the existing bolts and holes.
These vent openers are made in Denmark and have a one-year
warranty.
Automatic vent opener $125.00
Postage NI and SI $10.00
Coming soon. Fully automatic temperature controlled solar
powered extractor fan system developed by Hunkin Garden Products
that will suck the hot air out of your greenhouse. Watch this
space.
We also stock packs of nuts and bolts, clips and spare sheets
of polycarbonate for our greenhouses.
Customers' greenhouses:
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