Advantages of a greenhouse with a removable roof and varieties of designs
Modern greenhouses differ from their predecessors not only in the materials of manufacture, but also in the design itself. They provide all the nuances for the successful cultivation of crops and the safety of the structure itself in the winter.
Content:
- Assortment of ready-made greenhouses
- Polycarbonate - "Convertible"
- Polycarbonate - "Matryoshka" or "Pencil case"
- Advantages of a removable roof
- Choosing a place for a greenhouse
- How to assemble a structure yourself
Assortment of ready-made greenhouses
One of the latest innovations in greenhouse construction is a removable or retractable roof. Gardeners no longer need to travel to the plots in winter in order to remove snow from the roof or throw it into the beds.
A greenhouse with a removable roof can be purchased in stores or assembled by yourself.
The range of ready-to-install products is quite wide. However, the type of structures comes down to two, the most popular today - the greenhouse "Cabriolet" and "Matryoshka", which is also called "Penal". The names of these greenhouses are self-explanatory and indicate the way the roof was moved. Basically, the greenhouse roof can either move or be removed completely for the winter. Which roof to choose is up to the gardener. It is more convenient for someone to remove it, for someone it is easier to move the sheets and not bother with removal. Each design has its own characteristics.
Polycarbonate - "Convertible"
Greenhouses with a removable roof are made of polycarbonate. This material meets all the requirements and conditions that are necessary for growing crops. Moreover, it is durable and flexible enough. The temperature range for product operation varies from -40 to 90 °. The Cabriolet design provides for a downward shift of the roof. The sheets of material are made in such a way that they can be easily moved or lifted up depending on the weather conditions. To ensure that the sections do not slide out by themselves, the design provides for clamps. They fix the sheet in the desired position.
In a greenhouse with a cabriolet roof, snow falls in winter, thus providing the soil with the necessary moisture and heat, which is necessary to preserve the microorganisms necessary for the earth. Greenhouse locking elements are reliable and designed for a long service life. If the need arises, they can be replaced or even made yourself.
In addition to the sliding roof, the greenhouse has vents.
However, experienced gardeners prefer to open the roof in hot weather, since open vents are not enough to create a full-fledged air flow and ventilation. The greenhouse of the "Cabriolet" type is very popular. It is convenient to use, easy to install, in winter there is no need to throw snow from the roof.
Polycarbonate - "Matryoshka" or "Pencil case"
A greenhouse made of polycarbonate type "Matryoshka" is another solution in the manufacture of structures with a removable roof. This implies a shift of the roof, but not downward, as in the case of the "Cabriolet", but to the side according to the principle of layering the sheets on top of each other.The roof slides to one side of the greenhouse. In terms of labor costs, this type of roof is in no way inferior to the "Cabriolet". Everything is simple and reliable. However, gardeners do not really like the fact that part of the room still remains under a canopy and the snow cannot cover this piece of land. You still have to throw it yourself. Most of the soil is easily covered with precipitation, which pleases gardeners.
Many people choose a greenhouse with a matryoshka roof because of its assembled appearance.
It is quite effective and striking in its novelty. In terms of practicality, such a greenhouse is not inferior to its brother, the Cabriolet. The design is advised to be purchased by those who grow crops with the same microclimate requirements. However, this is not a strict requirement. The roof of the "Convertible" type can be moved in parts. As a result, it is possible to arrange special zones for different cultures. With a roof like "Matryoshka" there are not so many options in this regard.
In addition to these two popular roof models, there are others. For example, a finished product with a roof that can be opened slightly and the sheets can be fixed in this position using fasteners. There are also options that provide for the complete removal of the roof. That is, the compartments for the winter period are pulled out of the grooves and stored. Finished products are usually made of polycarbonate. Film and other materials are more commonly used in greenhouses and portable, lightweight types of greenhouses.
Advantages of a removable roof
There are quite a few advantages of a removable roof. Any experienced gardener will immediately appreciate a modern greenhouse, its advantages and conveniences. The sliding top of the room in hot weather guarantees full ventilation, which is usually not enough, even if the vents and doors are open.
Plants get burned, ovaries may not appear. In a poorly ventilated room, various diseases often appear that are capable of "mowing" crops, despite the measures taken to combat the fungus or virus. In addition, there are such advantages as:
- In a snowy winter, there is no danger of the roof being pushed through and the entire frame breaking. Since the top is removed, uniform pressure is created on the walls of the structure. There is no need to remove snow from the roof.
- The soil in the greenhouse is depleted very quickly, as the land does not receive natural precipitation. In winter, the earth is "bare", the microorganisms necessary for it die under the influence of low temperatures. The open top of the room means that snow falls on the ground. As a result, the earth is saturated with moisture and retains heat. The soil will be enriched with the necessary microelements that it receives from precipitation. This is an important point in growing crops in a greenhouse.
- In a greenhouse with a removable top, it is much easier to maintain temperature, control airflow and regulate humidity. The gardener will immediately notice that fungal diseases will practically cease to appear.
You can only appreciate a greenhouse with a removable top by trying it out in practice. It will immediately be to your taste, since its advantages will be expressed in the quality and quantity of the harvested crop. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to purchase a finished product; you can make it yourself from any material, be it glass or film.
Choosing a place for a greenhouse
Before assembling a greenhouse, ready-made or home-made, you need to correctly determine the location. It should be a tree-free area, level, without slopes. It is advisable to choose a place that would be protected from the winds from the north side by a fence or wall of the house.
However, buildings should not be close to the greenhouse. Do not forget that for a stationary room you will need to lay a foundation - tape or solid. The first type of foundation is used for small greenhouses, the second - for large areas.
The larger the area, the stronger the base should be.
Experienced gardeners recommend orienting the greenhouse from north to south. No shadow should fall on the structure. In a dark place, crops will lack light, even if a greenhouse is built from the most modern materials and with a removable roof. If the location is right, growing vegetables will be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
How to assemble a structure yourself
First of all, the foundation is laid. Either the finished product is placed on the finished base, or a homemade greenhouse is being built. For construction, film and wooden frames, glass in frames, polycarbonate and galvanized profiles are usually used. The choice of material will depend on the capabilities of the gardener. Many people use old wooden window frames along with glass for greenhouses. This is the optimal solution, which does not require independent production of frames and glass cutting.
The design of a greenhouse with a removable roof is not much different from the construction of a conventional building with a solid top. The only difference is in the top attachment. The easiest option to assemble is the frame, which is simply pulled out of the grooves and removed. All roof sections can be removable. If you want to improve the design, you can purchase special mechanisms. Their principle of operation is based on the reaction of a thermoactive liquid. When the air temperature rises, the mechanism is triggered and opens the hatch for ventilation. These devices are applicable for structures that only provide for the shift of the roof, and not its removal. They can be used to equip vents and those roof hatches that will regulate the air flow. To install mechanisms, it is better to assemble a greenhouse made of metal (frame) and polycarbonate.
If it is not possible to equip the greenhouse with ready-made mechanisms, you can build the simplest devices for supporting the opening top hatches.
Many people make the roof so that the sheets can be unscrewed for the winter and removed. That is, they are not fixed completely, but temporary devices are used. This option is easy to manufacture, but does not have good tightness.
Assembling a traditional greenhouse with a removable triangular roof comes down to the following steps:
- It is advisable to assemble the frame of the room from galvanized profiles, which are attached to metal corners and racks. The base of the profile must necessarily be placed on an iron plate in order to prevent punching and skewing of the frame.
- The roof is assembled in a traditional triangular shape. Its strength and reliability is ensured by means of crossbars and profile bevels.
- Roof frames are assembled from slats, which are sealed with a special seal to ensure tightness. The frames are fitted with polycarbonate.
- Next, the resulting frames are inserted into the frame. In fact, the device will resemble a Euro-window mechanism, where a mosquito net is inserted into the grooves. The principle of operation of a homemade removable roof is the same.
- If the greenhouse is built from old windows, a simple support mechanism is installed for ventilation. To remove the roof, dismantling is provided - the frames are unscrewed and removed for the winter. It is easy to assemble such a greenhouse, but the ease of operation of such a building will be noticeably inferior to a finished greenhouse with a removable roof.
For the successful cultivation of crops, it is necessary not only to properly care for the plants, but to provide them with certain conditions. Modern greenhouses with a sliding or removable top will help crops grow and keep them healthy. A generous harvest and no disease is the result of growing vegetables in a greenhouse with a removable roof.
More information can be found in the video: