How To Insulate Your Greenhouse Using Heatsheets
If you use your greenhouse all year round, then around October you should be thinking about insulating it to provide protection throughout the colder months. Ideally, before fixing insulation in place, give your greenhouse a thorough clean and tidy. Make sure that you wash the greenhouse glazing using a disinfectant such as Citrox – cleaning the glass ensures maximum light through to your plants, important during the winter months when light levels are much lower. You should also take the time to seal any cracks – All Weather Tape is perfect for this – as well as replacing any broken panes.
How Much Heatsheets To Buy
If you’ve not insulated your greenhouse before then you will need to buy Heatsheets. To purchase the correct amount of Heatsheets to completely line your greenhouse use the guide below:
| Greenhouse Size |
Heatsheets | Alliplugs | Corner Adaptors | All Weather Tape |
Double Sided Tape |
| 5' x 4' | 72 ft / 22 m | 60 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 5' x 6' | 85 ft / 26 m | 60 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 5' x 8' | 105 ft / 32 m | 90 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 5' x 10' | 121 ft / 37 m | 90 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 6' x 4' | 90 ft / 28 m | 90 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 6' x 6' | 100 ft / 31 m | 90 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 6' x 8' | 120 ft / 37 m | 90 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 6' x 10' | 144 ft / 44 m | 150 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 6' x 12' | 164 ft / 50 m | 150 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 6' x 14' | 180 ft / 55 m | 150 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 8' x 8' | 140 ft / 43 m | 150 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 8' x 10' | 160 ft / 49 m | 150 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 8' x 12' | 180 ft / 55 m | 150 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 8' x 14' | 200 ft / 61 m | 210 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 8' x 16' | 220 ft / 67 m | 210 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 10' x 10' | 187 ft / 57 m | 150 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 10' x 12' | 210 ft / 64 m | 180 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| 10' x 14' | 233 ft / 71 m | 210 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 10' x 16' | 256 ft / 78 m | 210 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 10' x 18' | 279 ft / 85 m | 240 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 10' x 20' | 302 ft / 92 m | 240 | 16 | 3 | 3 |
| 12' x 12' | 361 ft / 110 m | 300 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 12' x 14' | 387 ft / 118 m | 300 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| 12' x 16' | 413 ft / 126 m | 300 | 16 | 3 | 3 |
| 12' x 18' | 439 ft / 134 m | 330 | 16 | 3 | 3 |
| 12' x 20' | 465 ft / 142 m | 360 | 16 | 3 | 3 |
If your greenhouse isn’t any of the sizes above, then you’ll need to work out how many metres to buy by measuring your greenhouse. Measure the sides, roof and ends of the greenhouse and calculate the area you need to cover. You should then be able to work out how many metres of our 66cm wide (26”) heatsheets to buy – or if you need any help simply call us on 01246 451077 or email enquiries@twowests.co.uk
Fixing Hints For Holding Heatsheets In Place
- When fixing Heatsheets in place put the bubbles to glass – your heatsheets are then easier to keep clean as you will be able to wipe a flat surface and less dust will adhere to the heatsheets.
- When fixing in a wooden greenhouse we suggest using either large headed drawing pins or map pins or strong, weatherpoof tape to hold the Heatsheets in place.
- For aluminium greenhouses fix Heatsheets into the glazing bars of the greenhouse using Alliplugs. These are special plastic clips that fit into the groves in the glazing bars of your greenhouse and are easy to remove and reuse year after year without causing any damage to the greenhouse frame.
- To create a neat finish around doors and windows use All Weather Tape to hold the insulation in place.
- When overlapping pieces of Heatsheets use Double Sided Tape.
If you have an aluminium greenhouse and haven't insulated it before, make your life easy by choosing one of our Greenhouse Insulation Packs. Simply choose the size to suit your greenhouse and you will receive the heatsheets, the clips and the tapes to enable you to insulate your greenhouse with ease - plus you'll be saving money compared to buying all the parts individually!
Ventilation Is Still Important
Even when you have insulated your greenhouse with Heatsheets, you need to ensure there will be some form of ventilation to help prevent damp, stagnant air which can result in mould amongst your plants. So when fitting the heatsheets cut and fasten it around windows, vents and louvers so that these can still be opened throughout the winter months – to make a neat finish use All Weather Tape to fix the heatsheets in place around these openings. On sunny, winter days provide maximum ventilation in your greenhouse to remove any excess moisture.
Heatsheets Rather Than Bubble Wrap
Although you might find some gardeners using standard bubble wrap to insulate their greenhouses, you are always best to use Heatsheets as these have been specially manufactured for horticultural environments. Heatsheets are stronger than bubble wrap, will let in more light and are UV-stabilised so should last at least three years, whilst standard Bubble Wrap will degrade and disintegrate much faster.
Reduce Heating Costs
By insulating your greenhouse you will reduce heating costs by up to 50%. However, if you don’t need to heat the whole of your greenhouse you can use Heatsheets to divide up the area, screening off part of the greenhouse and using a heater only in this smaller area.
We always recommend that you use a thermostatically controlled electric fan heater if you have electric in your greenhouse. The reason we recommend this type of heater is that they are not only more economical than heaters powered by fuel but the fan keeps the air circulating around your greenhouse, helping to reduce the risk of fungal diseases. However, if you haven’t got electric in your greenhouse then you could use a paraffin heater, keeping the flame at its lowest setting and turning it off during the day if the weather is mild.