The corrugated polycarbonate plastic roof on top of our DIY recycled window greenhouse has seen better days.
I’m indignantly annoyed that the roof is seeing so much damage after just 3 years, but I’m also not all that surprised. When preparing for the installation, I did look at documentation from the manufacturer that warned AGAINST installing these clear plastic to enclose an area that would exceed certain temperatures. This application is precisely what I wanted it for and what I ultimately did do.
Additionally, we have mature oak trees that create a high canopy behind the greenhouse. These trees drop acorns with great, concentrated force onto those panels. This relentless assault during the fall and winter, when temperatures swing from scorching hot to frosty cold are sure to cause the plastic to become brittle.
Regardless, the inhabitants of the unforgiving wooded edge of the lot behind our property has caused some damage to the plastic roof.
Concerns with a holy roof
Do the plants care if the rain comes cascading in through those little holes in the roof? Highly doubtful. I perceive the problem to lie in heat loss through the cold winter months. Heat rises and though the thin plastic roof is by no means air tight, having a more than half a dozen holes scattered throughout allows what little heat acquired throughout the day to escape even more easily. I’m hoping that by blocking those perforations, we can keep the fig trees, the olive tree and the pomegranates a bit more cozy in the cold.
Cleaning the greenhouse roof
Before I replace the entire roof, I intend to patch it. A greenhouse roof gets grimy after 3 years, so it needs a good wash before I try to stick a patch to it using a transparent adhesive sealant. I decided to climb up there and wash it with a big brush intended to and some dawn dish soap.
Plan for the roof patch
I’m fully aware that these patches will probably only extend the viability of the current roof for one more season, but who knows? Maybe we will get more time out of it.
We bought one new sheet of the corrugated plastic roof and I intend to use a box cutter to score and snap that piece into smaller shapes.
Once the existing roof is clean, I’ll basically do the arts and crafts thing and put a rink of sealant around the edge on the underside of the patch and stick the patch to the roof above the hole. Easy, right? Ha ha! We’ll see.
I’m taking it one step at a time here and my expectations are low. Let’s hope this works.
While other people in the neighborhood are getting up on ladders to hang their Christmas lights and clean their gutters, I’m up here scrubbing the muck of the greenhouse.
