A greenhouse is a structure with transparent walls and roof — typically glass or polycarbonate panels — designed to trap solar heat and create a controlled growing environment for plants year-round, regardless of outdoor temperatures.
Greenhouses work by allowing sunlight to pass through the panels while slowing the escape of radiant heat, raising interior temperatures above ambient outdoor levels. The panel material matters significantly: 6mm multi-layer polycarbonate, the thickness used in commercial greenhouse construction, retains heat more effectively overnight and resists snow load better than thinner 4mm alternatives. Roof vents regulate interior temperature by releasing excess heat when the growing space gets too warm.
- Greenhouse panel thickness typically ranges from 4mm (budget) to 6mm (commercial standard).
- Backyard greenhouse footprints commonly run from 48 sq ft (6×8 ft) up to 128 sq ft (8×16 ft).
- Peak interior height in greenhouse structures typically falls between 83.5 inches and 90.6 inches depending on frame width.
- Roof vents on functional greenhouse models open to a 45-degree angle to manage airflow and heat buildup.