Investing in durable greenhouse plastic for your hoop house will save you from winter storm nightmares.

No more emergency repairs or damaged crops.

 

Hoop houses are used to grow everything from cut flowers to tomatoes and strawberries. These simple structures have become a way to extend the season in northern areas and to provide a more controlled growing environment in southern climates, where high winds, rain, and hail can destroy a crop in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, these structures, which are typically covered by 6 mil polyethylene plastic, can succumb to heavy snow loads, have a short lifespan of only 3-4 years, and provide very little insulation or r-value.

Greenhouse poly film plastic is cheap, but it has many long-term costs

• Requires frequent replacement due to tearing and UV breakdown.
• Expensive to heat because it provides very little insulation (see r-value chart comparison).
• Greenhouse structures can be completely destroyed when heavy snow accumulates on the poly (see image, right).
• Damage to the entire crop and all the profits easily occurs when poly rips during inclement weather.
• Labor to patch and repair adds up and takes time away from plant care.

There is a more cost-effective way to cover a hoop house structure. Solexx covering, manufactured and sold by Adapt8, is a long lasting durable greenhouse plastic covering with the best r-value in the industry. In addition, Solexx covering supports heavy snow loads and has a 10- year guarantee against UV breakdown.

“I bought my first roll of Solexx over 15 years ago,” says David Daneil of Wabi Sabi Japanese Gardens in Spokane, Washington. “It truly proved the durability test of time. When I decided to build another greenhouse Solexx was my choice not only for withstanding the elements but also for insulating ability and for shedding snow load in my northern climate.”

Benefits of Solexx Covering

The covering on a hoop house or greenhouse is like the engine in a car. It’s what “powers” a greenhouse and will make or break your success as a grower. Before Solexx coverings the only choices were polyethylene and polycarbonate.

Polyethylene coverings are fairly easy to work with; however, they have a short lifespan, normally lasting less than four years before UV degradation takes place and they rip routinely in the wind.

Polycarbonate plastic has never been an option for a hoop house cover because it lacks the flexibility to curve over the hoops.

Solexx is the only insulated, durable option– allowing growers to economically heat their hoop house. It’s the most practical, easy-to-install and cost-effective solution. Here are a few reasons why:

• High R-value for economic heating and less temperature fluctuation.
• The light is diffuse and evenly distributed for more plant growth. No more hotspots or shadows!
• It’s a durable greenhouse plastic that can withstand the abuses of wind, rain, and snow loads.
• Due to its longevity, Solexx requires less labor for installing, uninstalling, repairing, and ultimately disposing.
• Solexx coverings bend over corners and roof lines making it ideal for installing on a hoop house

Better ROI

Growers will no doubt discover a better return on their investment (ROI) by covering their hoophouse or greenhouse with Solexx’s durable greenhouse plastic. With an r-value of 2.3R, Solexx has the best r-value in the industry. It retains heat 64% better than poly which will greatly reduce your heating and cooling costs. Growers who cover their hoop houses with Solexx coverings may also qualify for energy rebates.

By providing 100% diffuse light and warmer temperatures under the durable plastic, plants will grow up to 25% faster than growing outdoors. There is also less condensation and more even temperatures throughout the hoop house, providing for an overall better growing environment and less stress on your plants.

Here are a few more benefits of Solexx:

• Guaranteed 10-year limited UV warranty.
• No seasonal whitewashing, reducing the potential for injuries.
• Consistent growth throughout the growing cycle reduces labor costs associated with rotating plants.
• Long, custom cut length panels reduce or eliminate seams
• Long lasting, which results in keeping more plastic out of landfills
• Inert and BPA-free – Solexx can be disinfected without offgasing

Installation of Solexx coverings is straightforward and is covered in an excellent tips sheet from Adapt8. In fact, if you can use a calking gun and a drill to screw in the tap screws, you’re all set. In other words there is no need to call a service technician and rack up additional costs.

There are a lot of benefits to hoop houses, including growing a quality product in the shortest period of time and being able to offer more out-of-season products. However, growers will only realize the full benefit and ROI of hoop houses when they invest in the industry leader in hoop house and greenhouse coverings. Contact Adapt8 today for a free quote.