Glass is a common raw material in architectural designs due to its durability, strengths, performance, and aesthetics. They are practical in building greenhouses as they let in sunlight.

However, you can choose different types of glasses for a home garden depending on how you want to use them.

What is a Garden Glass House?

It is essentially a garden structure made of glass that you can use for gardening. These structures are also known as greenhouses, and they provide plants with the optimum conditions to grow and thrive. 

Since the objective is to get the right light and warmth to the plants, glass is a fitting raw material for greenhouses. You can find them in cold regions as farmers look to produce food throughout the seasons. Also, they are common in places where exotic plants and flowers cannot survive outdoors.

What Sort of Glass Do Plants Need to Thrive?

Modern greenhouses are an upgrade to traditional ones as they increase productivity and product quality. Manufacturers use high-quality glass to create the perfect environment for growing plants or produce. 

Selecting types of glass with high light transmittance for increased yields is essential. Placing the glass covering perpendicularly and the extensive part facing south will ensure you get maximum light into the space. The raw material will reflect the rays if it hits them at an angle. 

Here are some types of glass you can consider for your greenhouse.

• Annealed Glass
  This is the standard glass we use in construction. Although they are the cheapest option, you can use them to help construct the walls. 

• Tempered Glass
  This type of glass is robust and does not crack when exposed to high temperatures. They are not ideal for greenhouse roofing since they cannot withstand strong wind and snow. 

• Laminated Glass
  This is the best raw material for greenhouse roofing because it can withstand harsh climatic conditions like snow and winds. Also, it does not affect the greenhouse environment even after they are damaged since it has two layers. 

Why Should You Consider a Garden House?

Whether growing plants on a small or large scale, glass is a suitable material for different types of greenhouse ideas. Here are reasons to consider them as raw material to construct the structures.

1. Visually pleasing

Using glass to develop home gardens will be visually appealing. This is one of the reasons why they are so popular in the industry. Glass can give you the most attractive home garden that will look appealing no matter its shape or structure. Commentators consider it the perfect material due to its practicality and appearance. 

At the same time, you can have a clear view of the outside while in the greenhouse and vice versa. Other materials to customize the glass greenhouse are aluminium and steel for the frames. Complete the greenhouse with a gorgeous glass door design that will make it look all the more inviting. 

2. Grow your own plants

Home gardens allow you to grow the type of plants you want. You can consider a variety of vegetables to develop yourself and include in your diet.

Sometimes it isn’t easy to access the type of foods you want to consume but having a greenhouse gives you a controlled environment to grow your own plants. At the same time, you will be sure to consume organic food as you develop in a natural setting. Furthermore, you can plant various crops, flowers, and trees in your garden space all year round. 

3. Protect existing young plants from elements or pests

A greenhouse provides favourable conditions for seedlings and young crops. Besides controlling the warmth and light in the environment, it shields plants and trees from extreme weather conditions. Heavy rains and hail can damage crops like tomatoes.

On the other hand, you can protect crops against pests and diseases by maintaining an optimum condition that discourages their existence. Greenhouse gardens help safeguard plants by controlling humidity and warmth.

4. Sustainable exterior design

Greenhouse ideas for gardening can have sustainable designs. You have a variety of materials to consider when designing them. Timber will rot quickly and are not a suitable raw material for the exteriors due to exposure to weather elements.

Integrating solar panels for greenhouse energy needs will make the project more sustainable and save on utility costs. You should include rainwater collection techniques like setting rain barrels out.

Collected rainwater can be used to water plants. Also, use recycled materials for construction and insulating parts of the greenhouse.

5. Multifunctional

You can opt for a multifunctional greenhouse design to suit your needs. Apart from growing plants, you can develop them to accommodate other activities.

For instance, place a couple of patio chairs inside and you have a relaxing space to read in. Aside from that, you can use greenhouses as an environment for wellness activities and exercise. You can get the peace to meditate and do yoga.

Moreover, a dining area in the glass garden house will ensure you enjoy your food in a serene environment that feels just like being outside. 

8 Best Garden House Ideas in Malaysia

Building a small greenhouse to grow plants in your backyard is an excellent idea. It allows you to have flowers and produce across all seasons.

Plus, imagine picking fresh fruits or vegetables from your very own garden!

When it comes to greenhouse design, their shape often determines their key strengths. These strengths play to temperature, humidity, multifunctionality, and the forecasted plant growth.

However, each garden glass house is practical and wonderful to look at. Here are some of the best greenhouse layout ideas in Malaysia to consider. 

1. A-Frame Greenhouse

The A-Frame greenhouse structure is stronger and more durable than most other designs. They are ideal for commercial and residential uses. Its frame resembles a triangle with its tip facing up. You can build the structure on a ground foundation or elevated ones with legs. 

The designs can fit different kinds of climatic conditions. It is advisable to pick the latter setup for an A-Frame greenhouse as it lets rainwater flow freely and minimizes possible damage.

Constructing an A-frame greenhouse is easy, but you will need a wide expanse of land. A big garden will host numerous plants, making them ideal for large-scale production.  

2. Aluminium Greenhouse

The aluminium greenhouse’s design is sleek, and the finishing is attractive. The base and frames of this type of greenhouse are made of aluminium, making them more robust than other materials. Still, you can coat the surfaces to reinforce them further. 

You will need minimal maintenance since routine cleaning is enough to keep their appeal and maintain the greenhouse in good condition.

At the same time, aluminium does not rust and guarantees a longer lifespan than the alternatives. Aluminium is less bulky and will avail more space to let adequate light into the greenhouse.   

3. Lean-to Greenhouse

As the name suggests, the greenhouse design will lean on a wall. They are smaller than other options and can mount from the wall or window. Since one or two sides will be against the wall, you will need to cover the remaining parts. 

However, you can customize the dimensions to fit an extensive wall and get ample space to grow your plants. It means you do not need much space on your compound to plant your tomatoes against a wall, saving you the ground space for other things.

Also, it costs less to set up because the raw materials are affordable. 

4. Tunnel Greenhouse

These are tall and use the concept of vegetable farming using a tunnel passage. However, the difference here is that the plants grow in pots in a greenhouse.

The tunnel greenhouse will have a frame and an exterior cover. Its shape is cylindrical, and you can choose between a low or high tunnel depending on your gardening plans. 

Their functioning remains the same. The transparent cover will ensure a lot of light gets into the greenhouse environment creating a higher overall temperature. Still, you can cover it with another type of material to protect your plants from excess sun.

The greenhouse conditions are highly humid as the design traps and maintains the moisture the plants produce. 

5. PVC Greenhouse

PVC plastic is a common raw material for greenhouse covers. They allow more light into the greenhouse because they are transparent.

At the same time, it brings in heat from the sun when living in a tropical climate, thus reducing your costs of heating the home garden. PVC greenhouses are versatile and can work well indoors or outdoors. 

Depending on where you will set them up and the available room or space, you can customize them to suit your gardening needs.

The strengthened frame makes the PVC greenhouse strong enough to withstand harsh climatic conditions. However, the plastic cover is not long-lasting and degrades faster than other raw materials. 

6. Wooden Garden House 

Wooden garden houses are common in cold regions but can also be used in tropical climates. A roof can absorb light and heat from the sun. Wood, on the other hand, is a good insulator.  T

hey can retain the elements effectively at night and keep the environment warm.  Wooden green glass houses are not very hard to install and are easy to repair. The wood also ends up giving the greenhouse a more appealing, rustic look.

However, one major disadvantage of wood is that they are easily damaged, and you must treat the surface to prevent insect attacks. 

7. Garden House Café

Modern greenhouses designs are multifunctional and can use them for other things than growing plants. For example, the garden house café involves having a space for eating with lots of natural light. 

These ideas add a new dimension to the already functional greenhouse. Plants and flowers in the greenhouse can provide a very stress-free dining environment. This is why glass house café eateries are becoming so popular these days.

8. Exercise-Friendly Greenhouse

Multifunctional greenhouses are becoming a trend because you can convert them how you want to suit your needs. If you like working out, you can model a glass greenhouse to be exercise friendly. Ensure you create adequate space for the exercises you will be doing. 

It is best to have a separate open space away from the plants for the activities. Yoga and meditation will not take up much of the room.

A greenhouse is a great space to surround yourself with greenery without exposing yourself to the elements. The surrounding plants can improve your mood and help you get the most out of your exercise session. 

Incorporating Smart Glass

Using glass for the greenhouse walls and roof panels is a great choice. However, what about going a step further?

Is it possible to incorporate state-of-the-art smart glass for your greenhouse?

Well, in some parts of the world, this technology is already being used. Here’s what we think smart glass architecture can do for your garden glass house!

1. Versatile and Customizable

Versatility is an important trait of construction materials, and smart glass is one of the most versatile types of glass you can use for any sort of structure.

Whether you’re thinking of creating a large-scale greenhouse or a small one, smart glass panels can accommodate your vision. There are endless ways to customize smart glass for the best results. 

2. High Strength and Durable

A customized smart glass greenhouse is strong especially if it uses galvanized aluminium frames to give a prolonged lifespan.

Materials like this will not rust easily or be as susceptible to degradation. Smart glass panels are also very low maintenance after a successful installation.

There are also different types of smart glass – some stronger than others. Double-glazed tempered smart glass for instance is often used for building exteriors, proving that it’s one of the more durable smart glass options. 

3. Energy Efficient and Sustainable

Since greenhouses seek to accumulate and store energy from the environment, glass is the perfect material to use as a cover. You will not need to purchase heating devices for the greenhouse because glass is energy efficient and will save you money on electricity bills.

Glass is an environmentally friendly sustainable resource. Unlike plastic, it has minimal impact on the environment. To add to that, it is recyclable, ensuring you lay your part in making the world a better place. 

4. Flexibility Control

Integrating smart glass into your greenhouse gives you better control over the amount of light entering the environment. The flexibility is unparalleled as you can alter the opacity of the glass to suit climatic conditions.

If there is too much sunlight, you can use smart glass technology to switch the window from transparent to frosted, allowing only minimal sunlight through. These features make smart glass more functional than a vast number of alternative materials. 

Summary

It would be best to make your greenhouse both functional and pleasing to the eye. Integrating smart glass is a futuristic step that has the potential to truly transform the garden glass house. Ultimately, smart glass is the more convenient and sustainable option. 

Reach out to Chiefway representatives today to get the best smart glass solution for your greenhouse or any other project on the horizon!