Upgrade Your Greenhouse by Reglazing With Multi-Wall Polycarbonate (eg. TwinWall, TripleWall, 5-Wall)
Multi-Wall is a significant improvement for a single-glazed greenhouse.
- Order the correct Multi-Wall thickness to fit your channel
- Remove old glazing
- Cut Multi-Wall to size using a box knife or a very fine tooth saw blade
- Install new glazing gasket if necessary
- Note panels have one side which must face the sun
- Remove protective film from inside face
- Close exposed ends of panels with Multi-Wall capping
- Set Mult-Wall panels in place and secure with the same method as the old glazing.
- Now immediately remove exterior protective film
- Never store Multi-Wall in direct sun or film will not release
- Apply clear sealant where Multi-Wall tucks into frame or capping.
Polycarbonate Capping Systems
Adding Multi-Wall to your wood framework is easier when using these special pieces to hold the panels in place. The Caps are made of a tough, sunlight resistant polycarbonate, and are weatherproof and maintenance-free.
Use End Caps on the top and bottom of Multi-Wall to close the channels. This keeps out dirt and insects. Also use End Caps on the outside edge of corner panels (Fig. 1).
The Joiner Cap is used to connect Multi-Wall along vertical edges (Fig. 2).
Builder’s notes: Drill Caps every 12″ for screws. Design framework 24-1/2″ O.C., or plan to rip Multi-Wall to 23-3/4″ wide. Cut capping with hacksaw.
Building with Multi-Wall
- Apply 1/16″ Glazing Tape to framework. Install TwinWall panels on tape.
- For roof only: Seal all roof joints between panels with Silicone Sealant. Also seal between panels and framework with Foilastic Tape.
- Install Aluminum Bar Caps.
For more detailed instructions, we recommend the Polycarbonate Store tutorial ‘How to Install Multi-Wall Polycarbonate Panels.’
Cutting Multi-Wall Polycarbonate
4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm Polycarbonate
You can cut small amounts with a box knife. Larger jobs should be cut with a circular saw, table saw or saber saw. In all cases, a fine-tooth blade is required. (Plywood/finish blade for circular saw / table saw, and a metal cutting blade for a saber saw.
Box knife: Always draw the knife away from the hand holding the polycarbonate sheet. A box knife tends to drag and skip, making it dangerous to use. Draw the knife lightly to start the cut then repeat with more pressure. When the cut is almost complete, you can flex and snap the pieces to finish the separation.
Circular saw / saber saw: Clamp a straight-edge to the panel to guide the saw. Proper cutting speed is important … Too slow and the plastic will melt, too fast and you may have large chips.
Table saw: Push through the saw as you would a piece of plywood paneling.
Cutting 16 mm polycarbonate: A table saw and circular saw are the best cutting tools. A saber saw may be useful for cutting holes or rounding corners.
For more on cutting polycarbonate, check out this Polycarbonate Store tutorial.
Note: Order the correct Multi-Wall thickness to fit your channel!
To shop and learn more about multi-wall polycarbonate, please visit the Polycarbonate Store!
