Greenhouse Roof Angles

Why the design of your greenhouse roof matters.

Greenhouse roof angles.

In order to create the angle use the excess soil you dug to build. Weight of them and weight on top of them like snow mentioned by pac is a great concern. Ideally the roof should be facing directly at the winter solstice at a 90 degrees angle. Since light is essential for plants to grow a roof that allows for maximum light is needed.

The two most common framing materials are wood and metal. I m not sure what the optimum for greenhouses is although following your stated numbers of 44 degrees latitude with the 20 plus or minus values gives you 64 degrees for winter and 24 degrees for summer. In areas with heavy snow at least 3 or 4 feet is good to have so that snow won t pile back up onto the greenhouse roof or obstruct any vents. Solar greenhouse designers often cite a rule of thumb along the lines of.

The angle of the roof will make a big difference in the sun s ability to heat your greenhouse. Roof angles depend on a lot of things. When you are designing your greenhouse the best angle for your roof is determined through a simple rule of thumb. Divide the first part of the ratio by 12 to work out the pitch.

Take your latitude in degrees and add 20 degrees to it. Find the inverse tangent of the pitch to find the angle in degrees. Same approximate angles as your 90 degree calculation model. The ideal angle for the roof depends on your location.

To find the best angle for a greenhouse roof take your latitude and add 20 degrees. Obviously aluminum and glass or lexan would weigh less than wood and glass or lexan but if your issue is angle then you have to consider the weather. Related to the roof slope is the freeboard the space between the lowest point of the roof and the ground. Framing and glazing materials.

To convert between american roofing ratios and pitch degrees follow these steps. Here s a great article on finding the perfect pitch for your solar greenhouse. A 12 12 pitch roof has a pitch angle of 45. The angle does affect how well the translucent face collects sunlight but for greenhouses it s not as critical as when setting up a compact solar heating unit.

While the logic behind this rule is sound it is a dramatic oversimplification that can lead to costly and. Angles between 60 and 75 degrees for the north roof will work well in the united states and southern canada. Roof angle to catch sun and divert rain the point of a walipini is to allow for winter growing and in some cases more comfortable summer growing conditions. For the best results the internal angle of your roof will need to be between 53 to 73.

The squared edges could also be easily buffeted by wind potentially tearing the roof of your greenhouse right off. What the materials the roof is made of certainly counts.