Cheapest Bubble Insulation?

[DebsC]

Where is the cheapest place to buy clear bubble insulation?

[Ross]

Costco? They have pretty big boxes meant for packing.

[DebsC]

Thanks Ross, no Costco around here either. Sure is tough finding stuff.

[Carl Austin]

I got a big roll at a place called Shippers Supply for a good price here in Canada but I think any place that supplies packing to shippers should handle it.

Carl

[RonCo]

Cheapest? Hummmm.....

I just got a roll of the real greenhouse insulation stuff from
ACF for $.31/ sq ft. This is for half inch thick with one inch diameter bubbles. Shipping was extra.

Greenhouse Shade Cloth, Plastic Film, Bubble Insulation, & Ground Cover from ACF Greenhouses

Ron

[neb]

How did they package and protect it for shipping

[RonCo]

It was in a humongous box, but I think they forgot what I ordered. The only thing inside was bubble warp.

Where's my stuff?

[karren]

I am having trouble keeping my small home attached, twinwall greenhouse warm enough. I see at places like Charley's Greenhouse offer two kinds of insulation, plastic bubbles and foil. Any experience with either one of these? Where and how long do you use it?

[RonCo]

Originally Posted by karren

I am having trouble keeping my small home attached, twinwall greenhouse warm enough. I see at places like Charley's Greenhouse offer two kinds of insulation, plastic bubbles and foil. Any experience with either one of these? Where and how long do you use it?

Karren

The clear bubble wrap type insulation is intended to be used on the inside of your existing glazing material. Since it is transparent it will allow sunlight in but help reduce heat loss to the outside. It's basically like adding another layer of twinwall to your greenhouse. With that in mind, all glazing in your ghouse that gets direct sunlight would benefit from the bubble wrap.

The foil insulation, Reflectix, is is actually two layers of thin bubble wrap stuck together with a layer of foil on both outside facing surfaces. Reflectix type insulation is called a radiant heat barrier and works because the foil surface reflects heat back into the greenhouse. It acts just like the silvered glass liner in a Thermos bottle. Greenhouse surfaces that would benefit from Reflectix would be foundation walls or any north facing glazing that does not get direct sunlight. Obviously the foil blocks all sunlight but it also reflects sunlight so it could be used on a north wall to help bounce light back into the greenhouse.

For the foil insulation to be the most effective it needs an airspace on both sides so it would be best installed with a spacer between it and any surface it is installed against. For north facing glazing the foil would be best attached to the greenhouse frame and not installed directly against the glazing material.

Lowes and Home Depot both sell Reflectix in 24 and 48 inch wide rolls.

Ron