This greenhouse with plastic film is a multi-span growing house covered in polyethylene film instead of glass or polycarbonate sheet. The frame is hot-dip galvanized steel pipe, so it resists rust in humid and coastal air. Film options include standard PE film and UV-stabilized film with an anti-drip layer, and the film is held by clips and channels along the frame rather than stapled on. Spans of 6.4, 8, 9.6 and 10 metres are available, with structure heights from 4 to 7.5 metres. The cover is light and the frame carries it easily, which makes this house a practical choice for commercial vegetable, flower and seedling production, and the film can be replaced on its own as it ages.
This greenhouse uses plastic film as its covering material on a hot-dip galvanized steel frame. Film is the lightest of the three common greenhouse covers, and it is the one most growers start with because the frame cost is lower than a glass or polycarbonate house and the film can be replaced on its own as it ages. It suits vegetable production, cut flowers, seedlings and general crop protection, and it can be built as a single house or as a multi-span block covering a large area.
The frame is hot-dip galvanized steel pipe, which is the part that decides how long the structure lasts. A double-sided zinc coating keeps the pipe from rusting in humid, coastal or rainy conditions. The film cover is held by clips and channels running along the frame, so panels stay tight against wind instead of flapping loose the way stapled film does. Cover options include standard PE film and UV-stabilized film with an anti-drip layer, which stops condensation from dripping onto the crop below. The gable roof sheds rain to the gutters along each span.
| Cover material | Polyethylene (PE) film |
| Frame material | Hot-dip galvanized steel pipe |
| Span options | 6.4 m, 8 m, 9.6 m, 10 m |
| Structure height | 4 to 7.5 metres |
| Service life | Structure 15-20 years, structure warranty 10 years, anti-corrosion warranty 5 years |
| Film service life | 3 to 5 years depending on UV grade and climate |
| Optional systems | Cooling, heating, irrigation, ventilation, shading |
Film houses are used heavily for winter production because the cover holds heat better than an open structure and a second inner film layer can be added for extra insulation. A greenhouse cover for winter use is usually specified with a UV-stabilized grade that resists cracking in cold, and with an anti-drip layer so condensation does not fall on the crop. Heating, thermal screens and side insulation are added on top of the cover where winter nights are cold enough to stall growth. In warmer regions the same house runs with cooling pads, exhaust fans and shading instead, so the structure suits a wide range of climates.
Polyethylene plastic is the lowest-cost of the three common greenhouse coverings, and a film house can be built over a large area for less than a comparable glass house. The cover is light, so the frame does not need to be as heavy, and a damaged panel is replaced without touching the structure. Light diffusion through film is softer than through glass, which reduces leaf scorch in strong sun. Fertilizer and irrigation systems can be added later, so a grower can start with the house and build up the equipment as the operation grows. Our main markets are Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and houses are built to the climate of the destination.
The house ships as a metal frame package with the film cover, fixing clips and installation notes. Steel sections are bundled and the film is rolled and boxed for container loading. Our engineering team supplies drawings and guidance through the build, and where a customer wants support on site we can send engineers to guide installation. Many buyers visit the factory before ordering, and we welcome that.
Film typically lasts 3 to 5 years depending on the UV grade and the local climate. UV-stabilized film lasts longer, and the covering is replaced on its own without touching the frame.
Yes. Film holds heat better than an open structure, and a second inner film layer, heating and thermal screens can be added where winter nights are cold.
The frame is hot-dip galvanized steel pipe with a double-sided zinc coating, which resists rust in humid and coastal conditions and is designed for a 15-20 year service life.
Yes. Cooling pads, exhaust fans, irrigation lines and shading screens can all be fitted to the same frame, so the house can be upgraded as the operation grows.
Standard spans are 6.4, 8, 9.6 and 10 metres, with structure heights from 4 to 7.5 metres. Send us the site layout and we will size the house to fit.
Compare this house with our plastic film greenhouse, the polycarbonate sheet greenhouse and our multi span agricultural greenhouse for other covering options.
For commercial greenhouse standards and crop production references, see the National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association and Produce Grower magazine on protected cropping practice.
