Replacing Greenhouse Panel (Harbor Freight 6x8) with Palram Sunlite 24x48 Polycarbonate Panel

Our 3+ year old Harbor Freight Tools 6x8 Greenhouse has at least one panel that needs to be replaced.
Cost Analysis:
Before we consider replacing the panel we'll have to decide if it is worth it to upkeep the greenhouse. See also: • 3 Year Review of Harbo...
We assessed the condition of the greenhouse and found that the most of the panels have at least a few more years of life. If we find that there are many panels to replace, it would be advantageous to replace the greenhouse with something more resilient (because the cost of the panels can add up quickly; or sneakily add up if a panels need to be replaced here and there.)
In our situation, the greenhouse is located where most of it is protected from the elements. There is one side that receives the brunt of our intense California sun and occasional wind storms. Since it is mostly one side, it seems worth it to maintain the greenhouse.
Panels:
There are many options for multiwall polycarbonate panels. The quality return on investment of the different brands (and thickness) is new territory for us. Our choice of panel will be a running trial to see how long they last and if it is worth the investment.
The panel is made by Palram.
It is 24x48 inch with a thickness of 5/16" or roughly 8mm.
We chose this panel based on Palram's reputation as a greenhouse manufacturer. We also wanted to get a more robust panel for the sun and wind exposed side of the greenhouse.
The 24x48 dimensions are much easier to handle and cut; say over larger sized sheets. This size is a good balance of price and convenience.
Additionally, it is important to note that we found that the 5/16" thickness is the maximum thickness for panels installed as roof panels.
Zone 10b / San Gabriel Valley / Los Angeles / Southern California / USA

[@lavernabouzspain]

Hi there and thank you for your informative video! I just purchased my prefabrication greenhouse a few months ago, and though from a different supplier, it is very similar to the Harbor Freight's 6 x 8). I thank you for updating us that an 8mm can replace the 4mm panels that come with the greenhouse. Thank you and happy gardening!

[@briggslipsitz9342]

Thank you for posting this! I was unsure that a panel thicker than 5mm would fit.

[@nvee149]

Thank you for this!! We modified our 6x8 Harbor Freight Greenhouse (built a raised foundation/caulked and sealed the edges) but the panels are still yellowing on the south and west sides. Looks like these panels fit nicely!

[@neverenoughdirt]

Glad you found this video. These panels are good and thick. I am confident that they'll be a good value over time.

[@mr.seanster]

2nd video in a day!!! Welcome back 🙏

[@neverenoughdirt]

Thanks! :D

[@maryjanes8572]

This is helpful. My greenhouse is almost five years old and this year I have had three different panels blow out and crack, so would like something more substantial.

[@kels884]

Thank you for this video. I have this exact same greenhouse that came with a house we bought in 2016. All of the panels are deteriorated and broken into pieces. I was contemplating replacing all the panels with something like what you did but I don't know if it would be cheaper just to buy a whole new greenhouse again.

[@neverenoughdirt]

You're welcome. Just last week I replaced 5 more panels that included both roof vents. Fitting the vent panels took the most amount of time since these panels are double the thickness of the OEM panels. From my experience I will say: if you're handy and have access to a table saw, replacing the panels with an 8mm panel will make the gh very rigid. Since this video, I found some lightweight duck tape and I taped off the ends for good measure. It keeps the panels sealed so bugs and moisture doesnt get inside to muck them up. I got the same 8mm palram panels (a 5pk) off amazon. If you have to cover the front and back panels, these 8mm panels will run short and you'll have to cut two pieces to fit them together. Or you can order 4mm Palram panels from Greenhouse Megastore to cover these sides. With the 8mm panels, I found that I had to use pliers to squeeze one end so it is flatten; and that will allow me to fit them into the grooves. So here's my cost analysis: the replacement panels will come close to the cost of a new greenhouse. But these panels will be 8mm thick and will make an existing sturdier than a new one. If I were to buy a new one, I'd try the Palram 6x8' greenhouse. It is closer to $900 now but I feel the panels would last 10+ years. From what I can tell, the Palram gh houses do not use 8mm thick panels; but again, what they use, the panels are likely to be truly UV resilient.

[@kels884]

@@neverenoughdirt Thanks so much! I think I will end up just buying a new gh that's sturdier and that will last longer. I appreciate your input!!

[@homesteadingwithsadie]

we have the same green house , brand new this year, so this is good to know for the future for us ,

[@neverenoughdirt]

Nice. Wishing you many good years with yours 😄

[@g-mc4507]

Did you use any special blade for your saw? Any chipping when cutting? Didn’t know since it was polycarbonate. Thanks so much for the video.

[@neverenoughdirt]

A standard table saw blade should do the trick. If you find the panels ripping up during the cut, the blade could be dull. If you wanna be extra cautious, looking for a "finishing saw blade." These have more teeth.

[@cfbarnett]

Thanks for putting this video up. I'm going to be addressing replacement panels shortly. Why did you not buy replacement panels from Harbor Freight? And secondly, are these panels the same thickness as the original ones?

[@neverenoughdirt]

You're welcome. Great questions. I didn't go with HF panels because I know how long they would last. The Palram panels are much thicker. I am hopeful that the thicker panels will be a good return on investment. I noticed that movement (from wind) degrades the panels. A thicker panel will have more rigidity and less "movement." Lastly, Palram is known to make good quality greenhouses. I am banking on their namesake for value. Compared with HF panels, the Palram panels clearly have a UV coated side-- to face outward and help with longevity. But if I had to do it again and with the ability to, I would frame up my own gh and use corrugated poly panels. In the long run, this may have greater value. Hope this info helps!

[@snobud86]

How has this panel held up? Have you had any issues with expansion and contraction from the panel being too snug for the channel?

[@neverenoughdirt]

The panel is holding up well. It got a little discolored. I haven't had issues with expansion or contraction. I went and replaced all of the roof panels. The vent panels were a pain but these thicker panels worked. The greenhouse door was especially a pain. It couldn't get the panel to fit in the grooves. The door grooves are tighter than the roof. I also bought panels to replace the long sides. These are pretty straight forward because they don't involve grooves/channels. I slaved a few for a video but I haven't gotten around to it .

[@powerlioneaglefist]

Hey there, i just inherited a HF greenhouse with some panels in dire need of replacement. If you were to replace every panel in this greenhouse, how big of a sheet of polycarbonate do you think you would need to get? Thanks!

[@neverenoughdirt]

Hello and congrats on inheriting a gh. First of all, if you havent had experience with a gh, I recommend that you give it a go for at least a year (if you can) before you consider putting money into it. The reason I say this is because I learned that gh do not behave in a way that most of us think that they do. They dont keep daytime temperatures at night but they can be helpful still at night by keeping frost or windchill effects minimal. That said, when consider replacing the panels, there are two thicknesses to consider 4mm vs 8mm. 4mm is going to be easier to work with. If you're more handy, 8mm is sturdier. As far as the how sheets are sold, I only know that they sell them as panels. There will be cutting involved (as seen in this video)

[@larawines4875]

I thinking about getting a green house. Can you share the original price of the green house as well as the replacement panel?

[@neverenoughdirt]

I just checked HFT to help jog my memory. It is currently listed for $399. I thought I paid $400 something way back when. The replacement panels are rough $30 each. I feel very confident that they will last at least 10 years. The replacement panels are made by a leading greenhouse mft. They are very thick and have a lot of shear strength. If I could go back in time, I would add modifications to increase the shear strength of the panels. A lot of people add wood around the edges of the panel. That doesn't help with shear strength. To add shear strength, I would add horizontal braces. If you look closely at my greenhouse, you can see a piece of cedar on one of the panels. It is wedged in place. So if I could do it again, I would add horizontal braces to each panel; three pieces each; top, middle, bottom. The cedar was ripped from a fence board. Each brace will have to be trimmed accordingly as the spacing is affected by each attached piece. Retrofitting this shear strength would have made these panels last much longer because (again) the movement of the panels degrades them. Hope this helps. Conversely, I may look into a Palram made greenhouse. Though I don't have personal experience with them, the specs look like they are a good value as an out of the box product.

[@larawines4875]

@@neverenoughdirt thank you! Very helpful!

[@jamiebutler1762]

Small panhead sheet metal screws in the corners stop the clips from popping out.

[@janie2shoes537]

I was thinking about getting one of these greenhouses.

[@neverenoughdirt]

Hope this helps your plans!

[@neverenoughdirt]

Our 3+ year old Harbor Freight Tools 6x8 Greenhouse has at least one panel that needs to be replaced. Cost Analysis: Before we consider replacing the panel we'll have to decide if it is worth it to upkeep the greenhouse. See also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4DOoZ6cjtKJr5I We assessed the condition of the greenhouse and found that the most of the panels have at least a few more years of life. If we find that there are many panels to replace, it would be advantageous to replace the greenhouse with something more resilient (because the cost of the panels can add up quickly; or sneakily add up if a panels need to be replaced here and there.) In our situation, the greenhouse is located where most of it is protected from the elements. There is one side that receives the brunt of our intense California sun and occasional wind storms. Since it is mostly one side, it seems worth it to maintain the greenhouse. Panels: There are many options for multiwall polycarbonate panels. The quality return on investment of the different brands (and thickness) is new territory for us. Our choice of panel will be a running trial to see how long they last and if it is worth the investment. The panel is made by Palram. It is 24x48 inch with a thickness of 5/16" or roughly 8mm. We chose this panel based on Palram's reputation as a greenhouse manufacturer. We also wanted to get a more robust panel for the sun and wind exposed side of the greenhouse. The 24x48 dimensions are much easier to handle and cut; say over larger sized sheets. This size is a good balance of price and convenience. Additionally, it is important to note that we found that the 5/16" thickness is the maximum thickness for panels installed as roof panels. **UPDATE March 2023** Just last week I replaced 5 more panels that included both roof vents. Fitting the vent panels took the most amount of time since these panels are double the thickness of the OEM panels. From my experience I will say: if you're handy and have access to a table saw, replacing the panels with an 8mm panel will make the gh very rigid. Since this video, I found some lightweight duck tape and I taped off the ends for good measure. It keeps the panels sealed so bugs and moisture doesnt get inside to muck them up. I got the same 8mm palram panels (a 5pk) off amazon this time. If you have to cover the front and back panels, these 8mm panels will run short and you'll have to cut two pieces to fit them together. Or you can order 4mm Palram 6-foot length panels from Greenhouse Megastore to cover these sides. With the 8mm panels, I found that I had to use pliers to squeeze one end so it is flatten; and that will allow me to fit them into the grooves. So here's my cost analysis: the replacement panels will come close to the cost of a new greenhouse. But these panels will be 8mm thick and will make an existing sturdier than a new one. If I were to buy a new one, I'd try the Palram 6x8' greenhouse. It is closer to $900 now but I feel the panels would last 10+ years. From what I can tell, the Palram gh houses do not use 8mm thick panels; but again, what they use, the panels are likely to be truly UV resilient.

[@adriankap2978]

Where can I buy the Palram greenhouse online. I'm in the website but I'm unable to see prices for the panels and no product listing for getting a greenhouse, only the panels etc. Thank you for all the videos and sharing your knowledge.

[@neverenoughdirt]

@@adriankap2978 Greetings. I've only be able to find these through online retailers (Home Depot fulfillment) and Amazon. As mentioned in the video, the brand is Sunlite but they are part of Palram. This year, I purchase 2 sets of 5 panels from Amazon. The following is an affiliate link for the product: amzn.to/3LFSpnW You can also find these panels available via fulfillment through HD and Lowes. I also recommend getting some low end "foil duct tape" and taping close the ends of panel. It prevents algae, spider web, and dirt from getting in the panels. I had some foil type duct tape: I cut the tape in half length wise. Before removing the backing, I creased the tape over the edges of the panel. Then I removed the tape's backing and proceed to tape the ends.

[@neverenoughdirt]

@@adriankap2978 whoops, I misread your question. You're looking for a Gh (not a panel.) I thought I saw the Palram gh available through Costco and Amazon. Speaking of Costco, they have a Cedar version currently on sale. www.costco.com/yardistry-greenhouse.product.100784646.html

[@sheilabruning1903]

What kind of blade did you use on your table saw for cutting the panel

[@neverenoughdirt]

Before I answer your question, let me preface by saying that I recommend referring to the poly-panel manufacturer for guidance (for safety concerns.) That said, the blade that I used is a general purpose blade. I like Diablo blades: www.diablotools.com/products/D1040X Generally for materials like these, use blades with more teeth. For those without a table saw or are not comfortable with power tools, these panels can be cut using a sharp box cutter and a straight edge. Measure carefully and cut one side first, flip the panel, and cut.

[@sheilabruning1903]

@@neverenoughdirt Thank you for your prompt reply to my question.

[@babetteisinthegarden6920]

TFS

[@neverenoughdirt]

Pronounced, "Palram" or "Falram"?? lol. Maybe the latter??