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Thread: Aluminium strip shade cloth . Shiny side in or out ?

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  1. #1
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    Geoff Hands
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    Default Aluminium strip shade cloth . Shiny side in or out ?

    I took all my shade cloth off my orchid house - well it is winter inNorthern Europe !
    Object was to get to the glass for a good clean - I used a pressure washer 120 bar, and was amazed how much dirt I got off both sides of the glass.
    But when I come to replace the shade cloth, I find I have forgotten whether it goes with the shiny side in or out ?
    I can argue it both ways : on the outside it will reflect a lot of sunshine away from the greenhouse - ,keep it cooler, which is the object of the exercise.

    Of course some light has to get in for the plants to grow, through the practically open spaces between the strips. Shiny side in would mean that light in the greenhouse tends to reflected back in rather than escaping.

    So which do I do ? I think the former, but what do others think ?

  2. #2
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    Mike
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    Yes, shiny side out.
    Great stuff btw, dropped temp in my greenhouse 10 degrees easily.

  3. #3
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    Ray Barkalow
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    Default

    I agree - out. The amount of light reflected or reradiated upward is insignificant.

  4. #4
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    Bruce Brown
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    I've not used the shiny aluminum shade cloth before. We use a dark black mesh shade cloth. I wonder if one is better than the other?

    cheers,
    BD

  5. #5
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    Mike
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    The aluminet has been proven to cool better.

  6. #6
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    Ray Barkalow
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    Yep. All shade cloths work by a combination of reflection and absorption of incoming light, and the ratio of the two varies with the color and material.

    Black absorbs more than it reflects, and the absorbed energy is reradiated as heat. Aluminet reflects far more than it absorbs, so the heat factor is minimal.

  7. #7
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    Bruce Brown
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike H View Post
    The aluminet has been proven to cool better.
    Quote Originally Posted by raybark View Post
    Yep. All shade cloths work by a combination of reflection and absorption of incoming light, and the ratio of the two varies with the color and material.

    Black absorbs more than it reflects, and the absorbed energy is reradiated as heat. Aluminet reflects far more than it absorbs, so the heat factor is minimal.
    Thank you for the information. I should likely use the aluminum shade cloth here in Arkansas then as the heat in the summertime is tremendous. I like the way the black shade clothe makes the greenhouse look. It seems to fit into the landscape and look more natural, but heat is a big factor here. I appreciate the feedback.

    Cheers,
    BD

  8. #8
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    Mike
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    My greenhouse is painted grey so the aluminet actually looks good on there.
    Posted via Mobile Device

  9. #9
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    Bruce Brown
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike H View Post
    My greenhouse is painted grey so the aluminet actually looks good on there.
    Posted via Mobile Device
    Nice. Our new greenhouse is painted white inside and out to help reflect light.

    cheers,
    BD

  10. #10
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    Ray Barkalow
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    If you decide to go with Aluminet, there is a greenhouse company in Mobile that makes structures in a "gothic arch" design that will custom-make the cover of your choice for the best price going.

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