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Greenhouse Structures Built For Performance

Aluminum Greenhouses on Extruded Frames

An aluminum greenhouse is built on a frame of extruded aluminum profiles, usually glazed with glass or polycarbonate. Aluminum does not rust, needs little upkeep and gives slim bars that let in a lot of light. Its limits are cost and, in heavy snow or extreme wind, strength compared with steel.

Aluminum profile greenhouseAluminum greenhouse
Overview

What is an aluminum greenhouse?

FANGCHENG engineers and extrudes aluminum profiles and supplies aluminum greenhouse structures for commercial projects.

It is a greenhouse whose frame is made from aluminum profiles instead of steel or wood. The covering is separate, and is most often glass or polycarbonate panels held in the profiles by seals. The terms aluminum greenhouse and aluminium greenhouse mean the same thing.

Strengths

What aluminum offers

Corrosion resistance.
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Corrosion resistance.

Aluminum does not rust, so it suits humid and coastal sites.

Long service life.
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Long service life.

The frame can last for decades with proper care.

Slim profiles.
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Slim profiles.

Thin, strong bars cast less shadow on the crop.

Precision seals.
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Precision seals.

Extruded profiles carry seals and glazing channels, which makes a tight fit.

Low maintenance.
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Low maintenance.

No painting or rust treatment is needed.

Light weight.
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Light weight.

Easier to handle and to assemble.

The slim profile is the benefit you see every day. Thinner bars cast less shadow across the crop, and the extruded channels keep glass and seals tight with fewer parts.

Extruded aluminum profileExtruded aluminum profile
Extrusion

Why extruded profiles matter

Aluminum is shaped by pushing it through a die, which produces a profile with channels for glass, seals and drainage built in. That makes a tight, tidy glazing detail, and the frame goes together with few parts. It is a precise way to build, as long as the profiles are made well.

Limits

Where aluminum has limits

Aluminum is lighter and less stiff than steel. In areas with heavy snow or extremely high winds, an aluminum frame is less suitable than steel, though it can be reinforced for winter use. It also costs more than galvanized steel to buy. For these reasons many large commercial greenhouses use steel frames with aluminum for the gutters and glazing bars.

This is why the choice is often not aluminum or steel, but where to use each. A steel main structure carries the heavy loads, and aluminum is used for gutters, glazing bars and vents, where precision and corrosion resistance count most.

Compare

Aluminum or galvanized steel?

01Corrosion

Aluminum does not rust. Galvanized steel is protected by its zinc coating, and needs the coating kept in good condition.

02Strength

Steel is stronger and stiffer, which matters for snow and wind.

03Cost

Galvanized steel is usually the lower cost.

04Weight

Aluminum is lighter.

05Best fit

Aluminum suits humid, coastal and corrosive sites and projects where long life and low upkeep count most. Steel suits heavy snow, strong wind and tight budgets.

Finishes

Finishes to ask about

Mill finish.
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Mill finish.

The bare extruded surface, which forms its own oxide layer. The lowest-cost option.

Anodized.
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Anodized.

A thicker, harder oxide layer for harsher sites.

Powder-coated.
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Powder-coated.

A colored coating for appearance and extra protection.

Ask which finishes suit your site before you compare prices, because the finish changes both cost and life.

Glazing

Glass or polycarbonate on an aluminum frame

Glass on aluminum frame
Polycarbonate on aluminum frame
Glass
Character

Highest light and a long life. Needs a frame designed for the weight.

Better insulation and impact resistance, and lighter, so a lighter frame works.

Tap a side to compare.

Glass greenhouse

See the glass greenhouse.

Glass
Polycarbonate greenhouse

See the polycarbonate greenhouse.

Polycarbonate
Aluminum greenhouse climate fitAluminum greenhouse climate fit
Climate

Climate fit

Aluminum greenhouses suit climates with high temperatures and high humidity, because the frame does not rot or rust. In hot, humid places, ventilation is the key to managing heat. In milder climates or places with four seasons, an aluminum greenhouse can be used all year with proper climate control and seasonal adjustment.

Coastal sites are a special case. Salt air attacks steel coatings over time, so the corrosion resistance of aluminum is valuable there, provided the alloy, finish and fasteners are chosen for salt.

Crops in an aluminum greenhouseCrops in an aluminum greenhouse
Crops

Crops that suit an aluminum greenhouse

Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, leafy greens, strawberries, herbs, flowers and tropical plants.

Manufacturer

Working with a manufacturer

  • Direct factory supply, without the trader mark-up
  • Custom engineering to your local loads
  • Quality checks on profiles, seals and fit
  • Project support from design to delivery
Order

Questions to settle before you order

Your answers show whether a full aluminum frame, a steel frame with aluminum glazing parts, or a steel frame alone is the better fit.
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Aluminum does not rust, but it is not indestructible

Aluminum forms a thin oxide layer that protects it, so it does not rust in the way steel does. In salty or acid environments it can still corrode, and contact with other metals can cause problems. Choose the alloy, finish and fasteners for your site.

Reinforcing aluminum for snow and wind

In snowy or windy sites, an aluminum frame can be reinforced with closer spacing, heavier profiles or steel members in the main structure. Tell us the loads for your area and we design to them.

Cost

What drives the cost of an aluminum greenhouse

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Profile size and weight

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Glazing: glass, polycarbonate or double glazing

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Finish: mill finish or coated

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Snow and wind reinforcement

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Size and complexity of the layout

Aluminum greenhouse for public projectsAluminum greenhouse for public projects
Projects

Aluminum greenhouses for retail, research and public projects

Garden centers, schools, research stations and botanical gardens often choose aluminum for its clean lines and low upkeep. People walk under these roofs every day, so appearance, light and a tidy glazing detail matter as much as cost.

For large-scale production, a steel frame with aluminum glazing parts is often the more economical choice. We advise on both.

FAQ

Common questions

Straight answers. If yours is not here, ask us.

Yes. They are strong, durable and corrosion-resistant, and need little upkeep.

The frame does not rust or rot, and with proper care it can last for decades. Panels can be replaced when needed.

Aluminum suits humid or coastal sites. Steel suits heavy snow and wind and lower budgets. We recommend by your site.

It can if it is designed and reinforced for it. Heavy snow regions often use steel instead.

Yes. Tell us your glazing preference and we supply it with the frame.

Yes, it is a strong choice for coastal sites, as long as the alloy, finish and fasteners are chosen for salt air.

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