Installing bubblewrap?

After reading bits and pieces of the Greenhouse Gardener's Companion (really good book for new or soon-to-be GH owners!) I am torn between installing a second layer of plastic sheeting and squirrel fan, versus bubblewrap.

I'm leaning toward bubblewrap, if I can find some nice-size sheets (Mel, I'm calling the local auto-body repair shops tomorrow :) and then I'm left with the question of how to install it.

I'm not keen on using any type of adhesive on my UV-rated plastic, so my initial thought is to somehow affix it to the top rafter, running it down to the joints where the sidewalls begin, then down to the ground. If I can somehow attach it to the PVC frame, I think I might actually get an extra dead air space between the bubble wrap and the plastic (in addition to the insulation value of the air pockets in the bublewrap.)

Or is there a better way? I know some of you have mentioned wrapping your greenhouse in bubblewrap, and I'm hoping it'll help keep the GH snug and warm both before and after I fire up the heaters.

Also (on a related note), I'm thinking of placing a sheet of carpet padding on top of the concrete pad where my GH sits. I'm also wondering if I get square hay bales and place them along the side walls, if that will help avoid some of the cold air seepage I experienced last year. (I figure it could provide good insulation value as well as some CO2 from the decomposing hay...

If I'm going overboard with too many types of insulation this year, please tell me. All I know is that it was wayyyy too expensive to keep the GH heated last year, when all I had was a single sheet of plastic between me and Ma Nature :)

Hi Terry,
I went to Lowes and bought the bubble insulation by the roll last year. It has a silver reflective side, and I faced this in towards the plants. The rolls I bought were 4ft by 50ft. It seems like they were around $40.00 a piece. a little high, but I couldn't think of anywhere else to get it. I put it on the inside of the plastic and behind the frame. Then I used tape to attach it to itself to keep it from falling down. It really seemed to help. I only put it on the north side wall and the north side of the roof, so light could come in. I am going to try to find some clear this year to do the other side. I also have styrafoam(I know I didn't spell that right)sheets around the bottom of the walls(Lowes). I dug down far enough to sink them about a third to half way into the ground, and put them against the bottom of the wall and then filled in the dirt again. It kept the air from leaking in or out. I thought about putting straw around mine for the insulating value too, but I don't know if I will or not. I'm kind of scared the mice will like it too. :-)

Terry, this is on the brug forum, posted by Monika about the bubble wrap. http://davesgarden.com/t/363616/

Thanks, Susie! I'm hopeful I can locate some large-ish sheets without paying an arm and a leg...it sounds like it will make a big difference on the temps, and might be a bit easier than the double-layering + squirrel fan.

green_leaf - I know what you mean about the mice. But I have two things working in my favor: one, there's nothing in my GH worth eating (from their perspective); and two, my cat REALLY likes sleeping in there in the winter ;0)

I may do the bubble wrap and play the rest by ear. I can get straw bales around here all year 'round, so it's pretty easy to go round up some if the forecast looks really cold....

I have had bubblewrap up in my GH for about a year and have found it to be a great insulater and light disfuser. I just lightly misted the glazing with water and pressed in place. None have fallen off yet, even from the roof panels! Bought 2 ft. X 125 ft. x 1/2 in. high bubbles from a place called Associated Bag Company, great place.

Thanks, bam! Do you have rigid glazing, or UV-rated GH film? (I had read that you could mist the rigid glazing with water and the bubble wrap would hold, but I wasn't sure about the film...I also wonder about reaction between non-UV rated bubble wrap and film....

I have thinwall glazing (6 mil double wall polycarbonate). Yes it's rigid. The bubblewrap I bought is for shipping purposes, the uv hasn't bothered it yet. At $25 a 125' roll replacing it every couple years wouldn't be too bad.

I found some of the bubble wrap with the large bubbles at Ebay. I bought a 2' X 100' roll for like $14.00. They have LOTS for sale right now. I figured that for that price, I could at least give it a try and see if it helps.
Leisa

Vols is right about the auto body shops throwing bubble wrap away.Large parts such as bumpers come wrapped in it. I have an unlimited supply. You can also check with new car dealerships,although they most likely won't have the large ones. They replace a lot of headlamps and such,but leave the big parts to the body shops.