Matt W: Co-Founder & Topic Expert

About Matt

I co-founded Greenhouse Stores in 2012 because I saw a gap between what greenhouse manufacturers were saying and what customers actually needed to know. Most people buying a greenhouse for the first time had no way to compare structural integrity, glazing options or wind ratings without wading through marketing jargon. I wanted to fix that.

Before Greenhouse Stores, I spent years working directly with greenhouse manufacturers, testing products and understanding exactly how they perform in real UK weather conditions. That hands-on work shapes every recommendation on this site. When I say a greenhouse holds up in exposed conditions, it is because I have tested the wind-loading data myself and seen the structure in 70mph gusts.

What I do at Greenhouse Stores

My day-to-day splits between three things:

• Product testing and selection. I evaluate every greenhouse we sell. I review the structural engineering, visit manufacturers, and reject products that do not meet our standards. If it is on the site, I have signed it off.
• Technical consultancy. I advise customers on which greenhouse suits their plot, soil conditions and exposure. Wind loading is the area most retailers ignore, and it is the single biggest cause of greenhouse failure in the UK.
• Writing and guides. Every technical guide on the site is written from direct experience. When I write about heating costs, I have measured them. When I write about companion planting, I have grown the combinations in our own display greenhouses.

Technical specialisms

Structural wind-loading analysis

Most greenhouse retailers list a wind rating and leave it at that. I dig into the engineering data: how the frame sections are extruded, how the bracing connects, and what happens when sustained wind loads exceed the rated values. This matters because a greenhouse that fails in a storm is not just an inconvenience, it is broken glass in a garden where children play.

Glazing and materials

I have hands-on experience with every glazing type on the market: horticultural glass, toughened safety glass, 4mm and 6mm twin-wall polycarbonate, and multiwall sheets. Each has trade-offs in heat retention, light transmission and longevity. I test and compare them so customers can make informed decisions.

Heating and environment control

Running costs are the question I get asked most. I have measured real-world heating costs across paraffin, electric fan and tubular heaters in greenhouses from 6x4ft to 12x8ft. The data in our guides comes from actual readings, not manufacturer estimates.

In the press

The Independent quoted Matt in its January 2026 feature on whether a greenhouse pays for itself:

"The greenhouse itself is often only 60–70% of the total investment. Base preparation, delivery, accessories, and installation can add 30–50% to your initial budget."

— Matt, quoted in The True Cost of Growing Your Own, The Independent

Recent guides by Matt

• Fruit to Grow in a Greenhouse UK: 12 Crops, Ranked
• Why Do Plants Grow Faster in a Greenhouse? We Measured It
• Early Crops Under Glass: Steal a Six-Week Head Start
• How to Harden Off Seedlings: UK Timing & Step-by-Step Method
• Year-Round Salad Growing in a Greenhouse: UK Guide
• Wooden Greenhouse Guide UK: ThermoWood, Timber & Maintenance
• Greenhouses for High Wind & Snow Load UK: Best Frames for Scotland, Wales & Exposed Coasts
• Your First Year With a Greenhouse: A UK Month-by-Month Beginner's Diary
• How Much Does It Cost to Heat a Greenhouse? UK Running Costs 2026
• Greenhouse Roof Shapes UK: Apex, Lean-To, Orangery, Dwarf Wall & Combi Compared

Why this matters for you

Every guide on Greenhouse Stores is written by someone who has physically handled the products, measured the performance and installed the structures. There are no freelance writers, no AI-generated content passed off as expertise, and no rehashed manufacturer blurb. When you read advice here, it comes from direct experience in UK conditions.

If you have a technical question about any greenhouse we sell, get in touch. I reply personally to technical queries. You can also follow me on X at @mattwgardener, where I share glazing, wind-rating and growing advice.