Allotments 4 All
Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: simmo116 on August 19, 2009, 17:21:00
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hi there i've dcided to make me a polytunnel .have all the bits all but the poly thene. its going to measure 3 mtrs long by 2.5 mtrs wide giving me a peak height of about 2.5 mtrs. now im looking at polythene and wondering is there any reason why i cant use the clear corrugated sheeting. i've priced it up at about 70 quid. there website states that it is suitible. has anyone tried this? my thinking is that it much hard waring than poly plus if it does get damaged i can just replace that sheet rarther than taping up or getting a whole new polly cover? for the sides i intend to use reclaimed polycabinate sheets(havent found any yet). but im in no rush.so then can anyone give me a reason to use polythene other than the cost(aprox 60 quid)? ;D thanx in advance
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Light.
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light transmission, not light weight ;)
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Hi simmo
My husband made me a greenhouse approx 10 years ago using 3x2 and the corrogated plastic sheeting. It is still going strong to this day. Everything grows well in it, from seedlings to full size plants. I have never lost any overwintered plants in it as yet even though it is not heated. I find that the light gets through fine as does the heat from the sun, in fact I prefer it to my 'proper' greenhouse. Mine is 11ft by 7 or 8ft and in the last 10 years, have only had to replace 2 of the panels on the roof when they got broke during high winds one year. My opinion for what it's worth, is that they are doing a fine job for me ;D
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I would love to see the pictures of your corrugated plastic greenhouse. what did you use for the struts???
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dug the post holes last night. i plan to isert the mdpe(water pipe) into a slightly larger diameter steel pipe that has a plate welded to the botom and buried to secure it. similar to these plans(http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPages/pp_view.asp?FName=polytunnel&Page=1) but on a smaller scale.
ill post pics as i go along for any one else wanting to do the same.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/simmo116/Image079.jpg)
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cemented in posts today so should weather permiting put hoops up. got the corrugated plastic sheets from b and q. 15% off so had no choice really plus they were the cheapest i could find. i have managed to scrounge some wood for the door frame but may not have enough for the back so will wait to put up sheeting untill am sealed.am not sure what to cover the ends with. i'd like to use polycarbanate sheeting but is very expensive. unless i raide some bus shelters....lol may resort to using clear polythene stretched across the batton.
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if the tunnel 'runs from north to south', you could make the north end from plywood, paint the inside black to gain extra heat from the sun in the winter, cover with a white sheet or some reflective sheeting in the summer. ;) also you could easily install ventilation in this end wall.
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thats a good idear tony. thanx. someone gave me a green house last night. so now i have a dilema. i only have room for one. im thinking of putting the green house where the tunnel was going untill i can procure more land.my neibour has two full plots and the half ajsent to mine is overgrown so i may have a little chat.
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anyone interested in polytunnel greenhouse just purchased one and finished it lastweek 3.5m-2m-2m for less than£60 including delivery. go on ebay put in polytunnels and go to grow up .it is now up and running itiscertainly a good buy
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ok got the hoops up yesterday only for the seceratary to come and have a nose and sugested the council may not allow it....aaarrrggghhh my fault should have enquired first.no have to email head of parks and allotments. and try and convince him that i really need it. or i can see me doing some free plumbing.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/simmo116/pollytunnel2.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/simmo116/pollytunnel1.jpg)
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looking good, what will be the finished size. if greenhouses are allowed on your site and its not going to be much bigger, then why would they have a problem with that, hope it gets the permission.
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i think largest greenhouse sise alowed. is 6x8 the tunnel is slightkly bigger. the site seceratry said he doesnt have a problem with it but would hate for me to finish it then the council tell me to take it down. the trouble is i couldnt make it much smaller as the hoops would distort./
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is yours the first tunnel on site then?
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yup.
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breaking the mould is always hard ;D, hope it works out for you.
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I'd ask now before you put the plastic on. It looks great with the blue hoops. Very artistic.
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had a comment today that it looks like a gypsies caravan.....lol
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I think it looks great. I was wondering whether to do a smaller version using
those cheap garden rose arches. How will you attach the polythene to the arches? ???
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Simmo
looks great. I am looking to do something very similar. Where did you get the blue pipe and how much was required?
Psi
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I think it looks great. I was wondering whether to do a smaller version using
those cheap garden rose arches. How will you attach the polythene to the arches? ???
im not using polythene goining to use corugated pvc. bit more sturdy.
Simmo
looks great. I am looking to do something very similar. Where did you get the blue pipe and how much was required?
Psi
the pipe was salvaged from work had been sitting on top of container for years. and i welded the posts with metal out the scap bin. the ony thing ive purchased so far is the pvc and the batton. coming to about.80 quid.
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i was just about to ask how you were going to get the corrugated plastic to bend then i figured it out ::) :-[
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Hey, that corrugated plastic should work great. How do you join it together then?
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Hey, that corrugated plastic should work great. How do you join it together then?
i plan to overlap then screw thru to mdpe.
council rang yesterday. i have to reduce the size. well at least the height. i cant realy reduce floor sise as i've cemented in the ground anchours.. will just have to suck it and see.
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do you need rawl plugs to screw into the pipe?
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just remove a foot or two of one side of the blue tubing and that will reduce the height. We have built two similar tunnels but with green netting covers. A wider floor space would be better for any future attempts. We found the wider tunnel more sturdy and wind resistant too. The taller they are the more they wave about in the wind and eventually break. What is the height of the centre?
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Just one more point we found that the netting was better as it allowed the wind to dissipate and you can always put some polythene about two feet along the sides for extra protection. Also it allows the rain to get in and saves watering so much. good luck with it.
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reduced height center to two meters. now have to reduce length to 8 foot. am quite peved off about it had to go to b and q last night and exchange 10 foot pannels for 8 foots. have to dig up footings this morning and re concrete to new sise. im sure that if nothing was said nobody would have had a problem. people stickin there nose in as usual.jobs worths.
>:(
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here is almost finished resised tunnel
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/simmo116/Image086.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/simmo116/Image088.jpg)
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it's looking really good simmo.;)
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How you getting on Simmo? Any progress?
Did you have to use rawl plugs to screw into the blue pipe by the way?
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Thats fab, i'd love to try my hand at making one wonder how it turned out
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Hi,
interested in your project, as I also am looking to do this sort of thing, I like the idea of water pipes, this has made me re think my ideas! Now re the corrugated pvc sheets you mentioned, these are not flexible lengthways, only width wise, so how are you planning to take these over the top?
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ground to a halt at the moment. as dont have materials to close the ends up. rang a man out the paper last night and am going to look at some pollycarbanate sheets later on. so hopefully ill have it finished before the real bad weather comes.
Now re the corrugated pvc sheets you mentioned, these are not flexible lengthways, only width wise, so how are you planning to take these over the top?
i plan to but up polltcarbanate sheet and fill with foam.
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I put corrugated PVC on my shed roof 4 years ago and it started cracking in 2 years - complete waste of money.
It may be that I'm in London - more sunlight more pollution - or maybe I got the wrong stuff - but it wasn't cheap (well it was from Homebase so no surprise there).
People say 'you get what you pay for' - but sorry - it's nonsense - I get ripped off daily.
If you're a pedant like me you'll agree a more useful maxim is 'you don't get what you don't pay for'.
I would have been much better off investing in polycarbonate - the stuff installed on my sunroom in 1987 is still tough and flexible - just a bit yellow though it lost its gloss years ago and needs regular cleaning.
The only problem is where I don't need twinwall and one will do - for some unknown reason single sheets of polycarbonate are very expensive - must be an economics of scale thing.
I did try splitting twinwall - it can be done and produces a much more cost-effective cover than perspex or corrugated PVC but it's tricky to do and no matter how carefully you do it you end up with ridges on the inside that might become difficult to clean. It's also surprisingly floppy and needs some support every metre or so.
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Simmo have you any photo's of the finished poly tunnel ? would love to see the finished article.
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still not finished im afraid. just picked up some old bus svelter p/c sheets to close the ends up now am just waiting on a nice day to get crackin. still after some wood to build the door. havent seen any yet.i also still have a green house to build but need some blocks to make the base. the skips by me are all drying up lol
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finaly got the cover on!!!!
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/simmo116/15032010151.jpg)
just got to figur out the door now. lol
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Looks great.
For the door you could just use 2x2 or 1x1 with a cross section and screw some of the plastic corrigated stuff to it.
Neil
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Well done 8)
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thanx. i worked realy hard today. i dont know but i allways seem to work harder when im not at work...
am deciding between a swing or rolling door. ithink ive got a set of runners somwhere in the shed.
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You clever thing you ...!! I have saved the pictures for future reference. Wish you all the luck this season.
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thanx and same to you. just hope i get a good life span out of it .
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Followed from the beginning? Well done10/10 ;D
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I would love to see the pictures of your corrugated plastic greenhouse. what did you use for the struts???
heres my version made from corrugated polycarbonate and timber
(http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/gallery/thumb_7502_27_04_09_6_27_02.jpg)
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More hints on here.
http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPages/pp_view.asp?FName=Polytunnel&Page=1
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They all look great, well done ;)