Opinions on installing new poly covering

Garden Forum » Greenhouses in the Garden Forum » Opinions on installing new poly covering « Previous    Next »

Author Message   John_ny  My Weather My Garden Posted on Monday, November 01, 2004 - 09:39 am:    I'm putting new double poly film on a greenhouse. Though I've done this many times, I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas about ways to get it nice and tight. When fastening, would you do the ends first, or the sides, or maybe, one end and then the sides, and then the other end, etc.? The house I'm doing now is 17 ft. by 100 ft. John_New York USDA6/7, Sunset34   Ej  My Favorite Photo My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Monday, November 01, 2004 - 05:54 pm:    John have you seen this web site? http://www.atplas.com/films/b_shrink.htm Ej So.Cal. Zone 10a   John_ny  My Weather My Garden Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 08:50 am:    Ej - Thanks. No, I hadn't seen it. It's interesting. They say to allow for 12 to 24 inch inflation. Wow, seems like an awful lot, but we'll see. I'll post a picture when we're done. Got seven years out of the old film. John_New York USDA6/7, Sunset34   Karma  My Garden Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 11:03 am:    Thank you EJ, I had read some of this and knew when we did ours that it couldn't be tight fitting. This explains it well so I can show the guys I'm not mad! karma PNW~WA State~Zonal Denial   Fbonsailady  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 05:56 am:    When I had a poly tunnel many moons ago, I was advised to dig an 18 inch deep trench around the outside. After placing the poly film over the 'hoop' shaped aluminum supports, I placed house bricks on the ends to get it fairly taut and then buried the ends of the poly film in the trench, starting in the middle of the longest length and working towards the corners. I was also advised to do this on a warm sunny day, because as the temperature drops the poly film contracts = tightens it even more. Mine lasted 8 years before it began to split. Hope you can understand my explanation John Kath Zone 8b UK   Jak3  My Weather Posted on Sunday, November 14, 2004 - 10:18 am:    17 feet by 100? You lucky dog. Jak3 - Ontario, Zone "4/5"   Mobjack68  My Weather Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 10:44 pm:    Hey John, just found this forum and even though this is an older post, decided to jump in anyway. I do hope you already have your house covered and are happy with your results. I have covered 5 greenhouses in the past two years (my wife's business, I get stuck with all the broke stuff) and have stumbled onto a method that works well for me. After the sheet(s) are on the structure and are pretty well "centered" I start on the peak on one end and fasten several feet to the frame. (we are fortunate enough to have the aluminum poly-clips on all of ours) I then go to the mid-point on either side, pull diagonally from the peak clips. I then work from the mid-point towards the end that is fastened, pulling and fastening. When I reach halfway to the end, I go back to the end and continue to pull and fasten from the peak along the end toward the ground. At about halfway, I then go back to the side and work a little farther. Continue this until you meet at the corner. At that point 1/4 of the poly will be fastened. Working on the same end go to the other side of the frame and pull diagonally AND straight across from the other side at the mid-point.....you get the picture. When you are finished with the first 1/2 go to the opposite peak (the one not fastened) and pull until you have all the wrinkles out and clip...proceed as with the first end. This sounds lengthy but it really isn't, and I have discovered that the poly can be unclipped and refastened several times as you go to work the wrinkles out. Summertime seems to be the best time because the poly will be at its most pliable, as the days shorten and cool, the poly will "shrink" and give you an even tighter fit. Our two big houses are 42x100 and I covered 1 of those and the 2 of our smaller houses by myself. Not hard work, really, just constantly in motion.... (if you work on a breezy day, it gets a little scary, turning on the exhaust fans will "suck" the poly to the frame and give you a chance to get it clipped before it gets away) jerry Mobjack68 - Virginia, Zone "6b"   John_ny  My Weather My Garden Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 04:46 pm:    Thanks, Jerry, for the info. I went ahead and just did it the way I've done it in the past; ends first and then the sides. It worked out fine. Got it tight enough so it doesn't look sloppy, but loose enough so the inflation fan can blow it up nicely. John_ny - NY, Zone "USDA Zone 7 Sunset Zone 34"

Add Your Message Here Post: Corydalis'Girl's Blush' Photo By Gardenfiend -Color- Black Red Green Blue Yellow Purple Orange Cyan Gray White -Font- Arial Courier Symbol Times Verdana -Size- Smallest -2 Small -1 Normal Large +1 Largest +2 Username: Posting Info: Only registered GardenBuddies can post. If you do not see your post the way you intended it to look in the preview screen then you made a mistake. Please correct it before posting. Remember the only way to link to an image is the following: \imagelink{Http://www.yoururl/yourflower.jpg} Password: Options: Enable HTML code in message Automatically activate URLs in message Action:

Topics

Legal

Pass Through These Garden Gates ---------------Administration---------------- F.A.Q's Report Bugs and Fixes Suggestions and Comments Test Post Area --------------Pastime Favorites-------------- Crafts and Hobbies Garden Recipes Home Repairs and Questions Lifestyles of Gardenbuddies My Favourite Book Photography and Software Subtopic of the Month Who Am I? ----------------In The Garden---------------- Advice and Makeovers in the Garden Annuals and Perennials in the Garden Forum Aquilegias in the Garden Forum Archives in the Garden Assignments in the Garden Birds and Their Environment in the Garden Forum Bonsai in the Garden Bulbs in the Garden Campanula in the Garden Clematis in the Garden Container Gardening in the Garden Dahlias in the Garden Daylilies in the Garden Decorating in the Garden Delphiniums in the Garden Forum Edibles in the Garden Euphorbias in the Garden Ferns in the Garden Fuchsias in the Garden Geraniums in the Garden Grasses in the Garden Greenhouses in the Garden Hellebores in the Garden Herbs in the Garden Heucheras in the Garden Hibiscus in the Garden Forum Hostas in the Garden Indoor Plants in the Garden Irises in the Garden My Journal in the Garden Forum Nature in the Garden Orchids in the Garden Penstemons in the Garden Peonies in the Garden Forum Pest and Diseases in the Garden Plant and Seed Resource in the Garden Ponds and Waterfeatures in the Garden Roses in the Garden Salvias in the Garden Shade in the Garden Shrubs in the Garden Soil Amendments in the Garden Starters in the Garden Forum Succulents in the Garden Trading Plants and Seeds in the Garden Trees in the Garden Tropicals in the Garden Vines and Climbers in the Garden Wishes in the Garden -----------Gardenbuddies Galleries----------- Déjà Vu Gallery Garden Gallery House and Town Gallery Identify This Plant Gallery Meeting Gardenbuddies Gallery Noah's Ark Gallery Social Gallery Vacation Gallery