asklair Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Is there a place for this on this site, do not want to start posting on this subject if it will dilute the main purpose as a self-build site. My view is you are building a structure which to my way of living is an integral part of my house, more important than a conservatory. So it's up to you folks yay or nay. Please do not send me to a garden forum. Just got the top netting on deer fence for my outdoor living room (veg allotment), got a house with no garden, the dynamic land owner sees the bigger picture and is willing to work with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 I'm not sure I see your question yet, but I can't see why a poly tunnel can't be discussed like any other garden building. Not sure how you find the room for a poly tunnel with no garden, I presume some arrangement with the land owner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 I've often wondered about a poly tunnel, it would be useful for storing plants and growing cuttings for that time when I need to sort the garden out after the build. My OH also wants to grow veg at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Why not discuss polytunnels. I built one once as a temporary store for a classic car and there's plenty said on here about classic cars. What's the question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Excellent things. We used to have one for veg for years and years. One side was entirely strawberries :-). Can make your own eg by using water supply pipe slotted over tough stakes driven into the ground for ribs and wrapping in polythene or fruit netting can be used. Good for the UK climate. Or get a real one. The main problem was that some vermin e.g. Foxes might eat their way in. Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Polytunnels are absolutely fine to discuss in the garden section, so fire away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpd Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I have all the bits for a large polytunnel and then another one...... The pipe is 42mm OD so its fairly serious, however i live in a very windy location and the construction and ground anchoring will need to be a serious undertaking. I am at least six months away from constructing it but when i do i will also be looking for some help with ideas for stabilisation, insulation, drainage, heating and various other bits and peices. I will be treating it with just as much attention to detail as any other building project. So i look forward to your posts and questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 They have some large poly tunnels just outside St Awful. I was more interested in how they made them than what was inside first time I went in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 My advice, in the OPs exposed location would be to forget about DIY tunnels made from plastic pipe, or even the domestic ones made from small diameter, thin gauge tube. You need a frame that will last and cope with being re-covered a few times, as even the best plastic degrades after a few years and has to be replaced. My mother's polytunnels, in an exposed moorland location, have tubes around 40 to 50mm diameter, with solid cross-bracing and anti-chafe tape on the outer edges, to reduce premature cover failure. The covers are heavy gauge agricultural polythene. The frames ends are concreted in the ground to reduce the chance of the wind blowing the things away. I'm pretty sure mothers polytunnels were second hand, frames bought at a farm sale around 30 or so years ago. They may well be 40 or 50 years old now, yet are still OK. Covers seem to last no more than about 10 years, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 (edited) Eden uses hexagons that interlock. The frame is quite large and made from aluminium. There are two sheets of polythene in each hexagon and they pump air between them to create a bubble. This helps insulate. Also means you can change smaller areas is there is damage. I think they probably based the design on this chaps ideas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller Edited February 18, 2017 by SteamyTea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alphonsox Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 @asklairMy brother lives on the Isle of Mull in a location that looks very much like your photo. He uses polytunnels by First Tunnels https://www.firsttunnels.co.uk/ They seem very robust when kitted out with the bracing kit. Here are couple of pictures :-His description "Its a First Tunnels 12x20 with oversize tubes, cropbars, twin support brace kit, anchor plates and timber base rails. Would recommend aluminium base rails if the budget allows as the timber base rail involves quite a lot of faffing around when building. We also got the staging for one side but note this is only the legs for the staging, you have to supply your own timber." EDIT - Added YouTube video to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 (edited) Absolutely. Horses for courses and polytunnel structures for weather regimens. It is a potential use for all the left over waterpipe from that big reel we all bought and were left with 25m or so. Alternatively one could use the compressor, some gubbins and an appropriate ball and make some sort of neighbour annoying Iraqi-style supergun embedded in the verge of the roof. Ferdinand Edited February 18, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asklair Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 22 hours ago, ProDave said: I'm not sure I see your question yet, but I can't see why a poly tunnel can't be discussed like any other garden building. Not sure how you find the room for a poly tunnel with no garden, I presume some arrangement with the land owner? Made arrangement with land owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asklair Posted February 19, 2017 Author Share Posted February 19, 2017 @Alphonsox Many thanks for advice and photos, the outcome we are now going for a 14 by 25, originally going for 12 by 25, crop bars, twin support brace kit," anchor plates" (advice needed) and aluminium base rails. The option for oversize tubes appears to be gone, they may of upgrade the standard design as another seller use to point out the importance of diameter and thickness of the tubing. Also going for 2 piece instead of 4 piece tubing, this appears to be stronger, 4 piece easier to transport. What I am not sure of is the "anchor plates" (info on the web but satellite internet so slow at the moment), am I right to think they are tubes with plates at the bottom, you dig a hole, place them in and backfill with concrete. First Tunnels do a PDF download instruction manual, will download when bandwidth lets me. Finally just going for standard polytunnel cover material unless it's obvious to upgrade to a different spec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alphonsox Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Hi @asklair, I'll contact my brother and try and get more details. I would also suggest calling First Tunnels and discussing your requirements with them. The anchor plates are square metal plates that are clamped to the base of the hoop tubes an buried in soil - there should be no need for concrete but I guess that depends on the depth of soil available to you at you location. The standard cover material should be the best choice unless you are intending to heat the tunnel in which case the thermal version my be useful. When you get to somewhere with internet bandwidth available you should take a look at the First Tunnels YouTube channel - Lots of useful "how to" videos. https://www.youtube.com/user/polytunnels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asklair Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 @Alphonsox just to let you know I have gone with the solution of fixing U-bolt exhaust clamps to the foundation tubes so they will grip the concrete. Polytunnel has now been ordered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alphonsox Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 @asklair Good to hear things are moving - Let us know how you get on with its construction (with pictures if possible) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asklair Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 @Alphonsox pictures will be supplied, its officially Spring today here, my partner saw the first frogspawn for 2017. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asklair Posted March 8, 2017 Author Share Posted March 8, 2017 @Alphonsox all going well, took me ages setting up and concreting in poles, the hoops were so easy to put up. I was in Glasgow the other day and B&Q had an offer on post concrete 20kg bags, around £3.50 a bag, made that part of the job easy. Still more to do, and tips on putting the polyethene sheet on would be great. Forgot to say I put U clamps on the poles I concreted in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alphonsox Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Looking very good. I've just talked to my brother, the hints I can pass on regarding fitting the sheet are as follows :- 1. Watch all the videos on the companies web site, they will give you the best idea of how to do things and what to expect. 2. Fitting the sheet is a 2 person job, don't attempt it on your own 3. Take time to centre the sheet. There is not a huge amount spare when wrapping around to the end doors. 4. Most importantly don't attempt to fit the sheet in cold weather. The last point is critical. The sheet expands and contracts significantly with temperature. One tightly fitted in cold weather will be very flabby once the sun comes out and the snow melts. Ideally wait for a warm, calm day Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkH Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 We built a 10m catamaran (that we consequently sailed across the Atlantic) in a polytunnel, it was a great workshop. Our tunnel weathered several gales and from that experience I'd say make your doors well, as you can see from the photo - ours were crap. I had to venture out in my pyjamas on a couple of windy occasions to lash them up. The 'hotspot' tape many 'tunnel companies offer as an extra was worthwhile, preventing chafe on the cover and extending it's life considerably. The chap who inherited the polytunnel from us didn't bother with the tape and his sheeting showed signs of wear within a year. Tunnels get hot. I got tired of boatbuilding in scorching greenhouse temperatures and then one day - idly pondering the greenhouse effect, albedo and other things whilst sweatily sanding fiberglass - the idea of some white cloud cover in the form of an arctic camoflague net came out of nowhere: instant, permanent cirro-cumulus! It worked a treat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 @MarkHDo you still have the plans for the cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkH Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 (edited) 16 hours ago, SteamyTea said: @MarkHDo you still have the plans for the cat? I do @SteamyTea. They're gathering dust, much like i did whilst building it. Itchy dust. Edited March 15, 2017 by MarkH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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