Cheapish Polytunnel

[Stu the fish]

Hi all, I asked a few questions last year about making a polytunnel after failing dismally to get a cheap 2nd hand greenhouse. So I headed down the DIY route into polytunnel'sville! so how did it turn out? well in a word OK - so here's what I did if its of any use to anyone....

5 x 8' posts (4 corners and a door frame)
4 x lengths 2" x 2" to act as diagonal barcing on each side
8 x lengths 4 x 1" to create top and bottom frames to each side
3 x 8' x 3' corrugated Sheets of clear plastic
2 packs General polythene
1" x 1/2" baton to hold the plastic on (stapled on first then baton on top)
4 x bags of Post hole concrete

Timber - Mole valley farmers
Plastic roof - B&Q
Plastic sheeting for walls - B&Q
Fixtures & fittings - Toolstation
Post hole concrete - Wickes

Total - Circa £130 for the lot - One 'polyhouse' 10' x 8'!

The tunnel is in an exposed plot and to date (been up since June 09) has survived the wind, Snow and the worst of the Autumn/winter weather.

2 MISTAKES, forgive me I'm not a builder! - despite allowing what I thought was enough fall on the roof, it wasn't enough, so had to re-arrange the frame to increase the fall across the length of the roof! - Second, the roof overhang wasn't enough, so I need to work on ensuring the rain water doesn't run down the inside of the polytunnel and stays outside! Doh
Big tip - if in doubt dig your post holes deeper - I put mine 2' into the ground - concreted in they formed a solid framework.
I'm looking forward to the a full years produce, any problems I come across I'll let you know!
If in doubt try somthing you never know it might work!
Cheers
S-T-F

[peter]

Reckon you might get some construction requests off the back of this useful post.

[surferal]

but where are the pictures?????

[Stu the fish]

Ah That might be my Niave knowledge of forums - you can post pictures?
Oh yeah - scroll down and there's the buttons!

Ok will take a coupel this weekend and add to the Posting!
Cheers
STF

[surferal]

or just upload them to Picasa which is google owned.
Or Flickr and then just post a link to your album at either of these if you don't wanna fill the board with pics.

I use both Flickr because you can download a handy Flickr Uploader program which means on your PC you just drag and drop you fotos and it sync's them with your Flickr account.
I use Picasa cos i have an Android mobile (also google) and they have it programmed so that when you take a pic it can automatically be uploaded to your account there...

both the same job tho and a free and there are many others.