Cheapish Polytunnel
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:59 pm
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
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
