polytunnel construction.

[Breton monkey]

hi all

 

i've been asked by a good cliant to help with putting up a big polytunnel. i have helped with smaller one's befor. the leveling and putting the hoops in is no problem, neither is fixing the plastic....

my question is how do we get the plastic over the hoops?

the tunnel will be 24' x 90' long so its big and the plastic will be very heavy.

 

any advice welcome please

[tommer9]

You need to get a load of people and a still day, and sweat alot. Thats the way i have done it in the apst. (im no expert, but have helped erect a dozen or so for friends and family). There seems to be no easy way.

[eddie8217]

I would use ropes thrown over then tie off and pull over, may need a good few helpers, should slide on easy enough

[Breton monkey]

so you'r saying to open out the plastic totaly down one side and pull it over side-ways. yeah that sounds like it will work.

 

with smaller one's we have walked it over from the end with a guy on each side, but this is to big for that.

i dont know if the rope idea will work, what will support the rope? it would try to pull the plastic into the hoops side not up and over.

[grahamc]

XL Horticulture have a very good website with tips on cladding a polytunnel. Built one myself in the summer using secondhand frame and new plastic and anti hot spot tape bought from them. Found them very helpful and competitively priced. My tunnel is 72 by 28, and 3 of us managed comfortably in a day to clad it using their method.

[grahamc]

XL Horticulture have a very good website with tips on cladding a polytunnel. Built one myself in the summer using secondhand frame and new plastic and anti hot spot tape bought from them. Found them very helpful and competitively priced. My tunnel is 72 by 28, and 3 of us managed comfortably in a day to clad it using their method. Or type in cladding polytunnel in you tube and see the various options.

[Breton monkey]

cheers guys. yeah i've got the idea now, was just abit stuck thinking about the waight and size, but yeah i see it all now.

 

thats what i like about this forum, everyones so helpful and find several diffrent ways around problems.

 

i also posted the question to firsttunnels in the uk, expecting maybe an e-mail in a day or 2, but they phones me back and connected me with their construction team to talk it over. thought that really good of them.

 

cheers all

[Pinkfoot]

so you'r saying to open out the plastic totaly down one side and pull it over side-ways. yeah that sounds like it will work.

 

with smaller one's we have walked it over from the end with a guy on each side, but this is to big for that.

i dont know if the rope idea will work, what will support the rope? it would try to pull the plastic into the hoops side not up and over.

 

Sandwich the rope between two batons and the Polythene , nail them together and heave.

[Peter]

Don't pull too hard though, very easy to tear the polythene. If it's sticking somewhere find out what's causing the issue before tugging it over.

 

You almost need one person just watching for snags while the others pull it over. The more pairs of hands you have the better really, as long as they can all do as their told.

[richy_B]

I was looking at 30ft span 90ft long polytunnels recently and saw these guys - firstpolytunnels. No link to me at all. They have a fitting team and this really appeals. I reckon having someone who really knows would save hours, maybe even days on a big tunnel. No idea on the cost of this though.