Recovering a Polytunnel

[farmer james]

I have acquired a polytunnel frame, and was wondering about firms to supply and fit a new cover, happy to erect the frame but think probably best to get somebody competent to cover it.
Suggestions please?
TIA
FJ

 

[neilo]

It might be worth asking a few polytunnel manufacturers for both quotes on a sheet, and suggestions of local erectors? They will know a few competent ones in most areas I would expect, who will come and fit the sheet, and probably point out where you've gone wrong putting the frame up...

 

[Bald Rick]

I have acquired a polytunnel frame, and was wondering about firms to supply and fit a new cover, happy to erect the frame but think probably best to get somebody competent to cover it.
Suggestions please?
TIA
FJ

Covering is relatively easy BUT you need a team of around 6 friends incl self/family

Start in the middle and work opposite each other working towards one end then return to middle and cover rest.
By working against each other, you get tension on the sheet. I would also use anti-heat tape on the metalwork.

 

[ISCO]

We put one up ourselves in January/February this year. Frame was easy enough. Sheet went on easy with 5 of us and seemed tight on the day. We fixed one end and then pulled longways with a ratchet strap. First windy day it was lifting about 6 inches off the top of the frame.
Plan is to retighten on a hot day by lifting the hoops slightly.
We got sheet and netting from Northern Polytunnels who were very helpful.

 

[Kidds]

Covering is relatively easy BUT you need a team of around 6 friends incl self/family

6 people is a luxury, I have done 18' x 60' on my own several times, just make sure it is a warm still day/evening.
I always pull end to end and fasten first and then do the sides from the middle out
6 of us would do 2-3 acres in a day (and have)

 

[Bald Rick]

6 people is a luxury, I have done 18' x 60' on my own several times, just make sure it is a warm still day/evening.
I always pull end to end and fasten first and then do the sides from the middle out

Yeah well, I was referencing our old sheep tunnel which was 120' x 40' and needed battening 1m off the ground for venting. Made it a party with a BBQ & beer
But you are right, warm and still is best

 

[ISCO]

6 people is a luxury, I have done 18' x 60' on my own several times, just make sure it is a warm still day/evening.
I always pull end to end and fasten first and then do the sides from the middle out
6 of us would do 2-3 acres in a day (and have)

Think 'warm' February day was not warm enough for ours. It was still but we got a little breeze for 20 minutes which was interesting.
It took us 5 hours to sheet 96 x 30 but it was our first attempt.
I am right in thinking the sheet should not lift from hoops on a windy day?

 

[neilo]

Think 'warm' February day was not warm enough for ours. It was still but we got a little breeze for 20 minutes which was interesting.
It took us 5 hours to sheet 96 x 30 but it was our first attempt.
I am right in thinking the sheet should not lift from hoops on a windy day?

That depends on how windy the windy is.
I’ve stood in ours at home when there were gales with 100 mph gusts (according to local news) blowing. The plastic was lifting a bit then, and I wondered if the whole lot was going to take off.

Normally, no it shouldn’t.

 

[Kidds]

Think 'warm' February day was not warm enough for ours. It was still but we got a little breeze for 20 minutes which was interesting.
It took us 5 hours to sheet 96 x 30 but it was our first attempt.
I am right in thinking the sheet should not lift from hoops on a windy day?

It is all about experience, like most things it is easier once you have done one and know what to expect. I have done them with a space heater inside to get some warmth and that works very well. Cladding them in the depths of winter is never going to get the best results as the polythene stretches so much more when it warms. If you have to do it when it is cold the space heater helps.

No the polythene shouldn't really lift but I have had entire tunnels blow away before now so just the polythene lifting is not so bad. Had a couple of acres of Spanish tunnel blowing away on one occasion, very scary and dangerous at the time but decided to cut the ropes before the whole lot went. Gave me a little insight into what it must of been like during a storm at sea with a sailing ship.

 

[br jones]

covered my tunnel (60x18) on my own ,buried polythene method get it on tight bury the bottom then jacked up the legs one hole ( were on pins concreted in )got a sheet to last 13 years ,hotspot tape is a must

 

[GrannyAching]

Five star poly tunnels of Lampeter are seriously helpful and deliver far and wide. There's lots of info on the net about how to reskin your tunnel. I really recommend burying the side and not using bars.

 

[farmer james]

Five star poly tunnels of Lampeter are seriously helpful and deliver far and wide. There's lots of info on the net about how to reskin your tunnel. I really recommend burying the side and not using bars.

Do the tunnels not get too hot if sheeted to the ground?
FJ

 

[DRC]

Me and mrs SF covered a 30x16 one, on the hottest day last year during lock down. A northern poly tunnel one, which has a unique clip system for holding the plastic . No wooden battens. Worked well, with the hardest part being the ends that need pulling both ways to the door.

 

[DRC]

Do the tunnels not get too hot if sheeted to the ground?
FJ

Gets pretty hot in hours, sheeted to the ground with a door either end

 

[GrannyAching]

Do the tunnels not get too hot if sheeted to the ground?
FJ

That's a good question. I don't know the answer. I buried mine for stability after talking to Five Star. In the side bar ones I've seen there's not much ventilation under the base bar, it's all about the doors or having netting on the sides. I only know that mine has withstood genuine 95.mph winds with no lift.

I've got height adjustment in my hoops so the polythene went on tight in warm weather and we have lifted it a tiny bit once in twelve years. The main thing I'd say it pad and maintain the padding on the wear hotspots and patch all damage. (My cats, omg).

 

[Boohoo]

2 of us covered ours, but it's only a 20x12. It's from Northern Polytunnels so the height adjustable hoops and wiggle wires for securing the cover made it fairly simple. Pleating around the doors was the worst bit and you have to get the pleats on the inside or they sit full of rainwater. You can never have too much hotspot tape, as well as putting it on the hoops, put it over every bolt head or rough edge that might catch the cover.

Temperatures can be significantly higher inside them if they’re kept closed up, our min/max thermometer had recorded 46°C on a day that the doors weren't open

 

[neilo]

Do the tunnels not get too hot if sheeted to the ground?
FJ

Definitely, if you’re looking to house sheep in them. They need air flow through the sides to stop them turning into a sauna.

The first year we had our first one (1993) we had lots of horizontal snow. We clad the outside with small bales, to stop any blowing in. It got so damp inside that it was like it was raining as soon as the frost lifted. Never as daft again. Netlon sides are almost essential for livestock housing ime.

 

[ISCO]

Ours has netlon sides as for sheep housing. On a warm March day you need the ends open when full of sheep.

 

[GrannyAching]

Ours has netlon sides as for sheep housing. On a warm March day you need the ends open when full of sheep.

For stock you have got to have netted or open sided with bales. I was thinking of plants when I posted above. Even with them, the fug on a mild winter day can be alarming.

 

[TheRock]

Recovered mine in tin this spring, it’s a great job.