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DIY construction of a polycarbonate and plastic pipe greenhouse

For gardeners

3 min read

DIY construction of a polycarbonate and plastic pipe greenhouse

Building a greenhouse from plastic pipes and polycarbonate allows for the quick creation of a lightweight and durable structure on a plot. Plastic makes it possible to design structures of any shape, which is significantly more difficult to implement using wood. Such a frame is resistant to humidity, does not rot, and is assembled without the use of complex equipment.

For the construction of the frame, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, or metal-plastic pipes are used. The most affordable are PVC pipes, which are also quite simple to install. Metal-plastic pipes are more expensive but provide higher reliability and rigidity for the entire structure.

Small hotbeds for seasonal use are easiest and fastest to assemble from lightweight plastic pipes without laying a permanent foundation.

Before starting construction, it is necessary to determine the crop composition and choose a suitable site. Based on this data, a drawing is developed for the accurate calculation of materials. The type of foundation depends on seasonality: for a durable greenhouse, a strip or pier foundation is laid, while for a temporary one, metal stakes are used.

Frame assembly and greenhouse cladding technology

  1. Preparing the soil foundation. When installing a temporary greenhouse, drive metal stakes into the ground, leaving about 30 cm above the surface.
  2. Forming the frame arches. Place a 6-meter-long pipe onto a stake on one side. Carefully bend it into an arch (for a 4-meter-high greenhouse) and secure it to the opposite stake.
  3. Installing the longitudinal tie. Connect the installed arches to each other with a top axial pipe equal to the length of the greenhouse and rigidly fix it with clamps.
  4. Assembling the doors. Assemble a door frame from plastic pipes of the required size and hang the finished structure on hinges.
  5. Installing the polycarbonate cover. Lay out the polycarbonate sheets and secure them with an overlap on the frame using wide-head self-tapping screws, thermal washers, plastic clips, or aluminum brackets. Seal the joints with special tape.
  • Minimum polycarbonate thickness — 4 mm
  • Standard sheet size — 2.1x6 m
  • Sheet thickness for greenhouses — 6 and 8 mm
  • Thickness for winter greenhouses — 10 mm
  • Stake protrusion height — 30 cm

When installing polycarbonate through profiles, be sure to pre-drill holes in the frame. Use self-tapping screws with thermal washers: they increase the support area, protect the material from degradation, and prevent the appearance of condensation in the cells.

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