Polycarbonate Greenhouse (67 Photos): Open-top Design, Do-it-yourself, Dimensions Of The Structure For Cucumbers

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Polycarbonate Greenhouse (67 Photos): Open-top Design, Do-it-yourself, Dimensions Of The Structure For Cucumbers
Polycarbonate Greenhouse (67 Photos): Open-top Design, Do-it-yourself, Dimensions Of The Structure For Cucumbers

Video: Polycarbonate Greenhouse (67 Photos): Open-top Design, Do-it-yourself, Dimensions Of The Structure For Cucumbers

Video: Polycarbonate Greenhouse (67 Photos): Open-top Design, Do-it-yourself, Dimensions Of The Structure For Cucumbers
Video: Cucumbers Growing: greenhouse clean-up before planting cukes 2024, March
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Modern greenhouses significantly increase the growing cycle of a wide variety of plants. That is why such structures are so widespread throughout Russia. They can be found in household plots from Smolensk to Khabarovsk. The secret of such popularity is obvious: greenhouses reliably protect plants from the harmful effects of the environment, are easy to install, and are inexpensive. Polycarbonate has become the main material that is almost ubiquitous today, and for good reason as well.

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Features of the

Greenhouses and greenhouses are close "relatives", but have their own characteristics in terms of the size and range of crops grown. Greenhouse sizes vary both in width and length. Their height also has no standards. All sizes depend on the culture grown in them and the capabilities of the site owner. In the retail network there are many proposals for ready-made greenhouses, and for greenhouses in a wide range there is only a covering material, sometimes mounted at the same time with plastic arcs. Polycarbonate frames for greenhouses are the latest trend in progress in this matter.

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A greenhouse is a simple and reliable facility that is able to implement reliable crop protection, both for small frosts in early spring, and heavy downpours on summer days. But they are seasonal structures, without additional heating, therefore they are used only from spring to autumn, after which they are disassembled and stored for storage until next spring.

Before building, and even more so using a polycarbonate object, you should carefully prepare everything, calculate the parameters, correctly draw up the plan-scheme. It is especially important to understand how many square meters are required for the beds. If there is a defect or error, then in the future this will affect the yield of the crop, possibly additional costs will be required to eliminate deficiencies.

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How is it different from a greenhouse?

A greenhouse and a greenhouse are similar in many ways, but there are differences between them. Greenhouses appeared in the 16th century in France, they were created in the form of greenhouses. Two hundred years later, glass greenhouses replaced greenhouses. Then the PVC film "came on the scene" Greenhouses - these are "mini-greenhouses", structures that are notable for their low height, about 1.4 meters. There is no heating in greenhouses, heating is due to sunlight and the decomposition of manure and humus. Greenhouses do not have doors, access to plants is possible by opening the roof or side.

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It is convenient to grow seedlings in greenhouses; they can be both stationary and mobile. In early spring, when there is still thawed snow on the fields, and frosts occur at night, greenhouses are an indispensable aid in the economy. Inside the greenhouse, the air warms up to the desired condition, the seedlings feel comfortable. The height of greenhouses starts from 1.8 meters and can reach more than five meters. Often, mini-tractors and other equipment are easily accommodated in such structures. Heating in greenhouses is possible with additional heating. There is equipment that maintains the set parameters of indoor humidity and soil temperature.

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Greenhouses solve narrow-profile tasks, their purpose depends on the crops that are grown in them.

At the beginning of the 21st century, nothing can be found better than polycarbonate for the construction of greenhouses. It meets the necessary requirements, and is not inferior in strength to glass. The era when glass and PVC film were the only materials for covering greenhouses has sunk into oblivion forever.

Disadvantages of traditional materials:

  • glass has significant weight and high cost;
  • glass is fragile and difficult to work with;
  • glass installation is not an easy task;
  • PVC film is a cheap material, but extremely short-lived.
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Cellular polycarbonate is in no way inferior to glass in terms of transparency and strength. It has special protective coatings against excessive UV radiation. The weight of polycarbonate is 3.5 times less than glass, it is easier to mount such a material, it reliably withstands any temperature fluctuations in the external environment and humidity.

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Polycarbonate has an unusual structure. The outer layer is a solid sheet with a protective UV coating that protects against excessive exposure to sunlight. The middle layer is made up of honeycomb-like micro-cells. This arrangement creates ideal thermal insulation and also significantly strengthens the sheet structure, which prolongs the service life. The bottom layer provides additional rigidity and protective functions.

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A greenhouse made of polycarbonate is lightweight and does not require a massive concrete foundation. This fact allows you to significantly reduce the cost of building an object, since the strip foundation is not cheap. Polycarbonate is very durable and has good thermal insulation properties. At the same time, the coating can withstand the thickness of the snow layer several tens of centimeters thick. Another positive property of polycarbonate is fire safety. Ignition is possible only at temperatures close to 610 degrees Celsius. It itself contains special additives, it burns poorly and for the most part melts.

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Advantages and disadvantages

If you make a shed polycarbonate roof, then its advantage will be that it is done simply and quickly. The disadvantages include the fact that the usable area is small, the lighting leaves much to be desired. If there is a gable roof of the greenhouse, the lighting is much better. The supporting elements are more durable, but it is more expensive to build such an object, much more effort and materials are required here. Often, summer residents put old frames on the roofs, which do not look entirely comme il faut, and in winter they should be regularly cleaned of snow.

You can often find hangar-type greenhouses made of polycarbonate, such objects have undeniable advantages:

  • low cost;
  • ease of assembly;
  • plants are comprehensively illuminated by light;
  • excellent protection from bad weather and moisture;
  • sheets are easily attached to the frame;
  • the facility can be operated all year round;
  • fire safety;
  • the ability to use the object 12 months a year.
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Of the shortcomings, one can recall the need to carefully seal the ends and joints. Deformation of the roof is also possible during the formation of significant layers of melted snow.

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An arched-type garden greenhouse is similar to a tunnel. The object is assembled simply according to the standard scheme. Homemade portable greenhouses are always popular; it is difficult to think of anything better for growing seedlings. There are greenhouses that are submerged by 15 percent in the ground, which makes it possible to maintain the required temperature in cold weather. There are also greenhouses "Bochka" and "Khlebnitsa" - they can be both stationary and portable.

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Frame materials

In addition to polycarbonate, active the following materials are used:

  • metal corners (aluminum, steel);
  • wooden blocks (2x4 cm);
  • PVC pipes are often used, thus, the frame becomes more rigid and reinforced.
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The product weighs a little, a 12x12 cm bar is often placed in the base, which must be treated with an antiseptic primer, and then dried well.

Designs and shapes

In total, there are several options for open-top greenhouses. A "shell" is an object that has a cross-section like an arched structure with a semicircular top. The farmer can, by opening the doors, work with crops directly through the retractable roof without additional ladders and other devices.

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"Zucchini" also has a truncated arch at its base, the sides of which open upwards on both sides. The greenhouse at this moment looks like the wings of a butterfly. The second name of such greenhouses is "Butterfly". "Belgian" is a "house" greenhouse with a rectangular body that looks like a box. The hinged roof is most often single-pitched, it really resembles a chest lid.

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The convertible greenhouse is assembled according to the standard principle. The main difficulty is to correctly connect the nodes of the lid itself using special fasteners. The cover is attached to the frame made of timber using reliable hinges, according to the principle of a door. It is also recommended to provide strong retainers that would hold the cover in position. The "Belgian" model is suitable for any area, it can be either stationary or portable. The layout allows you to reach any plant in a short time.

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Dimensions (edit)

The greenhouses are relatively small. On a plot of six acres, you can often find objects no more than 3x4 meters. Often there are also structures 3 by 6 meters, 2 m wide, as well as 2x4 meters. The roof in such structures is polycarbonate, which drained almost two hundred times harder, and the transparency coefficient is approximately the same. Polycarbonate is plastic, bends easily, it is easy to install, a polycarbonate greenhouse can be assembled in half an hour.

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Particularly noteworthy are small mini greenhouses, in which polycarbonate is the main material. Such small structures are ideal for growing seedlings. Greens and radishes are also grown in mini greenhouses, they are narrow and low; it is convenient to work with them, no ladders or additional devices are required. A mini greenhouse can even be placed on a windowsill or on a loggia, it can be used all year round

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How to choose?

When choosing polycarbonate, you should consider important features. For example, the protective layer that is present in this material. It is better to buy polycarbonate from a well-known manufacturer, thus you can protect yourself from counterfeiting. It is very important to pay attention to the label on which there is all the output of this material. Plates in which there is a special layer for protection against UV radiation are designated by the term: "Top".

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The installation of a greenhouse largely depends on the level of occurrence of groundwater. If the site is swampy and located in a lowland, then it is necessary to create a "pillow" - a flat mound of gravel, on which the object can be erected. As a rule, greenhouses are made of rectangular or square shape. The reference point is a standard polycarbonate sheet. The height is usually no more than 1.5 meters.

The width usually has components:

  • the width of the beds is 1 meter;
  • the width of the track is about 0.5 meters;
  • wall thickness.
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There are special greenhouses:

  • for cucumbers;
  • for peppers;
  • for seedlings.
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For a summer residence, such objects (their rating is high) are often indispensable, especially if the plot is not very large in area. Ready-made reviews, if desired, can always be read on the Internet.

How to build?

Making a greenhouse with your own hands is not a daunting task. The work starts with the analysis of materials for the greenhouse. Then make a sketch of the drawing of the structure, which you want to make on your own site. After schematic refinement of the main idea, taken from your own considerations, you can make a detailed drawing of the future object.

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For miniature polycarbonate greenhouses, there is no need to make a massive foundation of concrete slabs or bricks. For these purposes, timber or boards may well be suitable. In this case, it is very important to comply with all technological standards. The tree must be treated with a special primer without fail. Work begins with the correct marking on the site. This will require a good two-meter level, reinforcement rods and a thread.

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When designing a greenhouse, there should be space for vents, as well as racks for plants. There must be a permanent air exchange in the greenhouse, so the vents are definitely needed. For a greenhouse, it is best to establish a foundation on piles.

Benefits from such a foundation:

  • piles can be quickly and correctly placed;
  • in terms of strength and durability, the piles are not inferior to the strip foundation;
  • no need to wait a long time for the foundation to shrink;
  • the cost of the pile foundation is four times less than the strip foundation.
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Polycarbonate sheets have a standard length of 6 meters and a width of 2.05 meters. When creating a diagram or drawing, these standards should be taken into account. And also the sheet can be easily cut in half.

Greenhouses can be single-slope and dual-slope. If the structure is located next to the main house or garage, then it will be lean-to. The level of snow load in winter depends on the angle of inclination of the roof. The greater the angle of inclination of the roof, the less snow will accumulate on it during a snowfall, which means that the risk that the roof is deformed will decrease. Typically, the tilt angle ranges from 20 to 50 degrees. For supporting structures, metal corners are most often used. Aluminum is preferred, it does not corrode and is relatively inexpensive. The distance between the supporting structures does not exceed one meter.

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Bearing fasteners are also made of shaped pipes, in this case, logs can be used as a foundation. To make an object with your own hands, the easiest way is to use wooden structures, it is easy to process, if you use the right primer, then the wood will not be damaged or affected by microorganisms. It is also important that the tree looks aesthetically pleasing and organic, it "fits" into any landscape design.

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It is also not particularly difficult to erect a wooden frame on the foundation; this should be done in stages. If the foundation is on piles, then it is important to correctly install the grillage from a bar or channel, and the structure is attached to it.

Fastening the frame to the foundation has three degrees:

  • total felling;
  • cutting down a small area;
  • fastening the structure using corners.
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The last method is the simplest, even a schoolboy can cope with this task.

As a tip, it can be noted that during work, you can put temporary diagonal supports that will take on the vibration load. This will ensure that the roof is not deformed. Aluminum profiles are the easiest structures to manufacture, they are not subject to corrosion. They also assemble the frame of the greenhouse from PVC pipes.

The advantage of this scheme:

  • light weight;
  • you can collect quickly;
  • small price;
  • pipes are not subject to corrosion.
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Pipes can be fastened with bolts and angles, PVC materials can be welded. The walls of the greenhouse must be reinforced with additional stiffeners. This is necessary to increase the strength factor. Usually, bars with a thickness of 8 millimeters are mounted diagonally. This is enough for the roof to withstand a snow load or strong wind pressure.

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Connections of polycarbonate sheets and corners are provided by special rubber washers. They prevent moisture or condensation from seeping into the room. Also, rubber effectively protects plastic from mechanical damage and chips, and you can make such consumables yourself. When working, it should be borne in mind that it is comfortable to work with polycarbonate at temperatures from +10 degrees. If the temperature is close to zero, the material will "shrink" and become excessively stiff. It is easier to install a flat roof, but this will lead to premature wear of the structure and damage to the roof. After the installation of the structure, there are joints through which moisture can enter, they must be "blown out" with polyurethane foam or filled with sealant.

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How to wash?

A polycarbonate summer cottage requires proper care. Every six months, the roof should be wiped with a damp cloth dipped in a soapy solution of laundry soap. Before the start of wintering, each wall of the greenhouse from the inside should be wiped with a sponge dipped in soapy water. Particular attention should be paid to joints and seams. In these places, pests most often lay eggs, which can turn into larvae in the spring. It is not recommended to add chlorine to the soap solution, it can damage plants, as it is a potent poison.

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The surface of polycarbonate is very fragile, any mechanical impact leaves a mark on the material. Acids and strong alkalis should also not be used; they will cloud the polycarbonate surface. After sanitizing, open all doors so that they can dry well.

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In the second half of March, all shelves and stands are removed from the greenhouse. Check and wipe the roof. It is imperative to open all the transoms to dry the room (it should be a fine, windy day). All joints and related accessories should be checked to ensure they are free of mold. Just in case, you will need to wipe all wooden structures with an antiseptic primer.

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Metal parts are painted with anti-theft and then covered with enamel. Polycarbonate is wiped with a sponge dipped in soapy water. If there are chips or scratches, it is recommended to seal them up with special glue. After winter, sometimes the sheets are deformed, they need to be checked. Complex work must always be carried out - this is a guarantee of a future good harvest.

For information on how to build a polycarbonate greenhouse, see the next video.

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