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My Polytunnel(s)

Discussion in 'Poly-Tunnel Gardening' started by Webmaster, May 17, 2015.

  1. Webmaster

    Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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    Thought I would start a thread here, showing how I put together my Ebay bought polytunnels.

    The tunnels are available from either :-

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/mantradingltd?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

    or

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/kmsdirectshops?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

    Who are the same seller.

    Last year, when I took on an allotment, I wanted a polytunnel, I dug around the base tube of the tunnel and secured the perimeter tubing to broken concrete posts to add weight, I also drove in stakes in each corner and one in the centre of the 6m run, each stake then had a metal bracket attach the steel tubing of the polytunnel frame to it.

    Tunnel #1 :-



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    This pic shows the first corner post driven in :-

    [​IMG]

    Now with all 6 posts driven in :-

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    Now sitting on concrete posts and with 'anti-hotspot' tape applied:-

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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    • Webmaster

      Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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      I then went to fit the cover, and found the zip had broken :sad: :-

      [​IMG]

      I contacted the sellers, and they agreed to replace the cover FOC, I just needed to send a picture as proof..... Excellent customer service.


      I added a rear timber between the posts, and carried on using the damaged cover :-

      [​IMG]

      and notice the use of lots of concrete posts :-


      [​IMG]

      So... Once it was up, I decided that I really should get a doorway put in place, so first, I put in (roughly, I will add), a frame... Not square or even parallel, but such is the nature of the tunnel/ground levels, so it will just be a case of making the doors to suit the opening. The top of the frame was bolted to the exposed thread left from the bolts that hold the tunnel together.

      [​IMG]

      Then cut out the flapping bit of cover :-

      [​IMG]

      added a base timber:-

      [​IMG]

      and then made doors to suit :-

      [​IMG]
       
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      • Webmaster

        Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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        To the end of the tunnel that will never be opened, I added a baton to the outside, which is screwed through the cover and clamps the cover in place :-

        [​IMG]

        And completed the tunnel by covering the doors in the material which I cut out to leave the opening :-

        [​IMG]

        [​IMG]
         
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        • Webmaster

          Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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          Tunnel #2 :-

          This tunnel was going to be made differently to Tunnel #1, I had learnt from mistakes made, mainly a years worth of bashing my head and back into the top frame of such a low door, low due to making it 'double width' and also by submerging the tunnel slightly, which means that when I stand at the non-opening end, I have to stand up with my head tilted at around 45 degrees to stand up! I needed height, height also needed, as the hoops on this design start bending quite low down, meaning you can't grow anything too close to the edge that will grow to any height..... I had a plan.

          My plan was to sit the 'base' tube structure onto scaffold boards, effectively raising the whole tunnel nine inches from it's highest point (ground levels obviously were going to be followed to a certain degree in it's length), the tunnels construction was done first (no pics, but you've seen tunnel #1 going together :) ), I then placed a post in each corner again (as per first tunnel), but this time, I couldn't drive them in, as the ground was just too dry, soooooo, I decided to concrete them in this time.

          I prepared the holes, and spiked annular ring nails into the end of each post (note that the scaffold board under the tube in these pictures was 'loose' and not fixed.... yet) :-

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]


          Then concreted in :-

          [​IMG]

          This picture shows the plan, and by this times, I had leveled both ends in and cut the boards for the 6m run, and all six holes had been concreted in :-

          [​IMG]

          It is also important to try and 'eye-in' the tubes, you don't want them sagging, or your cover will not fit correctly (notice I also had to just take notches out of the top of the board where the tube sits a little lower) :-

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]

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          No pictures, but at each post, I drilled a 4mm hole through both the first and second galvanised rail from the ground, and screwed through with 10x3 quicksilver screws, so at each post, they are screwed in 2 positions. Also, both the front and rear bottom bars are drilled at 3 positions and screwed down into the scaffold boards, making sure that the bar was in the centre line along the scaffold board.

          Both end scaffold boards were now at this point screwed to the corner posts, using 2x 12x4 quicksilver screws at each end.

          Now with the side scaffold boards screwed into place, again using the 12x4 quicksilver screws, and making sure to keep the 'line' right along the tubes :-

          [​IMG]

          I now chose to dig 2 holes at the end I would use for the doorway, these would have 2 treated posts put in, that would attach to the timber I fitted to the top tubes using brackets :-

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]



          So, I had to notch out the new 'door posts' around the base scaffold board, and concreted them in and fixed them to the top timber, I also created 2 nice sized shelves which form part of the door end structure, and gave the outside a quick splash of preservative :-

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]

          I then added the anti hot spot tape :-

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]

          Time was going well, so I thought I would get the cover fitted ....

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]

          From the pic above, I have plans, which I will cover further on ....




          Tada .....

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]

          [​IMG]

          I cut out the steel tube and the scaffold board, leaving a lovely sized doorway, and used the cut out scaffold board as a new door threshold. Inside has had a coating of preservative, all is needed to complete is an extra 'skirt' of timber to close the gap between the scaffold boards and the ground level (which I'll use the cheapest available deck board to do) and I need to make and fit a door for the front, and I am considering making a stable door so that I can leave the top one open to let heat out, without leaving the whole tunnel open..... We'll see though, as I am quite a way behind this year.
           
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          • Webmaster

            Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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            Tunnel #3 :-


            Tunnel #3 is nowhere near complete, and I'll update as I do anything.

            The frame made up and in position.

            [​IMG]


            Holes started to be dug (all holes dug, have been in the fashion of an Elephants Foot :-

            [​IMG]

            [​IMG]

            All four corner holes dug, posts cut and nails banged into the base of each post, Scaffold boards put into position at either end, which were then screwed to the posts (luckily, scaffold boards where they sat were level, how lucky !), knocked up some concrete and then filled the holes in...

            [​IMG]

            [​IMG]

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            How it was left on May 12th 2015

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            One month later ......

            What it looked like just after I'd started :-

            [​IMG]

            Top frame put in place :-

            [​IMG]

            Frame jambs in place :-

            [​IMG]

            Holes dug. nails spiked into bottom of frame jambs .... Just need to mix and pour concrete in now :-

            [​IMG]
             
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            • Webmaster

              Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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              Around 1 week later ...

              Firstly, I thought I would do a little more to tunnel #3 , Adding shelf/door frame braces.

              [​IMG]

              Then thought that now would be a good time to apply the Anti-Hotspot tape to the framework

              [​IMG]

              [​IMG]

              I got the cover out :-

              [​IMG]

              I then thought I would check the direction of the wind

              [​IMG]

              And then started to fit the cover :-

              [​IMG]

              [​IMG]

              [​IMG]

              Then once covered, it was time to start connecting the velcro straps

              [​IMG]

              And this is how it looked with all the velcro straps holding

              [​IMG]

              [​IMG]

              I came back later in the day as I hadn't had time to batten around the base of the tunnel, which is what you see here :-

              [​IMG]

              Tunnel city :-

              [​IMG]

              View from #2 into #3

              [​IMG]

              I cleared the base of weed growth (topped)

              [​IMG]

              And then covered with anti weed mat

              [​IMG]

              And then started to fill........

              [​IMG]

              ...... Until FULL :)

              [​IMG]
               
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              • Steve R

                Steve R Soil Furtler

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                Nice one Nathan! Sticky this perhaps?

                Anyone looking in might also like this tunnel I bought recently, it has 3 not the standard 2 central ridge bars so is much stronger. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121652520612

                Whatever tunnel you buy, stay well away from the ones with the white powder coated frames, galvanised is the way to go every time.

                Steve...:)
                 
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                • Webmaster

                  Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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                • Mo_

                  Mo_ Gardener

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                  Hi all cant see any pics ? thanks
                   
                • Webmaster

                  Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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                  Don't know what happened there..... But I've spent an hour putting the links back
                   
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                  • Mo_

                    Mo_ Gardener

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                    Hi webmaster that is a cracking job you have done there. How do you protect it against the strong winds ?
                     
                  • Webmaster

                    Webmaster Webmaster Staff Member

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                    I don't, the reason I've anchored and braced it like I have, will hopefully see them through the Winter.

                    Tunnel number 1 is still standing and this was setup at the beginning of last year.
                     
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                    • CanadianLori

                      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                      Fantastic! I'm green, with envy,!!
                       
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                      • fingersuk

                        fingersuk Apprentice Gardener

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                        How's yr tunnel doing this year. I just got the high roof 38mm model. Like the idea of doing scaffolding boards as can use galavinised straps to secure bottom of poly tunnel to boards.

                        How's your concreted posts doing I'm worried about high winds and wonder if wood will be good enough. Not sure if I can get some box steel and concrete that in depends on cost.

                         
                      • Mo_

                        Mo_ Gardener

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                        fingersuk do you have a link for the 38mm one ? thanks
                         

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