Greenhouse rescue

katyk_2

Last thread of the day - promise

My greenhouse is a proper polycarbonate one, suitably bolted into the stone base and with aluminium frame but I cannot help but admit it is much flimsier than I had hoped. The panels are held in by lots of wee metal pins and we have already lost 2 panels in a high wind one day - fortunately we did get both back but one was right over the road and down by the river so I was very lucky. I know we will get even higher winds come winter and I cannot make the garden any less exposed so I did wonder if buying something like bathroom sealant and going round each pane would help.

This greenhouse became a standing joke as it sat in the garage for about 2 1/2 years before we got round to putting t up at all so complaining to the manufacturer would probably not help, even though it was bought new.

I really really want this greenhouse to stick around as I ma enjoying trying to grow my own stuff, however amateurish I am right now.

Thanks for reading
Katyk

rhiwfield

Katyk, not sure what to say. If the greenhouse is not solidly made and is subject to high winds you will almost certainly take damage.

Lots of past threads on people buying the lightweight mini-greenhouses and then seeing crops wiped out and greenhouses lost after high winds.

Not the case with you but it does seem that you are compensating for weak design. Maybe double up on metal clips, hope someone can come up with an answer short of replacement.

Sambucus_Nigra

Yes, bathroom sealant will help to keep things in place.

what's the actual question though?

[Deleted User]

We also have a lot of wind, off the atlantic and Bristol channel and it swirls around the garden. A day without wind is rare. You have nothing to lose op but instead of bathroom sealant, I think I would try somthing like duct tape as it is less messy. I decided not to get any greenhouse over 3`6 tall so now have 4 short plant houses. A bit frustrating but I have to go with the flow and these are standing well, including 3 polycarbonate ones. I think I would get some help to pull off a longish strip of tape and then fold over some as you will only need a narrower strip and then use that and trim the folded piece away with a craft knife

aliasojo

kittie wrote: »

We also have a lot of wind, off the atlantic and Bristol channel and it swirls around the garden. A day without wind is rare. You have nothing to lose op but instead of bathroom sealant, I think I would try somthing like duct tape as it is less messy.

But infinitely uglier I would have thought.

OP get some exterior grade frame silicone and use that around every pane. Silicone is used in many a fish tank to bind the sides together and a quality grade silicone will withstand a lot of pressure so it will accept wind pressure without too much problem.

SailorSam

When i was looking for a greenhouse earlier in the year i wanted polycarbonate but thought they looked very flimsy, in the end i bought just the frame from B&q and big sheets of the twin-wall polycarbonate that's used in conservatory roofs., then cut it to size.
It cost as much as the frame, if not more and was a long messy job but at least i think i've got a strong greenhouse that will withstand any strong winds.

Orange_King

I have a polycarb one and the panels are kept in place with silver clips - a Gardman. The only time the panels blew out was on a very hot day when the door was open. There have been other very windy days since and with the door and vent closed it has withheld the battering.

I do think some sealant would help though to stop the panels moving so much and it is on my list of things to do.

robsmum_2

I have a polycarbonate greenhouse and we seeled every pane with high grade exterior/waterproof sealant and have had no problems(touch wood).