Replacing Poly Tunnel Roof with Sheeting

Shortie

Hi all

I was hoping for some inspiration on fixing a huge thick plastic sheet to the roof and part way down the sides of a polytunnel frame? The old cover was ripped to shreds by high winds soon after we moved into the property and we are now infact repurposing it as a chicken run (hence the plastic is only going part way down the sides)

My question is, we were planning to tie the sheeting to the frame with cable ties but seeing as how the old polytunnel cover ripped to shreds, I'm worried about the weakness I will introduce to the plastic (ie the small holes I create). I'm worried that the holes will tear if the winds pick up again (and lets face it, although I live in the south, we've seen some pretty windy weather recently )

Does anyone know of a better way to attach the plastic sheeting, or how to seal / protect the holes around the cable ties? I was wondering about putting duct tape over the holes, inside and out, but wondered if that would actually fall off in the wet weather, or is just simply a bad idea..?

Thanks

sobie

What are you planning on using at the bottom?

Two best ways of fixing:
1) wooden battons each side of the plastic
2) bury the plastic in the ground.

Be careful what plastic you use. Some will drip all over the place, giving issues with botrytis if their isn't adequate ventilation.

You can buy weatherproof tape specifically for use on plastic if you get a small hole in it.

Shortie

Thanks sobie, the bottom (a good depth) will be wire fencing for ventilation

Derky_2

Use exhaust clamps to fix timber along the length of the tunnel frame you can then fix anything to the timber by usual methods

Davesnave

Derky wrote: »

Use exhaust clamps to fix timber along the length of the tunnel frame you can then fix anything to the timber by usual methods

Agreed, but also check how well the frame is secured to the ground, because if the plastic was formerly buried, the need for substantial foundations will have been much less.

You don't want it to take off. :eek:

Davesnave

sobie wrote: »

Be careful what plastic you use. Some will drip all over the place, giving issues with botrytis if their isn't adequate ventilation.

Chickens get a lot of things, but fortunately, botrytis isn't one of them! :rotfl:

Shortie

Davesnave wrote: »

Agreed, but also check how well the frame is secured to the ground, because if the plastic was formerly buried, the need for substantial foundations will have been much less.

You don't want it to take off. :eek:

Lol, I shouldn't laugh but this was also one of my concerns - a dorothy moment where the chicken run suddenly lifts off, leaving some rather puzzled (but opportunistic as they are being place int he kicthen garden!) chooks behind so we do also need to make sure the frame is clamped to the ground properly.

The previous owner had a system of string over the top held down with bricks at ground level - which is what sadly destroyed the original cover as the friction of the string in the winds tore the cover) but as the new sheeting is only going half way down the frame, we can use the bottom half to achor it down without ripping the sheeting. If I'm aking any sense...

Davesnave

I'd put anti hot-spot tape on the frame to reduce friction there.

Sometimes there are plates attached to the legs and buried underground to keep the frame in place. Mine has those. Mind you, there's also about 3 tonnes of concrete at the corners, two of which were on loose ground.

Shortie

Thanks Davesnave, I'll have a good nose at the base on Saturday when I get my next chance to have a go at the run... from memory (ie I didn't trip over anything when repositioning it on Monday) it's a simple metal arch frame with a big rectanlgular metal frame on the ground and supporting bars half way up the frame too (which is what I have so far cable-tied the wire fencing to for the bottom half.

I'm starting to wonder if bricks might actually help again, but as this time the string can go through the wire and round the frame at the base, I won't ned to worry abiut it damaging the plastic. Hmmm... thats got me thinking, thanks