Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: jondav on April 14, 2012, 20:31
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Do polytunnels stand up to much wind,I have read varying reports,some say yes in all but the strongest gales. While other reports, are less enthusiastic,saying they are very prone to wind damage, and after a gale you might find it,s landed in next doors plot, any thoughts or feedback welcome
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Oh yes they do! :lol: Well ours does indeed. :D Its a homemade model so its strong and sensibly sited for the prevailing winds. We live right by the Atlantic coast.
:)
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I was going to say, that proper polytunnels, either home made like Argyllie's or from proper polytunnel suppliers like First Tunnels et etc are fine.
The flimsy sort that you can buy on ebay or a Wilkos etc are not as strong and known by many as 'blowaways'
Like most things in life you get what you pay for, or make a good job of it yourself ;)
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Mum, anything like this?...
The framework's up...
(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv225/Goldfinger_photos/IMAG0128.jpg)
Covered last year, notice around the door wasn't finished... ::)
(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv225/Goldfinger_photos/IMAG0026.jpg)
Inside just this winter, hence the manure.....
(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv225/Goldfinger_photos/IMAG0217.jpg)
I'd say go the DIY way if you can get the bits, then you can 'over engineer' it as much as you want... :lol:
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I was actually thinking of this
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=46130.msg543885#msg543885
and this ;)
http://www.overthegardengate.net/UserPages/pp_view.asp?FName=polytunnel&Page=1
but yours looks a good'un as well ;)
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Just was thinking that this might be of help. just remember if you double the wind speed you get four times the force on the structure. so for a 1 M2 area at 13.5 mph you would get a force of 2.66kg per square meter and at 27 mph the force would be 10.6 kg.
So if in a windy area you need to make sure the frame can take that pressure.
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To be fair, my eBay tunnel with a decent galvanised frame went up the end of last summer and has taken all of the weather that's been thrown at it. Though next time I'll buy a "proper" tunnel as the green square cover is not great, and even with vents open it gets hot without a second door to open...
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The cheeper green square covers only tend to last a year or two but the designs change all the time and as they are manufactured in china they are hard to get. The uk manufactured cheeper polytunnels (around the £400 - £500 mark) are engineered to stand winds of 50 to 60mph as long as they are built properly.