[shokkyy]

I have to put a new cover on my cheapie tunnel this year. The fabric of the cover is absolutely fine, but there's a hole everywhere the cover sits on a junction between two metal poles in the framework, end result being it rains almost as much inside the tunnel as outside. I guess I should have used hot spot tape, but this is my first tunnel so I hadn't realised. Lesson learned, when I put the new cover on I'll put tape on too.

Question is - am I okay to just put tape on the junctions between poles? I hope so, because covering every pole that the cover sits on seems a bit excessive, but I thought I'd better check.

[Eblana]

Hi,  I have put hot spot tape everywhere that the cover comes into contact with the poles. 

My OH has recently brought home some grey insulating tubing (which I think is meant for water pipes). I have put this on some of the poles which was a lot less work than putting on the hot spot tape (it has a opening down the length of it and you just slip it around the pole and hey presto).  He is going to try to get me some more.

[GrannieAnnie]

When we got our 2nd hand polytunnel in 06.  The hot spot tape was along every pipe.  I think that's the way it is supposed to be, as wherever the poly touches the pipe and the heat of the sun melts the poly.

A quarter along the top of my tunnel is split where the tape got damaged when we were putting it up, but it did last 6 years before it went! 

[arugula]

My OH has recently brought home some grey insulating tubing (which I think is meant for water pipes). I have put this on some of the poles

Yes, it is water pipe insulation. We have it covering all the hoops in our homemade tunnel. The only tape anywhere is the odd tiny bit of clear mending tape courtesy of eBay as the plastic cover was pre-loved when we got it.

[sunshineband]

That is an excellent idea --- why didn't I think of that? 

[arugula]

Yes, it is water pipe insulation. We have it covering all the hoops in our homemade tunnel.

Time for a gratuitous airing...

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=46130.msg543885#msg543885