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Constructing a greenhouse with polycarbonate lining does not take several hours, but it is quite doable. The construction is serious, so you will have to spend a little time on the drawings. The dimensions of all elements indicated in the diagram will help speed up the manufacturing process of the structure. So, now we will look at how to independently build a polycarbonate greenhouse, and what nuances need to be taken into account.
Determining the dimensions of the frame
Before you begin to develop drawings of a greenhouse or greenhouse, you need to determine the dimensions of the building. In turn, the calculations are affected by several important nuances:
- It is important to immediately decide on the location where the polycarbonate structure will be installed. First, it is important to measure the size of the free space on the site. It depends on this whether the greenhouse or greenhouse of the desired dimensions will fit.
- The contours of the future foundation are drawn on the site. Its shape and dimensions will accurately outline the parameters of the building being built.
- The quantity and size of building material plays an important role in determining the dimensions of a greenhouse or greenhouse.Everything is clear with the availability of material, because it is impossible to build, for example, a greenhouse measuring 3x6 if the profile or polycarbonate is only enough for a 3x4 greenhouse. Regarding the size of the material, consider an example on polycarbonate. The sheets are produced in standard dimensions of 2.05x3.05 m. It is advisable to use them sparingly so that there is less waste. Greenhouse frames measuring 3x6, 3x4 or 3x8 are optimally suited for polycarbonate.
Having dealt with all the nuances, we proceed directly to determining the size of the greenhouse or greenhouse.
Most gardeners have the general opinion that it is better to install small collapsible greenhouses using ordinary film. Polycarbonate is optimally used in stationary large greenhouses, of course, within reasonable limits. A good owner is unlikely to have empty space in such a greenhouse. The most popular size of a polycarbonate structure is considered to be 3 by 6. If desired, the length is increased to 8 m or reduced to 4 m. As a result, the optimal dimensions of the greenhouse are 3x4, 3x6 and 3x8 m. And as we have already noticed, with any length of the frame, the optimal width remains at within three meters.
When calculating the dimensions of a greenhouse or greenhouse, we are guided by the following considerations:
- The width of the structure is the most important indicator. The ease of caring for plants will depend on this. The more space, the less likely it is to damage the bed or catch the racks during work. The width of a greenhouse or stationary polycarbonate greenhouse is determined based on the fact that: the minimum door width is 60 cm, the optimal width of shelving or beds is 1 m and the passage width is 60 cm.So it turns out that for comfortable maintenance of a stationary polycarbonate greenhouse, it is advisable to stay at a minimum width of 2.4 m.
If we take into account that an obese person or will enter the greenhouse in a wheelchair, then the passage must be widened to 1.2 m. That is why the standard width of 3 m for a greenhouse or polycarbonate greenhouse has been adopted. - There are no restrictions on the length of a polycarbonate greenhouse. It all depends on the number of trays installed inside for growing seedlings or the size of the bed. Let's say we have standard pallets measuring 28x53 cm. We need to decide how they will be installed inside the greenhouse: lengthwise or crosswise. From here they take a value that is a multiple of 28 or 53, multiply it by the number of pallets standing in one row, and determine the maximum length of the greenhouse. However, it is important to remember the standard sizes of polycarbonate sheets. The maximum benefit from using the material with minimal waste will be achieved in greenhouses with a length of 4.6 and 8 m. Greenhouses and greenhouses that are too long are unprofitable in terms of maintaining an optimal microclimate. With the onset of cold weather, the cost of heating the interior space will increase.
- The height of the building depends on the type of shelter chosen. If this is a small greenhouse for one narrow bed, then the height can be about 1 m. Then you will have to provide an opening top for access to the plants. In large greenhouses measuring 3x4, 3x6 and 3x8 m, it will be uncomfortable to walk with a low ceiling. According to existing standards, the height of a stationary structure reaches 1.8 m. If you make a polycarbonate structure with your own hands, it is better to stop at a height of 2 m.This may result in a run-up of 10–20 cm, depending on the shape of the selected roof.
Having decided on the dimensions of the future polycarbonate building, they begin to draw up drawings.
The video shows a mini-course on greenhouse sizing:
We draw up an accurate drawing
Drawing up drawings begins with approximate sketches of what the future greenhouse will look like. The roof can be made semicircular, gable or single-pitch. If the greenhouse is large in size, then an arched roof is considered the best option. It is easier to cover it, since polycarbonate bends well, and little precipitation is retained on the semicircular surface.
In an arched polycarbonate structure, the ends are the same. You should not make drawings of both sides. It is enough to sketch a sketch of one end indicating the dimensions. The same is done with the side view diagram, because these sides are similarly identical.
The diagram of the ends and the top view of the polycarbonate greenhouse, photos of which are presented below, indicate the dimensions of the arched structure measuring 3x8 m.
The following photo shows how to make a drawing of polycarbonate greenhouse doors and windows. It is important to indicate on the diagram all fastening points, welding points and the use of hardware.
If desired, you can buy a ready-made plastic door. It is already equipped with hinges and a handle, which will simplify the process of making a greenhouse or DIY greenhouse made of polycarbonate.
We will equip the foundation for a greenhouse or greenhouse
Polycarbonate is a lightweight material, and to prevent a large greenhouse or greenhouse from being moved by the wind, the structure is fixed to the base. Guided by the dimensions and shape of the future polycarbonate structure, it is necessary to make drawings of the foundation.
When everything is ready, you can start marking the area. First, the area is cleared of debris and vegetation. Next, the completed foundation drawings are transferred to the ground. Marking is best done with stakes, between which cords are pulled.
The following types of foundations are installed under a greenhouse or stationary polycarbonate greenhouse:
- If you plan to install a small stationary greenhouse made of polycarbonate, then a point foundation will be enough for such a structure. It represents support points only in those places where the greenhouse frame racks will be installed. You can make supports from logs, asbestos pipes, and concrete blocks. To do this, it is enough to dig the supports into the ground to a depth below the freezing level of the soil.
- You can make a foundation out of timber for a collapsible greenhouse or polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands. First, a trench 200 mm wide is dug along the perimeter of the frame. The bottom and sides are covered with roofing felt to prevent wood rotting. The timber is treated with protective impregnation and then laid in a trench. At the end of the season, if necessary, the greenhouse and foundation are quickly dismantled for winter storage under cover.
- A block foundation is built for a stationary greenhouse or large greenhouse. First, dig a trench 250 mm wide according to the dimensions of the frame. The depth is determined by the level of soil freezing. This figure is different for different regions, but not less than 800 mm. The bottom of the trench is covered with gravel 100 mm thick.Hollow blocks begin to be laid on top of the cushion, connecting them together with cement mortar. Installation of the greenhouse frame on the foundation is carried out two days after the solution has hardened.
- The strip type of foundation is similarly suitable for stationary greenhouses or do-it-yourself polycarbonate greenhouses, and it does not matter what material the frame is made of. To build a foundation, dig a trench the same as for a block foundation. The bottom is covered with gravel and sand 150 mm thick. The sides of the trench are covered with roofing felt, and formwork is knocked down from boards on the surface of the ground. The height of the sides must be at least 200 mm. A reinforcing frame is laid inside the trench from rods, after which everything is filled with concrete mortar. Installation of the frame of a greenhouse or greenhouse begins no earlier than after 20 days. The concrete must harden completely.
When the foundation is ready, you can begin making the greenhouse frame.
Assembly and installation of a greenhouse or greenhouse frame
Now we will look at how to install an arched frame of a greenhouse or greenhouse designed for polycarbonate cladding. It should be noted that wooden blocks cannot be bent in a semicircle. When making an arched frame yourself, it is better to use a metal pipe or profile.
Let's say you have ready-made arcs, and you can start assembling the greenhouse frame:
- Alternatively, a polycarbonate greenhouse can be installed on a beam previously secured to the foundation with anchor bolts.But before doing this, the base is covered with a strip of roofing material to waterproof the wood. A frame is assembled from a beam with a cross-section of 120x50 mm along the perimeter of the foundation. Here it is important to level the structure. Anchor bolts are spaced at a pitch of 500–600 mm.
- The frame is mounted on the timber using a metal corner. It is placed one on each opposite side, where the profile stand will be installed. At the same time, installation points are marked on the timber and measured so that they are at the same level. This time they measure not the horizontality, but the verticality of the corners.
- The assembly of the greenhouse frame itself begins with the end walls. On the front wall, a roof arch with a spacer is bolted to the door frame, and then the end posts are attached. The rear end wall is assembled in the same way, but without a door.
- The finished end walls are placed on the foundation, bolted to a metal corner. To prevent the sections from falling, they are temporarily supported with supports. The end walls are fastened together with intermediate struts. When everything is ready, all other intermediate arches are installed. Each arch with posts is attached to a metal corner on the beam.
- All nodes of the greenhouse frame are connected using special clamps - crabs. They firmly span 3 or 4 profiles, forming a T-joint and cross. The two elements of the crab are firmly tightened with bolts.
- When all the arches are installed, they are reinforced with longitudinal struts. The final assembly of the greenhouse frame is the tightening of all bolted connections.
The greenhouse frame is ready, you can start covering it with polycarbonate.
The video shows instructions for installing the greenhouse:
Polycarbonate fastening
I start covering the greenhouse frame from the ends.The polycarbonate is leaned against the wall and, without cutting, fixed to the frame. A firmly fixed sheet is now more convenient to cut with a jigsaw. First, a semicircle is cut out along the contour of the arch. Next, fragments of windows and doors are cut out of polycarbonate.
When both ends are sewn up, cover the top and sides of the frame with polycarbonate sheets. The sheets are placed crosswise, carefully bending on a semicircular arch. The joints are connected with a special joining profile. The polycarbonate is screwed to the frame elements using hardware with sealing washers. In this case, preliminary drilling of holes is performed.
There is another way to attach polycarbonate to the greenhouse frame using tension tapes. In this case, there is no need to drill holes. Metal strips are laid out on top of the polycarbonate throughout the body of the greenhouse or greenhouse, after which they are tightened with tension screws.
When the greenhouse frame is completely sheathed, the protective film is removed from the polycarbonate. This must be done immediately, otherwise it will boil in the sun.
The video shows the process of attaching polycarbonate:
At this point, the polycarbonate greenhouse is ready, all that remains is to install the doors, the window and begin the internal arrangement of the beds.
