Polycarbonate arched greenhouses began to be widely popular among domestic farmers not so long ago.
Only a half or two decades ago, such constructions were rarely met, whereas today they are actively used not only in homestead lands, but also in the agricultural industry.
Certain success among summer residents received arched greenhouses made of polycarbonate, which will be discussed below.
The advantages of the arched frame
Polycarbonate greenhouses on the arched frame (arches for the greenhouse) have several advantages, among which are the following:
- reliability. Such structures are resistant to the effects of snow and wind;
- simple installation and operation. On independent production of parts of the frame, as well as its installation will take no more than 3 days. More protracted construction is only to be carried out with the construction of a fixed structure with the construction of the foundation;
- acceptable cost. The component parts of an arched greenhouse are relatively inexpensive, which makes this option affordable for summer residents. The construction of such a frame will be much cheaper than the construction of a brick structure, and the price of polycarbonate looks much more attractive than the cost of glass;
- arched designs are universal. They can be used for the construction of capital structures, and for collapsible structures. Such greenhouses can be easily increased or decreased by adding (decreasing) sections.
Frame options
There are two options for the frame:
- collapsible;
- stationary.
Main advantage of a collapsible design consists in the fact that it can be easily disassembled if necessary (for storage in the winter period in any room of an economic nature) or transfer for installation in another more practical and lighted place.
Disadvantage such a greenhouse consists in the impossibility of its use in the cold season, as the lack of a foundation causes significant heat loss.
Stationary greenhouses are good because they have a more reliable design and can be used in winter. The disadvantage is that such structures cannot be moved to another more advantageous place on the site.
Preparatory measures before construction
Before proceeding to the construction of a greenhouse, you should choose the location of the future structure.
Attention: the quality and quantity of the crop directly depends on the right choice of place.
It is best to install the structure so that in length it is located from west to east.
In this position, the sun's rays will warm the air inside the greenhouse well all day long.
Also need to take into account the fact that the structure should not be located in the shade trees, shrubs or any buildings.
Next, you should decide on the type of structure: whether it will be a stationary structure or a portable one.
If it is planned to build a stationary greenhouse, it is also necessary to consider whether its use is expected in the winter season.
To get an arched greenhouse made of polycarbonate with your own hands, you don’t need drawings in principle. However, in order to build a durable and reliable greenhouse, a blueprint for the future structure should be drawn up.
In addition, you can develop a scheme indicating the exact dimensions of each part of the structure. Experienced builders advise the following dimensions of greenhouse construction:
- width 2.4 meters;
- length 4 meters;
- height 2.4 meters.
With such dimensions in the greenhouse it will be possible to make two beds, between which there will be a convenient passage.
The base for the arch greenhouse
After the place has been chosen and the drawing of the future structure is ready, it is possible to undertake the construction of the foundation, the need for which is determined by the nature of the structure itself.
During the construction of light greenhouse and temporary seasonal constructions can be applied as a base frame frame - this will be quite enough.
Stationary structures must be equipped with one of the following types of foundations:
- precast tape;
- monolithic belt;
- foundation of reinforced concrete blocks.
Next will be considered exactly the stationary version of the design.
The foundation is filled in accordance with the dimensions of the future structure, the best option of which was indicated above.
The depth of the basement is determined by the climatic conditions of a particular area. In warmer regions, a sufficient depth of 0.4–0.5 m is required, while in colder areas a depth of at least 0.8 m is needed.
The foundation is poured around the perimeter of the entire structure, while the cushion is placed, and the structure is reinforced, which makes it more durable and sustainable.
For the manufacture of concrete mix The following proportions are used: 1 part cement + 3 parts gravel and sand. The prepared composition is diluted with water, stirring, as a result of which the solution should not be too thick.
A photo
The photo shows arched greenhouses made of polycarbonate:
Frame installation
Many are interested in the question of what material the arcs for polycarbonate greenhouses should be made of. So, the assembly polycarbonate arch greenhouse It begins with the installation of a frame that can be made of reinforcement, PVC pipes, aluminum or steel profiles.
The best option for the construction of the frame - galvanized metal. Before installation, it must be painted to protect the material from corrosion.
First of all, you should weld the frame strapping and install it on the foundation. The harness is attached to the foundation with anchors - this will give the structure additional strength.
Further along the perimeter and corners of the structure, it is necessary to weld the doorways and pillars, on top of which the top piping is welded - arched elements will be installed on it.
In order to give the coating additional arch stiffness, it should be tied together with a ridge and perpendicular ties.
Possible frame option:
After installation of the main parts, the structure should be equipped with ribs. Also, the greenhouse should be equipped with vents for ventilation.
Polycarbonate installation
Cut polycarbonate should be based on standard sheet sizes to avoid excessive waste.
After cutting the material, the fixing holes are marked, then you can proceed to the coating of the structure.
The plates are connected to each other with screws and special slats.
Polycarbonate sheets needed overlap not less than 20 mm. For the treatment of seams using a sealant, and the end parts are closed with metal tape.
Begin to cover the structure with a roof and arched ends, then proceed to the decoration of walls and doors. The corners are equipped with corners of metal or plastic.
Doors and windows are supplied with fittings. To make the opening parts tight, you can install a rubber seal on them.
Upon completion of panel installation, the ends of the material should be glue with perforated adhesive tape - it will provide sealing and protection against dust of longitudinal honeycomb polycarbonate.
Despite the fact that the construction of an arched greenhouse made of polycarbonate is a relatively time-consuming process, this design has gained some success in farming circles.
Arched greenhouses made of polycarbonate with their own hands, built according to all the rules, in the future can bring abundant harvests to their owners when growing various vegetable crops. And making a greenhouse with your own hands from polycarbonate with arcs is not such a complicated process.
