6 x 8 HFGH couple questions after reading old threads

17 years ago

I've read pages of archived threads but have a couple questions.

My DH installs heating and cooling for a living and has lots of the aluminum foil type (not duct) tape for weatherstripping the panels but I'm not sure where to apply the tape. On just top and bottom? I read one person advising to poke holes in the bottom with a pin for drainage is this correct?

I understand that the clips from Charley's are better quality but am not sure how many to order.

I'm also not sure on the swimming pool cover for winter. The link I found was to a huge $150 one. Is that the size people are using on the 6 x 8?

Is anyone in the PNW using a 6 x 8 HFGH during winter? Our climate is pretty mild but I do want to keep tropical plants growing more like a conservatory than a production greenhouse. Wondering if much of the weatherizing in the threads is overkill for here?

Thanks

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Comments (19)

milwdave
17 years ago
Hello;

Yes the tape is fine...use it across the panels and close the channels. The clips are fine, just not enough of them...I'd buy 1 bag of them from Charley's and mix the two types. I DID use one self threading screw at the bottom of each roof panel and one at the top and bottom of each wall panel.

Can't say about the pool cover as I don't use one. I do use my greenhouse all year here in Milwaukee....not quite as mild as you are in the PNW.

Dave
Milwaukee
buyorsell888
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you
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And, voice of experience here, if you go out to your greenhouse on an icy cold, wet day ... maybe take your cell phone along, or at least don't close the door all the way ... it can kinda freeze up and be really, really difficult to open from the inside ... and if your family's like mine, they won't come out to get you 'cause they'll be thinking you're just having such a great time out there playing in the dirt and don't want to be disturbed. Oh, doors ... I noticed a draft around the door, too, so cut some extra solar pool cover material into three wide strips the length of the door plus several inches and hung those, overlapping, just inside the door. It really does help cut down that draft (it's awkward, though, so comes down as soon as possible as the weather warms). This is much longer than I'd intended it to be. Hope it is helpful to you; by no means expert advice, but it's working for me. Just take your time building your greenhouse. 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gw:plant_babies
17 years ago
about the tape -- all the gh installation instructions I have ever read state that you tape the top of each poly panel, but NOT THE BOTTOM because condensation must be able to drain out.

Are you suggesting taping the bottom and poking a small hole in the tape?

Seems to me THIS WILL NOT WORK - very tiny holes sometimes don't drain at all -- I don't know what the scientific premise is -- but I have often seen water sitting inside something that has a tiny hole in the bottom, and it would not drain until I enlarged the hole to a specific size.

Nathan might be able to tell you about this.
agardenstateof_mind
17 years ago
I'll be looking forward to other responses on this, but will give you my experience:

Assembling the greenhouse last November, we applied the tape to both top and bottom edges and did not poke any holes in them. I did wonder about condensation issues, but have seen no condensation within the panels. Our winter temps get down to the teens and summer temps into the mid to high 90's.

Buyorsell888, regarding the solar pool cover: I ordered a 14x28 clear solar pool cover Nov. '05 from Amerimerc L.L.C. in Wichita, KS for 99.75 + 7.99 handling charge for a total of $107.74. (I ordered online, the company does have a website.) There was one slightly smaller which, looking back, would have been sufficient for the 6x8 greenhouse, but being new to this I felt more comfortable paying an additional $25 for the extra material in case I messed up somewhere. The leftover material came in handy here and there: A removable inner door flap for winter, a "teepee" to protect a tree peony that started budding out ahead of schedule in unseasonably warm weather.

Until seed starting time, I used my greenhouse more like a conservatory too ... it was such a wonderful retreat on winter days! Enjoy!

Diane
buyorsell888
Original Author
17 years ago
I've been buying tropical plants but the greenhouse is still in the box :(
gjfarm
17 years ago
I'm going to jump in on this old thread and hopefully those that have assembled the 6 x 8 can help. I have read all the old posts and looked at everyone's picture postings (to which I am sure to refer).

Question 1: Rear Celing Plate (21)--got flange facing inward per instructions, but does it matter if the flange is on the top of bottom? (fits perfectly both ways).

Question 2: Please don't think I am totally stupid on this one. Do the polycarbonate panels install pushed towards the center of the greenhouse (clips on the outside [this seems the sturdiest]) or pushed outward with the clips on the inside (better appearance to the outside of the greenhouse)? Per the instructions, both ways I am attaching the two loose ends of theclips into the grooves in the frame and can securely attach them to the panels. Charlies Greenhouse catalogue has a very good picture on how they should look installed and I did buy two extra bags of clips from them. I've looked at all the posted pictures and really couldn't tell, but did see one person who had the clips installed on the panels backwards. This question is a little ahead of my construction, but need to know where to put my anchor bolts (will probably be using 1 1/2" lag screws) so as not to interfere with the panels.

Thanks for you patience and help.
milwdave
17 years ago
Hello:

Not sure I understand question 1. But question 2 is install the clips on the outside of the panels.

Dave
Milwaukee
gjfarm
17 years ago
The greenhouse is all assembled. It really went rather easily once I got started. A pleasant surprise is that the 6 x 8 now comes with two roof vents. Thanks to all those that posted pictures--they did get me over a few rough spots.
nathanhurst
17 years ago
Pin holes generally won't drain, plant.babies is right, however a good solution is to put a small hole (say 5mm diameter) then stick a bandaid or similar 'breathable' bandage over the hole. However, with polycarb twinwall stuff you would need to put a hole in each tube. I wouldn't bother.
buyorsell888
Original Author
17 years ago
Mine is still in the box :(
kansasgardengirl
17 years ago
The money saved using the solar pool cover has more than paid for itself. We usually put it on just before Thanksgiving and take it off late March or early April. I made the mistake of not ordering a clear cover and had to pay shipping on the return. I don't remember the size, but my GH is a 8 x 16 SunCountry and the cover goes up the side and over the top and back down the side again. The front is flush and I wrap the back like a package. I also purchased mine out of Wichita and ordered the gromet (sp) clips from Charley's Greenhouse.
buyorsell888
Original Author
17 years ago
Mine only has one roof vent.....DH is putting it up now.
buyorsell888
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes, it does have two. He was incorrect when he told me it didn't. Sorry.
jimmydo2
17 years ago
I thought the whole purpose of the tape, was to keep out the moisture.
buyorsell888
Original Author
17 years ago
My husband does not understand the tape. Does someone have a photo they can post?

thanks
agardenstateof_mind
17 years ago
I don't have a close-up photo, but what we did was cut a length of tape the width of the panel and attach it along the open edge of the polycarb with about one-half the width of the tape sticking out ... into space, so to speak. Then flip the panel over and press the tape down onto the other side, working from center to edges, smoothing it as you go. Now the channels are sealed.

Hope this helps.

Di
buyorsell888
Original Author
17 years ago
The tape he has is two inches wide, so the tape would show on the inside and outside of the greenhouse, wouldn't it?

Is there narrower tape?

Thanks,
agardenstateof_mind
17 years ago
Our tape shows inside and outside but, being aluminum tape, blends pretty well with the frame and doesn't bother me ... now, the clutter that I've accumulated in the GH that is visible through the walls ... *that* bothers me, lol, but it's my own fault, and soon to be rectified.
jimmydo2
17 years ago
I just finished taping all my panels (MY fingers are very sore), of course that is also from installing all the spring clips..

My roll of tape was 2 inches wide as well (I could not find any thinner, so being the OCD that I am, I used a carpet knife and cut the roll of tape in half lengthwise to make 1 inch wide tape ;)

6 x 8 HFGH couple questions after reading old threads

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