After losing an aluminum GH mid construction to wind in December, I am now a bit paranoid.
I am building a cattle panel GH with 40” 2×4-framed sidewalls that will have 10mm double layer poly panels, then 6mil GH film over the panels. I have friends coming to help me put the film on, but I need to get the panels on the sidewalls first. I plan to secure the panels with a combination of 1×2 framing and H- / U-channels. I should be fine to mount the panels ahead of time, right? I have a sturdy 2×4 frame, anchored well. Friends’ schedule can change due to their work, so help arrival may be sudden/no notice, or could be a couple weeks. I’m thinking just the long wall panels, not the end walls since they’re more likely to “catch” the wind, and the panels will go higher on the ends.
Area regularly has 10-15mph winds with some gusts to 25 (the previous GH was destroyed by rare 50+mph windstorm at Christmas).
Thanks for your insights/thoughts.
by Coolbreeze1989
2 Comments
I think you need some diagonal bracing. If you push against the top edge of the back, my guess is it will deform in both directions. Some X bracing along the back wall, lower walls, and across the hoop itself (corner to corner) may go a long way towards stiffening the structure. You can use inexpensive metal conduit, rebar, tensioned steel wire, wood strapping, pex pipe, etc. The goal is to create tension and compression in all directions. Lumber framed in rectangles doesn’t have this.
Consider building your structures out of top rail ( Steel ) you can use 3 way blind corners or other fittings to support and screw into baseboards with tek self drilling roofing screws
small mesh insect screen requires no ventilation and intense wind will go right through it, you can dig small holes below where you anchor and pour a tiny bit of concrete and structure isnt going anywhere
a 20 x 20 can be built this way for less then 1k, and you can put cross bars, hang cables sideways and put strings downward or cargo nets for plant support