Polycarb greenhouse and high winds

[janzbro]

Has anybody had any experience of polycarb greenhouses in very windy exposed positions.

I have purchased (via fleabay) an aluminium and polycarb greenhouse but I am scared to erect it due to the high winds we get on this exposed site. I have planted a willow windbreak last month but thats going to need a year at least before its going to help.

I was going to fix it to railway sleepers to give me some extra headroom (I am 6'3") and to help weigh it down but are polycarb strong enough to cope with high winds as they seem very light weight (flimsy)

[bramble]

How exposed is your site Janzbro? Are you in a raised area?
Are you on an allotment? Is there anybody else nearby with a greenhouse,
if you pin it down to the railway sleepers it should be fine.

[AshitabaDave]

Hello,
I have one in my garden, I think so long as it's securely attached to the sleepers(if its similar to mine you could drill holes through the base and put plenty of large screws or bolts through it and into the sleepers) and you use double the amount of clips to hold the polycarbonate panels in it should be ok, extra glazing clips can be bought on the internet.

Regards, Dave

[janzbro]

Hi, the plot is on part of an open field that I am clearing. Its on a hillside about 150m above sea level but it has open farmland to the east, rising upto the west for about 1/4 to the top of the hill.
The prevailing wind is from the south east it whips over a forest about 1/2mile away and has nothing in its way.

we are in a bit of a wind corridor with wind turbines to the east and west of us and get some wicked winds ( especially at the momen, it seems)

[Tripmeup]

Hi, the plot is on part of an open field that I am clearing. Its on a hillside about 150m above sea level but it has open farmland to the east, rising upto the west for about 1/4 to the top of the hill.
The prevailing wind is from the south east it whips over a forest about 1/2mile away and has nothing in its way.

we are in a bit of a wind corridor with wind turbines to the east and west of us and get some wicked winds ( especially at the momen, it seems)

I have 2 of them as well as a glass one, so in my experience, the more you can secure it the better as already said...But I would expect that panes/panels will pop/blow out in high winds and in some cases break....The more you can clip on the better or use in Tec 7 in appropriate places

[Thelma Sanders]

The windows of mine used to pop out in the slightest wind, so I siliconed them in.

Make sure you put it up with the door(s) facing away from the prevailing wind, as if the wind gets inside it will try to take off

[Bill HH]

Yes its the panels popping out that is the most likely, silicone every panel in with clear silicone inside and out, secure a length of baton across the middle of the panels and place large pots against the outside of the panels to stop them bowing.

[janzbro]

Thanks, all good advice,

I have never had a green house so does it need to be in full sun or could I attach/screw it against my fence to the south of the plot and have the door west facing away from the prevailing wind, it would be shaded on it south side by a hedge about 5 feet high but better protected

[the big lebowski]

hi ,someone on my allotment bought a greenhouse with the plastic panels and in high winds they popped out last year, this year they put a netting (the type you grow peas up )over it and so far it has stayed in one piece and we are on top of a hill and very exposed ,worth a try ,good luck ,cheers

[Tripmeup]

Thanks, all good advice,

I have never had a green house so does it need to be in full sun or could I attach/screw it against my fence to the south of the plot and have the door west facing away from the prevailing wind, it would be shaded on it south side by a hedge about 5 feet high but better protected

.......doesn't need to be in full sun all day, some protection is worth more imo..

[cheapskate chaz]

Idealy you should site it on the South end of your plot to maximise the light, you can always shade it if it gets too hot, but having it behind a fence means a part will always be in shade, there is also the danger of the fence been blown against it, but a case of a rock and a hard place.
I fixed mine to sleepers as well, and after last years gales ...didn`t flinch! I have also sited mine near to my shed and with nearby sheds do give some protection, my actual glass greenhouse is more exposed compared but has stood the test so far.

[chilli_grower]

polycarb

Here is what I did,

A bit of 2 x 1 baton on the inside, never had a problem since...

Since doing this I have also screwed straight through the polycarb into the baton with a big fat mudguard washer to sandwich the polycarb....

[janzbro]

Cheers a picture paints a thousand words.