door zip

[tel]

Hi everyone,
I have one of those cheap(ish) polytunnels with a zip up door,you undo a zip either side of the door and then roll the door up and fasten it.
I will be replacing it next year with a glass greenhouse but my problem is that one side of the dooor zips as broke and come apart and it will not go back together, anyone got any ideas on how I can keep a reasonable temperature in the tunnel for a few months!
Thanks in advance.
Tel.

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine tel, put your location in your profile as it could affect your last frost date. Personally if no frost is forecast, I would leave it, maybe just tie some string round to stop it flapping about. When they are zipped up they do tend to create an awful lot of condensation which is not good, you need some ventilation.

[chris]

Unless you get one of those eyelet threading thingy-ma-bobs I think other methods (tape, etc) will come off, or tear the cover more so.

If you stick eyelets in it (no idea how much they are mind...), then at least you'd be able to tie it up with a length of cord.

[veggiechicken]

I use clothes pegs - the simple answer to an everyday problem!
Welcome tel.

[chris]

I did wonder why you were walking around with pegs still attached all over your jumpers!

[veggiechicken]

My brother and I used to put pegs on the back of my mother's coat or hem when she was going out shopping. She'd only find them when she sat down. Oh how we laughed!!!

[redser]

You could try some velcro strips, you can get lengths of it with sticky backs on them. Sure try anything as you're going to get a 'real' one soon.

[Shadylane]

Velcro tends to come off when it it gets wet. I tried that once. You want some of those snap eyelets. I got some from a garden centre recently cos ours broke last year. Here try these.

[tamsin]

It fits quite tight so I think you'd have a job pegging it. Safty pins would probably work (through the zip material not the plastic, but a pain to open. You could lay a new bit of plastic (or fleece) over the top with enough spare to peg the top and bottom?

[veggiechicken]

What about using Treasury tags like these Treasury Tags Plastic Bars 50mm Yellow (Pk 100) | eBay
You could leave one end in place and just unhook the other end to open the door. You may need eyelets around the holes to strengthen them

[woody21]

velcro would be good but as has been said the self adhesive stuff wont stick. What about sewing or stapes to fix it on. staples might pull through in the wind though

one of these mini hand held sewing machines might do the job. for velcro or a new zip.
Mini hand held Sewing Machine Chain Stitch Cloth Portable Sewing Machine | eBay

i have a zip up polytunnel and have thought about sewing in a new but stronger zip when mine breaks.

singer do a hand held sewing machine but costs £25.... but battery operated. (ebay one is hand operated)

[tel]

big thanks

Hi all,
Thanks to everyone that replied, you have certainly given me some good suggestions not sure which I might try yet, but when I have done a decent job I'll post it on here for someone else that might be in the same position

[Sanjo]

At the moment Tel, my zips are still working but I leave the door rolled up now as we are less likely to get frost. What I do as an added protection though is I have a length of fleece almost the same size as the door and it is pegged almost to the top of the opening,
That way the plants are protected if there is a frost but if it turns a bit warm then the heat can get out of the top three or four inches that is fee of fleece.
Hope that helps.

[veggiechicken]

Give us a few more days and we'll come up with lots more! Do let us know how you get on as I have a cheapy blowaway with the same problem!

[ann-the-nan]

door zip

Have had more than one cheapy, and even more new covers. (They crack and plit in the hot sunny rays.) I used to us ductape (sp?) and I found the heat melted the glue on the back. On the plus side they were excellent as starter GH's. Mine finally went one very windy afternoon when somehow the wind got inside it and tore it of it's frame and bent the poles.(Its very windy here). If you can sort these things out. it will serve you well for a few years.