How to build a greenhouse from PVC pipes with your own hands?

From our article you will learn how to make greenhouses from PVC pipes with your own hands. Photo examples can also be considered and select the most suitable design for you. Almost every summer resident or the owner of a country house wants to equip his simple greenhouse on the site. And today it is very simple to do this, since there is a very cheap material - PVC pipes. The structure comes out very simple and reliable, therefore such designs are very popular among summer residents. You can make a greenhouse from a PVC pipe with your own hands in just a few hours.

A little bit about the features

You can find a large number of designs of greenhouses and hotbeds, while the materials used are almost any that remain of the construction of the house. And it should be noted that very often there is a large number of water pipes made of polyvinyl chloride. This building material is ideal for making a greenhouse or greenhouse. In the article we will give examples of making DIY greenhouses from PVC pipes. Photos of the various options that are used by summer residents, you can also see. In addition, when working with him, you do not need to have any skills, so anyone can install a greenhouse with his own hands. But first, let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of using PVC pipes.

Material benefits

There are several advantages of pipes made of polyvinyl chloride:

1. It is very simple to work with the material, which helps to speed up the installation, and also makes it possible to quickly disassemble the seasonal structure.
2. The structure turns out to be very compact in a disassembled state, the frame will not take up a large space, you can store it in a garage or pantry.
3. Low cost of material and its availability on sale.
4. High strength and reliability of structures made of PVC pipes. In the manufacture of a greenhouse from PVC pipes with your own hands, a detailed instruction will not hurt, we will give the procedure in our material.
5. The greenhouse turns out to be durable, it can be exploited literally for decades. That's just the coating needs to be changed in a timely manner, since their resource is much less due to the rather low operational characteristics.
6. The main material of the greenhouse is very plastic, so you can make a structure of any shape.
7. Polyvinyl chloride is very resistant to temperature changes, is not exposed to moisture, it does not form fungus or rot.
8. The material is environmentally friendly enough, it does not emit harmful fumes under any conditions.

Negative qualities

Now let's talk about the disadvantages of PVC pipes. There is only one drawback - a very small mass of the finished structure. Therefore, in strong winds, it is necessary to securely fasten the structure. For greater reliability, it is necessary to use polycarbonate in the manufacture of coatings. It is very reliable and much more durable than a plastic film.

Polycarbonate, of course, is more expensive, but it is worth considering that it has a considerable resource. It is also extremely important to fix the entire structure on the soil. But we will talk about this later in our article. And now let's talk about what requirements you need to consider when building a greenhouse from PVC pipes with your own hands. Instructions for preparation will be given below.

What to consider when building

Now let's talk about what needs to be taken into account during the preparatory work for installing a greenhouse or greenhouse from polyvinyl chloride pipes:

1. Think about which option to use for mounting the structure to the ground. Be sure to take into account the climatic features of the area, the direction and strength of the wind.
2. Develop a method for joining parts using standard fittings for a specific pipe size.
3. Calculate the amount of materials for the manufacture of supporting and supporting parts of the greenhouse structure.
4. Calculate how much covering material and fasteners you need to make the structure.
5. Decide which tool you will use to make the greenhouse from PVC plastic pipes with your own hands.
6. Get all the necessary materials and tools in the store.
7. Prepare all components for assembly. It is necessary to be guided by the previously prepared project.

How to choose a material

The most reliable of all is the greenhouse made of PVC pipes and polycarbonate. With your own hands, you can assemble it quite quickly, which is what we will talk about in the article. And now let's look at what materials will be used to make the greenhouse:

1. The frame must be made of PVC pipes, the diameter of which is over 25 mm, and the wall thickness is at least 4.2 mm.
2. You will also need several bars of reinforcement, the diameter of which is up to 14 mm. And they are necessary for the manufacture of the arc. Therefore, it is necessary that the length of the bar is about 1.7 m.
3. Also, a perforated metal strip will be required, the width should be more than 40 mm.
4. Edged board, it is advisable to use only conifers. Size 40 x 100 mm, the amount must be determined based on what dimensions the greenhouse will have.
5. As a covering material, you can use a plastic film. It should be over 200 microns thick. Experienced summer residents recommend using materials with reinforcement.
6. Wood planks. It is recommended to use a board with a width of up to 20 mm.
7. To fix the arcs, it is necessary to use self-tapping screws. Their diameter should be 5 mm, length - 60. It is necessary to expect that 4 screws are necessary for fixing one arc.
8. To make the frame of the end walls, it is necessary to use a wooden beam 40 x 40 mm.
9. It is also necessary to purchase fittings for PVC pipes under the project.
10. Construction clamps.
11. Fireproof impregnations and antiseptics for the treatment of wooden elements.
12. You will also need 4 door handles and the same number of door hinges.

How to calculate the size of a greenhouse

And now let's talk about how to make an independent calculation of the greenhouse. The quantity of materials that must be purchased for manufacturing depends on this. As a rule, in greenhouses there are two beds and a passage between them. The beds in width are not more than 1.1 meters. The passage is so wide that it can be easily walked with any garden tools or buckets. You also need to consider the fact that sometimes you have to call in a wheelbarrow. Therefore, the width of the path should be approximately 80 cm. Therefore, the total width of the greenhouse should be about 3 meters.

As for length, it all depends on what your needs are, as well as what vegetable crops you plan to grow. As a rule, greenhouses are made with a length of not more than 6 m. The minimum length is 3 m. If done less, then it will be simply useless. And if it is too big, then very strong materials for manufacturing will be required. At the initial stage of design, you need to decide what dimensions the PVC-greenhouse will have. With your own hands you can, of course, make any. But looking at the standards is still necessary.

You also need to talk a little about height. It should be such that the summer resident could freely pass through it. It is also necessary to take into account that the distance from the ceiling to the upper part of the plants should be over 50 centimeters. Knowing all these parameters, you can calculate the length of the arc from the PVC pipe. In the event that the greenhouse has non-standard dimensions, you can use the simplest formula:

L = 3.14 * (h + B / 2) / 2.

Here h is the height of the greenhouse, B is the width, L is the length of the arc, that is, the desired value.

How to set the base

Typically, the frame is mounted on wooden frames. To make them, you need to use softwood boards. Size - over 100 x 40 mm. There are several stages of installation of the base:

1. The boards are laid in place, they are connected in the corners with the help of spikes. Next, you need to carefully measure all the sizes of the resulting quadrilateral. To align, you need to measure the diagonals. Only in this case the base will not be skewed. Then, when everything is aligned, it is necessary to install additional fasteners made of galvanized steel. Install them from the inside of the corners. Finally, the support frame must be fixed using four pins that are driven into the ground at all angles. Four should have a length of about half a meter. It is recommended to use corrugated fittings with a diameter of at least 12 mm.
2. Be sure to use reinforcing steel in the manufacture of substrates. The length should be about 70 cm, diameter from 12 to 14 mm. This material is used to make the arc. The fittings are inserted into a PVC pipe for fixing to the surface.
3. The pins must be immersed in the soil so that the end is about 40 cm outside. There should be about 5 mm from the base plate to the reinforcement. It is necessary to maintain a distance between adjacent arcs of not less than 1 m.

What tools are needed to make a greenhouse?

So, now let's look at what tools we need to make a greenhouse:

1. To cut metal bars, you must have a grinder.
2. To perform carpentry work with wood, you need a hacksaw.
3. When working with fasteners, a hammer may be required.
4. When installing pins in the soil, a strong sledgehammer is indispensable.
5. To check the coincidence of the arcs, you must use the cord.
6. And with the help of the building level, it is necessary to control the vertical and horizontal position of the frame components.
7. You can not do without a screwdriver when installing fasteners.

How is the frame mounted

But now let's talk about how to assemble a greenhouse from PVC pipes with your own hands. Step-by-step instructions for assembling the frame of the structure:

1. At the first stage, it is necessary to put all the pipe segments that are intended for arcs on the pins. Moreover, this is done on both sides of the base of the greenhouse. The bottom edge of the pipe must be placed at a level that corresponds to the edge of the baseboard.
2. Fasteners must be made using metal strips and screws. When you install the last arc of the supporting frame, the construction of the base can be considered almost complete. You just have to mount the longitudinal ribs to increase rigidity. They need to be mounted between all arcs in length. It should be noted that in the end you will get a good collapsible greenhouse from PVC pipes. With your own hands, you can quickly assemble and disassemble it.
3. Please note that one rib must be made from a single piece of pipe and installed on the top axis of the structure. Fasteners must be carried out using construction clamps. The remaining ribs can be installed in the middle of the arcs on both sides. Such an algorithm can be used in the construction of tunnel type greenhouses. But if you chose a gable design, then you can use standard fittings.

A little about the end walls

To make end walls, it is necessary to use frame structures that are made of timber, the size of which is 40 x 40 mm. In this case, it is allowed to use various covering materials:

1. Cellular polycarbonate.
2. Plastic wrap.
3. Water-resistant plywood, as well as any other sheet materials that have waterproof properties.
4. Water resistant drywall.

To install the doors, you need to make a box yourself, the opening should be about 90 cm, and preferably more. Only in this case any garden cart will pass into it without problems. The narthex must be done in the shape of a rectangle. On the one hand a jumper is made. Inside, in each step, it is necessary to install jibs to give the structure a little rigidity. The canvas is allowed to be made of the same material as the walls of the structure.

The door is hung using standard hinges, equipped with two handles on both sides. It is best to install doors on both walls from the end. Be sure to install vents in the end walls of very large greenhouses. Please note that to get rid of various kinds of pests that can penetrate from the outside, it is necessary to install mosquito nets at all the receptions that open.

What you need to know when using polycarbonate

It must be borne in mind that when using polycarbonate as a topcoat, there are such features:

1. It is necessary that there is a distance between adjacent arcs that corresponds to the width of the sheet. By standards, this is approximately 2100 mm. In other words, the centers of the arcs should be at least 1 meter apart.
2. And given the fact that fastening polycarbonate to the meadows is practically impossible, you will have to use metal ties installed across the frame. Sheets need to be laid with an overlap of 10 cm. In the place where the overlap is carried out, it is necessary to install a screed.
3. It is necessary that the length of such a greenhouse be a multiple of two. If you make a design of shorter or greater length, you will have to cut the last sheet. This, of course, is not very scary, because the residues can be used when sealing holes in the end walls, as well as for the manufacture of window leaves or doors.

Please note that in cellular polycarbonate, it is necessary to drill holes that will be larger than the diameter of the screws by about 2 mm. This will create a compensation gap, which during the expansion of the sheet will not allow the greenhouse to collapse, leaving a covering material as a whole.

Some tips

And now let's talk about what features new greenhouses need to know:

1. Choose only a place that is well lit in your area. It should not be obscured by trees or bushes.
2. If you are making the first greenhouse, then it is best to choose a PVC pipe as the basis. This design will be simple as well as not very expensive.
3. It is advisable to install the film coating on heat, about a week before planting in the greenhouse.
4. If the street is very hot, you need to ventilate the greenhouse. To do this, the doors and vents must be opened. If there is high humidity and temperature inside, then the plants may die.
5. And in the event that you live in an area where heavy snow can fall, you need to remove the film for the winter.
6. If the film cannot be removed, then for the winter it is necessary to install supports under the frame.
7. It is recommended to use more modern and practical materials instead of plastic film. Reinforced film, agrospan or bubble material is ideal. Try to use quality covering materials for the greenhouse from PVC pipes. You can install them with your own hands pretty quickly.
8. Be sure to remove the entire soil layer from the inside of the greenhouse, covering the surface with a film for waterproofing. With this, you will get rid of various kinds of pests and weeds. Next, buy fertile soil and fill it up. This will provide a very good yield.
9. If a greenhouse is installed on a concrete foundation, then it can be used when growing seedlings.
10. Pay attention to the protective coating of wood products. All parts that come into contact with the soil must be coated with bitumen-based mastic. In all other cases, you can even use ordinary drying oil.

Now you know how to make a greenhouse from a PVC pipe with your own hands and what you need for this. Remember that quality materials are a guarantee that the greenhouse will last a long time.