The greenhouse is one of the simplest and most affordable mechanisms for year-round or seasonal growing of vegetables, fruits or flowers. The simplest device is the film design, which does not require heating, is quickly mounted and easily disassembled. What are the features of the greenhouse from the film, and how to make it yourself from improvised materials - further in the article.

Basic requirements for a film greenhouse

The greenhouse serves as an excellent device for growing various vegetation. One of the simplest designs is film, which is a metal frame covered with a special covering material, in this case, a plastic film.

Did you know? Off the coast of North America, a unique island of plastic is constantly drifting, which consists entirely of plastic bottles and bags, while it weighs 3.5 million tons.

Very often, such greenhouses are made by summer residents themselves, because they do not require special efforts and knowledge, as well as the use of special tools and materials.

But before proceeding with the self-assembly of the structure, it should be noted that the greenhouse must meet several important requirements:

• reliability, durability;
• resistance to external influences, for example, to strong winds, downpours, degrees;
• good light transmission;
• high-quality ventilation;
• high heat-saving functions;
• simplicity of installation and dismantle;
• protection against possible small frosts;
• ease of use.

A greenhouse made of plastic film should be as light as possible, retain heat well, maintain a microclimate comfortable for growth of vegetation, protect from sudden changes in temperature, have good ventilation.

The most optimal conditions for good lighting, ventilation and temperature conditions can be achieved due to the design features of the greenhouse, in particular, the installation of windows and transoms for air intake, the organization of side glazing.

Did you know? Hawaii is the first state of America to completely abandon the use of plastic products.

The pros and cons of film greenhouses

• Film greenhouses, although they are the most simple and budget option, have a lot of positive qualities, among which are:
• low cost of materials, in particular film;
• Extreme simplicity and ease of assembly;
• excellent illumination due to the large area of ​​film coating;
• light weight of covering material;
• good film strength and wear resistance;
• non-toxic materials, lack of unpleasant odor;
• high resistance to alkalis and acids;
• resistance to mold and mildew.

• At the same time, the film device is not without some drawbacks:
• poor resistance to cuts and mechanical damage;
• tendency to sag due to loss of elasticity;
• the need for frequent washing of the film in order to avoid loss of light transmission.

Important! To increase the strength properties of the structure and prevent sagging of the film, experts advise using a two-layer coating.

What greenhouse to choose for yourself

When choosing a greenhouse, each summer resident is often guided by two main factors: the size of the free area for the design and the external parameters of the device. Most often, the following types of greenhouses are mounted on personal plots.

Arched. It is a structure, the basis of which is the frame, presented in the form of a set of arches connected by special crossbars, giving strength and reliability to the greenhouse.

• Among the advantages of an arch device can be noted:
• a small number of joints and connecting elements;
• excellent illumination;
• reliability;
• durability and practicality;
• low cost;
• speed and ease of assembly;
• the ability to install without foundation.

• If we talk about the shortcomings of the arches, then the most significant are:
• difficulty in organizing quality ventilation;
• the impossibility of growing plants of indeterminate type with unlimited growth of the central stem.

Single slope. Such structures have a sloping roof in one of the sides and can be installed to the wall of any capital structure. The advantages of the device can be considered high cost-effectiveness of construction, significant savings on materials and heating, comfortable operation.

A single-pitch greenhouse can be built on either side of the building, but experts advise choosing the southern part. Among the disadvantages of the design, there are some difficulties when installing a film coating.

Gable. It is a traditional type of greenhouse in the form of a "house", which today is one of the most popular and popular among summer residents. The gable design is quite practical, multi-functional, easy to operate and maintain, resistant to surface loads.

This device also has some disadvantages: the impossibility of expanding the space, the need for regular tightness checks due to the large presence of fasteners. In addition, its installation should be carried out on a strong foundation, since the greenhouse has a rather massive and heavy roof.

In addition to the form, devices for growing vegetation differ in the type of operation:

1. Winter - allows you to engage in growing vegetation all year round. Such designs are more expensive because they require the installation of heating, additional lighting fixtures, high-quality ventilation.
2. Summer - Suitable for seasonal cultivation of vegetables or seedlings. Such structures are heated due to sunlight, do not require the installation of special devices for lighting, so they are much cheaper. Most often, such greenhouses are covered with a plastic film, which makes them more profitable than winter ones.

All types of greenhouses are available to farmers in the finished version. To build a structure with your own hands, you need to possess some basic building skills, prepare drawings for future construction and the necessary tools, materials.

Which film is better to use

When using a film as a covering material for a greenhouse, it is necessary, first of all, to figure out what it is and in what cases it is used. The market offers numerous types of films that differ in different indicators of density, wear resistance, and service life.

When choosing the right material, experts advise paying attention to such aspects:

1. Density. The ability of the shelter to withstand the harmful effects of the environment: wind, rain, snow, etc., as well as transmit sunlight, will depend on this factor. The higher the density, the higher the wear resistance, but lower light transmission. The best option is considered density indicators in the range of 150-200 microns.
2. Sizes. The width of the web will usually be determined by the dimensions of the structure. A panel with a width of 3 m is suitable for small arched devices. For large greenhouses, it is recommended to select a film 6 m wide. With a lack of width, several parts can be glued or welded.

Important! The film cover is in most cases removed for the winter, since even the most durable material is not able to withstand the tests of snow, heavy rain and strong winds.

There are several types of films with which you can cover the greenhouse design:

1. Hydrophilic stabilized. It has a special surface that prevents condensation in the middle of the building, is characterized by antistatic properties and does not allow dust to accumulate. The surface always remains transparent, transmits light well, while retaining UV rays and preventing sharp fluctuations in temperature.
2. Unstable. The biggest advantage of the material is its low cost. On this positive qualities end. The film does not retain heat well, has low wear resistance and a short service life - from 3 to 6 months.
3. Heat holding. The material is characterized by enhanced absorption of thermal energy, which makes the temperature in the middle of the structure several degrees higher than in the rest. The use of this type of coating makes it possible to increase productivity by 10-30%. The minus of the panel is a small margin of safety and a short life - up to 9 months.
4. Reinforced. Special rather strong material reinforced with reinforced threads that provide a long service life - more than 2 years. Such shelter does not require mandatory removal for the winter. The disadvantage of the film is the insufficient transmission of thermal energy (10-12% lower than in other species).

When choosing a material, it is also recommended to pay attention to the purpose for which it was produced. Films of industrial production should not be used for home greenhouses, since they can contain toxic substances that are harmful to vegetation and humans.

Necessary tools

During the independent installation of a greenhouse made of plastic film, you may need a number of tools:

• a rubber spatula or an ordinary flat wooden board for applying compounds;
• iron or soldering iron;
• adhesive composition;
• sanding pad for processing all angles and edges;
• clamps and fasteners;
• sharp knife.

Step-by-step installation instructions

Before you build a greenhouse with your own hands, you need to carefully prepare for the process.

Important! Experts advise the preparation of the site in the fall: dig the soil, fertilize, level the soil with a rake.

The assembly of the structure will consist of the following important steps:

1. Determination of the type of greenhouse device: arched, gable or gable. The choice will depend on several factors: free space, financial capabilities, purpose of construction. In most cases, summer residents prefer arched greenhouses, which are cheaper to install and maintain.
2. Production of drawings, preparation of all necessary tools and materials.
3. Preparatory work: site selection, site preparation.
4. Installation of the frame and its sheathing film.

For installation of the building, experts advise choosing the most even, spacious, well-lit area on a small hill, reliably protected from sudden gusts of winds and drafts.

Options for the wrong place for the greenhouse

The soil must be of the same type, stable, dense, with a normal level of moisture. The place for future construction should be thoroughly cleaned of vegetation and debris. Next, you need to proceed with the installation of the frame. As noted above, in most cases, summer residents prefer arched structures

Their frame is assembled in stages:

1. Power structural elements are made of metal or plastic.
2. The assembly of the frame begins with the erection of walls. To maximize it, additionally use cross beams and retainers. In the process of building walls, it is very important that they fit snugly together. This will allow the structure to successfully withstand strong winds or heavy rains.
3. After installing the walls, installation of the roof is started.

The erected frame must be sheathed with plastic wrap.

There are several ways to do this:

• slats or glazing beads that are fixed only at the ends;
• wooden slats, which are fastened with nails and screws to a wooden frame;
• clamps and clips;
• cord and eyelets - this mount is suitable for a fairly strong film: the entire structure is first covered with a mesh, and on top with a film material.

If in the process of covering work there is a need for fixing several parts of the film, then this can be done in two ways:

• hotin which special devices are used - iron, soldering iron, blowtorch;
• cold, in which various adhesives are used, for example, Moment glue.

Video: film greenhouse shelter

Terms of Use

The service life of the film shelter will depend not only on the technical parameters of the material itself, but also on its operating conditions. During use, it is recommended to regularly care for the film, clean it from dirt and dust, and if necessary, wipe it with a damp sponge.

When using reinforced material in a greenhouse, it is allowed not to remove it for the winter, since it has a relatively high resistance to surface loads.

In other cases, it is better to take care of removing the coating in order to avoid damage:

1. After harvesting all the vegetation, the film shelter is washed directly on the frame.
2. After the film has completely dried, it is carefully removed: they begin with the material located at the ends.
3. The ends of the film from the ends are thrown onto the roof and left in this position for a while. Such measures will allow the ventilation of the room and ensure the drying of the condensate on the inside of the panel.
4. After airing, the film is wrapped in a roll, bandaged with elastic material or twine, placed for storage in a dry, ventilated place, protected from sunlight until the next season.

Did you know? According to scientists, the processing of 1 ton of polyethylene products makes it possible to save more than 1.5 tons of coal.

To install a functional, practical and reliable greenhouse with your own hands is within the power of every summer resident who has basic skills and knowledge in the field of construction. The main thing: to determine the type of structure, its main purpose and, taking this into account, choose a durable, wear-resistant covering material.