I should know better by now. You start one job, get distracted by something else and the first one turns round and bites you.
When covering a polytunnel, whenever possible start with a nice even set of frames carefully erected and level with each other. You then stand a good chance of getting a nicely tight cover that easily sheds the rain and snow.
If you like more of a challenge, or as in our case you are using what is available, you put up a distinctly secondhand set of rather distorted and mismatched metal frames, which had already done their duty on at least two other sites.
The new cover went on well, the carefully fitted nylon reinforcing lines strung at 20cm spacings down the length of the structure, to stop the snow loading bursting the polythene, looked good. Because of the rather uneven profile, the new polythene cover did seem to flap in the breeze more than other peoples, but it would be fine, wouldn't it?
The first snow of the winter melted, leaving a series of pools of water between the reinforcing lines, the slack in the plastic was transformed into a series of distended pockets of water, particularly on what might be called the "upper slopes" of the tunnel, where the gradient naturally flattens out and even more so where some of the frames have become rather more semi-ovoid than semi-circular.
A solution was needed, the problem was that parts of the tunnel were too low and flat, it needed its ridge line raising in a couple of places, this would also improve the look of it and might cure its resemblance to a broken backed sea monster. A couple of posts under strategic frames should sort it out.
This is not a small polytunnel. The frames span about 10 metres and are substantial 60mm diameter tube, gravity and the natural spring tension in the frame were both resisting any effort to lift it. All the convenient posts I had were rather too short. So the plan was, locate the post under the frame, put a hydraulic jack under the bottom of the post and pump; up goes the post lifting the frame, then replace the jack with a permanent support. All went well, rather too well, which was where the distraction came in.
Fascinated by the success of the plan I climbed a stepladder to assist the emptying of the pockets of water. Sadly I had neglected the final step of the plan, replacing the jack with a more secure support. Over went the jack, down came the post, down came the frame, and down went I, struck a glancing blow by the descending frame.
As I sat on the floor and felt the egg shaped lump growing on my head, I looked up. It occurred to me that I had not only unintentionally created the worlds biggest mousetrap, I had then tested it as the 'mouse'. The lesson is "Do not get distracted"
AG
When covering a polytunnel, whenever possible start with a nice even set of frames carefully erected and level with each other. You then stand a good chance of getting a nicely tight cover that easily sheds the rain and snow.
If you like more of a challenge, or as in our case you are using what is available, you put up a distinctly secondhand set of rather distorted and mismatched metal frames, which had already done their duty on at least two other sites.
The new cover went on well, the carefully fitted nylon reinforcing lines strung at 20cm spacings down the length of the structure, to stop the snow loading bursting the polythene, looked good. Because of the rather uneven profile, the new polythene cover did seem to flap in the breeze more than other peoples, but it would be fine, wouldn't it?
The first snow of the winter melted, leaving a series of pools of water between the reinforcing lines, the slack in the plastic was transformed into a series of distended pockets of water, particularly on what might be called the "upper slopes" of the tunnel, where the gradient naturally flattens out and even more so where some of the frames have become rather more semi-ovoid than semi-circular.
A solution was needed, the problem was that parts of the tunnel were too low and flat, it needed its ridge line raising in a couple of places, this would also improve the look of it and might cure its resemblance to a broken backed sea monster. A couple of posts under strategic frames should sort it out.
This is not a small polytunnel. The frames span about 10 metres and are substantial 60mm diameter tube, gravity and the natural spring tension in the frame were both resisting any effort to lift it. All the convenient posts I had were rather too short. So the plan was, locate the post under the frame, put a hydraulic jack under the bottom of the post and pump; up goes the post lifting the frame, then replace the jack with a permanent support. All went well, rather too well, which was where the distraction came in.
Fascinated by the success of the plan I climbed a stepladder to assist the emptying of the pockets of water. Sadly I had neglected the final step of the plan, replacing the jack with a more secure support. Over went the jack, down came the post, down came the frame, and down went I, struck a glancing blow by the descending frame.
As I sat on the floor and felt the egg shaped lump growing on my head, I looked up. It occurred to me that I had not only unintentionally created the worlds biggest mousetrap, I had then tested it as the 'mouse'. The lesson is "Do not get distracted"
AG
HaHa great blog! Now to hear from the other half of the duo.
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