Growers use greenhouses for year-round growing or multiple crops in one season. There are several common forms of greenhouses. We propose to consider in detail the features of one of the most promising types of greenhouses – teardrop-shaped greenhouses with a polycarbonate coating.
Content
- 1. Types of greenhouse shapes
- 2. Features of teardrop greenhouses
- 3. Pros and Cons of Teardrop Greenhouses
- 4. Installation steps for teardrop greenhouses
- 5. Terms of Use
Types of greenhouse shapes
Taking into account the general classification by form, there are the following types of greenhouses:
- arched – formed from bent arcs forming a semicircular vault;
- house – with one or two slopes of the roof;
- with straight walls – the traditional option, in a straight-walled greenhouse, an isolated area can be rationally used;
- teardrop-shaped – the original form with a pointed vault.
Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, let’s take a closer look at drop-shaped greenhouses.
Teardrop-shaped Greenhouses Features
An alternative name for a greenhouse in the form of a drop is lancet, for the pointed shape of the upper part, resembling an arrow. With this configuration, unlike arched or straight-walled, snow masses do not accumulate on the roof, but roll down. This design is convenient for even load distribution, with differentiated height increasing closer to the center, which allows growing crops of different parameters.
Construction
The basis of the design is a frame assembled from individual metal elements – profiles.
Usually, the parts are interconnected using bolts or self-tapping screws.
It is more convenient to cover this structure with polycarbonate. This sheet polymer bends well and follows the shape well with sufficient rigidity and strength.
Features
The minimum thickness of the covering material is 4 mm. But if you’re hoping to use your greenhouse for year-round growing, it’s best to use 6mm honeycomb polycarbonate.
Width, height and length are selected, taking into account the plants that are supposed to be grown, the size of your site and other conditions.
ClimaPod Drop-shaped Kits
Standard sizes of Climapod greenhouses:
- length from 12 to 42 feet, with a difference of 7 feet between models;
- width 7 and 9 feet;
- height 7′11″ and 7′ 2″;
- one or two sliding doors, or hinged doors;
- frame painted white or black, or unpainted aluminium.
Pros and cons of drop-shaped greenhouses
When using a drop-shaped greenhouse, it is important to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of this design.
Teardrop-shaped greenhouses benefits
Advantages of a drop-shaped greenhouse:
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- high form strength that snow slides off easily. This saves the owner from frequent cleaning of the structure in winter. Please note that there should be enough free space around your greenhouse;
- comfortable height – the passage is arranged in the middle, so you can not bend over while walking along the central path;
- durability due to the use of a strong frame that is resistant to strong winds;
- resistance to corrosive wear if metal profiles with a protective coating or aluminum are used for the frame;
- maintaining comfortable characteristics of an isolated environment, with the possibility of ventilation through doors, blinds and vents.
If you buy a ready-made version, the owner will receive a complete kit, including all the necessary parts for assembling a polycarbonate greenhouse.
Weaknesses
The disadvantages of this design include only the requirements for care and accuracy during installation. Pre-made greenhouse kits come with step-by-step assembly instructions.
Gardeners’ opinions on the properties of teardrop-shaped greenhouses
Gardeners confirm the effectiveness of drop-shaped greenhouses. This building practically does not need additional care in winter and has excellent performance characteristics.
An important question is which greenhouse is better: arched or teardrop-shaped? It is widely believed among owners that the first option is easier to install. But in relation to the possibilities and operating conditions, the drop-shaped structure is unrivaled, especially in regions with heavy snowfalls, where the roof of the arch in the form of an arch can be deformed from accumulated snow.
Assembly steps for drop-shaped greenhouses
The installation of a drop-shaped greenhouse is carried out in several stages, following a certain sequence of actions.
Foundation
If the object is installed for one season, you can do without a foundation. But for many years of operation, laying of foundation structures will be required. You can get by with a strip foundation around the perimeter of the supporting structures.
Wireframe
The frame of the greenhouse is assembled from profiles. Separate sections are assembled on the ground, then installed on the base, connected by horizontal jumpers.
Covering
After installing the frame, the structure is covered with sheathing. Polycarbonate is fixed with special fasteners that tightly press the sheets to the profiles. In our greenhouses, polycarbonate sheets are inserted into special grooves in the frame profiles. This is a more advanced version of the connection, which allows thermal expansion without structural deformation.
Gain
In order to strengthen the structure, additional spacers can be installed to form a good, rigid frame. The frame of our greenhouses is able to withstand significant loads, so it does not require additional reinforcement. But for extra resistance to strong winds, you can install our Storm Kit accessory.
Terms of use teardrop-shaped greenhouses
Arrow-shaped greenhouse structures are suitable for growing a variety of crops – tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, herbs, etc. Plants are planted, taking into account their height. Higher crops are placed closer to the center track.
If some vegetables cannot be combined in one volume, a vertical partition can be made in the structure, dividing the common space into several zones that differ in conditions.
Drop-shaped polycarbonate greenhouses have proven to be highly effective, which explains the popularity of choosing this design. The main thing is to carefully work out the project and ensure the quality of the assembly of the structure, in compliance with the requirements of the manufacturer’s instructions.
