How to repair a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands
Content
Why regular repairs are needed
The normal service life of greenhouse structures depends not only on how correctly the installation of the components of the greenhouse was carried out. Proper care of the greenhouse is also important, as well as regular repairs - checking the health of the frame, base and coating. Every gardener will be able to carry out planned repairs with his own hands. Inspection and correction of defects in the construction of a polycarbonate greenhouse is recommended to be carried out twice a year - in early spring, shortly before sowing the plants, and in late autumn, at the end of the season.
Routine repair of any polycarbonate greenhouse includes inspection of all parts of the structure for damage, painting and cleaning of elements, and strength control. Carefully inspect all parts of the greenhouse, especially the surface of the greenhouse. They check whether it is swollen, cloudy, microcracks or dents appeared on the surface.
The state of the frame is monitored - whether it is stable, whether it has suffered from rainwater. Using the level, check the position of the greenhouse - it should be located strictly horizontally. If no damage is found, the coating and parts of the frame are washed with water. Load-bearing structural parts can corrode. Such places need to be washed, dried, cleaned and painted with your own hands. The wood frame can be damaged by rot or mildew. If you do not repair it, the frame can fall apart.
If the structure does not withstand the load, additional reinforcement will be required. It is carried out using strapping rings - they are welded or stuffed around the perimeter of the greenhouse. It is recommended to remove the polycarbonate cover during the work. You can strengthen the greenhouse with the help of special T-shaped supports - they are placed inside at a distance of about a meter from each other.
Frame breakage
Sometimes gardeners are faced with the need to carry out unscheduled repairs with their own hands to eliminate breakdowns of the main components of the greenhouse. The reasons for the malfunctions are called the choice of material of the wrong thickness for the construction of a greenhouse, which did not cope with the proposed loads - cracks appear in the roof due to a layer of snow, or the angle of bending of the sheet is greater than permissible for a material of this thickness. Do-it-yourself installation of a product without regard to the manufacturer's recommendations may lead to deformation and rupture of structural elements.
The cover is sometimes laid on the wrong side. The end parts of the cellular polycarbonate may not be sealed. The result will be moisture ingress and subsequent mold formation. The destruction of the structure of the material due to freezing of moisture inside the honeycomb is possible. The material may have been stored under inappropriate conditions prior to purchase.
If the frame of the building is broken as a result of the impact of snow or wind, then it is necessary to carry out unscheduled repairs with your own hands.Depending on how badly one or another part is damaged, it is straightened or replaced. It may be necessary to hammer the board - hammering in another bar with an overlap to the existing one. Additionally, in the area of damage, it is advised to install a column, which will become reliable protection in the future from such troubles. It is best to carry out repair work in clear weather and on a non-frosty day.
Video "Assembly and repair of greenhouses"
Breakdown of the foundation
If you comply with all the requirements and standards for the construction of a polycarbonate greenhouse, theoretically there should be no problems with the foundation in the future. In practice, they appear - a base from a bar implies its regular replacement with a new one. In this case, the structure should be removed and installed on a new strapping base. If the owner decides, he can move the greenhouse to another location, which implies the organization of a solid foundation.
If the greenhouse is located on a monolithic or strapping foundation, which for some reason has cracked, you need to urgently take action. To eliminate the malfunction with your own hands, you should undermine the base. Manipulation must be done carefully, otherwise you risk getting an even bigger crack. When the gap is found, it is poured with a solution intended for this.
Coating restoration
If damage to the greenhouse coating is found, it will be necessary to repair this part of the building. Clouding, darkening, moisture in the combs, bloating may appear. If, due to exposure to high temperatures, the material began to "puff", the sheets should be fixed to the frame again. The holes from the self-tapping screws remaining from the previous fasteners must be sealed. If there is any cloudiness or darkening of the coating, you should make sure that it is with the UV protective coating facing up.
Otherwise, you need to turn it over with your own hands and fix it again. In this case, it is still recommended to completely replace the sheets of material. When the presence of moisture is detected in the honeycomb, in order to avoid damage to the canvases, they will have to be dismantled and blown out with compressed air. Then fix it on the structure.
The most difficult breakage is considered to be a crack or a floor of the material. This happens by accident - as a result of heavy objects falling onto the roof, or when hitting it with a garden tool. If the damage area is small, it is "blown out" with a sealant solution.
If a hole forms, the damaged piece will need to be replaced. If the design is arched, you should purchase a whole sheet. In other cases, you can fix the breakage with plastic wrap. The use of plastic wrap is a budget option, but it is better to take the pieces of the main material left after installing the greenhouse.
Video "Greenhouse with your own hands"
The entire design process, from installation to the repair of polycarbonate greenhouses, you will see in the video below.