Options

Polyhouses.com offer a comprehensive range of options to add to your choice of Polyhouse framework, to give you the ideal growing environment for your crop. The Polyhouse steel framework kit includes foundation tubes, hoops, ridge and bracing as well as all necessary fittings including fittings for attaching timber end frames. On Multispan Polyhouses gutters are also included.

Timber End Frames

Single span Polyhouses are available with or without timber end frames, allowing you the option of designing or supplying your own end frame arrangement. The standard frame supplied is as depicted on the relevant model specification.

Claddings for Polyhouses

PPlease note we strongly recommend the use of anti hot-spot tape with all claddings. To this end, this tape is included in the price of polythene when purchasing a new structure. To simplify pricing we offer Lumisol ‘Clear’ 5S or Lumisol ‘Diffused’ 5S. These films come with a five season guarantee.

Netting is also offered as a tunnel cladding.

1. Lumisol ‘Clear’ 5S
   Light transmission > 87% - Thermicty > 80% - Diffusion < 30% Clear cover incorporating UV ‘Transparent’ Characteristic. Transmits a high % of UV light which can assist the colour, flavour and frangrance in a wide range of flowers and fruit crops.


2. Lumisol ‘Diffused’ 5S
   Light Transmission >88% - Thermicty >85% - Diffusion >90% Very high diffusing cover incorporating UV ‘Transparent’ characteristic. Transmits a high % of UV light which can assist the colour, flavour and fragrance in a wide range of flowers and fruit crops.



Netting sheets for Polyhouses can be made from various types of net, monofilament or tape. Both of these are generally green in colour but black can also be available. These sheets are sewn to size as required. .

Anti-Hotspot tape

We recommend the use of anti-hotspot tape between the steel tunnel frame and the polythene cover. This is a white polyester faced foam tape, backed with an adhesive to fix it securely to the upper surface of the steel hoops.

The shiny polyester face has a low co efficient of friction and helps to reduce abrasion between the steel hoops and polythene cover. The white surface of the tape reflects light and with the foam insulation prevents heating of the film by the steel framework. The use of foam tape can extend the life of these polythene films by at least one year.

It is important that anti hot spot tape is replaced every second cladding, as the expected lifetime of the tape is 6-8 years.

Ventilation

It is vital for growth, disease control, and for nursery stock and bedding plant hardiness.

Polyhouses.com offer a wide choice of ventilation, from simple louvre (butterfly) vents to sophisticated motorised roll up side vents on multispans.

Please note these vents require the fitting of either a timber or aluminium mid rail. Prices are shown as an option with each Polyhouse on the relevant web page.

These mid rails come complete with rail for each side of the relevant structure including a minimum 1.2m (4ft) return at each end. Fittings for fixing to the steel framework are also included. The height of these vents is dependant on the hoop profile, though on Euro Polyhouses this would normally be around 1.2m (4ft).

Roll Up Side Vents

These were introduced by Fordingbridge 40 years ago and immediately won two major innovation awards. The system works by the film being wound around a tube, which is normally turned manually by a small gearbox unit. It can also in certain situations be electrically operated. It is a very clean, neat system and can work on a curved side if required.

The unit when manually wound normally operates from within the Polyhouse. These vents can be retrofitted to any Polyhouse if required. The polythene is kept taut at all times and gives a very neat finish. These ventilation options can also be applied to the gable ends of Multispan Polyhouses.

Lift Up Side Vents (available as a non standard option on certain Polyhouses).

The advantage of lift up vents is that the vent opens at the top first. It can however, only work efficiently on vertical sides.

The system draws a blind of polythene from the ground level timber rail to the side rail. A leading edge tube is inserted in the hem of the sheet. The tube is raised and lowered by a system of wire and polyester ropes running over nylon pulleys.

As with the roll up vent, the blind is normally sandwiched between netting and the hoops to prevent wind damage to the film when in use.

Typically the lift up system is 30% more expensive than the roll up system.

Gable End Vents

Apart from using doorway apertures, the larger Polyhouses can benefit from our effective `butterfly vents'. These can be arranged at high level, or low level either side of the doorways in most Polyhouses. Gable end vents have a simple spring loaded 3-position hinge stay for variable ventilation rates. Panels are joinery made from pressure treated timber.

Other permutations may be possible on certain Polyhouses. Do not forget that our roll up sides can be used on gable ends of multispans if there are not to many door apertures.

Ground Rails

Polyhouses.com offers a range of aluminium and timber base rail kits and individual components. These can generally be fitted to any make of tunnel provided the foundation tubes are concreted in the ground and the hoop is fixed to the foundation tube. Aluminium rails are a quick and easy system for fixing sheets that cannot be buried in the ground, though a little bit of practice is useful beforehand. Timber rails are a cheaper alternative and are essential to secure a lift-up side vent.

For fixing a roof sheet at ground level, we recommend using our Aluminium Box Base Rail, which is a no additional cost over standard single rail option when purchased with a new structure.

All kits include the necessary components for both sides of a structure.

Aluminium Base Rail Kits are usually positioned at ground level, and comprise aluminium extrusions for clamping to the tunnel frame, fixing bolts and infills.

Timber Base Rail Kits are usually positioned at ground level, and comprise 75mm x 50mm timbers for clamping to the tunnel frame, fixing bolts and battens.

Crossbracing

This is available as an optional extra (although some Polyhouses include it as standard); it is a horizontal and vertical bracing arrangement across the span of a hoop. It can increase the resistance to snow and wind loadings particularly in exposed positions and can in some instances be used as a 'crop support' for the hanging of baskets/containers and irrigation lines.

Door options

For smaller Polyhouses many customers will make simple end flaps using their own timber and the polythene supplied with the Polyhouses.

We can supply joinery made timber doors either single or double, low cost hinged, or sliding.

The smaller tunnels (up to l8ft (5.5m) wide) can normally only fit hinged doors because of the lack of width for sliding. Standard door panels are 2m high x 1.2m wide.

For high specification Polyhouses and where timber is considered undesirable we can supply sliding clad doors with an aluminium base panel and polycarbonate top panel.

All door kits come complete with all parts required, hinges, screws, handles, and on sliding doors our extruded aluminium top track and steel base rail.

Louvre Panels

Apart from using doorway apertures, the larger tunnels can benefit from our effective `butterfly vents'. These can be arranged at high level, or low level either side of the doorways in most structures. Gable end vents have a simple spring loaded 3-position hinge stay for variable ventilation rates. Panels are joinery made from pressure treated timber. Other permutations may be possible on certain structures.