A greenhouse is a building structure that creates a suitable environment for plant growth by artificially controlling climatic conditions. Traditional greenhouse frames are usually made of wood, steel or aluminum alloy, but these materials are not only expensive, but also require more complicated construction and maintenance. PVC pipes, as a lightweight, corrosion-resistant and low-cost material, have become increasingly popular among home gardeners and small greenhouse builders in recent years. Greenhouse structures built with PVC pipes are not only economical, but also easy to install and suitable for various climatic conditions. This article will introduce How to build a greenhouse with pvc pipe and provide a detailed step-by-step guide.
Preparations
Before starting to build a PVC pipe greenhouse, some preliminary preparations must be done, including design, material preparation, and tool selection.
1. Design the greenhouse structure
The design of the greenhouse should be determined by factors such as the type of plants grown, the area of the greenhouse, and the terrain conditions. Common greenhouse shapes include arched, square, and rectangular, among which the arched greenhouse is the most common and practical design because of its stable structure and easy construction.
The following points need to be considered when designing:
Greenhouse size: Determine the length, width, and height of the greenhouse according to actual needs. Generally speaking, the width of the greenhouse should not be too large to ensure that sunlight can be evenly irradiated on the plants.
Structural form: Choose a suitable structural form. PVC pipes are suitable for building curved arch frames.
Ventilation and drainage: The greenhouse requires a good ventilation system to prevent excessive temperature differences between the inside and outside. In addition, ensure that the drainage system is unobstructed to avoid moisture accumulation.
2. Prepare materials
PVC pipes: Choose PVC pipes with a diameter of 20-40 mm, and the length is determined according to the design size. The number of pipes required needs to be calculated according to the scale of the greenhouse. Usually PVC pipes are used as frame supports.
PVC connectors: such as T-joints, L-joints, cross joints, etc., help connect PVC pipes into various structures.
Plastic film: The external covering material of the greenhouse is usually transparent plastic film, which can effectively transmit light and has good insulation effect.
Saw: used to cut PVC pipes.
Ruler and marking tools: ensure accurate pipe cutting and reasonable structural design.
Ground nails or stakes: used to fix the greenhouse frame to the ground to prevent it from being blown down by the wind.
Ropes or cable ties: used to fix plastic film to prevent it from being blown up by the wind.
3. Tool preparation
Saw or pipe cutting tool
Wrench or pliers
Ruler, pencil
Electric drill (optional, if drilling is required)
Greenhouse construction steps
Building greenhouse frame
1. Laying foundation
First, determine the construction location of the greenhouse, clear the debris on the ground, and ensure that the ground is flat. According to the design drawings of the greenhouse, measure the reference points and dimensions of the greenhouse, and use ropes or lines to mark the greenhouse area. Next, drive ground nails or stakes into the ground to prepare for the subsequent fixing of the frame.
2. Build the bottom frame
Use PVC pipes and connectors to build the bottom frame of the greenhouse. According to the design drawings, cut the required length of PVC pipes, and then use T-shaped joints or L-shaped joints to connect these pipes to the long and short sides of the greenhouse. Make sure the joints are connected tightly to avoid loosening of the structure.
3. Install support elbows
According to the design, install PVC elbows as support frames. Usually, the arch structure of PVC pipes is adopted, and the flexibility of PVC pipes is used to bend it into the required arch shape and connect it to the bottom frame. Make sure that the spacing of each elbow is even, usually 60-100 cm. In order to increase the stability of the arch support, lateral support pipes can be added at both ends of the arch pipe.
4. Reinforced frame
In order to improve the strength and stability of the greenhouse frame, additional cross bars can be added to the top and sides of the greenhouse to form an “X”-shaped reinforcement structure to ensure that the greenhouse frame is not easy to collapse under severe weather conditions such as wind and rain.
Installing plastic film
1. Covering the plastic film
Cover the transparent plastic film over the entire greenhouse frame, making sure the film covers all parts of the frame tightly. At the beginning, fix one end of the film to the bottom of the frame to ensure that it is tight. Then gradually cover each part of the greenhouse and fix the film to the PVC pipe with ropes or cable ties at the top and sides.
2. Tighten the film
Make sure the surface of the plastic film is flat and has no wrinkles. To increase the tension of the film, you can use ropes or additional support rods on both sides of the greenhouse to help fix the film and ensure that the film will not be blown up by the wind.
3. Fix the edges of the film
The edges of the plastic film need to be firmly fixed to the ground. You can use ground nails or ground stakes to nail the edges of the film to prevent it from blowing up in the wind. At the same time, make sure there is no gap between the film and the ground to maintain a good seal.
Install doors and windows
1. Make door and window frames
PVC pipes can be used to make the door and window frames of the greenhouse. The size of the door is usually greater than 1.5 meters wide and 2 meters high, so that people and tools can enter and exit. Use T-shaped joints and L-shaped joints to connect the PVC pipes into door frames, and then cover the door frames with transparent plastic film.
2. Install doors and windows
The door and window frames need to be installed in the appropriate position of the greenhouse. Hinges or pulley systems can be used to install doors and windows so that they can be opened and closed. Windows can be used for ventilation to ensure air circulation in the greenhouse and avoid overheating.
Finishing details
Ventilation system: In order to maintain air circulation and temperature control in the greenhouse, some vents can be installed or a window switch system can be used to help regulate the humidity and temperature in the greenhouse.
Water pipe system: Drip irrigation or sprinkler irrigation systems can be installed as needed to ensure that the plants have sufficient water.
Using PVC pipes to build a greenhouse is an economical and practical project, suitable for home gardening enthusiasts or small agricultural projects. PVC pipe greenhouses are not only easy to build, but also durable and environmentally friendly. By designing your own greenhouse and choosing the right materials and tools, you can build a warm greenhouse in your backyard or small farm, providing an ideal growing environment for a variety of plants. Hopefully, the steps in this article will help you build your own PVC pipe greenhouse and enjoy the fun of self-sufficiency.
