From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Taber, Alberta

Anyone ever make a hoophouse out of electrical PVC conduit? I have to deal with some pretty good winds, so I'm looking for something strong. The pvc used by plumbers seems to be a little too flexible to me. The 10 foot sections put together have enough give to give me a good arch. I'm looking to make a 16 x 16 house.
Thanks,
Alan

3/31/2005 11:54:03 PM

No Place Special

Check out my diary. I used 3/4" underground electrical conduit and built a 15 x 30' cold frame. Had very strong winds already and it did fine.

MF

4/1/2005 10:30:42 AM

Eugene,OR

Check out my diary...I also have cold frames made from 3/4" emt.

4/1/2005 11:12:32 AM

Taber, Alberta

Hi Mike, I checked it out and it looks great. What did you use to connect the pipes?
Thanks

4/1/2005 11:40:11 AM

No Place Special

I used grey underground conduit that already fits together... one slides into the other. I ran metal rod into the ground and put the 20' piece (2 10 footers together) over the rod and arched it over to the next rod... 15'. To fasten the cross supports I drilled 1/4" hole and used zip ties to hold them together. I used metal T posts for suports in the middle.

4/1/2005 9:27:00 PM

Whidbey Island

I've heard that the new pvc emits a substance that breaks down the plastic. My plastic was weak last year along the pipe lines. You may want to spray paint the pipe where the plastic rides up against it.

4/2/2005 10:29:51 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I have begun construction of a hoop house muchlike mikes made from the same 3/4" conduit. It can be strengthened by running three lateral sections of pipe and taping it or
ty-wraping them to the hoops.

4/3/2005 11:34:28 AM