Construction/Operational
Considerations and Benefits
It's the small things that one overlooks or does not consider when purchasing a greenhouse structure.
The big cost of a greenhouse structure is really not the cost of the structure but the cost of the installation and the cost to install all the toys that make the greenhouse environmentally work.
Most importantly ..... the seldom item considered .... how much do you value your sleep and piece of mind during bad weather events. Think about it !!!!!
You will sleep well with our structures.
Save time and money - Construction ease ......
If you are hiring contractors or your own labor to install the structure the construction costs can certainly get out of hand.
Consider this ...... our arch system is a fully factory fabricated system. The only thing that is required is slipping the arch halves into the uprights and the ridge purlins and securing with SDST screws. ( self drilling self tapping screws. ) Simple and easy .... anyone can do it. And .... you end up with an incredibly strong arch and sidewall system.
Whereas ..... if you take one of those single bow with cross tie and strut structures ( no offense, which we call "wet noodles" ) well, it takes a lot of time to bolt on the attachments / brackets, measure and align the cross tie and the stuts. So now, sure you saved a bit of money buying the "wet noodle" but when you include your labor and construction expenses that "wet noodle" is getting expensive. The silly thing about this is the "wet noodle" will still come back to haunt you as construction progresses and as the structure endures some weather. ( More on this later ).
Save time and money - Construction ease ......
We prefer to supply our structures with our structural aluminum base board system c/w built in wire lock. There is good reason for this. In the long run it will save you a lot of money and provide you with peace of mind when those wind events happen.
A lot of companies ...... just to get the greenhouse sale ..... will only use wire lock or poly look for the base. The lock is not a structural component ... so they rely on the purchaser to supply their own wood base plate system.
But folks .... when you consider the cost of the wood ( which will only rot in time ), the cost and the hassels and time spend securing those wood plates and the cost and the time to secure the lock to the wood .... you will have spent more than the base plate system in the first place.
Furthermore ..... give the wood base plates a couple years and you will find that the structural properties holding the lock in place will be questionable. Nothing worst than losing your poly in a breeze event simply because the lock lets go of the wood base or the base separates from the structure.
Save time and money - Construction ease on DP style
houses
If you have looked closely at our detail drawings you will note our polysaver ridge purlin system sits on top of the arch at the peak and not below the arch. There is good reason for this. The polysaver ridge purlin system just does what it is called. It provides a smooth stress free point at the peak. This does away with those poly tears that just happen when pulling the cladding and reduces stress risers for extended poly life. ( Any time you can extend the life of the poly you are $$$$$$ ahead ).
When pulling the poly, since your purlin sits on top of the arch you will notice how easily it goes on. No more bumps ( ie arches to go up and over ).
Save time and money - Suspending Equipment
This is an area that our reinforced greenhouses excell at. Need to suspend a unit heater ? ... Go ahead and simply suspend it from an arch. There is no need to add extra framing steel to spread the loads or to build floor mounted equipment stands etc. Out here in Western Canada we will commonly hang two 335 lb unit heater off one arch at 1/4 points on our wide 40 foot freestanding units ..... and yes we still get our fair share of wind and that white stuff called snow.
This is the beauty of owning a structure with reinforced trussed arches.
Save time and money - Suspending Overhead Hanging Baskets
If you are a basket grower you will simply be tickled pink with the flexibility of our houses. Need to hang some over head pots .... well simply slip through the cord webbing lengths of 1 1/4" rouund conduit or top fence rail and hang away. Simple, easy, cost effective. One cannot commonly do that with those "wet noodle structures".
Save time and money - Electrical and Mechanical Installations
Electrical contactors will find it much easier to install conduit runs because they can simply thread them though our arch structural cords. Light fixtures (ie. HPS fixtures ) can simply be supported right from the structure.
Mechanical contractors again will find it much easier to install piping runs and support of all equipment because of the reinforced mature of our structure.
There are big savings here in this area.
Save time and money - Extend the Life of Your Poly
This may not be pertainent for most growers but out here in Western Canada we are faced with many outdoor environmental challenges. We weather extended outdoor temperatures as low as -45 deg. C, ground snow loads ranging up to 3.8 kPa and wind pressures commonly up to 1.08 kPa. It is quite demanding.
This is one area in which our stiff design sparkles. And ... folks .... it not the poly ... or the magical way the poly was installed .... or the day it was installed ... or was blessed by some agent. It's the structural design of the building.
If your building flexes in the wind ( by that we mean structural flex ), the flex is working on and prematurally wearing and tearing away at the poly. Its not the poly's fault it is your buildings fault ( another virtue of owning one of those cheap "wet noodles" ).Here's a little test you can do yourself to test your building ---- simply hang a weighted plumb bob from the peak at the middle of your structure and allow it to drop to say 6" off the floor. In a wind event take a few monents and watch it dance around. This will show you how much your building is moving.