Our Polytunnel Structure

You may only want to buy one polytunnel, so you may as well buy a good sturdy one.

Our polytunnel kit includes ground tubes, steel framework to British Standards, all fittings, anti hot spot tape and a five year guaranteed commercial strength polythene cover.

The vertical sided design is comfortable to work in as you can get right up to the edges. In addition more growing space is provided for larger plants and there is room for staging at a comfortable height. Our design is user friendly with excellent headroom and provides good ventilation with door openings at each end.

The tubular steel framework gives strength, rigidity and durability to the overall structure. The hoop spacing and straight sides assist the stability. No holes need to be drilled into the steelworks and no wires are used for assembly. No maintenance should be needed for the steel tubing and connections because of the design and materials used.

The ground tube being heavy gauge and galvanised is ideal for holding the main frame hoop tube. A fixing is also used at the end of each ground tube.

The main frame work comprises a series of hoops. Each hoop is in two or more parts which join together at the top, fitting together like a tent pole. The ridge tubing which runs from the front of the polytunnel to the back at the ridge fits together in a similar manner. A crossover is used at each centre point of the main frame tube and joins with the ridge tube fitted underneath. This combination joint helps keep the framework securely in place.

The steel fixings we use are galvanised or zinc coated and of British Standards. They are easy to install, and yet a snug fit.

The diagonal bracing and ridge wind bracing is galvanised steel to British Standards and fixed with clips, nuts and bolts.

Anti Hot Spot is of a generous width and included in all of our polytunnel kits as it is an essential item. It is a special self adhesive tape that prevents chafing of the cover, protects the polythene from the heat of the tubes and increases the life of the cover.

The polythene is of commercial strength and one of the most technologically advanced films available. It is used by many professional growers in the UK and on the continent. We provide sufficient film to cover the doors each end of the polytunnel. Once a year the outside of the polythene cover needs to be cleaned thoroughly with soapy warm water to remove algae.

For ventilation we recommend that you have a door opening each end of 3 feet (0.8m) or more for our 10 feet wide polytunnels, and 6 feet (1.8m) or more for our 12 and 14 feet wide polytunnels. The door opening is bigger for the wider polytunnels. You will also probably need to get inside with and outside with equipment such as wheelbarrow, a rotovator, trolleys etc.

Polythene Assembly Methods

Trench This is the most popular method as no additional cost is involved; the weight of the soil keeping the polythene in place. A trench is dug at least a spade deep and a foot wide all of the way around the polytunnel - except for the door way entrance each width end. The polythene is then laid in the trench and the dug out soil placed back in the trench, keeping the polythene covered.

Timber Base Rails & Ground Tube Five Star Polytunnels supply the metal Ground Tube clamps. A Timber Base Rail may be choosed by the customer in preference to a trench. A Timber Base Rail is used to hold the polythene all round the polytunnel. It compromises tannalised timber, battens and ground tube clamps. A clamp is positioned on each ground tube with one extra for each corner. The ground tubes are always concreted in or secured with an Anchor Plates. Tannalised Timber is bolted all around the outside of the polytunnel at ground level using the clamps on each ground tube, except at the door ways of the polytunnel. The polythene is wrapped over a timber batten and positioned on the outside of the timber. Screws are placed from the outside of the polytunnel, through the polythene, batten and into the base rail timber. The polythene is therefore securely clamped between the base rail timber and the batten.

Timber Base Rails & Base Plate Method Five Star Polytunnels supply the metal Hoop End Base Plates Base Plates are usually chosen for a concrete base, i.e. no soil is being used. Ground tubes are not required. A Timber Base Rail is is used to hold the polythene all around the polytunnel. It compromises tannalised timber, battens and a base plate for each end hoop. An L shaped Base Plate with a central holder is used to take each hoop end. Tannalised timber is bolted all around the outside of the polytunnel at ground level using the upright part of each Base Plate, except at the door ways of the polytunnel. The Base Plate is bolted to the concrete base. The polythene is wrapped over a timber batten and positioned on the outside of the timber. Screws are placed from the outside of the polytunnel, through the polythene, batten and into the base rail timber. The polythene is therefore securely clamped between the base rail timber and the batten.

Anchor Plates, an alternative to concrete Five Star Polytunnels supply the metal plate and the fixings for the ground tubes. Anchor plates are used if the ground tubes are not concreted in. This is particularly important when using a Base Rail. Each ground tube has to have an anchor plate. A Ground Tube goes through the centre of the anchor plate and is fixed either side of the anchor plate with clamps a few inches above the lower end of the Ground Tube. Each ground tube with its own anchor plate is then installed at the required equi-distant intervals.