Dome greenhouse help!

GregR

Hello everyone,

I'm going to be making a geodesic dome greenhouse which will be raised off the ground slightly like the pictures added below:



This is the sort of idea I'm going for with a treated wooden clad around the bottom, i think I will make a foundation around the outside and have a course of bricks first to make a good base!

My biggest concern is what sort of polythene I should use? I know there is loads of different guages but I just don't know which one.

My intention is to cut the polythene into triangles and staple them on, overlapping as I go along. To make it even more watertight I will be taping the joints.

I will be trying to harvest the the water off the dome too so I will need to try find a gutter that will work with all the odd angles.

Thanks for reading,
Greg.

Hostafan1

My gut feeling is polythene will not last long no matter how much stapling / taping you do. 
I'd contact a manufacturer of polytunnels re gauge. I bought  mine from 
https://www.northernpolytunnels.co.uk/commercial-range.html
they might be able to give advice.

Lyn

How will you make the windows/openings, I can’t see stapled polythene lasting any time,  you could use polycarbonate sheets, it saws easily then fix with nails into a wood frame, as you would with a glass window.
 With no openings but the door, the wind will whip in and have no outlet, if will take the polythene out. 
 Are there some instructions on you tube as how to make one. 

GregR

Hostafan1 said:

My gut feeling is polythene will not last long no matter how much stapling / taping you do. 
I'd contact a manufacturer of polytunnels re gauge. I bought  mine from 
https://www.northernpolytunnels.co.uk/commercial-range.html
they might be able to give advice.

Thanks for the help, I will see what they say

GregR

Lyn said:

How will you make the windows/openings, I can’t see stapled polythene lasting any time,  you could use polycarbonate sheets, it saws easily then fix with nails into a wood frame, as you would with a glass window.
 With no openings but the door, the wind will whip in and have no outlet, if will take the polythene out. 
 Are there some instructions on you tube as how to make one. 

I'm trying to keep the price down as much as possible and unfortunately polycarbonate sheets are very expensive I intend to have a door at each end or at least a vent opposite the door to help with air circulation.

I have seen them being made both ways and some made form polythene have lasted 7 years!

I think it might be a matter of trial and error

Thanks for your help!

Hostafan1

good luck and let's see some photos as you build it.

punkdoc

Wouldn't a polytunnel be just as good, and considerably cheaper?

GregR

punkdoc said:

Wouldn't a polytunnel be just as good, and considerably cheaper?

If i was to build one yes it would be cheaper, but buying one is quite expensive  

Domes are a really strong shape to build with and can withstand lots! its very windy where i plan to build it so would need something strong, i'm sure a polytunnel would last but i just don't like the look of them. If i'm going to have anything made with polythene  would rather it be a dome.

Nicholasss

This site and his videos may be useful.

http://geo-dome.co.uk/default.asp

Wayside

The cladding sounds like a bad idea, because of run off.

I love bucky-balls, but we picked our greenhouse up for about £60, and glazed it for under £100 all in.  I enjoyed watching the glass get cut.  So I wonder if you could just use glass.  You could ask in advance for the size of the cutters glass sheets, to try and get the most efficient cut - and corresponding sizing.

I remember reading at the time that plastic, and insulated plastic wasn't a bad option, but it's still plastic.

There were a fair few people desperate to sell their greenhouses or even have them taken away.  I often see conservatories being replaced and also offered for free on on-line outlets.