From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Vancouver Washington

I'm putting together my hoophouses and wanted to get some opinions on regular hardware store plastic. It is all i have ever used. I usually have them up for about 6 weeks. In the past, I have simply replaced the plastic each year, but this year have built some more significant end walls with doors and such.

I have two questions.

Has anyone had any luck reusing the regular hardware store 6mil plastic for repeat seasons?

Also, the stuff is called clear but is really a bit cloudy - at times i worry it might be blocking too much light.... Anyone have any thoughts on this. Tell me a few success stories - so i can put my obsessive mind to rest...lol

3/9/2009 2:24:09 AM

Whidbey Island

Don't use the Home Depot stuff, it will fall apart too soon. You need to get UV treated plastic from a greenhouse supply place. It costs more, but will last years and save money in the long run. I never seem to have problems with light transmission and leave the plastic up for 8-10 weeks in the spring and put it back up in the fall.
There should be a source in the Portland/Vancouver area, I use Steuber in Snohomish, WA.

3/9/2009 6:39:54 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Find a greenhouse near buy ask them if they have any remnants. Most of them will gladly give it to you.

3/9/2009 7:50:58 AM

Whidbey Island

One more thing. PVC ribs emit a chemical that destroys the plastic sheeting rather quickly. I cover my ribs with a layer of duct tape and this seems to do the trick.

3/9/2009 8:19:53 AM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

I have farmed for over 40 years, and I can't understand why people think 4mil poly can't be used for only 6 weeks. We have used it commercially on "inflation buster" greenhouses. Only problem, take off before summer or plastic will breakup and be hard to clean up in fall.

3/9/2009 8:53:05 AM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

I have used 6 mil & 4 mil hardware stuff. As the season heats up, I cut slits or windows in it. I don't re-use it.

3/9/2009 9:16:54 AM

Vancouver Washington

P.S...i am more worried about light transmission that longevity. I know the greenhouse plastic is better long term. I just can't afford it this year. My two hoop houses are pretty big...12x25 and 7 feet high...

3/9/2009 9:40:06 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I think you can use 4 mil, IF you can find it in the sizes you need.

In my case I build a fence out of wood pallets around each HH. This slows the wind down enough to keep the HH standing for the 6 to 8 weeks you need.

3/9/2009 10:00:13 AM

Colorado

Ive used the 6 ml from home depot for years.Light transmission is fine.its good for about three months in our high colorado uv and then its toast.

3/9/2009 10:25:06 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I can tell you that once I did experiments with a light meter, and found no difference in the light levels reflected from the leaves inside a HH vs. outside. But I don't know if the plastic filters out some components of natural sunlight.

Looking at professional greenhouses used for starting seeds for the commercial nursery industry, their plastic is thicker and just as cloudy or more cloudy than the stuff I find at HD. It's just a matter of longevity (IMHO)... and the question is, "are you able to reuse it?" In my case, I cannot. It's too battered and tattered, and next year there is no guarantee that the "bones" of the HH will match up to the openings cut into the plastic for access.

3/9/2009 10:38:16 AM

Bristol,RI,USA.

I have used both green house stock and 6ml home depot plastic and found the the home depot held up just fine i get two years out of one covering. my hoop house is 8' by 10' and they work well

3/9/2009 11:02:27 AM

Simi valley, ca

If its only going to be used for 6 weeks i do not know why spend money on 6 mill then have to wrap it up & store it ?, why not use 1.5 or 2 mill & throw away ,, Go to paint store & see what they have !! Im a painter & use .33 mill YES Way to thin for that, but some times ill use 1 mill & its strong ,I would think 1.5 or 2 would be plenty enough!!! 4 mill is waste of money !!!

3/9/2009 11:41:17 AM

Simi valley, ca

Ps i used 1 mill to cook my patch in summer & for several months also walked on it few times it held up! & next to soil it was very hot !!!

3/9/2009 11:48:33 AM

Taber, Alberta

I use regular 6 mil and and it lasts at least 3 seasons. We get wild weather, especially winds and have not really had a problem with it.

3/9/2009 12:56:37 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

I tried both 6 and 4 mil, even tried doubling up on the 4 mil, The 4 mil has shown it will not stand up for me. I have tried to reuse the 6 mil without out satisfaction. The last several years I just by new 6 mil. This year I'm doing like Shannon has suggested go to a local nursery and get remnants.

3/9/2009 1:30:59 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Ask for the 6mil rated poly that is used as a vapour barrier on the inside of stud walls. Should be able to find it in 20 ft wide rolls. I make wind breaks out of it and it lasts 3 years being outside all the time. I use the regular "heavy duty" poly on my hoop houses and though tattered it lasts all season. The sun is a little less intense here though but the altitude and hot temps probably even out the difference between locations.

3/9/2009 2:08:13 PM

Denver, CO

Just a note as to the cloudy factor. If you walk inside a green house you will notice they dont use clear glass, its clouded so that the light bounces around more hitting more surface areas of the leaves and thus resulting in better photosynethises. I am sure there is a limit, but some cloudiness factor to the plastic is a good thing.

3/9/2009 6:32:45 PM