Ultimate Cattle Panel Greenhouse

[randy41]

i dont reckon you have any snow load to deal with there.

 

[MutzFarm]

It might make it easier to attach and adjust the plastic is my thought, not that it is needed for strength.

I see hoop house designs that allow rolling up the plastic from the bottom to get ventilation on warmer days. I think this is to prevent over heating the plants. Using duct tape is going to make that adjusting difficult compared to re-usable clips on PVC.

With a few PVC pipe purlins run horizontally across the cattle panels, you could unclip the lower edge of the plastic, fold it up over the next highest purlin and clip it in place for example.

You might be able to do the same thing with heavy-duty clothespins or spring clamps that fit the cattle panel rods. To get the best life out of the plastic, you need to stop it from galloping in the wind.

I see what you are saying now.

Hoop house designs are nice. I just like the added strength of the cattle panel. Ventilation is extremely important where we are in South Central TEXAS. This is why we have the automatic window opener on one end.

 

[MutzFarm]

My friend, you just said he needs pvc with the cattle panels. Was that your intention?

I just responded to his comment. I thought I had earlier. I had typed it out but never posted due to my livestock needing attention.
NO pvc is required with the Ultimate Cattle Panel Greenhouse.

 

[MutzFarm]

i dont reckon you have any snow load to deal with there.

No snow here, BUT we have reports that the snow just rolls off.

 

[randy41]

I see what you are saying now.

Hoop house designs are nice. I just like the added strength of the cattle panel. Ventilation is extremely important where we are in South Central TEXAS. This is why we have the automatic window opener on one end.

how does the cattle panel add strength?

 

[MutzFarm]

how does the cattle panel add strength?

If you was using a pvc hoop we would be talkin about feet between the pvc hoops and the wind, snow and rain would make the plastic sink in between the hoops. Then the weight would cause the hoops to start moving out of place along with the plastic sagging. I suppose if you placed multiple pvc perlins it would make a huge difference, but we are then talkin bout feet between perlins not inches.

Now if we are talkin about the cattle panels we are talkin inches between the hoops as the biggest squares are 6"x6" so you only have 6" between your hoops instead of 2' to 6' like the pvc hoop. Again the squares are 6"x6" so now we have 6" between the perlins.

Now if we was considering a snow load of some sort what would you rather have pvc hoops 4' apart with perlins 4' apart for a 4'x4' square where the snow could accumulate and cause the plastic to sag or would you rather have the 6"x6" squares of the cattle panels where the snow just slides off?

 

[randy41]

If you was using a pvc hoop we would be talkin about feet between the pvc hoops and the wind, snow and rain would make the plastic sink in between the hoops. Then the weight would cause the hoops to start moving out of place along with the plastic sagging. I suppose if you placed multiple pvc perlins it would make a huge difference, but we are then talkin bout feet between perlins not inches.

Now if we are talkin about the cattle panels we are talkin inches between the hoops as the biggest squares are 6"x6" so you only have 6" between your hoops instead of 2' to 6' like the pvc hoop. Again the squares are 6"x6" so now we have 6" between the perlins.

Now if we was considering a snow load of some sort what would you rather have pvc hoops 4' apart with perlins 4' apart for a 4'x4' square where the snow could accumulate and cause the plastic to sag or would you rather have the 6"x6" squares of the cattle panels where the snow just slides off?

i would like to have a professionally engineered structure since i am growing high value crops in it. i have 4 high tunnels and none of them have any cattle panels. none of them are pvc. they are all made from steel tubing bent to the correct shape. snow doesn't slide off unless it is warm enough. otherwise i go outside and sweep it off with a broom. the structures are 26'x48', 12'x100', 10'x48', and 14' x 32'. they are easily vented by rolling up the sides. how can you state that snow just slides off when you have no personal experience with that?

 

[DHD]

Looking at constructing a cattle panel green house and very interesting in snow load concerns.
When the snow does slide off, it would build up on the sides of the green house.
Especially with the amount of snow we have received here in central Maine this winter season.
Should there be any attempt to keep the snow removed from the sides of the green house through out the winter ?

 

[MutzFarm]

i would like to have a professionally engineered structure since i am growing high value crops in it. i have 4 high tunnels and none of them have any cattle panels. none of them are pvc. they are all made from steel tubing bent to the correct shape. snow doesn't slide off unless it is warm enough. otherwise i go outside and sweep it off with a broom. the structures are 26'x48', 12'x100', 10'x48', and 14' x 32'. they are easily vented by rolling up the sides. how can you state that snow just slides off when you have no personal experience with that?

That is wonderful you want/have professional built tunnels. Now wait you said you would like and then you said you have. I am confused. Which is it? Owning these high value crops you have I would hope you would know the difference. If they are professional steel tubing why are you even concerned about the pvc or for that matter the cattle panels? I knew by the questions you are asking there is more to the story. I hope we can all get to the point where we can want/have professional steel model hoop houses that are bent to the correct shape with high value crops in them.

This unit is a DIY unit not a professional. This is to help those on their homestead when trying to be self sufficient and cant afford professional equipment like others to be able to build the equivalent, similar to or close enough of a processional model themselves. When being self sufficient I think most believe like we do - function over looks. This functions wonderfully and looks nice. On a lot of homesteads we probably have a few cattle panels laying around along with some boards and can probably build this for the price of just the greenhouse plastic, but we are not going into that now.

You are 100% correct I have no experience with snow, but if you go back and read the comment I made it reads we have reports that the snow just rolls off.

 

[MutzFarm]

Looking at constructing a cattle panel green house and very interesting in snow load concerns.
When the snow does slide off, it would build up on the sides of the green house.
Especially with the amount of snow we have received here in central Maine this winter season.
Should there be any attempt to keep the snow removed from the sides of the green house through out the winter ?

Good morning.

I do not have any experience with the snow, but I can see your concern. We have seen pictures where the unit is completely covered in snow. I have always heard that when you get enough snow it will insulate. So now I wonder if having that snow on the sides is beneficial. I would say if you have experience or can find someone with the experience of a hoop house made out of pvc when dealing with the snow could probably help you with this. I believe the cattle panel greenhouse would be more rigid and support it much better. Again this is just my opinion.

If you go the route of the cattle panel greenhouse please send me pictures.