A greenhouse made of propylene pipes is the easiest way to self-construction greenhouse structure. The design is presented in several versions. In order to build such a greenhouse with your own hands, you need to follow a simple step by step instructions on production.
Peculiarities
Greenhouse from polypropylene pipes- This interesting solution with a limited budget and a love for building various structures with your own hands. The purchase of materials will not require large financial costs, and construction will not require serious preparation.
All materials can be purchased in ordinary hardware store, to attach them to each other you will need regular glue or self-tapping screws.
To begin with, it’s worth dwelling on what they are propylene pipes and how they differ from PVC. In fact, there is no big difference between these materials. Both pipes are classified as plastic. The only difference is what polymer they are made from - polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride. This does not affect the performance properties of the pipes; the only noticeable difference is the price.
Polypropylene pipes have a number of advantages.
- Resistance to corrosive processes. Plastic pipes are not subject to rotting or rusting, unlike products made from other materials.
- Ease of use. Polypropylene pipes are easily bent into an arc or cut. You can create any intricate frame from them. In addition, fastening the profiles together and installing them in the ground is also quite simple.
- Low weight. Polypropylene pipes weigh little, regardless of whether they are single-layer or multi-layer. This guarantees that the whole frame can be easily moved, and not just disassembled.
- Long term services. Initially, polypropylene pipes are intended for communications, in particular water supply, so they are given increased strength. Without being subjected to such loads, pipes can last 30–50 years.
- Strength. In addition to corrosion resistance, such pipes are resistant to temperature changes. They do not burn; open fire is generally not scary for them. In addition, a pipe frame can withstand strong winds, especially if the base is reinforced. Thus, the material cannot be deformed under the influence of various climatic factors.
- Cheapness. Plastic polypropylene pipes belong to the economy segment, so you can spend very little money on the purchase of this material.
- Attractive appearance. There is no need to process propylene pipes additionally. They are immediately supplied with a special coating, which not only increases their strength qualities, but also gives the raw material a beautiful shine. As a result, the entire greenhouse on such a frame will look great.
Design options
You can assemble a structure of almost any complexity from polypropylene pipes. Limitations are imposed only by the degree of skill of the one who carries out the structures.
The most common forms of homemade greenhouses are:
- arch;
- pointed arch;
- With pitched roof;
- with a gable roof.
Separately, it is worth noting that greenhouses and greenhouses with a pitched roof are usually built as an extension to the house. It is envisaged here that one wall will be adjacent. This allows you to save significant money on heating.
The easiest to construct is an arched structure. There are some structures that can be installed in just a few hours. However, it is extremely important here what material is used and how the strapping will be made. After all, the rods create strong pressure. In addition, such a polypropylene structure cannot be made for winter use. The pressure of the snow on the roof will be too strong, and the frame simply will not withstand it - it will fall apart.
In this case, use the shape of a pointed arch. It is something between a classic arched and gable structures. Of course she demands more details and work skills, but the result is beyond praise. Lasting plastic frame capable of standing not for 3-4 seasons, as usual, but for all ten.
Finally, a gable “plant house” is a common option due to its classic form. Such a greenhouse will fit into any landscape and will suit almost any home. You don't need to be an engineering genius to build it.
This design is the most durable, since the frame here is reinforced.
Rules for working with material
First you need to study the nuances of working with polypropylene pipes. Only after this can you proceed to their installation, assembling the frame, and laying the covering material. So, first you need to take into account that it is best to work with such pipes at a temperature of +18–20 degrees. Then the material will gain maximum strength and flexibility, will not “shrink,” and it will be easier to form the desired shapes from it.
The second feature is the need to select fittings to match the diameter of the existing pipe. Fittings are connecting elements. With their help, you can achieve optimal rigid fastening of parts to each other. In order for the work to go as smoothly as possible, it is best to purchase pipes already complete with fittings. This eliminates the risk that the connecting elements and pipes will not fit together.
To work with polypropylene pipes, welding may be necessary. Many people don't have it on hand welding machine for plastic. Then there is an alternative - this gas-burner. It can replace the iron, which is usually used for welding. However, you need to act carefully so as not to melt the pipes too much. It is worth keeping in mind that welding is used only in cases where it is planned to build a permanent structure made of pipes, which is not planned to be rearranged or removed for the winter. An example would be an attached greenhouse with a pitched roof.
Fortunately, taking any specific protective measures when working with polypropylene is not required, since the material is not toxic.
The only thing is that grinding may be required at the cut site, but this rule is not necessary.
Coating materials
Covering a greenhouse with plastic pipes is a special topic. The fact is that the frame, although relatively strong, cannot withstand the weight of those materials that are traditionally used for shelter. These include plexiglass, double-glazed windows and some others. Such materials guarantee high protection against drafts, good preservation warm even in winter period, full access to sunlight, but due to their heavy weight they have to be abandoned.
There are certain requirements for materials for covering a frame made of polypropylene pipes.
- High thermal insulation properties. This is especially important if the greenhouse is planned to be year-round, operating in winter;
- Good ability to transmit sunlight. An additional feature of the material may be that it filters out harmful infrared radiation, transmitting only those rays that are beneficial for plants;
- Weather resistance. It is important that rain, snow or hail cannot damage the coating material, otherwise the tightness in the greenhouse will be broken and heat will escape. So, both the greenhouse and the harvest will be irrevocably damaged;
- If the greenhouse is year-round, then the covering material must withstand snow and not tear under the snow cap;
- Resistance to mechanical and wind loads is desirable. A gust of wind should not damage the integrity of the coating, as well as minor mechanical impacts. Some materials can withstand heavy loads, such as impacts, without tearing or breaking;
- Light weight.
Thus, the available list of coating materials is sharply reduced, because very few materials combine all of the listed qualities.
Optimal for frames made of polypropylene pipes are coatings with polyethylene film or polycarbonate plates.
Polyethylene film
Polyethylene film is one of the most popular materials for covering polypropylene pipe frames. This is due to its many advantages.
- Light weight. First of all, you should pay attention to the lightness of the film coating. When enough large area a sheet of film can weigh only a few grams. This ensures that the frame bears a minimum load.
- Light transmittance. Films are produced either completely transparent or slightly matte, but this does not interfere sunlight penetrate well through them, illuminating the entire area. You can vary the amount of light entering the greenhouse simply by choosing a film with the desired degree of tint. This allows you to grow any crops in such greenhouses - both shade-loving and light-loving.
- Weather resistance. Films do not respond to temperature changes environment from -50 to +60 degrees. They are not afraid of rain, hail, snow and wind. But they won’t hold the snow cap.
- Creating a greenhouse effect. The air in film greenhouses is always humid and warm, so the earth in them does not cool down either. This allows you to create the most favorable microclimate in such greenhouses.
- Material safety. Polyethylene does not decompose and does not affect the soil, therefore it does not change its composition. It also does not release hazardous substances into the air. It turns out that the presence of polyethylene does not affect the contents of the greenhouse in any way.
- Cheapness. The film can be purchased for low price or even get it for free. She may even already be on the farm.
Among other things, the material has its own disadvantages. The film does not resist mechanical damage well. Any puncture or blow can tear it apart, rendering it unusable. It is worth keeping in mind that such holes can be easily repaired with ordinary tape. The film quickly fails and becomes thinner due to constant exposure to sunlight. This coating will last only 2-3 seasons.
Polycarbonate
Another alternative material for the covering of the greenhouse it is polycarbonate. It is somewhat heavier than film, so you will need to compact the frame by using composite reinforcement and additional supports. This material has such advantages that more than justify all the inconveniences that arise.
- Good light transmittance. Commonly used for greenhouses, honeycomb carbonate is a more durable alternative to glass. You can choose either completely transparent materials, or matte, or colored.
- Strength. Polycarbonate is resistant to any mechanical influences, be it heavy precipitation, impacts, or punctures. It also does not sag under the weight of snow on the roof. Water and high humidity are not afraid of polycarbonate, since it is not subject to corrosion or deformation under the influence of water.
- Plastic. If all the rules are followed, polycarbonate plates can be bent, giving them an arched shape. However, it will not be possible to build intricate structures: the material is still not so flexible.
- Long service life. According to manufacturers, polycarbonate plates do not lose their properties for 20 years of service.
- Interesting appearance. If film greenhouses are trivial and almost everyone has them, then polycarbonate makes the owner stand out from the gray mass. The greenhouse looks neat and unusual.
Like film, polycarbonate has its drawbacks. This material is afraid of high temperatures. When exposed to open fire, it begins to melt, and stopping this process is not very easy. The price factor also plays a big role.
Polycarbonate models are more expensive than film ones, but still not so much as to immediately dismiss this option.
Master class on construction
Making a greenhouse from polypropylene pipes is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. In fact, even a teenager who has attended labor classes at school can cope with this.
Before you begin, you need to do some preliminary work.
- A greenhouse, like any structure, will have to be carefully planned and designed. Without a plan and drawings you can’t really build good greenhouse, having correct sizes and proportions. You can draw up a diagram yourself, take a ready-made one or order it, but the latter option is not very rational, since an individual sketch will cost more than the entire purchase of materials.
- You have to get everything ready right away necessary materials and tools. This is why a plan was drawn up: it shows the location of all profiles and parts, all screws and self-tapping screws, as well as the points of fastening of the sheathing material. With this information in hand, you can buy everything you need.
The preparation must be thorough. The quality and speed of construction of the greenhouse in the future depends on how conscientiously it is carried out. Thorough preliminary work allows you to design a more serious structure that has not only a door, but also vents for ventilation. Also, meticulous elaboration of details is needed when the greenhouse is made not for seasonal use, but for year-round cultivation vegetables and berries. Only then will it be possible to provide for all the nuances, including correct position greenhouses relative to cardinal directions.
Layout
The first step is to decide what size the greenhouse will be. It depends not only on the needs, but also on the size of the plot. For example, on an area of 100 sq. m, you can easily fit a large greenhouse, while for a small area only a mini-greenhouse is suitable. However, it is worth remembering that polypropylene pipes are still a material that was not originally intended for construction, so you should not make extra-large structures, for example, 8 m wide and 15 m long. For such purposes, it is better to choose a less flexible material.
The optimal solution is a greenhouse with dimensions of 2.5x4 m and a height of 1.9 to 2 m. It is not worth making it lower, since it will be impossible for a person to straighten up there, which will greatly complicate the work of caring for growing crops. Such dimensions will allow you to plant several beds of various crops in the greenhouse.
For construction, you need to choose the correct cross-section of polypropylene profiles. Multilayer pipes with a diameter of 20–32 mm are suitable for this, internal section which are 16 mm.
The length of polypropylene pipes can vary, but to build a greenhouse you need options with a length of 2 to 7 m.
As for choosing a site for construction, it must meet several requirements.
- No shadow. You should not install a greenhouse in a shady area, otherwise you will have to give up growing light-loving crops: peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes.
- The ability to freely enter and exit the greenhouse. You should not position the door so that it rests closely on the flower garden or other beds. Need to leave small space for comfort.
- The site should not be windy. You should make inquiries as to which way the winds blow in your area and position the structure according to that direction. This is especially true for greenhouses with pitched roofs.
Development of drawings
A drawing is needed not only to know exactly how the greenhouse will be located and what will be needed for it. The project is also important for drawing up an estimate, because knowing the number of elements and their cost, you can quite accurately determine the price for the entire homemade greenhouse.
You can make your own layout diagram, remembering drawing lessons from school curriculum. To simplify this process, there are many 3D modeling programs, some of which are free. Some can be used directly online.
The easiest way is to take already finished drawing. There, as a rule, a calculation of the details is immediately provided, connecting elements and coating materials. It is possible to select a greenhouse of any size and height, including those whose frame requires reinforcement through reinforcement.
In the summer, you can’t do without a light canopy or gazebo at the dacha, where you can hide from the shade and eat on fresh air. But wood or metal are expensive and not available to every owner. A budget alternative - a gazebo made of PVC pipes. The design of them will be light, collapsible, and production will not take much time and labor.
Benefits of using plastic
The basis of the structure can be ordinary water pipes, fastened together with fittings or other elements. They won't cost much.
In addition, among the important advantages of their use it is worth highlighting:
- resistance to environmental influences;
- long service life;
- parts are easy to replace and the structure can be disassembled;
- ease of installation;
- speed of assembly;
- low price;
- no need to make a foundation;
- the material does not rot or rust;
- the gazebo can be made in accordance with the style of landscape design.
But when starting to make it, you need to remember that this is a shelter option only for the warm season. In winter, the structure should be removed from the street - during severe frosts, the plastic begins to deform.
When purchasing pipes, pay attention to whether there is any odor coming from them. If yes, then it is better to discard this product immediately, otherwise the smell will emanate from the finished gazebo.
Selection of polypropylene pipes
For simple designs You can use metal-plastic, propylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes. Thickness and sizes vary. The choice depends on how massive the structure you decide to build. It is better to connect the parts together using a soldering iron or fittings.
All types have good flexibility, which allows you to make a gazebo in the shape of a ball, semicircle, trapezoid.
If we compare the strength of the material, then metal-plastic wins significantly. Due to the inner layer of aluminum, the pipes do not expand under high temperatures, so their service life is longer. The parts are connected using two fitting methods:
- crimping;
- press
But metal-plastic costs several times more. For budget buildings, PVC pipes will be sufficient.
Summer gazebo projects made from PVC pipes
Thanks to the flexibility and lightness of the material, creating a structure of even a complex geometric shape is not difficult. The arc-shaped design is popular. It is also used as a basis for construction:
- pergola;
- greenhouses;
- carports or outdoor barbecues.
In this case, the roof can be single- or multi-slope.
Users often search:
The future construction is depicted on paper in the form of a diagram. Next, several sketches are made from different angles. The project specifies the materials for the roof deck, wall cladding, the dimensions of each element, and calculates the total costs.
How to make a gazebo with your own hands from water pipes
Let's look at each stage of work in more detail.
We prepare materials and tools
We will need:
The following types of fittings are useful:
- corner – for connection at an angle of 90 0;
- tees - fix three pieces of pipe at right angles;
- extension - for fastening three pipes at 180 0.
Cutting polypropylene to size
When the design drawing has been developed and all materials have been purchased, you need to start cutting the parts for the structure.
For comfort PVC cutting pipes, it is advisable to purchase special scissors, or use a hacksaw for metal
Ordinary metal scissors cannot cope here, so you need to take precision ones with a ratchet-cutting mechanism. They can easily fragment pipes with a diameter of 3 to 40 mm.
Since the blades of such scissors are made of the highest class of alloy steel with a serrated blade, the cuts are smooth and without burrs. No effort required. Everything is done with one hand.
Assembling the gazebo frame
The procedure is as follows:
If the owners want to move the gazebo to another place in the future, then they can do without installing supports, but simply make the lower piping from pipes.
But a significant drawback of such a plastic frame is its instability to wind and rain.
Wall decoration
The choice of material depends on the budget of the owners.
Popular finishing options:
- polycarbonate;
- polyethylene film;
- awning or tarpaulin;
- curtains.
In the last two cases, for better fixation, it is better to sew loops to the fabric. To do this, use thread with a needle or construction stapler. If you choose fabric for covering, it must be waterproof. Shower curtains are also suitable.
Users also search:
Polycarbonate fastening is carried out on an already finished structure. This will require special thermal nuts and sealant. Such a building can easily withstand the rain, but it is also more difficult to disassemble.
You can plant wild grapes around the perimeter of the gazebo. Once expanded, it will create shade.
We carry out roofing
Fittings mounted in the top trim make it possible to design a roof of any design.
Photo: greenhouse at the dacha. The principle of assembling the frame is the same. Differences in geometric shape structures and wall cladding.
This is how standard water pipes are in capable hands turn into an original summer gazebo in the courtyard of a private house, without requiring special investments or professional skills from the owners.
Freestanding canopy - gazebo
Before you start building a canopy at your dacha, you should decide on the design. This design may look different.
It can be presented in the form of a terrace, a canopy over a building, or it can imitate a porch.
Varieties
Sheds can be attached to any building or free-standing. Attached models are a structure, one side of which is adjacent to the wall, while the other three remain free and open. Separately standing models They represent a kind of gazebo or canopy for covering a car.
The material used to make such a structure is wood, iron or plastic. The latter type of material is most often used for the manufacture of country houses.
You can build a country canopy from PVC pipes with your own hands. Examples of canopies created from PVC plastic pipes with your own hands can be seen in the photo.
Advantages of PVC pipes
- a structure made of plastic elements will last quite a long time (the service life is much longer than that of wooden/metal products);
- due to the low weight of the elements, installation will not take much time and effort;
- can be erected as collapsible design, and monolithic.
However, such material has one negative point - the fear of low temperatures.
DIY canopy made from PVC pipes
You can create a canopy at your dacha from plastic pipes, both for a playground and for a car. A country canopy made of PVC plastic pipes can be adjacent to the house or stand separately.
What will be needed for installation?
To work you will need:
- sandpaper;
- file;
- ruler;
- construction hair dryer (with its help you will need to heat up the plastic);
- welding machine “iron” (it is necessary for soldering elements).
Preliminary work
So, we will make the structure on the basis that the length of the machine does not exceed 3.5 m. First, drawings of the future structure are drawn up. Then, in accordance with the dimensions of the future construction, parts begin to be cut.
Important detail: The structure can be either prefabricated or monolithic.
When choosing the second option, you should consider the places where you will fix the supports to the site/floor. Pipes with a large diameter will act as support (the cross-section should be ¼ inch larger than the horizontal elements).
Blanks
In order to determine the required number of cut elements, it is necessary to divide the perimeter of the future parking lot by one and a half meters. As a result, he gets about four tubes per three and a half meters.
Pipe size
Roof shape
The roof can be arched, pitched or gable. The choice of shape depends on the location where you will install it and on the adjustment of the liquid drainage slope.
One of the options for connecting elements
Fittings can be used to connect parts.
Currently, it will not be difficult to purchase accessories:
- angles (for connecting at an angle);
- tees (for connecting vertical and horizontal parts);
- clamps (used for fastening to the surface);
- plugs (thanks to them, dirt does not get inside the part).
Of course, this is not the entire list of accessories.
Technology for assembling a canopy for a summer house from PVC pipes
- The parts can be connected using a welding machine. However, such equipment is not cheap, so if you don’t have it, it’s not worth purchasing. Fastening can also be done using self-tapping screws, a screwdriver, glue and bolts.
- The structure is assembled strictly according to the diagram.
- You can also install visors.
- The construction is secured with clamps and dowels.
You can also build a country shower canopy from PVC pipes. The film will serve as curtains.
Video about creating a simple hanging structure
If you are not willing to pay serious money for wrought iron or profile pipe, then classic plastic pipes can be an alternative. Thanks to fittings, you can achieve reliable connections, and by applying some tricks to the foundation, you can fix plastic gazebo no worse than a classical building.
PVC pipes - cheap and lightweight material, which has both its disadvantages and advantages over other building materials.
If all installation requirements are met, you can build a very good frame, and you can choose the cladding according to your wishes.
In this publication we will look at the variety of plastic pipes, as well as options for gazebos made of this material. Then the process of constructing a polypropylene gazebo will be shown, where the main emphasis will be on the connections between its parts.
Polypropylene (PVC)
Initially, plastic pipes were conceived as part of the water supply and heating system. Installation takes place using a special soldering iron (we affectionately call it an “iron”) and couplings.
Polypropylene has amazing characteristics that are also suitable for our country house construction:
- Strength.
- Flexibility.
- Low weight.
- Does not require additional processing.
- Low price.
Metal-plastic
Compared to polypropylene, metal-plastic is more expensive and reliable in terms of pipelines. Thanks to the aluminum foil inside, there is no expansion of the material when high temperatures, which has a positive effect on service life.
Metal-plastic construction (difference from classic polypropylene in the aluminum layer)
Since we don’t care whether it expands there or not, we look at the methods of its installation and technical characteristics. The connections are noticeably different from polypropylene, as a press and crimp fitting is used.
For the crimp option we need additional tool, and in the case of a press one, two adjustable wrenches will be enough.
Variety of gazebos made of plastic pipes
With fixed poles
If you take fairly thick pipes and fix them in the foundation, you can make some kind of canopy and tent. It is best to sheathe the roof with the lightest possible material, for example, fabric or polyester, so that the frame does not deform during gusts of wind.
With arches
Thanks to its flexible shape, plastic can be used to make a decent arched gazebo covered with polycarbonate sheets. This structure is perfect for the garden to take a break between chores.
Portable
The lightness of the material allows you to make a very light gazebo, the weight of which even one person can handle (in the absence of a heavy roof or cladding). If you do not fix the gazebo into the ground with the help of a foundation, then it can be moved from place to place, depending on the need.
Installation of polypropylene connections through couplings
For work we will need the following tools and building materials:
- Polypropylene pipes.
- Couplings (straight, angle and tees).
- Special scissors.
- Special soldering iron.
Installation instructions are shown in the picture below. The entire frame of the plastic gazebo is assembled using this principle.
Installation of metal-plastic connections through fittings
Working with metal-plastic will require an additional tool - press pliers. The price for each connection will be significantly higher than simple polypropylene couplings. Therefore, if you are planning to build such a gazebo, try to make as few connections as possible in order to save on this point.
Installation of pillars
To make the frame stable, it is necessary to fix the vertical posts (racks) as tightly as possible. To do this, you can use metal pins or full-fledged concrete foundation pillars (dig a hole and fill it with mortar).
In any case, this point needs to be thought through in advance. If metal can be laid freely on the tile and it will not go anywhere due to its mass, then plastic may well “escape” from a gust of wind.
Erection of the roof
It is not possible to make a rafter system similar to a wooden or metal roof. It is necessary to use a truncated cone shape with several rafter legs, which will create a strong frame for further cladding. An example of this roof is shown in the photo below.
Polycarbonate sheathing
The pipe structure is strong, but extremely unstable. To securely fix the entire structure, it is necessary to sheathe the frame with something. Polycarbonate will come to our aid; its weight and strength are ideal for installation.
Protecting the gazebo from the sun and wind
Interesting option summer gazebo presented in the form of a tent. An ordinary frame is made from sixteen pipes (six for pillars, four for top harness and six on the rafters), and a light fabric or polyester is hung on top of it, which performs decorative and protective functions.
In my opinion, this project deserves attention, since its cost is cheap, and it looks very civilized.
Video instructions for making a canopy from pipes
To tell the truth, it was not possible to find more or less adequate instructions for building such a gazebo, but even Channel One talked about creating a canopy.
The presenter will tell you in detail and show what kind of plastic pipes the structure is made of, as well as how it is held together.
Hi all! In this master class I will show you how to make a simple and lightweight canopy-type canopy over the entrance to your home. Everyone knows the problem when, during rain, water flows from the roof in a large stream, in addition to the fact that it is raining. Just to avoid this, to constantly have a dry threshold in front of the entrance, I propose to build this simple canopy over the door from plastic pipes.
Needed for production
- PVC pipes. But no one is stopping you from making something similar from polypropylene pipes.
- Glue for PVC pipes, if you use polypropylene - soldering iron for polypropylene.
- Rectangle made of plexiglass, acrylic, plexiglass or polycarbonate. Any of the above will do.
Making a canopy for your home
Decide on the size of the desired visor, estimate the angle of inclination by eye. Ideally, draw a sketch on a piece of paper.Then choose the diameter of the pipes that will be used.
Let's start assembly. We cut pipes and prepare fittings.
First we assemble two corners:
Then the third side for these quiet triangles.
We connect the third sides of the triangles with each other using longitudinal guides. This will be the roof to which the transparent acrylic sheet will be attached.
We connect, we get triangles. A longitudinal guide has also been added to the bottom of the visor.
In general, the more guides, the better.
We take acrylic glass.
We screw it to the frame through rubber-like pads. They are, of course, not necessary, but thanks to them, excess vibration is dampened, the glass does not resonate, and dripping drops on the glass are not audible at all.
