Clear Shipping tape holds panels great!

I was so sure I didn't have anything to worry about here in CA. Well, I learned the hard way that a HFGH can't take 60mph winds.. and lost more than 1/2 my panels to the wind.. the fame buckled and bent too.
So to repair it, I framed in the inside with redwood 2x2's and screwed the frame to the redwood from the ouside where the holes for the braces were.
I also used clear shipping tape to secure the panels. I folded the end of the tape for easy removal in summer. Sticks like a dream! With the clips on top, I think I'm ready now!

Just thought I'd share that lil tip.. it is much more secure than the clips they provided with the GH.

You may want to keep an eye on the shipping tape as it gets exposed to the elements...I'm sure different brands perform differently, but I had used it last year for my greenhouse, and some of it wore out after a couple of rainstorms, and then the sun shining on it made the rest of it all brittle. I had pretty cheap stuff though, if you got a better brand then hopefully it'll hold up better.

I've actually had pretty good luck with blue painters' tape...I didn't think it would hold tight enough but it was the only thing I had on hand besides the shipping tape so I tried it and I've been much happier. It holds on through the rain, and the sun doesn't seem to do anything to it. Only problem is it doesn't look as nice as clear tape would! I also caulked most of my panels in place for this winter which has really seemed to help a lot, but then of course you can't take any panels out! So I used the painters tape for the ones I want to remove for the summer and caulked the rest.

I used shipping tape on some of my GH panels also. I got tired of running around the neighborhood trying to find my them after a storm. It's only the panels on the door end that blow out. I did this last summer and it's still holding. I went out there yesterday to check on my sleeping daylilies and noticed I should replace a few strips of tape. It doesn't look pretty, but who cares as long as it works. Nobody sees it but me.

I've used aluminum tape to secure the edges of panels in a few key places, and so far that stuff seems to be pretty tough. Of course, it's not clear, but it does kind of blend in with the color of the aluminum greenhouse frame. I learned (by mistake) that it's pretty hard to peel off when I applied it to the wrong edge of a panel once. It's definately not going to fall off soon, anyway!

I have used that blue painters tape to stick up Aluminet shadecloth in a temporary way...hey, whatever works! :-)

Love all this free information you guys are providing me ;-) since I'm getting my first HFGH this spring!

Keep it up!

MollyD

I completely agree with MollyD on all the free information. Ain't this internet stuff grand!!!

Melanie

My choice for tape is a clear duct tape by 3M Scotch. Unfortunately, I don't have the panels but seal the GH plastic with it. In our heat, cold, and moisture I have found it holds remarkably well. A little pricey but worth it.

waiting til spring courd cost more ?

the current Harbor Freight mailer
sale ends jan 28, 2008 has their Greenhouses on sale

6' x 8' lot no 47712 $299.99 ($100 off)
10' x 12' lot no 93358 $599.99 ($130 off)

They run those sales every few months here Jim. Plus in spring they put a 15% off coupon in the flyer.

MollyD

that 15% coupon is in the current flyer also but it states " Cannot be used with any other discount or coupon"

has anyone used it on a sale item ???

I did. I saw that fine print on the coupon too, but they didn't blink an eye. In addition, when I bought mine, it was only on sale on the website...not at my local store. But I printed out the page on the website showing the sale, and they happily gave me the internet sale price, and applied the 15% coupon on top of that. I was a very happy camper!

I suppose it's possible some HF stores might not be as agreeable, but ours acted like they did it all the time...no problem.

From what I've heard Jim most of them will honor the coupon on the sale price. Somewhere of course there has to be one sour lemon who won't.

MollyD