Feel Good polytunnels?

They are cheap polytunnels, so get out of them what you can. As long as they are anchored there should not be a problem..I've used two different anchoring methods on my two tunnels (20ft x 10ft) and both have stood through 80mph winds and gusts at over 100mph!. Dont worry too much about the flapping about of the cover they are made to fit the frame and it will be reasonably tight...I think if you try to get it as tight as you can that you may rip it.

Get it to fit as snug as you can, on a warm day but do not force it too much...I have seen another person rip their cover by using too much force. You wont get it "drum tight".

One guy on our plot has one of these tunnels too and where the long ridge poles meet the hoops they are bolted together and although the bolts are rounded ends one of them wore a hole through his cover so it might be an idea to "pack" that area with some folded polythene for a little abrasion resistance.

I have not braced mine at all, they dont need it in my opinion, just anchored it to the ground and when eventually the cover does give way or degrades due to UV rays then I shall recover it with a proper polytunnel polythene.

You will need to make a door for it though, because you'll get fed up with unzipping it and rolling it up, plus in time the zips become clogged up with muck then fail.

Also consider where the frame is to be placed, later when you are burying the edges of the cover in the ground to tension it all, this will push the frame into the ground too, this is why with my second tunnel I hemmered stakes into the ground and fastened the tunnel structure to them first. I also used the tunnel structure to mark out and dig the beds first to make this easier and because its hot work doing heavy digging once the cover is on.

Most of these tips and a picture sequence are in my polytunnel topic that Scrungee posted in post 3 above.

Steve...

 

Perhaps not, but there are so many stories on the web as to why these tunnels are called 'blowaways' that they give me peace of mind when lying in bed at night during gales with all sorts of stuff blowing around knowing my tunnels with stand up to anything. They also double up as supports to attach staging to.

I'm not sure that would be an adequate replacement for the original six vents on each side.


P.S. Even if they're not listed, enquire about the cost of replacement covers, because I think at about £75 if they last 3 years that's only £25 p.a. once you've got it set up.

 

I know what your saying, but as I've only used them a couple of times, it's not a big concern.
The big tunnel doesn't have side vents and works well, but the size difference will make a difference, as the baby tunnel heats up so much quicker.

 

Just ordered my 20×10ft polytunnel and a new cover for the 10x6ft one. Guess I will be busy this year. Just tidied the one at home as well.

 

Thought it would be interesting to point out that whilst back in the depths of January these went down in price on ebay to £149.99, now summer's approaching they have gone up to £199.99 (a few weeks ago they were about £169). http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160789609237?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

Here is a pic of mine...


Sent from my HTC One X+ using Tapatalk 2

 

Jumping in here I know, we bought a poly direct from Feel Good. Tunnels are very expensive here in Brittany - the feelgood tunnel including p&p was a third of the price of a French one of the same size and far better quality. But for me the biggest plus was the very quick dispatch and the after sales service which was phenomonol. The cover was found to have minor damage on erection. I emailed hoping they would send a free repair kit they sent a new cover within 4 days of my first email. Very impressive.

The tunnel is quite impressive too. Since putting it up we have had heavy snow (almost unheard of in our area) high winds, brilliant sunshine and sleeting rain. I find that the window arrangement helps ventilation and keeps condensation to a minimum.

Although this is my first proper polytunnel oh has had them before and even he is impressed. Obviously time will tell but so far so good.

 

Just a heads up about these galvanised frame Polytunnels, if you do not use anti hot spot tape on the frame...this is what can happen.





This tunnel is now one year old only and I did not use anti hot spot tape as I intend to recover it with real polytunnel polythene when this cover does finally degrade, but now..only one year old and the cover is becoming a sieve along the top arched sections and also where the bolts connect these sections.

I also have one of the older (white frame - one year older) polytunnels, the cover on that one fits much tighter and does not show the wear and tear as on the galvanised one.

The possible cause of this is one of two reasons..

1. The covers on these newer galvanised tunnels do not fit as tight, hence they move around more and cause friction.

2. The older white framed tunnels reflect some heat so cause less damge than these Galvanised tunnels.

Either way, if you wish for these covers to last then it would be beneficial applying anti hot spot tape before you put the cover on.

Scrungee...I know you have a few of these tunnels roughly the same age as mine...how are the covers on yours?

Steve...

 

The polythene part of the cover on my oldest tunnel now entering its third season is still OK, but the mesh ventilation panels are starting to disintegrate and I'm intending to remove it in the Autumn and put a spare one on next Spring. I bought anti-hotspot tape for the 10 x 20 foot tunnel so don't expect to get that bolt wear problem. I got it from here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170505286099?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 (two packs of 4 rolls required)

 

They went back down to £179 a few weeks ago and they're now right down to £169 again incl P&P. Thought it was worth making a notes of the best time(s) of year to buy them.

 

Now down to £159.99 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-x-3m-Po...237?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item256fcebb15

 

Grow-ur-own's price now up to £184.99 incl P&P http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-x-3m-Po...237?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item256fcebb15 The price on their non-ebay 'Feelgood' website is £242.98 http://www.feelgooduk.net/90-20ft-polytunnel-garden-greenhouse.html

That make these 2 alternative suppliers much cheaper @ £134.99 each http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polytunne...119?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3384c8051f
and http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polytunne...524?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e7760a9dc It appears as if these 'two' suppliers may be the same as both are based at Wickford, Essex.

 

Hi all

I discovered this forum googling for users' experience of the Feelgood polytunnels, wondering if they're a bit too good to be true given the price.

I've read the useful info on using hotspot tape, and I know there tends to be an issue with the seams being prone to leaks, but are people generally still happy with them?

Given the recent weather, I'd be interested to know how they hold up to strong winds (particularly as I'd ideally like the back of the polytunnel facing into the wind, rather than the side, if that's not being too optimistic!)

Thanks for any info,

Martyn

 

My tunnels are on an exposed site with the end facing the prevailing winds (although the gales always seem to come from other directions) and they all hold up fine.

The two 2 x 4.5m tunnels have been fixed down as detailed in this thread http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/my-£50-polytunnel-from-ebay.31800/



My 3 x 6m tunnel is held down using metal straps set in concrete at the bottom of every hoop, and fixed to the hoops utilising the fixing bolts. As with the smaller tunnels I've also use diagonal timber braces set in concrete at the bottom and fixed to the hoop connecting with using a short length of perforated metal strip, nailed to tops of the timbers and fixed to the hoops again utilising the tunnel's fixing bolts.

That bracing, plus timber 'door frames' at the ends keep them absolutely rock solid (it's also handy for attaching plant supports and staging to).

If you're thinking of buying one of the larger 3 x 6m tunnels have a look at post # 27 above because FeelGood/Grow ur Own's prices are now considerably higher than the other suppliers I've posted links to. It's probably also worth checking out for smaller tunnels.

P.S. Welcome to the forum.

 

Hi Scrungee

Thanks for the welcome, and for the comprehensive reply. Until I read this and the other threads on these tunnels, I wasn't worried about losing the frame, just the cover!

We just have something like this - http://www.oogarden.com/prod-16328-Serre-poly-48m2-Ouverture-automatique.html - at the moment, and the frame's been fine in our strongest winds, just fixed as it is with 18 very small bolts to an 11cm high frame which is (more or less) buried in the soil.

So I'd hope the tunnel would be OK, maybe fixing each corner hoop internally to an embedded fencepost or similar, just to be on the safe side.

I've noted the recommendation for hotspot tape to help maintain the cover, and I like the idea of the doorframe so I think that would be worth doing; I wouldn't actually be using the door on the 'windy' side for access, but something like a non-opening version of the frame would presumably be a help in strengthening that side and protecting the end cover from strong gusts.

I'll keep an eye on prices from the various suppliers for a few weeks to see which way they're heading, then treat myself towards Spring. Thanks again for the help.

All the best

Martyn