When Did You Last Refurbish Your Polytunnel?

If you have had your polytunnel for more than five years, chances are that it may benefit from a polytunnel refurbishment.

Carrying out polytunnel repairs or a refurbishment does not mean you have to dismantle the entire tunnel. A refurbishment is often carried out when you want to add a section to your polytunnel or replace weathered fixtures and fittings. You may even want to add better ventilation or more doors, even guttering on larger tunnels.

 

Advantages of Polytunnel Refurbishment

 

What are the advantages of refurbishing your polytunnel? Many business growers refurbish their polytunnels on a regular basis. One of the main benefits of refurbishment is that you are less likely to have to carry out polytunnel repairs when replacing the cover.

 

Another reason polytunnel enthusiasts refurbish their tunnels is to help improve the growth of new plants and crops, whilst maintaining the protective nature of the build. Perhaps you have read an article in BBC Gardener's World about a plant that you have always wanted to grow.

 

What if that plant needs special growing conditions and your current polytunnel does not provide the right conditions? Instead of not growing the plant or the flower, why not consider a polytunnel refurbishment to ensure the correct crop protection?

 

Ask your local polytunnel service and you will probably find out that a refurbishment costs a lot less than you may think!

 

Tell Your Insurance Company You Have Upgraded Your Tunnel

 

If you have made your tunnel larger or upgraded it in some other way, you need to tell your insurance company. Read the policy carefully and make sure that you have the right value of cover for your type of polytunnel.

 

Most insurance companies would like to see photographs of any polytunnel refurbishment or polytunnels repairs that have been carried out. Keep the photographs just in case you have a reason to claim on your insurance policy.

 

Set Up a Polytunnel Fund

 

If you find that are really getting into permaculture and polytunnel gardening, setting up a small fund to make sure that you have cash for your polytunnel refurbishment is not a bad idea.

 

To be honest, most polytunnel gardeners make a few extra quid on the side. They either sell fruit and vegetables produced in their polytunnel or maybe even eggs from their chickens. Hang onto any cash that you make from your polytunnel efforts and use it for polytunnel repairs or refurbishment for any future requirements.

 

Can Livestock Damage My Polytunnel?

 

If you do decide that keeping livestock is the right thing to do, you need to pay extra attention to the condition of your polytunnel. Even the friendliest chicken may decide to peck a hole or two in the sheeting.

 

You can solve this by installing animal cages and making sure your chickens or turkeys have no direct access to the sheeting. It is not always easy to control animals and their natural behaviour. Instead, you have to figure out ways to work your way around it.

 

Conclusion

 

Polytunnels are not expensive to look after. As with everything else in life, it is important that you carry out regular maintenance and inspections of your tunnel. The quicker you deal with a problem, the less your polytunnel will cost to run.