PVC for green house?

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Norcal86

Well-Known Member
nope its fine.. I have a hoop house 12 x 24 made of 1.5 inch PVC with reinforcement laterals and its on year 8 without issues. 110+ degrees easy no problem.
 
CannaOnerStar

CannaOnerStar

Well-Known Member
What plastics to avoid in greenhouse:

PVC. Did I just say that right? Yep. A lot of DIY hydroponics use PVC pipes to store and run their hydroponic solutions, and even grow their plants. In it’s rigid form PVC is probably safe, however in its flexible it could be dangerous. To make it soft a plasticiser is added, often up to 40%! According to Choice Australia recent studies have raised concerns about the health risks.
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So all PVC is not automatically safe. Right kind of PVC used properly would likely be safe
 
CannaOnerStar

CannaOnerStar

Well-Known Member
jungle666 said:
Doesn't pvc get brittle with to much sunlight
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Yea well then we get to the properly used part, but i havent studied too much about PVC, more other plastics. Many plastics, even those labeled as food safe, might leak out crap when in direct sunlight(also high powered grow lights have same effect than sunlight, but afaik its UV that damages the plastic). PET, which is used in soda bottles also is not food safe if you keep it in sunlight. Put some water in a plastic soda bottle, keep it in direct sunlight for a few days and you can taste the plastic clearly.

Polypropylene(PP) is a plastic that can take direct sunlight much better than most others in same price range, while being food safe also. However like mentioned before, plastics might have all sorts of crap in it. PVC in its pure form should be safe for many things in greenhouse if used properly to my knowledge(but again im not an expert with PVC and you should google, but from my understanding its commonly used), but PVC is not just PVC always and might have crap in it that is not safe. Also its not a good idea to expose the PVC to direct sunlight or growlights, even if it would be labeled as safe.

Its a good idea to ask about the plastics from the shop.
 
go go kid

go go kid

Well-Known Member
useing white pvc and covering the lengths used with polly tunnel heat tape will make them last for years

find the white foam tape they lay across the metal to protect the plastic covering
 
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p0opstlnksal0t

Well-Known Member
How long are you making it? Surely PVC can't be that much cheaper than 1-3/8 top rail? I guess if you have hundreds of feet of greenhouse it might add up
 
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Norcal86

Well-Known Member
go go kid said:
useing white pvc and covering the lengths used with polly tunnel heat tape will make them last for years

find the white foam tape they lay across the metal to protect the plastic covering
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This has worked for me and I’m on year 8 with the same PVC
 
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