How to Build a PVC Hoophouse

Build an inexpensive "hoop house" greenhouse to extend the growing season - in some cases, all the way through the winter!

Steps

  1. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 1
    1
    Select a suitably sized patch of relatively flat ground for your greenhouse. Be sure there are no trees, buildings, or other objects that will cast a shadow on the greenhouse for a significant portion of the day.[1]
  2. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 2
    2
    Using a tape measure, lay out a rectangle 16 feet (4.9 m) by 40 feet (12.2 m) on the ground to define the base of your greenhouse. You'll probably want the 40 foot (12.2 m) dimension to run as close to east-west as you can, so the plants will get the maximum possible exposure to the sun. Measure the distance between opposite corners to make sure you have square corners. If the corners are square, the diagonal measurements will be equal (43 feet in this case). Push or hammer a 3 foot (0.9 m) piece of rebar into the ground at each corner, leaving about one foot protruding from the ground.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 3
    3
    Lay out planting beds inside this rectangle, leaving a walkway down the center of the 40 foot (12.2 m) dimension. You may want to consider making raised beds from planks or concrete blocks.[2] In any case, you should perform any cultivation, tilling, addition of soil amendments, etc. at this time.
  4. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 4
    4
    Choose one of the 16 foot (4.9 m) ends to be the "front" of your greenhouse, where the door will be located. With the help of a friend, bend a 20 foot (6.1 m) length of PVC pipe into an arch, and slide the ends over the "front" pair of rebar stakes. Be careful not to let go until both ends are slid all the way down the stakes; it's very springy stuff and could injure someone.
  5. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 5
    5
    Repeat the previous step with the "back" pair of stakes and another piece of PVC.
  6. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 6
    6
    Insert pairs of 3 foot (0.9 m) rebar pieces into the ground on opposite sides of the greenhouse every 5 feet (1.5 m) down each long side of your rectangle from the "front" pair, and (again with the help of a friend) slide another length of PVC over the two new stakes. Repeat this process until you reach the "back" of the greenhouse.
  7. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 7
    7
    Make three 40 foot (12.2 m) pieces of PVC by gluing together pairs of 20 foot (6.1 m) pipes using PVC joint compound.
  8. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 8
    8
    Center a 40 foot (12.2 m) pipe down the underside of the series of arches to form a "spine" for the greenhouse, using stainless steel wire to make an "X" around each intersection. Make sure you locate the ends of the wire on the underside of the spine and so there are no sharp points sticking up that might tear the plastic sheet. You should now have something that resembles the skeleton of a beached whale.[3]
  9. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 9
    9
    Duct tape a 40 foot (12.2 m) pipe along the the long edge of your plastic sheet, then roll it up in a few turns of the sheet (like you're making a scroll) and duct tape it securely in place.
  10. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 10
    10
    Repeat the previous step with the third 40 foot (12.2 m) piece of PVC along the opposite edge of the plastic sheet, roll it up, and duct tape it securely.
  11. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 11
    11
    Lay the assembly against one of the long sides of your skeleton, and with the help of a friend or two, walk one side of the plastic sheet with PVC attached over the top of the arches to form the "skin" of your greenhouse.
  12. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 12
    12
    Once you have the skin stretched over the skeleton, make sure it's centered, so there's an equal amount of excess material lying on each side of the greenhouse.
  13. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 13
    13
    Pile sand, sod, or loose soil over the flap of excess material (and the attached PVC pipe) along the whole length of one side of the greenhouse. Tuck the plastic sheet into the corner where the ribs of the greenhouse meet the ground, and be careful not to allow wrinkles to form in the sheet between the ribs.
  14. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 14
    14
    Once one side of the sheet is thoroughly weighted down, go to the other side of the greenhouse, pull the plastic sheet down tight, and bury the excess material there the same way, making sure to keep the sheet as snug and wrinkle-free as possible.
  15. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 15
    15
    Plant a pressure-treated 4x4 vertically about 2 feet (0.6 m) to either side of the spine of the greenhouse at each end to form uprights. The tops of the 4x4's should extend slightly above the point where they cross the front and back ribs of the greenhouse, so dig the holes accordingly.
  16. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 16
    16
    Attach the front and back uprights to their adjacent rib using conduit clamps or plumbers strapping & wood screws.
  17. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 17
    17
    Pull the plastic sheet around the ends of the greenhouse and secure it to the uprights by wrapping a 1x2 in the excess plastic at each side, pulling it tight, and attaching it to the uprights with wood screws driven through the plastic and the 1x2 and into the 4x4. You may want drill pilot holes so you don't split the 1x2 or break the screws.[4]
  18. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 18
    18
    Repeat the previous step at the front and back of the greenhouse. Use the same technique to secure the excess plastic hanging over the ends of the spine, by screwing another 1x2 between the tops of the uprights.
  19. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 19
    19
    It's up to you whether you want to put doors on both ends of the greenhouse, or a door on one end and a window on the other.[5] In any case, assemble suitably-sized rectangles of 1x2's, reinforcing the corners of the door with triangles of 1/4" plywood. Wrap the frames in plastic, and attach them to the uprights using standard door hinges. Attach a sliding bolt latch to the side opposite the hinges.
  20. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 20
    20
    Seal up any gaps or tears in the plastic skin using duct tape and pieces of plastic sheet.
  21. Image titled Build a PVC Hoophouse Step 21
    21
    Add your chosen plants, and enjoy!
    22. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    What length of PVC pipe would I need for a 20' x 40' hoophouse?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you want them to be perfect half-circles, use 20 feet as the diameter of your circle, find the circumference, then divide by two. That will be the perfect length to create an arc that spans 20 feet.
Advertisement

Warnings

Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • 16 pieces of 1" or 1.5" x 20 foot (6.1 m) sch 80 PVC pipe(that's the grey conduit type found in the electrical department, which is more rigid, UV Resistant and cheaper than sch40 used for underground plumbing that breaks down in sunlight)
  • 32 pieces of 3/8" rebar 3 feet (0.9 m) long (If you have a hacksaw or other means of cutting rebar, you can save money by purchasing the longer 10ft pieces)
  • 1x2 lumber
  • 4x4 pressure treated lumber
  • Stainless steel wire
  • UV-resistant plastic sheet at least X x Y feet
  • duct tape (the universal ingredient!)
  • conduit clamps per 1" or 1.5" pipe used or plastic plumbers strapping w/wood screws

You Might Also Like

Grow Healthy Plants
How to
Grow Healthy Plants
How to
Fix a Garden Hose
Building a Shed from Scratch? Follow These Instructions
Test Soil pH
How to
Test Soil pH
Level a Sloping Garden
How to
Level a Sloping Garden
Build a Mason Jar Herb Garden
How to
Build a Mason Jar Herb Garden
Make Concrete Planters
How to
Make Concrete Planters
Build a Planter Box from Pallets
How to
Build a Planter Box from Pallets
How to
Repair a Terracotta Pot
Fill a Tall Planter
How to
Fill a Tall Planter
Prune a Snowball Bush
How to
Prune a Snowball Bush
Make a Scarecrow
How to
Make a Scarecrow
Make a Tandoor (Clay) Oven
How to
Make a Tandoor (Clay) Oven
Make a Mini Greenhouse
How to
Make a Mini Greenhouse
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.thompson-morgan.com/where-to-position-your-greenhouse
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tf3UWkluqk
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx17mlhtKKs
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41XOKnCeRt8
  5. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=732

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 131,988 times.
123 votes - 89%
Co-authors: 10
Updated: February 9, 2020
Views: 131,988
Categories: Garden Projects
Advertisement