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Prolong The Life Of Your Poly
VENT THE HEAT! ALWAYS!!
The top of our lean to greenhouse easily reaches 160 degrees if not vented. Excessive heat will cut your poly life, and your plants. On a hot, clear, windless day opening your door is NOT enough. You need OVERHEAD vents (heat rises) and LOWER vents to let in cold air. Whereas commercial operators always heavily ventilate (mainly by fans) novices continually underestimate the damage poly and plants suffer due to heat. A plant can be under heat stress before it wilts.
(More detailed help about venting and fans on our fan sheet are available on request. To have the information mailed to you write us and enclose two dollars and a self-addressed envelope.)
PAINT THE RAFTERS WHITE
White is the best. It will reflect the heat keeping the poly cooler thus prolonging its life. White also reflects light into the greenhouse. NEVER use black, brown, or colored paint on any wood or metal if it contacts the poly. Paint it white--only white! Please! White paint reflects heat and light so that poly is cooler and the greenhouse is brighter for all those sun-loving plants you are growing.
RAFTER ANGLES
For snow to slide off by itself 65-70 degrees up from horizontal is the MINIMUM angle. Also, in winter 65-70 degrees is close to the ideal angle to catch the maximum amount of sun in southern Canada and the northern States. The "Brace" design is ideal for this. See "Information Sources" on page 14 for their address. (Operators of large commercial greenhouse don't worry so much about the "correct" angle due to the large area and the use of artificial heating).
By the way, if you use steep angled rafters, they can be longer, farther apart, because snow loading will be less. (Snow slides off better from steep roofs.) But brace them to prevent movement.
RAFTER SPACING & BRACING
If you get hurricane winds you may want 2 foot spacing on a straight wooden rafter greenhouse though lighting will be reduced a bit. In average wind areas woven poly has been used successfully on rafters 6 feet apart. I get strong winds and use 8 foot spacing, but I use steep rafter angles and I cross-brace. Cross-brace all long rafters to prevent vibration and movement of rafters in strong winds.
REDUCE ABRASION
Abrasion always occurs as poly rubs back & forth over the rafters due to winds. Our woven poly is more resistant to abrasion than regular poly due to its thickness, high-density weave & resistance to expansion and contraction. However, it will last longer if you wrap the rafters & braces with poly. (You can also purchase our Cinchstrap.) Sanding the rafters smooth to eliminate splinters and sharp corners is important.
INSTALL TIGHTLY AS A DRUM
Although woven poly's weave is resistant to thermal expansion due to the dense weave it still expands a little when hot. So if at all possible install on a warmer day, it will then tighten more when it cools, thus resisting destructive flapping. If you use our Polyfastener then the poly can be removed at any time, re-tightened, and then re-inserted. However if you install tightly the first time you will not have to re-tighten.
The more hands the better, especially on a cold day. Invite over all your friends and enemies and serve them some pizza and chili! Remember, if it's as tight as drum it will resist extremely strong winds. Pick a calm day if possible. I've found it best to install one high corner first, then go to the other high corner and pull tight, then fasten all along the top, then proceed to one of the lower corners, pull tight and fasten, then go to
the other lower corner and pull like mad. Then fasten along the bottom while pulling. Pull hard!
REMOVE THE COVER (Optional)
Some, especially in the south, remove the poly part of the year. Keep poly on the greenhouse if the night temperatures drop below 70 degrees F. if you want optimal plant growth. 
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