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How to fix a broken door on a plastic greenhouse

WoostieWoostie Posts: 53
in Problem solving
I've got a 6' x 8' plastic greenhouse which I've just put back up after being stored away for the winter. The main door has a zip on either side and one of the zips has broken. Does anyone have any ideas about how I can fix this please? I'm hoping to get another year of use out of it so just looking for ideas that will last this summer please.

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    In what way has it broken? Sometimes you can get them back together again if you're prepared to fiddle with it. This is aimed at clothing zips but the principle's the same https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/a28276133/how-to-fix-a-zipper/
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I wonder that as it is almost summer you could get away with just zipping the one side, unless you have tropical plants to grow.   They can get hot and damp in the summer so a bit of air may be a good thing.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • WoostieWoostie Posts: 53
    Thanks @JennyJ, I did try to fix it but had to walk away in the end because I was starting to swear at it. I'll have a look at your link, thanks.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You could just gaffer tape the broken one, and only use the other one for ventilating. 
    As @Lyn says , they can get very clammy inside, so that might be enough. It would only be a problem if it got so hot that you couldn't open the door up sufficiently. It'll depend what you're growing though.
    If the zip itself is ok, and it's the plastic beside it that's torn, that will certainly work well enough to let you use that zip too.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Alan.F.Alan.F. Posts: 24
    Hi, same thing just happened to me. I bought the magnetic tape ( you get 2 rolls a & b) stuck one strip above the door and one on the bottom inside the door. When rolled up just match the 2 together and it sticks. Worked for me but not had heavy rain yet to see if the adhesive keeps the tape stuck to the plastic. Hope this helps.
  • Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155
    Could you hold the broken side together temporarily with something like clothes pegs?
  • Alan.F.Alan.F. Posts: 24
    Sorry read your post wrong, could maybe still run the tapes down the sides.
  • WoostieWoostie Posts: 53
    Thanks all. @Fairygirl, it's the zip that's broken, the plastic itself is fine. @Poly-anthus, unfortunately there is no 'give' in the plastic, when the door is zipped shut the cover is quite a tight fit on the frame. @Alan.F., I'll have a look at the magnetic tape, thanks.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Can you get in and out, and get enough ventilation, with only one zip? If you can, you could just tape the broken one shut with duck tape or similar.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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