A Greenhouse cover plays an important role in protecting your plants from the elements while allowing sunlight to still filter through. However, these covers are only effective when properly maintained, but deterioration can occur due to a variety of factors. That’s where felt tape comes in.
Using felt tape can help ensure the longevity and effectiveness of your greenhouse covers without requiring a sizable financial investment to do so. After all, replacing a damaged cover can be a considerably more costly and time-consuming process for growers than just taking the steps to prevent these issues in the first place.
Here’s a look at how felt tape can prevent the greenhouse cover from tearing along the greenhouse rib:
The Biggest Contributors To Greenhouse Cover Deterioration
There are several factors that contribute to the deterioration of greenhouse covers over time. We’ve listed the main culprits below:
Related Article: How Long Does Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting Last?
The Impact Of Direct Contact
The first threat to your cover’s health is through direct contact with the greenhouse frame. Friction between plastic sheeting and the frame can result in wear and tear, leading to holes and other damage to the cover. This direct contact gradually weakens the plastic, compromising its integrity. By applying felt tape between the plastic and the frame, growers can create a protective barrier that prevents friction-induced damage and prolongs the life of the cover.
Chemical Reactions
The combination of the PVC used to make some greenhouse frames, and the polyethylene plastic used to make greenhouse covers can actually trigger a chemical reaction over time. This slowly causes the materials to degrade and can eventually leave the greenhouse vulnerable to the elements. Felt tape acts as a barrier, preventing long-term interaction between the two materials and mitigating the risk of chemical reactions.
Changes In Temperature
Greenhouse structures made with metal are particularly vulnerable to temperature fluctuations, as they tend to heat up excessively under the midday sun. This can lead to the compromise of the film’s integrity and even partial melting along the points of contact with the structure. To prevent damage to the greenhouse cover, felt tape can be used as an insulator, which helps dissipate the heat.
Try Americover’s Felt Tape
At Americover, we only recommend products that we have used and tested ourselves. If you are in the process of securing a greenhouse cover, we highly recommend using our 1/4″ thick felt tape. It has been proven to prevent costly repairs due to snags, tears, and premature deterioration.
Related Article: Extending Your Greenhouse’s Life with Repair Tape
Find The Right Products For Your Greenhouse Project
As an Americover customer, you will receive the personalized support of a dedicated account manager to simplify the ordering process and ensure the best solution for every one of your projects.
Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is here to answer your questions and fulfill orders Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. For more information or a free sample, call us at 760-388-6294 or visit our Contact Us page.