Greenhouse wood studs may endure for decades, but greenhouse polyethylene plastic covering must be replaced occasionally. The conventional greenhouse plastic, measuring 6 mils thick, typically lasts four years, while 3-mil plastic, called overwintering plastic, is only designed to last about one year. The plastic requires replacement when it becomes worn or torn. Luckily, you may simply remove the old plastic in the wood stud frame and attach plastic. Little garden greenhouses are more likely to have wood stud walls, while bigger greenhouses are average made from PVC or metal arches or framing.
Pull out any staples from the prior plastic cap using a pair of pliers. Grip the staple head together with the pliers and pull straight out, twisting to loosen the staple, if necessary. This removal alternative causes the least damage — inserting a screwdriver under the staple mind can damage the wood. Check over the wood studs carefully to make sure all staples are removed so that they do not snag the plastic or interfere with new staples.
Unroll a large piece of greenhouse plastic above the greenhouse roof, draping the plastic above the sides and down to the ground. Leave at least 12 inches of additional plastic on each side and end. Little garden greenhouses can usually be covered with one piece above the roof, sides and ends, but you might prefer cutting the plastic short and covering the ends separately. This task is a lot easier if you wait for a peaceful day with little to no end. Even with multiple helpers, the plastic may blow wildly on a windy day.
Pull the plastic against the studs in the base of the greenhouse to remove any huge folds, but don’t pull it taut to distort the plastic.
Staple the plastic to the studs every 12 inches or so, working in the base of one side, across the surface and back down to the base of the opposite side. Use 3/4- to 1-inch long wood staples in a staple gun. Straighten the folds from the plastic as you work your way to the opposite side, laying the plastic level against the studs.
Staple the plastic to the studs at each end of the ground, this time working your way from the very top down to the bottom. Cut the plastic out to adapt door gaps. Doors should be wrapped in plastic and installed separately. Staple the plastic to the doorframe just as you staple it to the greenhouse frame.
Unroll batten tape over the plastic, lined up on the wall studs, and pull it taut. Drive staples every 4 inches throughout the batten tape, through the plastic and into the wall studs. This nylon tape holds the plastic from your studs without tearing. Without batten tape, wind can cause the plastic to rip through the staples. You can apply batten tape across the length of every board in the greenhouse, if desired, but in the least, it has to be implemented along the outer perimeter of every side of the greenhouse walls, windows and doors.
Pull the excess plastic sheeting straight away from the ground and lay it flat on the ground so that it rests perpendicular to the greenhouse walls. If a bit of timber around the foundation protrudes further than the wall studs, apply a bit of batten tape over the plastic and staple down the plastic through the batten tape and to the wood. Lightweight garden greenhouses may also be tilted so that you can tuck the plastic below the bottom boards in the wall frame and staple them in place. Staple batten tape on the underside boards to hold the plastic in place.
Cut any excess plastic around the greenhouse borders using a razor knife and discard.