On 24/07/2010 05:34, MrsTrellis wrote:
Hello. I'm new to this forum, but am a longstanding gardening
enthusiast.

I have experienced a problem with the installation of twin-wall
polycarbonate panels in my small greenhouse, and I wondered if anyone
else has the same problem. I was spurred on by Bunny Guinness’s article
in The Telegraph, 10 Nov 2009, extolling the virtues of twin-wall
polycarbonate panels to replace horticultural glass. During Spring this
year, there were suddenly several suppliers selling polycarbonate online
at very tempting prices. I plunged in and bought new panels, together
with the aluminium tape and breather tape for sealing top and bottom cut
ends respectively. I replaced all the roof panels of my greenhouse, and
all seemed well. However, less than 3 months later, the breather tape
has come unstuck on all panels, allowing debris and mould to start
moving up, inside the channels.

The supplier denies hearing of anyone else having this problem. Please
can anyone throw any light on why this breather, ‘anti-dust’ tape has
failed to do its job?

Wrong sort of breather tape possibly, or improper application of it to a
greasy surface so that the tape did not stick as well as it should. Mine
did eventually come unstuck after about 10 years. I used hitack
weatherproof aluminium tape on the ends that would be exposed to the
weather and the breather tape on the dry end under the aluminium ridge.

Regards,
Martin Brown