THE GUIDE / siting
Polytunnels in windy gardens: questions for your site (UK)
Record your site details and ask the maker or a qualified professional about the exact model.
To ask about a polytunnel in a windy garden, identify the exact model and proposed position, then request the maker’s written wind information and its stated conditions. Ask which parts of the site question they can answer and which need a qualified professional’s assessment.
No maker-specific wind guidance has been verified for this draft. It provides an enquiry record, not a wind rating, anchoring method or assessment of safety or suitability.
Record the site information you can describe
Start with the proposed position and the exact model you are considering. Note the address or general location for the professional you contact, the plot's orientation as you understand it, and what is nearby: buildings, fences, hedges, trees, open ground or changes in level. These are observations to share, not a method for calculating exposure. Describe a nearby barrier without assuming what protection it provides.
If useful, keep dated photographs from viewpoints you can ordinarily access and label where each was taken. Add relevant details you already know, such as previous damage or changes to nearby structures, and mark anything uncertain as unknown. Describe damage without judging stability. Ask what further information the maker or professional needs and how any damage should be assessed.
Ask for evidence tied to the exact model
Find the order record, invoice, assembly instructions, parts list and model drawing. Copy the maker, exact model or range, size, frame or order reference, and document revision. If you already own the tunnel, list known alterations and repairs. Ask the maker to identify which documents match that configuration.
Then ask the maker in writing:
- Is there published wind information for this exact model and configuration? If so, please send the document title, revision/date and the conditions it describes.
- What test, rating or other evidence supports that information, and what does it cover or exclude?
- Which frame options, components, site assumptions or installation details does it depend on?
- Does the information apply to this particular plot, or is a separate site assessment needed?
- Which parts of the proposed arrangement cannot be confirmed from the product documents alone?
If the maker supplies a number or rating, record its units and source exactly, then ask them to explain its scope. If you are considering another model, request the same details for its figure before attempting a comparison. Keep the site-specific question open until the relevant assessment addresses it.
Get the site question assessed
Share the maker's response, model documents and site notes with a qualified installer or other relevant professional. Ask whether they can assess the exact position and proposed configuration, what further information or visit they need, and whether their advice is documented. If the maker's documents and the site assessment leave different points open, ask who can resolve each one before purchase or installation.
Keep questions about anchoring, extra fixings or changed components with the exact model documents and site notes. Ask the maker or a qualified professional to address them rather than choosing an arrangement from generic advice. Record any damage as an unresolved condition until you have an appropriate assessment.
Keep a short enquiry record
| Item | Record or ask |
|---|---|
| Maker, model, size and frame/order reference | |
| Instructions or drawing used, with revision/date | |
| Known repairs, alterations and unresolved details | |
| Site observations and labelled photo references | |
| Published wind document, exact wording and stated scope | |
| Conditions or configuration the maker says it depends on | |
| Site questions referred to a qualified professional | |
| Answers still outstanding and who will address them |
Enquiry template
I am considering / have [maker, exact model, size and frame/order reference] at [general site location]. The documents I have are [titles and revisions]. The position is [brief factual description]; I can provide labelled photographs and further site information if useful. Please identify any published wind guidance for this exact model and configuration, the document and evidence behind it, and the conditions or exclusions it states. Please tell me whether you can assess this site or whether I should ask a qualified professional, and list the information they would need. Please mark anything you cannot verify.
Keep the response with the model documents, and assign each unanswered question to the person or organisation you are asking to resolve it. See our comparison method for how we handle specifications that remain unverified.