Agricultural Netting: Basics of a Shadehouse

Any structure is only as strong as the anchors attached to the perimeter poles. Anchors can be made from old tractor or lorry tires, disused ploughshares, precast wall panels, or purpose-made concrete blocks but, in setting your anchors, certain basic principles must be applied:

Lacing up of the shadecloth:

Lacing up as recommended is also critical to the overall stability of the structure and to the longevity of the shadecloth itself.

Alnet shadecloth is manufactured with a row of reinforced eyelets on each side of the cloth and a double row in the center. Correct lacing up ensures maximum cloth support and saves on assembly time in the short term and on maintenance in the long term.

Most of the work is done on the ground and you would start as follows:

(a)	Roll the cloth out on the ground in an open area near to the structure;
(b)	Cut two lengths of galvanized high-tensile steel wire (e.g. 0.08 inches (2.25mm) dia.) The length of the structure to be covered, allowing a few meters extra for tying around the end poles;
(c)	Lay the wires out behind the cloth where lacing is to commence. Remembering to leave ± 3.28 ft (1m) of cloth unlaced at each end - to be fixed to the crosswires at the ends - start lacing the wire on both sides up and down through each eyelet as indicated on the sketch. The unlaced ends are finished later with lacing cord.

Joining in the length:

Once the cloth has been laced up, and the wires tied and tensioned onto the respective poles (as will be indicated in the individual explanation for each structure), the cloth will be bundled like a curtain on the taut edge wires.

Now proceed as follows:

(a)	Sew one end of the material to the cross wire at the end, and pull the cloth open to the other end. Remove all creases, and sew this end to the cross wire.
(b)	Once all panel ends have been sewn to the cross wires, tension in the cloth causes the edge wires to pull inwards, creating gaps between the panels. These are closed by binding adjacent edge wires together with binding wire at ± 3.28 ft (1m) intervals.
(c)	Note that poles should protrude approximately 7.87 inches (20cm) above roof height to ensure secure fixing and to prevent the net being lifted over the pole by wind.
(d)	Use staples to attach edge wire to the internal poles.

Joining in the width:

Should you require shadecloth in longer lengths than the standard 164.04 ft (50m) rolls in which they are supplied, a simple and effective join can be made across the width, as shown in the accompanying sketches:

(a)	Stand two rolls vertically side-by-side and fold the ends of each roll together, doubling them over at least twice.
(b)	Now, using 0.07 inches (2mm) of polyethylene lacing twine, tack the ends together with a simple tack stitch and tie off. The join is complete.

Sewing the cut ends of the shadecloth, to cross wires:

Although not essential, you could cover cross wires with old plastic water piping slit along its length. This allows for lateral movement of the shadecloth in windy conditions, may reduce chafing and damage to the cloth to a certain extent. In order to sew cut ends to the cross wire:

(a)	Pull the cut end taut around and under the cross wire and double-fold the end.
(b)	Tack stitch with lacing cord through the double fold joining it to the cloth panel above and tie off.

Other building projects: