Beds made of metal with polymer coating: features and types of structures
Beds made of metal with polymer coating: features and types of structures
From this article, you can find out what features beds made of metal with a polymer coating have: the purpose and characteristics of products, advantages and specifics of operation, recommendations for the choice of structures and self-assembly, rating of manufacturers. A comparative characteristic of metal beds with structures made of other materials will also be presented.
To protect against the external environment, the metal frame rows are covered with a special polymer coating
Beds made of metal with polymer coating: product characteristics
Many owners of suburban areas have already been able to assess the effectiveness and practicality of raised beds. Most often, for the manufacture of structures, gardeners and gardeners use improvised materials that remain after repair or construction. However, ready-made versions of metal products are in many ways superior to beds that can be created independently.
The metal vegetable garden has a convenient and durable design
Manufacturers offer the following types of metal products:
- beds made of galvanized steel;
- structures made of galvanized steel with polymer coating;
- beds made of galvanized steel with polyurethane coating.
Pay attention! You should not refuse to buy steel beds because of their high cost. If we take into account the costs of maintaining such a vegetable garden and the terms of its operation, then the actual price of the products is no more than that of beds made of less durable materials.
Advantages of finished metal beds galvanized and polymer coated
The use of ready-made metal structures in the suburban area has its advantages:
- there is no need to dig up the soil in the garden. Organic farming is largely justified. To facilitate the care of the beds, it is recommended to mulch the bulk soil and it is desirable to make EM preparations;
Beds made of metal can have different sizes, which is convenient when placed on the site
- the optimal dimensions of the structures allow you to have convenient access to the plantings. You can freely approach the garden from any side;
- the consumption of water spent on watering plants is significantly reduced. This became possible due to the fact that moisture accumulates locally, exactly where it is needed;
- the possibility of saving fertilizers. The calculation of the dosage is carried out only taking into account the area of the bed, and not the entire vegetable garden;
- the design, depending on the type of protective coating, can be successfully operated for 20-30 years. Polymer, zinc and polyurethane coating will prevent the appearance of corrosion and premature deterioration of the material;
The protective coating of the metal bed can be of any color, which allows you to fit the design into the overall design of the site
- simple installation system and the ability to move the garden to another place;
- the structure of the structures allows the installation of additional sections to increase the size of the bed in height or length;
- arcs for the organization of a greenhouse can be easily fixed on a metal bed;
- the possibility of creating a neat and decorative vegetable garden on the plot.
Features of galvanized metal products
Metal beds are suitable for growing vegetable crops in a greenhouse or outdoors. The products are a frame made of durable steel. The thickness of the sheet material is most often 0.5-0.55 mm. The surface is covered with a thin layer of zinc or polymer.
The process of installing such beds is very simple. The side parts of the product are bent inward, thereby eliminating the possibility that a person will be injured during the installation of the structure and its further operation. For the manufacture of modern metal fences for beds, special machines are used, so the edge line of the parts does not have irregularities and burrs that can injure a person.
It is better to immediately choose the optimal place to place the beds, since it is often undesirable to disassemble and assemble the structure
Important! Despite the fact that the process of dismantling and installing beds is very simple, it is not recommended to remove galvanized products every year after the summer season ends.
Regardless of the quality of the products and the manufacturer, the frequent process of assembling and disassembling the structure leads to the appearance of deformation changes on the parts. Each time the connection between the elements of the bed will deteriorate. There is also a possibility that the surface of the profile will be damaged and the protective coating will be broken, which will lead to corrosion. The most optimal solution will be a competent choice of location and a stationary type of placement, only in this case the beds will last for many years.
Varieties and dimensional parameters of metal fences for beds
Classification of galvanized beds with a protective coating can be carried out on the basis of various criteria:
- type of coating;
- type of construction;
- polymer coloring;
- dimensional parameters;
- metal thickness;
- the method of fixing parts, etc.
The wooden frame serves as a convenient container for the metal walls of the garden
Some modifications have special legs. These elements prevent the displacement of the structure during the filling of the soil or weeding of plantings. The legs are buried in the ground, so that the bed is well fixed. The polymer coating can have different colors, due to which the buyer has the opportunity to choose almost any color solution that will fit well into the surrounding landscape.
On sale there are high and low structures made of galvanized steel. The most popular among land owners are beds with a height of 15-18 cm and 36 cm. In addition, products with a height of 50 cm are popular.
Pay attention! For greenhouse houses of non-standard sizes, very narrow or wide modifications may be required. If you buy beds directly from the manufacturer, you can order designs with any parameters, which the market of standard products cannot offer.
Diagram of the dimensions of the metal bed
The designs may differ from each other in length. In some modifications, it is possible to install an extension and lengthen the bed by purchasing additional elements.
Which is better to buy metal beds: recommendations for choosing and rating of manufacturers
Manufacturers are releasing models of metal beds with various parameters and characteristics to the market. These factors have a direct impact on the service life of products, as well as their cost.
The main criteria for choosing optimal designs:
- steel thickness;
- the thickness of the coating in the form of zinc;
- the presence of polymer deposition and its features;
- production technology used for the manufacture of beds;
- the quality level of the parts for installation;
- the presence of stiffeners with a central type of placement.
When choosing a bed made of metal, it is necessary to pay attention to the technical characteristics of the material
Recommendations for choosing beds based on the quality of the material
Designs with a zinc coating exceeding 25 microns are considered optimal. It is easy to damage the zinc layer on beds of smaller thickness, as a result of which the process of gradual destruction of the metal under the influence of corrosion will start. The protective coating in the form of a polymer significantly increases the service life of the products. This type of spraying performs two functions at once:
- provides protection of galvanizing from destruction due to contact with moisture, fertilizers and soil;
- eliminates the possibility of mechanical damage to the zinc coating during tillage with a garden tool.
The thickness of the metal is one of the most important criteria for the quality of products. On sale there are configurations with a steel thickness in the range of 0.35-1 mm. For the arrangement of a vegetable garden inside a greenhouse house, structures made of metal with a thickness of 0.5 mm are suitable. Outdoor beds should be more durable and reliable, so for these purposes it is better to take products with a thickness of steel within 0.7-1 mm. The same applies to the construction of high beds (more than 35 cm), to which increased strength requirements are put forward.
One rule should be remembered: the higher the height of the bed, the thicker the metal sheets should be
Interesting fact! For comparison, you can compare the parameters of the beds with the indicators of the metal from which the car body is made. The thickness of the latter is 1-1.2 mm.
Recommendations for choosing beds based on the quality of the design
Manufacturers of finished steel structures use special technologies for the manufacture of beds:
- film coating;
- priming;
- powder coating;
- phosphating.
Related article:
High beds in the country with your own hands: photos and manufacturing technology
Photos and a step-by-step description of the technology of manufacturing structures for growing crops in a suburban area, interesting design options.
For this reason, it is recommended to purchase beds of factory origin with confirmed quality. The durability of the structure can also be affected by the quality of the elements of which it consists. Mounting pegs and fixing parts affect the result of the assembly and subsequent installation of the fence. If these parts are not long enough to be buried, then the design may become skewed over time. The risk of such an outcome increases especially when arranging a vegetable garden on the slopes. In such areas, there is a constant sliding of the soil.
When installing the bed, you need to choose a flat surface and securely fix all the elements
The recommended level of deepening of pegs in a greenhouse house is 25 cm, for a vegetable garden in an open area this indicator should be increased to 35-40 cm. If the height of the bed exceeds 20 cm, and its length is more than 200 cm, it is desirable that the design includes jumpers between the joints, which are located parallel to each other.
The central stiffeners are designed to increase the strength and reliability of the structure, they significantly strengthen the frame part of the product. If it is planned to install structures of small height on the site inside the greenhouse, you can do without the presence of stiffeners in the configuration of the bed. However, for long-term use of fences in the open air, their presence will be required.
Pay attention! Some manufacturers may pass off as stiffeners the bends that are present along the edge line of the profile. However, such a nuance does not strengthen the design.
Rating of producers of beds with polymer coating
The table shows the differences between the beds of New cottagers, GreenBox and other brands that were recognized by consumers as the best. Among them, you can choose designs for different purposes and for any size of the site.
Rating of the best producers of beds:
| Brand | Disadvantages | Dignities | Price, rub. |
| New summer residents | Limited choice of shapes (exclusively rectangular beds) | Large selection of dimensional parameters | From 915 (set) |
| Four colors | |||
| Service life 20-30 years | |||
| GreenBox | Not noticed | Suitable for outdoor use and in greenhouse houses | From 620 (set 65×100 cm) |
| A wide range of colors | |||
| Cheerful | The general height standard is 15 cm | Variable width of structures | From 460 (mp) |
| Wide range of colors | |||
| Sibgryadki | Relatively high cost | Simple assembly of the box by fixing its elements with bolted connections | From 720 (set 100×200 cm) |
| Large palette of colors (about 200 shades) | |||
| Possibility to order any size | |||
| In addition to rectangular designs, the range also includes hexagonal modifications | |||
| Novoladozhsky plant | Standard width — 50 cm | Several colors: green, yellow, brown | From 2400 (2×05 m set) |
| Height – 38 and 19 cm |
Pay attention! If the height of the box exceeds 30 cm, such structures can be effectively used not only for growing vegetable crops, but also as flower beds where large-sized perennial plants can be planted. And the modification of the “honeycomb” is in itself an ornament for the site.
Assembly and self-production of structures
It is very easy to assemble and install a metal bed with a polymer coating. Anyone can handle this task. Depending on the modification, different types of connecting nodes can be provided by the manufacturer. Most often, the groove/spike method is used to assemble the product. In addition, additional fasteners in the form of screws will be required.
Most of the summer residents use a bolted type of connection. This method is considered more reliable. In order to assemble the structure by this method, it is necessary to bend the sides located at the upper edge line on metal strips. The width of these elements is about 1.5-2 cm. You will need to make holes in them. There are also French beds. To assemble these expensive structures, it will only be necessary to connect the elements by snapping.
The scheme of the bed assembly: 1 — corner, 2 — transverse element, 3 — longitudinal element, 4 — connecting profile, 5 — screed, 6 — the junction of the profiles of the longitudinal element and the screed
Technology of self-manufacturing of metal beds
If self-manufacturing of the structure is assumed, it is very important to choose a high-quality material. Even corrugated metal will do.
Step-by-step manufacturing technology:
It is easy to make a metal bed with your own hands using suitable materials
Useful advice! Powder dye can be used as an alternative to polymer coating.
Manufacturing technology of a bed with a fence in the form of gabions
Gabions look as aesthetically pleasing as beds made of stone. However, unlike masonry, such structures are much easier to assemble and are much cheaper. All due to the fact that the construction of gabions does not involve fixing the filler. The frame part of the bed is simply filled with stones or other types of material. The metal mesh is able to withstand serious loads. Due to this, a natural stone with a large fraction can be used as a filler.
A bed of gabion construction will be a wonderful addition to the composition of the plot
Instructions for assembling a gabion bed:
Fencing for a bed of gabion is easy to make yourself
The frame part is fixed on supports. As a result, you should get 2 boxes from the grid. The space between them is filled with a stone or brick. The inner part of the small frame is filled with soil, where plants are planted. Some manufacturers offer ready-made designs to order, which greatly simplifies the gabion assembly process.
How to decorate the designs of metal beds on the site
Steel beds are a great way to create a beautiful and neat vegetable garden on the site. To decorate such structures, you can use not only a color coating, but also other means. For example, to cover a bed with a spanbond. On sale you can find agrofibre of various shades. Canvases in white colors are recommended for use in the garden. Such a surface reflects the sun’s rays well, excluding excessive overheating. For wood compositions and flower beds, you can choose any shade, the main thing is that it is combined with the landscape.
Metal structures braided with vines look quite decorative. Using this method allows you to get a natural and beautiful design of the garden from the outside and a durable metal base inside. There are other design options. The design of the garden depends solely on the imagination and budget capabilities of the owner of the plot.
