building with PVC
 

gf wants to make an outdoor style canopy, something along these lines

http://www.home-dzine.co.za/diy/images/chuppah-5.jpg
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/73...8be1ea86d6.jpg
posts all wrapped around and have those curtainy things but with a top similar to the 2nd picture.

the 4 legs will have cemented blocks on them and length wise everything will be cemented in, but width wise it'll have holes drilled through the corner of the 90's with the elbow outlets and have a small bolt/screw to hold them in place instead of cement so she can undo it and split it into 3 sections = the left wall(length wise), right wall(width wise), and the top. not sure if it makes sense but i suck at trying to explain things.

what pvc would be best? theres going to be next to no weight on it, so 2" pipes aren't needed, but 3/4" will probably be way to weak i think...anyone know what the best size would be? 1 1/2 - 1/14? schedule 40 or 80?

If you HAD to use PVC, use schedule 80 (thicker walls than sch. 40) in either 1 1/2" or 2" if the length is going to be longer than four feet, otherwise it will sag noticeably. Keep in mind than sunlight a) eventually breaks down the pvc and b) distorts pvc

just buy her a gazeebo from Can Tire and call it a day?

Source some Chinese bamboo and do it right :p

Thanks to pinterest doing things the "easy way" is no longer possible...it's gotta be done the "fun artful way". Her money not mine, I'm just the slave labor.

PVC sags easily when not properly structured, though since it was never designed to be a structural product, that's hardly surprising. If you plan on having long expanses, use metal tubing instead.

keep in mind i believe there is s premium cost to size pipe over 1-1/2", pvc or EMT.

seems like it could be an easier project with just wood and frame brackets?

GLOW's arguement is invalid. Clearly there is no budget anymore. Sche80 Rigid PVC should do the trick, but like stated above, be careful of your spans as it WILL SAG the longer u go and the more weight it needs to carry.

BTW, Let's just hope the wind doesn't catch it and it comes crashing down while your gf is underneath it :troll:

if you want it to last longer without breaking, you can buy 2 part foam that people use to fill their frames, you can put that inside the tubing to make it stronger, we do that for our pipes that we hang roses and vines off

+1

I smell a lawsuit down the road.

I made a PVC tent at work, strapped it to some pallets to hold it down, I use it for all my testing, Covered it with that shit that people wrap their boats with in the winter time. Lasted 3 full years so far. Used all the proper fittings though to shape it out, I didn't tie up the edges like the second picture.

It works well if its done right, just be sure to weigh it down so it doesn't move, I can send you some pics of it if you PM me your phone number.

i am building a custom tent for a camping trip. using pvc sch80 1/2 (Emco/Andrew Sheret) for the skeleton and cotton canvas fabric waterproof (amazon.com). this thing will be an easy set up that will not take too much room in my truck plus i have design a separate bedroom/lounge room for eating and lounging. yes i could easily grab a generic one from crappytire or wall-mart but thats no fun.

if you are looking on pvc pipes just head down to Emco or Andrew Sheret, buy in bulk and save muneys plus they have all the fittings and pvc glue you will need for your build, i also built a high pressure garden hose with a tapered tip that is 40% more pressure than standard garden hose using fittings at Andrew sheret.