Greenhouse Film Fasteners: Wiggle Wire, Channel, Batten Tape and Clips

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Wiggle wire with a channel, batten tape or strips, and snap clips are the three common ways to hold film or shade cloth on a greenhouse frame, and each belongs to a different kind of frame. Channel and wire fit frames that have, or can take, a channel. Batten strips and tape suit wood. Snap clips grip round pipe hoops. Match the fastener to the frame first, then to the covering.

Buying the wrong hardware is a common reason a recovering job stalls. This guide covers what each part does, which frame it matches and what to measure before ordering. For the cover itself, see our measuring guide.

The main fastener types

Channel and wiggle wire

A channel is a long strip, often aluminum or plastic, fixed to the frame. The film is laid over it and a zigzag spring wire, called wiggle wire, is pressed into the channel so it pinches the film. The film can be released by pulling the wire out. Channel and wire are sold to match each other, so the size of the wire must suit the channel's opening.

Batten strips and cushion tape

On a wood frame, the film is held under a thin strip of wood or plastic that is screwed down, often with a layer of tape or foam between the strip and film. The tape cushions the film and spreads the pressure. This is a more permanent fixing than a clip or channel.

Snap clips and clamps

A snap clip is a curved spring clamp that grips round tube and holds the covering against it. Clips suit hoop houses made of round pipe, and they are quick to remove and replace. They come in sizes for different pipe diameters.

Shade cloth clips and ties

Shade cloth that has grommets can be tied or hooked at each one, and clips that bite through the fabric are another option. These hold lighter loads than film under tension, so check what the cloth and the clip are rated for.

Which fastener matches which frame

Many kits come with their own fixing system. If yours does, buy the same parts from the same maker. A manual or a spec sheet usually names the channel or clip type, and the maker can tell you what fits if it does not.

Measure these before you buy

• Pipe diameter for clips, measured across the outside of the tube.
• Channel opening or profile for wiggle wire. Match the wire to the channel maker's recommendation.
• Frame material to choose between screws, adhesives and clips.
• Run lengths along every edge the film attaches to. Use the numbers from your covering measurements.
• Film or cloth thickness so the fastener can grip it without cutting.
• Environment. Sun, heat, cold and moisture all affect plastic and metal parts, so look for parts described as suitable for outdoor greenhouse use.

Count generously. Running short on channel or wire halfway through a job is irritating, and clips are small enough to lose. Add a modest spare, and keep leftover parts for repairs. Our guides to replacing greenhouse covering and double-poly installation show where each fastener sits in the job.

Protect the film where it meets the frame

Film wears first at points where it rubs a hard edge, a screw head or a hot surface. A layer of cushion tape or foam between the film and the frame lowers that wear. Check the film maker's guidance on contact with metal or painted frames, because recommendations differ by film type.

Keep fasteners tidy. Screws should sit flush or be covered, and wire ends should be tucked where they cannot snag. Loose ends also catch wind. Our plastic repair supplies guide covers patching if a tear starts.

Fitting and checking the fixing

1. Dry-fit first. Lay the channel or strips along the frame before you open the covering. Check that the lengths reach the corners and that screws or clips have solid material to bite into.
2. Fix the base line first. Secure one edge, then pull the covering across and fasten the other edge, working from the middle outward so wrinkles are pushed to the ends.
3. Work with a helper. A covering is awkward to hold flat in a breeze, and a second person makes even tension much easier.
4. Pick a mild day. Film slackens or tightens as it warms and cools, so very hot or very cold weather makes tension harder to judge.
5. Re-check after the first weeks. Walk the frame and look for loose clips, lifted wire or flapping edges, and fix them before a storm.

If the covering will be taken off each season, a removable fastener such as wire, clips or ties makes that simpler than screwed strips. Label which parts go where and store them in a bag with the film.

Choosing by situation

Replacing film on a kit with channel

Use the same channel and wire if you can. Mixing profiles invites loose film.

Building a DIY hoop house

Snap clips on pipe are the usual route, with a wooden baseboard and batten along the base. Our DIY hoop house guide shows a build.

Adding shade cloth over a covering

Use ties or clips through grommets, and make sure the anchor points are on the frame, not the film. Check the cloth first against your measurements.

Wind and storm exposure

Exposed sites call for a secure fixing and a taut covering. Our guide to hoop house kits compares the factory fixing systems.