Using EMT and PVC for the same shade structure

[atomosk]

Considering the difference in cost between EMT and PVC I'm considering mixing the two together to build a shade structure, and wonder if anyone has attempted this (and lived.)

Some combinations I'm considering:

1) 1" EMT for verticals and 1" PVC for horizontals, 10'x10'x30' flat top tarp structure.

2) 1" EMT to frame the large rectangle and 1" PVC for less vital center or cross sections, 10'x10'x30' flat top tarp structure..

3) 4 posts of EMT at the 4 corners of a 5'to10'x~10'x20' slant top shade structure where it rises from 5' to 10' along the narrow side, with 1" PVC for the horizontals and also the verticals in the middle.

All canopy fittings would be metal.

Is this dumb? Could it work? Will Victor recover from his coma in time to stop his own wedding?

[Ratty]

You lost me. can you make a rudimentary drawing and post it?

[Token]

PVC is not structural unless under heavy strain in one plane. It works for a Quonset when bent into a semi-circle but does nothing when unladen.

Why not just pick up a Costco carport and be done with it. Has everything you need in one box and is proven.

[LowePro]

I wouldn't do it. PVC is floppy and likes to wiggle out of the fittings due to vibrations.

[atomosk]

Below is a quick sketch, with blue being EMT and red PVC.

I didn't think about the PVC vibrating out of the fittings, that's a good thing to know.

My thinking in doing this is that maybe some of the lateral segments might only need to be a semi-rigid spacer while the more solid EMT frame absorbed the stress.

[attachment=0]20180607_164507.jpg[/attachment]

[LowePro]

Hmmmm, an EMT 10footer is about 10 bucks. PVC 10 footer is about 5 bucks. Are you really saving the bank by swapping for PVC?

Also the outer diameter of a steel pipe is not the same size as a PVC pipe, so the connectors won't match up.
https://flexpvc.com/Reference/PVCPipeSize.shtml
https://steeltubeinstitute.org/steel-co ... ubing-emt/

2cents: Just stick to one type of material

[Popeye]

The OD of 1" PVC is 1.315"
The OD of 1" EMT is 1.163"
They won't fit in the same connector. EMT is pretty cheap anyway.

[Kenshiro]

Also from your sketches there aren’t really any parts that will not be load-bearing. For PVC to take up any load anywhere it would need to be quite a bit thicker than whatever EMT is adequate.

[atomosk]

[quote="Popeye"]The OD of 1" PVC is 1.315"
The OD of 1" EMT is 1.163"
They won't fit in the same connector. EMT is pretty cheap anyway.[/quote]

That's a pretty clear answer. Thanks for pointing that out, I hadn't considered that the outer diameter varied between them.

It's a no-go on using PVC.

[trilobyte]

It sounds dumb to me. PVC will heat to the point of becoming pretty damned flexible and unstable in that type of a design after only a few hours under the best of conditions. It only really works in a monkey hut type situation because that design is built around that flexibility.

Good, solid shade doesn't come cheap. If an EMT conduit structure isn't within your camp's budget, consider going the route of the monkey hut or some other less expensive form of shade.