We built a cattle panel hoop house five years ago, held it together with commercial zip ties which are still there. We covered with greenhouse plastic 6 MIL and then a year later covered that with a solar swimming pool cover 12 mil. We are able to use the hoop house from march to November but we do have quilts that we hook to the cattle panel frame with drapery hooks when it gets cold and put a small electric heater inside.
It has withstood measured 105 mph winds, 18 inches of snow, and still looks pretty good. This year we have taken off the old coverings and we are we redoing with the same type material. Total cost this year for the 24 foot long hoop house was $135. That works out pretty cheap.
Because I am in an electric wheelchair we had to put the grow beds on the outside and the walkway is 33 inches wide. It is of course, 8 feet wide and 6 feet high as dictated by the cattle panels size. We also have made shades screens that we can put over the top as our high temperatures in the summer can be up to 107°. Since we are at an altitude of 5500 feet the sun is very intense.
We just priced cattle panels for a friend and they are costing $40.00 apiece. Even so that makes the cost of the 24 foot long hoophouse under $500 which is not very much. That includes the lumber, rebar, shade screen, everything except the beds. I have more pictures if anyone has any questions.
Joan