View Full Version : DIY Greenhouse
mrbungalow
11-18-2007, 07:33 AM
Greenhous-plans (http://www.buildeazy.com/greenhouse.html)
Thought I would share this I found while surfing yesterday. I will be attempting to build this sometime soon.
http://www.buildeazy.com/photo_greenhouse_side.gif
mskitty38583
11-18-2007, 08:39 AM
thats awesome! love to have one.
southlatropical
11-18-2007, 03:14 PM
I can't build that. All the measurements are metric!!:D :D
mrbungalow
11-19-2007, 02:48 AM
I can't build that. All the measurements are metric!!:D :D
Sure you can! ;) If you look at the top of the page again there is a button you push to convert it to imperial units.
Erlend
Mustang
11-19-2007, 04:59 AM
This greenhouse is ideal for using in those areas with a tendency to suffer just enough winter frosts to be annoying.
Erlend, surely Bergen suffers a little more than slight frosts! ;)
southlatropical
11-19-2007, 07:56 AM
Sure you can! ;) If you look at the top of the page again there is a button you push to convert it to imperial units.
Erlend
Oh, I did'nt notice that. Has anyone used that transparent corrugated plastic stuff that looks like a sheet of tin? How long does it last? I am going to build a shed in my back yard hopefully next year, and it will have a lean-to on each side. I was thinking of making one of them a green house by building it with the corrugated stuff.
mrbungalow
11-19-2007, 08:28 AM
Erlend, surely Bergen suffers a little more than slight frosts! ;)
Not really, usually we have temperatures above freezing. It can be 10 degrees celsius in both July and January. Compared to the rest of Norway, Bergen is a mild place. We had two or three extended freezes last year with a minimum of -7 degrees C.
Still, it's no tropical paradise either! ;-)
I am planning to install an extra heat-source so the space doesn't get below 5 degrees C. I would insulate the base, and add 50cm insulated walls at the base of the structure. I am thinking either heat-cables on the floor or a small space heater. And maybe replace the plastic-sheeting with translucent plastic windows.
Erlend
Mustang
11-19-2007, 08:36 AM
-7C is not bad. Similar to here then (Suffolk, UK). I've just got hold of a greenhouse which was 21 feet long, and was being given away for free. All I had to do was dismantle it and pick it up. It came complete with internal fold-away staging as well. The only thing was that the door was bad, so I bought another greenhouse from a local shop which was a greenhouse but only 2 foot deep. I put that on the end without a door, and left out the back panel. So, I can use the door on the 'porch' greenhouse, and walk right through to the main part. Seems a bit odd, but works well. The 'porch' is currently holding a brugmansia that is flowering away like mad, and scenting the entrance, as well as a guava and a few cactus. I don't heat the greenhouse, but have bubble-wrapped it. The bananas are inside in their pots, and the most tender ones are also wrapped in fleece. All seems fine so far.
- Helen
momoese
11-19-2007, 10:51 AM
When they say to use UV resistant Polythene film, does that mean the plastic is resistant to UV or it won't allow UV to pass through it?
Mustang
11-19-2007, 11:04 AM
Usually resistant to UV, ie it won't break down in a few months time.
frankthetank
11-19-2007, 05:43 PM
I'd use corrugated panels... I think i've read that last from 10-20 years and thats probably if you had it out all year. That is awesome and looks very easy to build. I think if you had a miter saw and a nail gun (if you weren't taking it apart) or a drill and and driver, you could really build that fast. I've got a perfect spot for a small greenhouse behind the house (facing south), but i'd probably just use it for starting plants and for storing stuff. In winter it would be way to cold here to heat it.
-32C isn't uncommon here. We've already been down to -6 and its not even cold yet.
MediaHound
11-19-2007, 06:28 PM
That looks just right for some :vandelnana:
microfarmer
11-20-2007, 10:23 AM
Oh, I did'nt notice that. Has anyone used that transparent corrugated plastic stuff that looks like a sheet of tin? How long does it last? I am going to build a shed in my back yard hopefully next year, and it will have a lean-to on each side. I was thinking of making one of them a green house by building it with the corrugated stuff.
I just covered my back porch with a product from Palram called Palruf http://www.palram.com/HTMLs/product.aspx?C1010=12685&BSP=12650 and am pleased with the product. I installed the pearl for reduced light on my livingroom wall, but they have a clear also. About $27US per 2'x12' sheet from Home Despot.
They also have a greenhouse specific product that is like a honeycomb and is much stronger and stiffer than the corrugated panels and reduces condensate dripping http://www.palram.com/HTMLs/product.aspx?C1010=12519&BSP=12511
Regarding the plastic film over the framework, if the plastic isn't specially UV coated, it will start to disintegrate within a season and you'll have to recover it each year. I use black plastic as mulch on my garden each year, and I always need to replace it in Spring due to crumbling. I'm not sure if the coating blocks the UV, just makes the plastic last longer.
bencelest
11-20-2007, 11:38 AM
I could not find how much per sheet.
Can you tell me? I am very interested.
Panaroma
11-25-2007, 05:07 PM
Hi Erlend,
I admit that it's a nice design, but my modest opinion says it'll not be that stormfree. I don't know about the storms in Norway but in Belgium we have some pretty storms from time to time; usually in the autumn and wintertime.
I always make my constructions more solid then they need to be. Winds of 120-130 km/u didn't move my construction the past winter one cm.
I think that the solidity of structure, has to be considered besides the insulation and the esthetics. After all, our bananatrees needs some nice, steady and leading hands, towards springtime.
Kind regards,
Gunther
microfarmer
11-25-2007, 10:08 PM
Benny, I paid $27 US for 2' x 12' per corrugated sheet retail from Home Depot. They come in 8' lengths also. They did not stock the miltiwall sheets, but had lesser quality Palram corrugated sheets for $16 US without the UV coating. I installed them as a roof over my back patio just outside my livingroom. I do not have pricing for the multiwall sheets. I believe they are headquarted in the UK also.
harveyc
11-26-2007, 01:22 AM
Habor Freight keeps putting their 10' x 12' greenhouse on sale every 2-3 months for $599 just to tempt me! I figure this is cheaper than I would probably spend putting mine together, but I figure I want something larger eventually. I think I'd like something maybe 15' x 30' but doubt I would be satisfied with even that.
bencelest
11-26-2007, 01:23 PM
Microfarmer:
I bought the nonUV type sheets from Home Depot but they did not last 2 years and they are now disintegrating. They are very brittle and make lots of holes which are no longer useful. I noticed that they are made from Israel.
I will not encourage anyone to buy this because it is a waste of your hard earned cash.
What I am looking for is something that will last a lot longer.
I gogooled this thing but the cheapest was $64 per sheet but it is the shipping that will kill you.
I guess I will have to look within 100 miles in my area maybe I can get them cheaper.
Another alternative is the 4-season glass.
JoeReal
11-26-2007, 03:47 PM
Benny,
If you are spraying copper sulfate, lime-sulfur or other sulfur based chemicals, those sheets would become brittle. If there are nearby grape vineyards or farms that spray fungicides, any plastic based covering of greenhouses will become brittle and easily disintegrate.
Joe
bencelest
11-26-2007, 05:38 PM
Joe:
You are right right and I will keep that in mind and take a note of it but I bought quiet a few of those and I also use them on the side of my house where I can store my junks and tools.
One thing I notice though is only those clear panels that became brittle the green ones still are pretty good.
I can only conclude that they are the cheapo kind. I should have bought the $27 per sheet. You can tell the difference when you touch them.
51st state
12-03-2007, 05:32 PM
well i talked the wife into letting me buy a poly tunnel and that is working great. got a frost protection system in there too and busy planning an automatic humidification setup for the springtime. Nanas are loving it even have an enclosure with undersoil heating for those 'special' ones.
magicgreen
12-04-2007, 12:29 PM
heeheehee Yeah................We all sure do know about the special ones......But really arent they all?:2725: Merrrrrry Christmasssssssssssss!!!!!:06:
sandy0225
12-11-2007, 09:00 AM
Looks like those plans would work fine for a small greenhouse.
I'd add the following tweak though: If you use plastic to cover it, use uv stabilized greenhouse plastic.
It will cost you more, but it will last a lot longer. Also when covering it, go inside and cover the inside with another layer of plastic so that you have dead air space. One layer of plastic on the outside of the frame all over, then another layer inside with the wood frame sandwiched in between. That way two things will be accomplished, you will get better heat retention due to the dead air space, and your frame will last longer because the moisture won't get to it as quickly. The outside layer will need batten strips to hold the plastic on, but the inside layer can be just stapled up because it won't get as much wind and it'll stay on just fine.
We converted one of those Menard's carport/tents into a 12x 26 greenhouse and we built the end frames that same way. We put endwalls on it, installed wiggle wire and baseboard down the sides, put an inflation fan on it to inflate the poly, and it works great. We have also added a propane heater from Menards (garage heater) and thermostats/vent louvers/power intake shutter /circulating fan from Farmtek.
picture as a carport
http://thumb0.webshots.net/t/59/759/6/16/33/2789616330058549380huYKmD_th.jpg
picture as a greenhouse:
http://thumb0.webshots.net/t/60/460/3/73/8/2885373080058549380KmWYoM_th.jpg
Why, you ask, is the shade cloth still on? I'm overwintering hostas in there, it keeps the temps from climbing as much during the day, and it's also a good place to store it, LOL! It's also good protection during a hailstorm.
harveyc
12-12-2007, 02:45 AM
Thanks, Sandy, for sharing. Those are just links to thumbnail photos. Here's a larging version:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2789616330058549380huYKmD
I didn't find the other one, but here is the link to your photo album: http://www.webshots.com/search?media=photo&query=author%3Asandy0225&queryChannel=home-and-garden&sortBy=&source=search_menu
modenacart
12-16-2008, 08:17 PM
These look like easy greenhouses to build and might do great with dwarf type plants.
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/postharv/green/small_greenhouse.pdf
Backyard Greenhouse (http://www.i4at.org/surv/green.htm)
This is a site with all kinds of plans.
Build a Greenhouse - PVC Greenhouse Plans - Backyard Greenhouse (http://www.bluegrassgardens.com/how_to_build_a_greenhouse_article001.html)
Lagniappe
12-16-2008, 11:03 PM
Sandy, did you paint the pipes white or did you buy it that way?
I made a greenhouse out of the same type carport frame and I'm having some rust issues. Not sure if it'll make it through another season. I may try to get all of the rust off and paint it but, being such thin metal, I'm not sure that it can be saved.
adrift
03-08-2009, 06:55 PM
Erlend,
What is the benefit of having the clerestory windows vs having a "simple" roof? Should that side face south?
KJ
Chironex
03-09-2009, 12:37 AM
Erlend,
What is the benefit of having the clerestory windows vs having a "simple" roof? Should that side face south?
KJ
I believe that they are hinged for opening to allow for more air circulation and cooling.
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