skip to main content

Greenhouses & Garden Structures

Harbor Freight GH

10 years ago

If you have bought one of these Harbor Freight Greenhouses, what have you done to keep your doors from blowing in during windy situations? Mine have blown in twice now and I've only had it for 3 months. Makes me nervous thinking about the spring storm season.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

mudhouse_gw
10 years ago
Hello grinchis40,
The doors absolutely should not be able to come off the tracks in a windy situation. In my experience when this happens, it usually means that the doors aren't installed quite right, and that's actually pretty easy to do.

However, I don't know which greenhouse you have (the 6x8, or the 10x12?) Also, to make it more complicated, HF now sells two different versions of the 10x12. You can tell which version you have by looking at the front of your owners manual. The older kit is like mine, Item 93358. The newer kit says Item 69893.

If you can tell me which model you have, I can try to help with more detailed troubleshooting. There is a way to install the doors on my model so they "seem" to be installed right, but they're really not. If that's your problem I may be able to help.

You're also welcome to email me.
hpedley
10 years ago
Are those things really worth the Money? I have been looking for a GH for this spring but have not decided in plan
Thanks for any info
Related Discussions
Harbor Freight Vents
Q
Comments (7)
It is I who uses the light bulb changer pole to open my vents, and close them. The Harbor Freight GH comes with a window support handle, and a little window stop that is about two inches wide and has a little ball that sticks up on which to latch the handle. The window handle (support) is a piece of hinged aluminum U-channel with slots cut in the flat side. It swivels and hooks over the window stop. It's a real trick to stand on the floor and reach over head to open and close the window and get that piece of metal hooked over the stop. I stick the wire on the light bulb changer into one of the holes in the support. I looked at some of the HFGH threads for a picture of the stop and handle; mudhouse has one. I expect you could search GH suppliers and find a device that will work in your greenhouse. Nell Here is a link that might be useful: Mudhouse's blog; scroll to the 4th pic for handle
...See More
Harbor freight GH
Q
Comments (27)
I can't tell you what to do, Hoover67, but I can tell you my experience with a HF 10x12. We first put it up in 2007. Since then we've had a thunderstorm blow out panels that were secured right well and hail put holes in some panels that time and sunlight made brittle in the Deep Sunny South. We replaced all panels after 4 years. We started out with extra bracing and reinforcement. This winter another storm caved in the door header and blew out 4 panels again. We've repaired all that and added a fan in the opposite end, just in time for another series of thunderstorms today. We are under a tornado watch. We anticipate problems and keep coming up with solutions. The initial cost of the GH is not the only expense. You'll need something for a base, at least a pathway of pavers on the floor, electricity and water source, heat for the winter. In the years before the GH, I put an old kitchen cart in the tool shed and trundled flats of seedlings in and out on sunny days. I grew cuttings in an east-facing laundry room with two windows. Grow lights might be your best solution unless you just enjoy an on-going project as we do. Here is a link that might be useful: NJ's Greenhouse blog, Dotty Plants
...See More
6' x 8' Habor Freight Polycarbonate Walls
Q
Comments (5)
gjfarm, I'm assuming you've already read through the many discussions on the HFGH ... if not, please take the time to do that. There is a wealth of information from experienced and satisfied HFGH owners, some of whom, I believe, are in Zone 4. First, please note that I'm in USDA Zone 7 (southern coastal New Jersey), with average winter lows in Jan. & Feb. of 23-24 degrees, frequent dips into the teens, and a record lows of -8. I'm sure that's much milder than your Zone 3/4 winters. That being said, I must say I've been thrilled with my HFGH and believe it's a very nice little greenhouse for the money, much sturdier than I expected. Of course, individual needs dictated by local weather conditions and how you plan to use the structure are very important. We built my HFGH in one day in November of '05, setting it on a foundation of treated 2x10's for extra height. For the winter I added interior insulation, exterior solar pool cover, weatherstripping and thermal mass. Maintained the temperature at a minimum of 50 with an electric convection heater without breaking the budget. It is situated beneath a high-limbed deciduous oak, so gets full sun in winter, shade in summer, and is somewhat protected from winds by that enormous oak to the west, our garden shed to the east and a wooden fence and wooded lot to the north. It was a delightful oasis on wintry days, provided lettuce, cherry tomatoes, peas, herbs and nicely blooming houseplants and bulbs through the winter, as well as wintering over many tender perennials. Definitely take your own needs and expectations into account and decide accordingly, but for my needs at this time, in this location, the HFGH far exceeded my expectations. Someday it would be nice to have a larger one, but for now this is truly a delight. Diane
...See More
HFGH base questions & wind questions
Q
Comments (1)
I would not put that thin piece of sheet metal in the wet ground it will be destroyed in a few years. Ignore the instructions and put it on 4X4 treated timbers anchor the base to the timbers with stainless steel bolts or the treated timbers will eat your bolts. Also lay something between the base and the timbers. I used a strip that I cut from a old poly tarp Do a search for 10x12 HFGH everything has been discussed here before.If you live where their is a lot of wind you must do the modifications that I outlined in previous post or you will lose it to the first storm.
...See More
mudhouse_gw
10 years ago
hpedley, we built our 10x12 Harbor Freight greenhouse over six years ago, and it's filled with plants 365 days a year. They are a very inexpensive way to try having a greenhouse, compared to the costs of other kits on the market.

However, there are some inherent weaknesses in the kit that require some inexpensive modifications for strength, and for securing the polycarbonate panels more securely. Many Gardenweb members had posted their modification ideas here, before we built ours.

I gathered many of those good ideas and documented them in a blog, as we built ours. It has a lot of information about the strengths and weaknesses of the kit, and reading here may help you determine if the Harbor Freight greenhouse is right for you.

Building our Harbor Freight Greenhouse

There are other good tutorials on the web as well, including this one for the 6x8 Harbor Freight greenhouse:
Building and Improving the Harbor Freight Greenhouse

In my opinion they are a great value for your money, but only if you're willing to spend a bit of extra time and labor doing some modifications so they will withstand wind. The HF manuals are better than they used to be, but still frustrating to use, so it's a good idea to seek out additional information on the internet as you build.

People who go to Harbor Freight, buy the kit, and build it only as per the manual (with no modifications) are usually the ones who have unhappy experiences. The kits require some tweaking.
poaky1
10 years ago
I need more clips for my 8X6 HFGH. I can't find the 1-800 # that was once posted. My sliding door has a gap, but I could fix that after the windy season. I paid my best friends eventual husband to put the GH together. But, it will need more clips to hold it together. I will have to order a new skin, clear cover for winter 2014-2015. That is what I hope I can do. Heat in winter 2014-2015., I remember posting for a 1-800 # for ordering X-tra Greenhouse clips. I know I need to order more of them.
mudhouse_gw
10 years ago
Hello poaky1,

The number for Harbor Freight is:
1-800-444-3353.

For the 6x8 greenhouse, you can buy a bag of 72 clips for $9.99, plus shipping. To save them looking it up when you call, it's the Part number 46 panel clip
and the SKU number is 27339.
poaky1
10 years ago
I have just now ordered x-tra clips. I will be using silicone and the extra clips when the weather is consistently warmer than the brutal cold we are now getting. I will be using extra glazing over our next winter. In the form of clear re-inforced film.

Related Stories

KITCHEN ISLANDS What to Consider With an Extra-Long Kitchen Island

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

More prep, seating and storage space? Check. But you’ll need to factor in traffic flow, seams and more when designing a long island

KITCHEN BACKSPLASHES How to Install a Tile Backsplash

If you've got a steady hand, a few easy-to-find supplies and patience, you can install a tile backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom

DECORATING GUIDES What You Need to Know Before Painting Brick

By Vanessa Brunner

Sure, painted brick can be a great look. But you need to take some risks into account. Here's how to paint brick like a pro

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Make Your Garage a Storage Powerhouse

By Mary Jo Bowling

New project for a new year: Add shelving and containers to get your stuff off the garage floor — and still have room for the car

MOST POPULAR 8 Little Remodeling Touches That Make a Big Difference

By Samantha Schoech

Make your life easier while making your home nicer, with these design details you'll really appreciate

ORGANIZING Outside the Box: 18 Unconventional Storage Solutions

By Dressed Nest Interiors

You might never think to use household standards in creative ways like these, but you’ll be glad we did

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Countertops 101: Choosing a Surface Material

By Lisa Frederick

Explore the pros and cons of 11 kitchen countertop materials. The options may surprise you

DECORATING GUIDES Get the Scoop on Finding the Best Paint for Your Money

By Vanessa Brunner

Scoring the best deal on paint for your home may have nothing to do with advertised specials

CURB APPEAL The Cure for Houzz Envy: Great Front Facade Touches to Borrow

By Becky Harris

Pull up to a better view and make visitors feel welcome by perking up your home’s face

MATERIALS What to Ask Before Choosing a Hardwood Floor

By Mitchell Parker

We give you the details on cost, installation, wood varieties and more to help you pick the right hardwood flooring

Sponsored

More Discussions

Thoughts on this as a greenhouse / sun room?

2

Greenhouse Orientation, which way to angle an odd shape?

0

Gazebo structure help

1