You don't specify which greenhouse or glazing material you're interested in. Here in New Jersey, I think you'll want at least a twinwall polycarbonate rather than the clear, single wall material, which is pretty, but I don't think it's practical. It has very low light-diffusion properties, so the space will heat up faster in the sun, but, without the dead air space of the twinwall, it has extremely low insulating value, so will cool more quickly, too, and you'll spend more on heating to maintain adequate temperatures for your tropicals.

I have a small, 6x8 Harbor Freight with 4mm twinwall polycarbonate and add a clear solar pool cover and 1" foam insulation board on the north wall for winter. A single 1500-watt convection heater took us through winter easily last year without breaking the household budget for electricity, and there was still sufficient light, without supplemental lighting, to keep all the plants happy, healthy and producing (tropicals, tender pernnials, herbs and vegetables, including cherry tomatoes) as well as starting seeds and cuttings.

I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time with your building department. We were lucky, I guess, since our structure was deemed a "moveable" structure (as is our 10'x12'x8'high gambrel roof shed ... though, short of bringing in a crane, I can't imagine how one would move it), no building permit was required, though we did have to observe a 5' setback requirement. However, our greenhouse is not attached to the house. I thought I might have preferred an attached, but even in winter I found I didn't mind at all trekking the 75', no matter what lay between me and that oasis of green, warmth, and a peace that could not be achieved in any attached structure (but then, I have twin teenage sons, lol).

I hope the issues you've encountered are resolved fairly easily and that you'll soon have your greenhouse, deck and all to enjoy. Please keep us posted.

Diane

Freedee,

"I'm working with an architect, who is doing a good job, but he has no experience with green houses."

No offense intended, but it sounds like you picked the wrong architect. I think that drawing up the plans, finding the appropriate subcontractors, determining costs and schedules, and getting the building permits are his responsibilities. He will be paid a substantial fee for this project, so it's now time for him to earn that fee.

MM

Maineman, I thought about telling my architect to just figure it out, and make it work. but, I'm into gardening, he doesn't have any experience with gardening. He doesn't know what's neccesary for maintaining plants. It doesn't make sense to expect him to learn all this. This is part of a bigger project, I'm happy with how he's handeling the rest of the project.

Gardenstate, I'm thinking about Sunlite. The double walled one. I'm not considering the corregated plastic that the Palram company sells at Home depot, but, I'm concerned what this stuff will look like in a couple of years. Will it look like old plastic?

I talked to a Rep from Under Glass today. They are the company that makes the Lord and Burnham greenhouses. They help to design it and will build it too. I like that. He had some good ideas like, we could take the excess heat that builds up in the green house and send it into the heating system of the rest of the house.

I called that company because I read about some people being happy with thier old Lord & Burnman greenhouses, however, I think that the new greenhouses have nothing to do with the old ones. It seems like they just license the name. I'm not sure if that's true. Anyway, I wasn't going to spend more for a greenhouse than the avergae family spends on a home so, I'm not expecting an old style English conseveratory. If they make a sturdy, reliable product that isn't and eyesore, that's ok.

freebee:

Call BC Greenhouses toll free at: 1-888-391-4433. Ask for Kyle.

Tell him what you need and get your architect connected with him.

You can have a custom built, higher quality GH than the "new" L & B's at less cost and with a whole lot less hassle.

Meanwhile, check them out. Look for a link to BC on the right, just when you go to this forum, before you open any discussion links.

I think its time to fire the architect and get a new one.

You said freedee that you had "elaborate plans", which clearly must be so since you hired an architect, and so now is not the time to be cutting-corners and cheapening this thing-up. If you are comfortable with the Under Glass proposals/pricing and they have some sort of local presence (for support) then go for it.

Dunno where you are, but a 7x14 space, if facing south in the winter, could be a nice retreat for human beings as well so make it nice. Re: claiming some heat from the GH well that's a good idea too but you surely want to hire someone who can make it fit correctly with your house and HVAC system(s).

Glad you posted--I have seen the Palram site before, but this time I looked at it more closely and have gotten some ideas for DIY projects in there!

If the architect/contractor is worth his salt, he would have researched this before taking the job. Go to www.crees.usda.gov/extension, click on your state, then county and contact your county Cooperative Extension Service Office. Get answers to your questions for free. Get the builder in to listen as well. Good luck.

Aw come on guys give the architect a break here!

I hope some of you have identified the problem, it is a "lean-to" as in connected to the house, as in a "home addition"

You all know the building regulations and codes as to new construction and insulation requirements and heat loss. (you don't? well, look it up.....)

freedee,

Drop the "greenhouse" from your plans.

Instead build a deck where your greenhouse would have leaned on your house instead. Then build a movable structure (greenhouse) on that deck and move it up against your house.

;)

chris_in_iowa,

"Drop the "greenhouse" from your plans. Instead build a deck where your greenhouse would have leaned on your house instead. Then build a movable structure (greenhouse) on that deck and move it up against your house.

That's not a bad idea for circumventing the building permit problem. However, most decks are totally unsuitable as the floor to a greenhouse, because they are wood suspended over air, and would provide a serious loss of heat in a greenhouse.

A possible alternative would be a patio. It's possible for a patio to have a sand/gravel/crushed rock base with concrete or ceramic tile "pavers" to walk on, and that arrangement could be suitable for a greenhouse.

Most lean-to styled greenhouse kits have no wall on the "house" side of the greenhouse. However, at least one does offer an inside wall as an option. Most lean-to greenhouses actually attach to the house, which brings into question whether they are "movable".

MM

maineman,

I was not even trying to "circumventing the building permit" I have a gut feeling that the builing department there in NJ ain't got a clue about greenhouses either. A greenhouse as part of a house in NJ is not something they know about.

All I was saying is they probably have codes for decks and as you rightly stated patios. Also they have codes for fixed and movable greenhouses.

It sounds like they have no code for lean to greenhouses. Just like Manhatten would have not the slightest idea what to do about a 4000 hog confinement next to Battery Park.

I feel freedee is going to win this one!!!!!

Thanks for all your responses.

First let me clarify a few things. I am absolutely sure that I don't want to use the green house as living space. It's not near a part of the house that would make sense as living space. I want it to be full of plants and the stuff to take care of them, nothing else.

The deck that it would be on, will be raised off the ground so that one could walk into it from an exsisting door. We can make the flooring on the deck what ever it needs to be to function for the greenhouse. The rest of the deck will be outdoor rated porcelian tile with the Schluter system, (specially made for tile on raised decks) under it.

I don't want to circumvent the inspection process. I think, in the long run, that will make life easier. My building deparment will approve plans, they just need specks on snow loads etc.

Birdwidow, do you have a BC Greenhouse? Does anyone else have one? How do they hold up?

Totally off topic but.....

What are the chances of me equating the building inspectors in NJ when looking at a proposal for an attached greenhouse last night, with my post about building inspectors in Manhatten knowing all there is to know about hog confinements?

The Mayor in NY should fly me up there! I could tell him with one sniff, Hog, Cow, Turkey or Chicken!

Strange.......

Freedee:

Yes, I have a BC greenhouse, am very pleased with it and it has held up to the mfg. claim that it would withstand the worst a Canadian winter could throw at it.

I am in the midwest, about 40 miles south of Chicago and while we have thus far had a mild winter, we did experience a severe ice storm in November that took down power lines and trees all over the place. My BC never budged, as winds whipped across our back pasture, right at it.

However, I really suggested them to you because they custom mfg. every order and don't charge an arm and leg for changes, which are usually the wallet busters on any project.

They also make GHs and conservatories for commercial applications, in polycarb or glass, so depending on the style of your house, a BC greenhouse can be had to fit right in.

The desire for your additions to finish looking as if they were part of the original design is presumably why you engaged an architect?

If so, all you really need to do is determine where your GH will be attached, and its size. As for getting your permits:

Once you decide on the size and style of a BC, they will send you the schematics as a PDF file, to attach to your permit application.

All you would need then, is to have your builder install a solid foundation for it, using the BC specs. for size.

If you are interested, I would again again urge you to contact Kyle at BC. He is the kind of expert you need right now, and works with architects all the time.

Also and again: check out their online catalog, if nothing else; for some design ideas.

I called BC. Kyle was busy so I talked to Kriss. They are sending me some sample pieces. They didn't mention glass, just polycarb. I have to choose beween the thicker or thinner one. The thinner one is the only one that can have a curved top but, it doen't insulate as well. Maybe I don't need a curved top.

I think this might work. I'll keep you posted.

As for greenhouses in New Jersey, we've lot's of them here. I'm in central NJ. There are alot of farms here.

I'm glad you made the connection. Curved glass would seem the ultimate in luxury for any home GH and if money is no object, they will fabricate one for you with insulated glass. But if your budget is more restrained, polycarb is the next best thing. It will look nice and perform very well.

I sacrificed some energy effeciency for asthetics and went for the 6 ml double wall, because I fell in love with the looks of a curved roof. Mine is a 12 X 16 freestanding Anniversary model that will be topped off with BC's fancy Victorian scrollwork on the ridge next year; just for pretty in my garden.

Had I been choosing for the best insulating qualities, I'd have bought the triple wall, which is too thick and rigid to be curved. It costs a bit more, but will pay for itself in energy savings very quickly. You would also have the added advantage of being able to fit it out with a gutter if you need to keep rainwater away from your house.

BTW: The higher you build a kneewall, the higher the ceiling inside your GH, and they don't charge extra for a custom door drop.

Do keep us informed as to how you are doing on your project. I freely admit to being a BC booster due to the sheer quality of their products, but also because in a time when personal customer service has become near impossible to find, they are a light in the darkness.

I heard back from "Under Glass" and I'm waiting to get samples from BC. I'm comparing the two. Under Glass has a local rep who does installation, that's a plus. BC has a video with instructions and I have a carpenter who is willing to assemble it.

I like the idea of glass rather than poly. I wonder if there's an advantage to the poly.

The best advantage of the polycarb that I'm aware of, is insulating qualities and cost.

Given the financial means and presuming it would insulate as well as our low-E insulated Pella windows, I would love to have an all glass GH. I Can't fault you on that one at all and have dreamt of glass greenhouses since I first saw photos of the long gone London Crystal Palace.

However, when it came time to actually have my long desired garden GH and I checked the heat transfer rates on charts, and truly considered the amount of their inheritances I was willing to blow for my own pleasure, reality took over and I chose polycarb, because single pane glass just won't cut it and all insulated glass was simply too costly.

It doesn't seem to make any difference in glass, even if it's the same type of glass as in vehicles. The key is partially the thickness of the glass, but most importantly, the air spaces inside, and why triple wall polycarb is superior to double, and double superior to single sheets of clear acrylic.

Check out the ACF Greenhouses website for the heat loss chart. They also have a great btu calculator, that our own, local H/AC expert declared right on the button. Matter of fact, the ACF website is a wealth of information in it's own right, aside from their being one of the best sources of both GHs and accessories.

Not the only of course, but one of the most complete, and hard to beat on prices.

What is the web site for ACF Greenhouses?

Thanks

ACF is at- http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/

Look for the heating link, I believe that is where you will find a link to the heat calculator. Actually, their whole site is interesting to read, just to see what's available on the market, which seems to be expanding daily.

Also check out Farmtek.com. We have been buying livestock supplies from them for years and thay are very reliable, as is ACF.

ACF is a BC distributor and I bought my Cross County from them. What was nice, was to deal directly with the mfg. (BC) afterwards. ACF also beat every one of their competitors on price for the heater and exhaust fan/powered intake vents.