I posted new photos of the greenhouse (3rd box and floor are now complete) http://www.gbdg.net/g2/main.php?g2_itemId=93 as well as the completed garden http://www.gbdg.net/g2/main.php?g2_itemId=16&g2_page=3 There are photos of another HFGH that features fans. I'm quite certain you can rig a fan up there so long as the extention does not conflict with any bracing you installed (such as the 1/2" rigid conduit that I and others used to brace the walls.) The timbers that form the footing of the GH are 2x12 pressure treated fir. I did that a year ago when I started this project, but today I would have used the same rough cedar which I discovered later that summer at a local mill. I used the same PT fir for the outside steps and cedar for the interior steps. The steps make access to the GH a lot more convenient and being in snow country it allowed the base of the GH to be largely above the level of the typical snowfall here. This is our first season growing in the GH but it's mid-July and we just recently pulled out the lettuce and spinach that had gone to seed. A new lettuce crop (seeds)is in the newly built 3rd box - time will tell how that goes. It gets awfully hot in there though. As for weight, someone else might answer that. I strapped the various shelves to the sides and have seen no problem from the weight of the starting trays. However, I plan to replace the shelves (right now we are using the wire closet organizer shelves) with the style that Cactusfreak features in his HFGH photos. I want the additional space they will provide as well as to have them supported by pipes mounted above the raised bed boxes.

Many folks are attracted to HFGF because of the relatively small cost, not realizing the additional costs/preparations especially for a year 'round setup. Depending upon what sorts of things you want to grow, what your minimum winter temps are, maximum summer temps, and desired interior temps, you might be spending quite a bit more. Given the structural weaknesses with HFGF and necessary augmentations, I would highly recommend investigating other options. I grow orchids in a homebuilt gh in Zone 8a, and have a superior structure with benches, air chiller, etc., for ~$500. My floor is dirt, and I understand that bricks/pavers is the best to keep clean. Gravel drains well, but is impossible to sweep up leaves, etc. Depends upon what you plan to grow. To answer your question about placement, you need the sunniest location in your yard. If you have shade, make the priority morning sun, because this will make the biggest difference in wintertime heating. Orient your gh so that the eight-foot walls are perpendicular to the east, so that the maximum amount of morning solar energy can heat things up quickly. Of course, this will also overheat you in the summer, so you'll have to be equipped to hang shade cloth when necessary. The orientation I've described above is the ONLY reason I've been able to grow orchids here without spending quite a bit more on heating. There's a lot to learn, but the internet and this site are good tools for you. -Bruce C.

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.

The 10x12 HFGH is not a very sturdy structure if you leave it like it comes to you. Some people prefer to pay a huge price and have all the designing already done for them. For a lot of people the HFGH would not be the right choice. If you are one who can figure out things or look at what others have done and follow some simple instructions then you can have a quality GH for a lot less money. people who pay $3000.00 or more think that they have a superior GH but after the modifications the HFGH is probably better than most of the expensive ones. This past spring we had a storm that blew over big trees and my daughter had a big overstuffed wicker chair on her front porch, the wind blew it over a waist high railing and it went about 50 feet through the air and hit their car. It did $2500.00 damage to the car. My cheap old HFGH had NO damage to it Put the Conner braces on it install the braces on the base it is all outlined in previous posts People can turn their nose up at my HFGH if they want but it will grow my flowers just as good as their overpriced GH will Whether you should buy one or pay the high price all depends on your ability to build things, but don't think that just because you paid a high price that it will be easy to assemble because all kits are a PITA !! I have never bought any thing in kit form regardless of price that I did not wind up modifying it in some way I'm sure that if I bought one of those high dollar greenhouse's I would make some modifications to it.