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Greenhouses & Garden Structures

my low budget diy gh w/progress pics

18 years ago

thanks to all that replied to my post looking for ideas & advice a few weeks ago. It was very helpful. DH is not done yet, still need to add roof shingles & siding & install the door & paint the interior. Its coming along though.

Here's our material list & cost so far

4 X 4's for base/foundation-$10 (cull cart lumber from lowes)

rocks for floor-free from craigs list

2 x 4's for framing $10 (cull cart from lowes)

plywood-free left over from other projects

6 Andersen double hungs-free they came out of a house DH worked on & were going in the trash

1 Andersen sliding door(2 pieces for roof)-free as as above

the roof shingles were $15-still need to be installed

door-free was our old back door-still needs to be installed

gable vents $9 each

Start

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more framing

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With windows & roof

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Another view

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what do you think of it so far?

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Comments (14)

bmarley5780
18 years ago
Very nice....
doone
18 years ago
You are soooooo lucky! Too cute.... be sure to show us pics when you are done and decorated with plants and stuff!
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The wood is just decoration and doesn't stop the grass. I respectfully disagree, based on many years of experience in different states, with different grasses. When I lived in OH, I had "nice" grass, non-rhizomatous, mostly, like it looks like bgaviator has. Bricks or timbers laying on the ground will stop about 95% of the grass permanently, especially when the bed is well mulched such as this. Wherever there's a low spot, or seam between pieces, the grass may creep under/through. Easy to fix in a few minutes about every-other month. As the timber settles, it will sink a bit and then it's even less of a problem, something to check maybe once in the spring, once in the fall. Even here, with a yard of St. Augustine or Bermuda or whatever type of vine-grass this is in my yard in AL, with Bahia invading that, something like this timber is enough of a barrier to easily achieve control. Agree it's not a type of border that is completely certain, but certainly worth doing, especially compared to the effort and expense required for a completely reliable border. I prefer this type of border because it's easy to pick up the timber and definitely remove any invading grass by the roots. I spend very little time on out-of-bounds grass. Often grass is let to make seeds before it's mowed, then not enough care is taken to direct the outflow away from the bed, or it drops in the bed before mowing. When the seeds sprout, the border gets blamed for not doing its' job.
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tracyjohnson1, thanks for the compliment. It's been amazing how relaxing it has been in the pool. We swim every evening and watch the sun go down. We have enjoyed our cleaner we named Bob. The PB set him up to clean for 3 hours a day. He really does a great job. I have to use the brush to sweep off the baja shelf and the benches, but he comes along and vacuums it up off the floor of the pool. The first few days the little bag was very full of PebbleTec pebbles and rock chips from construction. Be sure and empty it every day. It is gross, but the other day we unzipped the bag and there was a dead frog in it. BLAH!! Good luck with your pool. Can't wait to see pics.
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Wow your countertops are exquisite! I thought maybe bamboo granite, but it's quartzsite? I need to learn more about quartzite! Jon, can you please tell me where you purchased your stone? I love green and I love that stone! For your blacksplash. I wish I had a specific product to recommend, but I don't. However I do agree with the others that the tumbled and honed stones don't fit. I think that product is too matte. With your rich cabs, gorgeous countertops and stainless appliances you need something with a little light reflecting sheen. A crackle ceramic subway was the first thing I thought of too or maybe glass, but sandwiched between 2 strong elements I'd keep it simple. I'm not against a light neutral color that's pulled from your countertop, but not sure what. Have patience and take your time because your choices should become more apparent once the countertops and stained cabs are all installed. That countertop is the star and I can't wait to see your finished kitchen!
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soycandle
18 years ago
Wow, that is going to be one nice looking greenhouse and will have a lot of charm with those beautiful windows. Keep posting pics, we're always interested in seeing others' dreams coming true!

Lynn
dreamert
18 years ago
very very nice................
gldno1
18 years ago
Very cottagey and charming. I bet it will be easy to heat too!
Congratulations.
keithdp
18 years ago
Low Budget but not Low Class Nicely Done !!!!!!
use2bcapecodr
18 years ago
Oh...my...that is awesome! How lucky you are to have such a handy husband...especially one that can come up with all those "junked" windows!

I can almost picture in my mind how lovely it will be when it's finished and in use.

~Sandy~
javan
18 years ago
Wonderful. Thanks for the pics. Jim
clavero
18 years ago
Impressive to say the least.

Question: It looks like you have two louvered vents but no "active" exhaust like a controlled fan or such. With that much glass that puppy is gonna get HOT once the sun comes out.

Am I missing something?
wolflover
18 years ago
How very, very cute. I love it. You'll be sounding like me now. Every day I tell my DH, "Have I told you today how much I love my greenhouse?" :) He never gets tired of hearing it.
nathanhurst
18 years ago
I'm not sure that a fan is worth the effort. With two vents that size at the top there's going to be a rather large chimney effect. Add some adjustable vents around the base and I think a fan could be a completely unneeded.

What is this fascination with complex and expensive electro-mechanical solutions? Stick with autovents and you'll never cook anything.
KellyFG
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks everyone...here's our theory on vents-all 6 of those large windows can be opened from the top or bottom sash, it does not face the south-we don't have a good south facing area & I'm a newbie gardener so if I can manage to get my novice veggie garden started in it I'll be thrilled. In the winter I may let my chickens hang out in it so they'll be warm.
sail
18 years ago
Ok - You have got my idea spot on in putting sliders up on the roof. How to you get them up there? Are you concerned that the water will sit on the wood ledge and rot the frame? How did you integrate this into the roof to make it water tight?

Hopefully that is not too many questions.

You did a great job!
taho6bvickie
18 years ago
I love the Gh ! Your hubby did a great job! The windows are fantastic! What a score! I'm envious! My Dh is also a Carpenter and has built me 2 Gh's over the years using recycled windows, mine are the old aluminum framed type.
I've never had a fan in either of the gh's when it gets too hot inside i just open all of the windows during the day for ventilation and it works like a charm.
I know you will get many years of enjoyment out of it.
Now get to planting....

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