Twin wall over wood frame construction details question

19 years ago

I have two questions:

#1 I'm still working on understanding the fine details of the twin wall attachment to the wood frame I'm planning / building.

I've been using the printed Sundance construction materials that note (repeatedly) to plan for expansion of the panels. The roof rafter framing is straight forward but I can't seem to find anything specifically about allowing for expansion/contraction in the side and end walls.

It seems prudent to me to allow some space there as well. Since I'm planning 4 foot high side walls (the GH sits on a knee wall) and will be cutting the 8 foot sheets in half to panel them, it seems to me that the total height of the "4 foot wall" should really be 4 foot plus...something. On top of that I plan to use the aluminum U Profile end cap on (at least the bottoms of the panels)and that is 1/16 thick.

So then, it seems that allowing 1/8" for theU profile ( top and bottom) plus say another 1/8" top and bottom of the whole panel for expansion, the total wall height should really be 48 1/2 " from the top of the sill to the rafter bottom.

Sound plausible?

The Sundance materials seem to contradict one another about use of the Cap (to cover butt joints on walls and roofs). In one place it says merely screw the cap over the joint securely for a "watertight joint" yet in another it seems to call for sealing the edges of the cap with silicone after it is installed.

I've seen several glazing systems, some using rubber gasket, some with adhesive foam tape. I know the foam tape is not a good idea, but...

what have been your expereinces with galzing caps? Just screw down like Sundance? fitted with rubber gasket like Charley's? seal afterward?

Thoughts?

Thanks

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Comments (7)

myrmecodia
19 years ago
#1 - you can frame the side walls with exactly the allowances for sideways expansion as the roof. It's not a bad idea to make the wall height slightly shorter than the length of the panel. That way, the panel will overlap the knee wall a little at the bottom the sill, but you will have some wiggle room if your measurements don't come out exact.

I would probably make the walls 46" or 47" high, including the sills, so that an 8' panel could be cut in half and still have some overlap of the knee wall.

#2 - You don't need to seal along the edges of the cap, but the two ends will be open and will benefit from some silicone.
clavero
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks mymecodia,

I'll use the expansion factors as you suggest but the construction won't allow an overlap at the knee wall. The sill is 2x8, cut with a taper on the outside edge to shed the water and a routed drip lip on the underside. This GH is a combo of functional elements and also reflects some of the design elements from the house construction.

I've just bought a digital camera and will make some progress pics available at some point soon.

Also thanks for the clarficationof the caulk on the cap.
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myrmecodia
19 years ago
I'd love to see pictures of the sill. Sounds like a nice design.
otomatoo
18 years ago
This is where i belong..we are building a high gabled wood frame greenhouse and i have just ordered 8mm twinwall polycarbonate sheets for the walls..I just received a sample and feel it is a great product, albeit a bit pricey..anything specific, other than the expansion of the material do we need to know? I have great plans we got from better homes and gardens and just happen to have a journeyman carpenter for a son..

ruth
Carol Henry
18 years ago
I am so happy to have read your post. I am planning on building the same greenhouse this summer. I have the plans and they are very daunting to me but my son will be coming on weekends to build the greenhouse. It is a great looking greenhouse and I just love the high pitch for the roof. I plan to expand two feet off each gable end however. We have not sarted yet. We will have to keep in touch.
clavero
Original Author
18 years ago
cembh,

I'm not sure what you mean by "the same greehouse" as the materials I mentioned in the post that started the thread are not "plans" but details of critical construction/installation steps for twin or triple wall polycarbonate.

Perhaps you both are referring to the Better Homes & Gardens plans I've not seen.

You might want to have your construction guys check the Sundance info to be sure they don't inadvertently close up the gaps on the twin wall too tight.

Othewise, as I'm sure you've already seen, each person's GH adventure takes a slightly different course.

I'm still at the "stucco and paint the block knee wall" stage but have been taking progress photos...I plan to post them once the walls are up.
Carol Henry
18 years ago
I was refering to the Better Homes plan. I am sorry about the confusion.

Twin wall over wood frame construction details question

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Twin wall over wood frame construction details question

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