It sounds like you've got a great start. The only additional thing I'd suggest is that you consider something to prevent drafts through any tiny gaps where foundation meets ground or where boards meet ... though it might not be as critical for you as it is here along the middle Atlantic coast, where winter temps easily get into the low 20's and teens.

I didn't think of it ahead of time but sure noticed the drafts once the really cold weather set in, then had to crawl around doing the best I could wherever I could get access. Once the weather cools down a bit here, I'll do it right.

I can understand your eyes glazing over - there are a lot of details - and variations on themes. I expect we all learn a lot from experience and make modifications as we go.

Which size HFGH did you get? Best of luck, and please keep us posted.

Diane

I got the 6 x 8, the bigger one would not fit on our small city lot. We are barely squeezing in the 6 x 8.

I'll have DH caulk where the 2 x 12's are sitting on the 4 x 4's. We are laying down landscape fabric with cedar chips on top around the outside of the greenhouse, getting rid of some shady weedy lawn. I think the floor of the greenhouse will end up being below the level of the ground so there should not be a gap there.

DH is very mechanical and can fix or build anything. I just have to explain exactly what I want done because he isn't good at visualization and won't read instructions or websites. I printed out Conifer's pages of instructions and he didn't even look at them.

LOL - that sounds familiar - my son is the same way and did great putting the GH together; I think a lot of it was just intuitive for him. Nevertheless, I was on the sidelines following along with Conifer's pages and the instruction manual and called his attention to the appropriate place on the few occasions when he did kind of stall out a bit.

Speaking of vision: As we were preparing the site for the GH, beginning to tear down the old 6'x6' two-story playtower he had built for his little brothers (now 16 and hardly of an age for a playtower) I suddenly had a vision of it transformed into a small gazebo (I just hate to waste things) ... surrounded with plants, of course. This meant moving it, of course, so DH and DS, though I'm sure they thought I was really pushing the limits this time, bought three large black PVC? pipes, lowered the tower onto them, and rolled it, Roman style, to its new location. We trimmed the verticals down to appropriate height, added a temporary cross-beam over which I attached a canvas canopy I made which will serve until he makes a wooden roof which he plans to finish with cedar shakes. One of the younger sons added railings for me. I stained it white and added plants, furniture, candles, etc. It's a nice focal point in the garden, near the koi pond, and a nice little spot to sit ... I think we were all a little surprised at how well it turned out.

So keep imagining and visualizing and communicating and building ... sounds like you two are a great team!

Di

"So keep imagining and visualizing and communicating and building ... sounds like you two are a great team!"

I get frustrated because his friends and family stop by uninvited almost every weekend and stop him from completing projects. They don't take hints or even flat out blunt remarks telling them that we are busy.

Other than that, money is our biggest barrier to complete my visions. ;)

Getting there though...we hosted a gathering of online ponding friends in early August and that really got him in gear to work on my projects instead of helping others do theirs. :)

Ah, my mother had some kind of saying about the cobbler's children going without shoes. I run into the same thing here. DH is always willing to help someone out, especially with computer problems, and between college, working full time serving on the local volunteer first aid squad, DS is lucky to find time for his girlfriend ... so I'm happy when he finds, or makes, time at home.

Actually, I made the transformation sound quicker than it was - they got the tower moved, then it just sat for a while until I said, nicely but firmly, that I needed some sort of timeline on this, and if it was going to take too long, then we'd best just tear it down because it's an eyesore as it stands now. A little time outside pointing and discussing ... soon they were "getting started" and before the day was out their part was finished. Believe me, I was out there with brush and bucket of stain before the nails had even cooled in the boards!

Financing these visions can be a problem here, too, that's why it's so very rewarding when we complete one that is really an excellent return on a small financial investment. Even with it's mere 48 square feet and 75-foot distance from the house (maybe because of it), that little HFGH was as rewarding last winter as any big addition we could have put on our home.

Your husband sounds like a really nice guy, being eager to help others ... sometimes it's hard for them to say no and turn their focus on home matters. Wish I had some tips ... but then, if I did, I could write the book and get a really biiiig greenhouse ... contractor-built, lol!

Best of luck with the greenhouse; I hope the assembly goes smoothly. I know you're going to enjoy it; it will be nice if your DH does, too; mine's not a gardener, but he went missing several times last winter and was finally found out in the greenhouse ... reading. I can't help but think that there's a pretty strong correlation between their enjoyment of the outcome of our vision and the degree of buy-in and cooperation for the next one.

Straying slightly off-topic, I noticed your mention of a pond - we've had ours since August '04 and love it, though I don't think I have it ready to host such a gathering - good for you!

Di

We built our first pond in 1997, we currently have six. They are highly addictive. There will be one in the greenhouse too. Maybe more than one. ;) The pond gathering was a blast. I've been to several but this was the first we've hosted.