steel is cheaper, and in practice, perfectly adequate.

Well, I can say that I have a cheapo steel kit greenhouse, and when I go to build my own serious one from scratch (planned for a few years down the road), I'll definitely be leaning toward aluminium. Despite being painted, the tubular steel has been rusting. Of course, this is probably of no small part due to the drip irrigation system that I installed in it; the worst-rusted place is where the drainage channels.

Sorry, I can't say for prices, though. I've never had a contractor do the work for me. The little kit greenhouse was pretty cheap - $60 or so.

A friend has a 100 year old cast iron and glass greenhouse that still hasn't rusted. I think a bit of care and a tin of paint is all that is needed. You might look for an epoxy based paint, but remove any rust first (wire brush then some kind of chemical derust treatment).

Hi,

I just built my 10x20 hoophouse. I price all types of metal and wood. I finaly choose galv. steel tubing used for chainlink fence toprail. Because it is much cheaper and that is what the manufacture of the greenhouse tubing bender recommended. We got the tubing bender on ebay and it worked great and is fast. They do have a web site lostcreek greenhouses or something like that. It's worth checking our for sure. Most large comercial greenhouses are made from tubing just like this but thicker.
Hope this helps

Ok, I may get flamed for this, but I am begining to suspect the possibility that beescorner makes/sells/works for Lost Creek.

I have heard of being excited about something you own, but this is ridiculous

OUCHHHHH
That hurt, no I don't work for them.

I'm excided because my old wood GH (worn out now) cost me $1200.00 and was only half the size of the new one. And yes I'm excided because I found a way to build a new greenhouse for less.

If you want to talk about people getting excided or working for greenhouse companys check out all the forums on Harbor Freight greenhouses now there is reason to supect. And regardles of where you get your greenhouse please read the greenhouse kit nightmare story published in the Wall Street Journal, (link posted below) this is a must read .
You bet I'm excided about my greenhouse.
BEE

Here is a link that might be useful: The Wall Street Journal Online

I think we're all excited about our greenhouses here. 'Nuff said.

Interesting link. Those people seem pretty naive. I'd be happy to explain to anyone who will listen that once you get to the mid to upper end greenhouse kits, the cost of the kit may be only 50% of the total cost of the project. Foundations, fans, shutters, electrical, gas/propane, heaters, all of that adds up. Mileage may vary, of course, SB

It's easy to be naive about getting a greenhouse. "It traps light to make heat; how much more complicated could it get?" That was my attitude when I first got mine. Thankfully, my starter was a cheapo kit, not a several thousand dollar money pit. It took a couple seasons and a lot of work, but I finally got it down.

I have to agree with Stressbaby. Those people sounded very naive. To imagine they wouldn't need a foundation or electricity at the very least is downright silly. As for the guy complaining about a building permit, that isn't the responsibility of the GH manufacturer. A lot of these folks sounded like they didn't know the first thing about construction. One guy claimed he was in that field but the way he talked he didn't sound very knowledgeable. I've heard men here who've worked construction complain about some kits but they certainly were able to think their way around the problems they encountered.

MollyD

"I think we're all excited about our greenhouses here. 'Nuff said."
karenrei you are absolute right

Some of you missed the point of the story. To many folks are naive when shopping for a greenhouse. That is the subject and the reason for the story. The need for all to research and understand what you are getting to is the point stressed. Not the mental level of individuals in the story. Not all have the experience we have with greenhouses.

Happy greenhouses to you all
BEE

Wow, that -was- a pretty awful article, suggesting that greenhouse sellers need to tell people about how to build foundations, get plumbing & electricity and their local building codes.