Your $10,000 budget is the same as my own was, and presumably includes fitting it out? I'm asking, because if you want to use it year round, you will need to allocate at least a third if not more of your budget just for your foundation, utility lines, heater, fans, electrical wiring, outlets, fixtures, benches, etc. It really depends on what you want to do with it. I wanted to use mine primarially to house tropical fish year round in the blistering summers to sub-zero winters of the Midwest, so opted for higher quality and virtually climate controlled, but smaller than I really would have liked. My 12 X 16 Cross County GH cost about $6,000 delivered and I spent another $4,000 fitting it out. However, that included a heavily insulated, footed foundation, floor drains, a sump, finished quarry tile floor, dual combustion direct vent heater, thermostatically controlled exhaust fan/powered intake vents, ceiling fans, hot water heater for a large commercial SS sink, lots of electrical outlets, multiple water faucets, etc. If it had a bathroom, I could just about live in it. But that was to accomodate MY desires/needs for what I wanted to use my GH for. We each have our own. So the best advice I can give would be for you to decide what YOU want to use a GH for, and go from there, because $10,000 would buy a huge commercial clear vinyl covered hoop house you could drive an 18 wheeler through. But it would be striclty seasonal use with no foundation to speak of and at best, a water faucet. But first and foremost, look to your foundation and UG utility lines because you can always add extra accessories to your GH later, but once the structure is up, retrofitting the foundation or UG utilities would be virtually impossible without literally taking it down and starting over. BTW: The above costs were all DIY labor. If we had needed to contract it out, the costs would have been at least triple.

I am in Zone 5. I have been looking at the Rion. It seems to be a quality green house with nice features. I am not looking to use the greenhouse year round. Basically from mid-February into the early summer. I will be heating it with a direct vent propane heater. Is there any concerns with the polycarbonate and warpage due to the heater getting quite warm when running? If so, will any foil insulation help protect against that? I have been calculating BTU's at a minimun of 18000 and looking at 25000 BTU heater. The greenhouse that I have been looking at is the Rion professional 8.5 X 16.8. I hate to rush this but rion greenhouses are 25% off until the end of this month......plus they are increasing the prices in January 2009......so I would like to make a desicion very soon to take advantage of a substantial discount. More info.....please!

starwa, do you know that there is an entire forum dedicated to greenhouses on GW? i'm sure if you post there, someone, or many someone's will answer you. that's how i came about to GW, i was researching greenhouses. i still haven't gotten one, but i sure have everyone's literature. i personally like the rion one for many factors, but i need to see it in person and haven't yet. the people on the greenhouse forum will be more than happy to help you in your quest.

Welcome to Norman, Anthrogirl78! I live rural (north & east out by Thunderbird). From my experience, Home Depot here is a waist of time, but the HD in Moore is nice, has healthy plants and several times I've found what I was looking for when no-one else has it. The Lowes in Norman is also a good source as is the Lowes in Moore. The people in the Garden Center in Moore tend to be a bit more knowledgable. I have also used K&K out on Sooner Road for items that I couldn't find anywhere else. I found my white clemantis there this spring and right now, it is LOADED with beautiful blooms! They've also been a great source of garden seeds, vegetable plants and perenials. There are several ladies that work there that are very helpful. (There's an older man too...he might be the owner....and it seems you've just got to catch him on a good day, IMO). There's another nursery that carries a lot of unusual plants @ 24th Ave SW & Highway 9. Sorry, I can't remember or find the name of it. It's a bit pricey, but then, unusual items always cost more. Good luck and let us know what do!!! Paula