I had a similar problem. No location for a true greenhouse, but desperately wanted a place to work, overwinter plants, start seeds. We were doing an addition to the house, and the only spot for my dream room would be westward facing, facing the street, so it had to look good. Attached are pictures, from the front while my "GreenRoom" was being constructed, and two inside shots before any plants were moved in. An old salvaged cast iron sink sits at one end of the work table, plumbed with both hot and cold water. Galvanized mesh benches sit beneath the windows, with shelves in front of them on one side. Gravel floor with pavers, heated with hot water pipes, keep it a comfortable 50 degrees in winter (zone 7b). The skylights and some of the windows open and shut automatically (what a nightmare figuring all that out, since they are standard windows). After 14 years, I still love working there.

FABULOUS! I'm crazy for good planning, figuring it out, not giving into "No", and still functioning well after 14 years...that's a great plan!

Kathleen -- keep at it! My room is a departure from a true greenhouse, but works great for me. The hot water heat was workable for us because we were putting in a water heater for the rest of the addition. We had to get a two-tank heater to separate out the house water from the floor-heat water. I think it's worked well, but have no idea of the relative cost. I do like that I don't worry about dry heat frying my plants. Happy to provide any information about my choices if helpful.

I used double pane, low e- windows, with skylights in an otherwise solid ceiling. I remember calling the companies for both products, and they were able to tell me the reduction in visible light for their products. It was significant, compared to single pane. But as I mentioned, we needed it to be comparable to a room, not a true greenhouse. I think my greater problem is the amount of "wall" between the windows. The contractor ordered the wrong (smaller) size, claimed he re-ordered at his expense and put in the correct windows. But I sure wasn't expecting that much wall, and I've always wondered whether he actually put in the correct windows.

Each pane of glass will decrease the transmission of light to some degree. But it will make a big difference in heating. The bottom and top row of windows open with a crank (I have a pole to open the top ones). I added an electric motor to some of the lower ones, operated by a thermostat.
There are two built-in benches -- one that sits just below all the windows, plus a lower one for pots. The pictures were taken before I added shelving in front of some of the windows. If you look carefully, you'll see there are bracket holders above the bench you see at the end of the table (the left set of windows in the other photo). I have two sets of shelves that run that entire length, about 12'. I was going to add brackets and shelves above the other bench, which runs under the curved window, but decided I didn't need it. I'm out of town now, but can upload some additional pictures if helpful when I get back.

seabird66 I figured that is what you did with your windows. I haven't even begun to start thinking of that part of this project yet. I am still in the zoning process. Long and tedious, I'm afraid. But necessary. My back yard flower garden looks beautiful this year. Sure wish it didn't cost me $1,000 a year to make it so. Hence the greenhouse. I can't hardly wait to have My Very Own Space. Thanks for the info. It is much appreciated. Kathy :-)

How much do you think heating and lighting a greenhouse through winter will cost you? (Hint: more than the 1K you currently spend on plants.) This is why siting it so that you can utilize the thermal mass of an existing building and the winter solar gain are so crucial to have this be a feasable project. Having a grown up play house is one thing, but if you really want to be able to use this as a greenhouse, then you need to do a ton more research. Move it out of the shade and to the south side of your home. Look into 55 gallon drums to create additional thermal mass. Look at double wall or triple wall polycarbonate instead of old windows. Look at the cost of full spectrum grow lights vs fluorescent shop lights that make seedlings spindly and leggy.

There are ways to inch towards the end result when you are on a budget. None of them can overcome the fatal flaw of poor siting and orientation.

I just stumbled onto this thread. Good luck with the She Shed! Since you're still in the planning stages, don't forget to consider incorporating a way to clean the outside of all the glass.

We have one of those "sunroom additions" on our walkout lower level (built by the previous owner) that looks like a 1990's Subway restaurant. We, too, are in a wooded lot in zone 5 and the previous owners used this "greenhouse" for orchids, I think. The glass panel roof of our structure gets filthy (sticks, leaves, dirt, spiderwebs, etc.) But, there is no way to get up there to really clean it. We really need to rent/buy/build a scaffolding system so we can get above it enough to hit it with a leaf blower and/or a power washer. (We haven't cleaned it yet, though it's been ours for three years--UGH!) Of course, the "roof" of this structure is visible from the main living area, too. It is a regrettable situation.

rredpenn, how tall is your structure? I wash the roof of my greenhouse standing on the ground with one of those aluminum extension poles like used for paint rollers. A car wash brush screws onto the extension pole. Rinse with one of those hour-glass shaped sprayer heads on a garden hose where there's good water pressure. It may take more than one washing to remove 3 years' worth of dirt and mold, but it works for me.

Boy, there's some pee in your coffee, eh? My estimate for energy usage wouldn't be quite as radical as Sophie's - figuring for Feb. and March only, as your plants will be hardening off after, but the windows can make or break your utility bill, and I agree about triple wall polycarbonate ( R value of 2.6, and 75% light transmission). I also think some thought should be given to snow load, and accessing your site during winter upheavals.

Re. thermal mass drums - fellow Houzzer Patricia Pilgrim used a series of home made drums out of chicken wire, and packed them with leaf debris each fall to protect her planting spot. The material composts and is then transported where needed later. Snow compaction also becomes your friend, in this instance.

I look forward to seeing your progress, as well as your afterthoughts, once your shed has seen its first growing season.

rredpenn, Nell Jean and studio10001

Hokey Smokes - a giant thanks to you all for your input and positiveness! After reading Sophie's comments, I must say, it was a huge burst to my happy bubble. Although I willingly welcome all advise, since this will be my first and most likely only greenhouse....... I was a bit put back about even going forward. Let alone calling my structure a "Greenhouse" and just going with a "She Shed"................... Since clearly I was doing everything all wrong.

Now, with positive reinforcement, and advise from those who have willingly posted to my ???? blog ???? or whatever this site is.......... I have since revised the single pane windows that were originally purchased (at a minimum cost - which I will still be able to use for cold frames) to triple pane windows for the roof and double pane with crank outs for the south wall. We have received an OK on the prints, just waiting to go in front of the zoning board. I've already contracted someone to do the ground work, and we are in the midst of gathering materials. Today, the score was (2) one piece units of 74 1/2 x 59 1/2 Pella crank windows. YAY for Craigslist. This will basically take up the greater part of the southern wall.

I have rethought a few other things and am considering in ground heating........ not sure about that yet ..... I have a running list of suggestions and add as well as subtract as my ideas change.

I can't say enough how much the POSITIVE input energizes me. I look forward to submitting pictures (hopefully to start at the end of September)

Keep on planting!

Kathy

Hey Kathy, how about an update?

Restoring Muskogee and kchd

we are STILL going thru a rezoning process that will finally get approved this week, and PERMITS will be issued this week as well! Took screaming and hollering to get Movement. Been almost a year of rezoning baloney.....

I own the corner lot next to my home and they wouldn't allow me to build the greenhouse on it without having a permenant residence on it. Therefore I had to combine the 2 lots.

When or if I ever decide to sell, it will be a 1 1/2 acre wooded lot with at home and greenhouse and treehouse on it!

Last year I hired a crew to do the ground work for us. The digging for the temporary foundation. But with no permit, we had to hold off. Now, after we finally get our permit, we will have to wait for the ground to in-freeze. Then we can rock and roll.

I too have considered a wood stove or some kind of brick heating stove I saw on Pinterest

pictures very soon to follow

Yay

Kathy

Again, this is the location of my "Greenhouse", "She Shed",
STILL waiting on a zoning decision.
Hope to start ground work in a month or so.

These first 2 pictures are at 8:30 am today. The last picture was taken at 3:30 pm today. Loads and Loads of sunshine. :-)

I'll be building a greenhouse this spring, too. I am planning to combine greenhouse+potting shed all in a single building. I've been pouring over plans for months now.

Progress?

That was the report in mid-April, so how's it going these last five months? Any progress? Is the structure up yet? "Inquiring minds wanna know."

These are great! Seems it's getting built. Do you think you'll be ready to sprout seeds there Spring 2017? Keep us posted.

Wow! I am too excited for you, but I still think you may need to cut trees. Prove me wrong, girlie, but the structure is looking good!

So impressive. You will so enjoy it no matter what compromises you had to make. Congratulations.

What did you decide for heat?

let us know how it works for you.

How wonderful for you!

I look forward to seeing it filled with plants, potting bench and all other delights.

I like your greenhouse idea. You can use it to extend your growing season on both ends. One method you might research is geothermal heating for greenhouses. The metod is simple. The ground temperature below the frost line stays at a fairly constant temperature so if you can bring this air to the surface inside your greehouse you will only have to raise the temperature a small amount rather than a huge amount. There are many ways to achieve this and if you research online you will find a method you may like. Here is only one article...there are many more and lots of videos on YouTube.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/heating-greenhouses-for-free-zb0z1411zmat

Good luck. I will be excited to hear of your results. ~Nancy

Mission Complete

Took 2 years, mostly weekends and evenings. My sweetie who is a Senior Master Mechanic by day is Now qualified to say he is also a builder.

This is my first winter with my completed She Shed / Greenhouse / Happy Place

seabird66 Yours is GREAT! What a wonderful work environment. You must be extremely productive! :-) That is awesome. We (my sweetie) still needs to make shelves for in front of the windows. He did make me (1) three tier unit, per my instructions, but once done, I didn't like it. It was similar to the base's. The bases I like, but the 2 shelves above them will now have a 2" face board instead of a 4" face board. It was way too bulky and eye intrusive. Totally distracted our view. Now, he is going to construct a 2" face board with a 4" wide depth board, that will be routed out to hold securely the metal shelving that will rest within. Of course there will be additional strength supports that will be hidden. So as to not have any warping or shifting as well as provide stability,
I am a somewhat of an "Aesthetic OCD" kind of person. Therefore the 2 bases and 1 bench. What I am looking for is 2 shelves on top of the bases, that can be removed when not needed. AND, something that is not going to produce too many permanent holes in the white washed pine walls. After tons of researching, I think I have found the solution. He is going to work on it this winter. This she shed / greenhouse is mostly 3 season. I had water run to the structure, and there is heat, but the water gets turned off in the winter. This is my very first winter with it. Who knows, maybe next summer I will have the water run to it PERMANENTLY Happy Growing

Kathy :-)

seabird66

When starting the She Shed / Greenhouse, we purchased 10 antique storm windows to do the main wall. Of course, after purchase I realized that Single Pane windows like this will cost me a small fortune to heat the building. So, what to do with the windows? Check out these decorative focal points I created and have put around our fire pit area.

I'm pretty proud of these.

Congratulations! I especially like how you repurposed the windows. Beautifully hand painted!

NOT hand painted

Sea Glass / Mosaic Glass formed then Resin poured over

Oh wow, the windows are gorgeous! I know you'll continue to refine your beautiful shed and enjoy it for years to come.

Thank you

Well Bill,

I should of not cheaped out and ran water YEAR ROUND. 🤦‍♀️

I have a dozen 7 gallon water jugs that I filled prior to freezing temps and was able to keep most everything alive all winter.