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Greenhouses & Garden Structures

greenhouse made from old windows and doors

8 years ago

I just wanted to share the greenhouse we made a few years back. There are step-by-step pictures on our website. I would love to see yours also. http://gardensandcrafts.com/leafcastings.html.

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ladyrambler z8 NC

8 years ago

Dottie, it's just lovely!

This is my greenhouse/chicken coop. Hubby finished it Jan. 2015. Many of the materials were bought second hand or FREE! I spend lots of time here. This pic was taken this past Sept. Warmer times! lol I too have polycarbonate on the roof. Seems to be working great. How old is your roof now? I've been wondering about the life expectancy of the poly. So far mine is showing no issues but it is only one year old.

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Comments (9)

grow_your_heirlooms
8 years ago
Wow, that is beautiful. I am ashamed to say I have an old Harbor Freight which I'm tearing down to build a glass stick built greenhouse. I may use your plan and put glass on the roof. Thanks for detailing and posting your work.
Dottie B. thanked grow_your_heirlooms
Dottie B.
Original Author
8 years ago
I just realized the wrong ink is attached above. Sorry about that. Here is the right one: http://gardensandcrafts.com/greenhouseproject.html
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This is my first posting in many years but when I saw this I had to tell my story. My husband and I built our second greenhouse last year and just love it. We had new windows installed and used our old windows for the glass. First we built a 12 by 16 frame out of treated lumber with a fiberglass ribbed roof. The first year we used plastic for the sides and the second year after my husbands shoulder surgery we put in the old windows. We hinged three windows for circulation when needed and we should have put in one more. We can fix that later on when the plants are out. Anyway it works like a charm. The benches are made of cement blocks pillars and we put closet wire shelving across the top. The openings of the cement blocks are filled with 2by4's making another shelf for my flats. By using the wire shelving, the plants have lots of drainage and they don't rust. We have the shelving in a U shape. Electric was added this past fall and has been very handy. I used extension cords before and this is much better. During nights when the temps get to freezing, I turn on a radiator type heater and a fan pointed to the ceiling to keep the air circulating. The temp keeps about 10 degrees above the outside temp. I do not use this all winter, just for starting seeds in the spring. Works great for us. This spring we have to paint it. I forgot to mention that we have this connected to a wooden shed that is 12 by 24 feet. Linda44
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I agree with kudzu9 - re: securing the aluminum shower door frames to wood rafters with wooden battens for sloped glazing, and to wood mullions (jambs) for vertical wall installations. It's best to sandwich these panels between the structure and a compression strip, then to trough-bolt them directly. This allows for expansion and contraction of the dissimilar materials and enables the use of neoprene tape placed between the battens and frames. Freezing issues may not be applicable in your climate - but the tape will at the least, deter leaks from rain water intrusion. I like the shower door idea and think you can do a lot with these panels - IF done properly. Consider cutting T-section battens, with the bottom leg sized to allow for the frame thickness and neoprene tape. Stainless steel lag bolts can then be used to secure the battens to the structural stringers. Other details need to be worked out as well - such as a sill detail with weep-holes, if free-standing how the ridge is detailed and if attached to an existing vertical wall, how the sloped glazing will intersect and installing an effective flashing assembly. I've designed / built many passive solar homes with attached greenhouses - post + beam and conventional. Attention to details is essential to waterproofing and longevity of the structure. Best of luck.
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Dottie B.
Original Author
8 years ago
We used polycarbonate roofing for the top of ours. Very durable and easy to install.
Dottie B.
Original Author
8 years ago
Lady - Your greenhouse looks great! I would love to have chickens too, but hubby and I work too much right now. My roof is just about 6 years old now, and ours still looks like new. We get a lot of snow, cold and ice, and that has not hurt it at all.
zzackey
8 years ago
What kind of poly do you have? Greenhouse grade? I found that greenhouse poly last several years in central Florida.
grow_your_heirlooms
8 years ago
Lady, I love your greenhouse. Especially the way it's laid out inside. Very cozy and clean. Is that a mini greenhouse inside on the right where the seedlings are?
Dottie B.
Original Author
8 years ago
The kind I used is called Suntuf which is suitable for greenhouses.
ladyrambler z8 NC
8 years ago
Thanks for the nice words.

Dottie- Glad to hear your polycarb is holding up so well. You are further north than me so I'm sure you get way more snow and cold than we do. I'm in NC and while we do get snow and ice occasionally, it doesn't usually lay around very long. Oh...chickens really don't take alot of time. I spend alot of time with mine because they are great entertainment. Even on a bad day they can make me laugh. I don't raise them for meat, just eggs, compost and entertainment. They are just pets with a plus...breakfast and fertilizer! One day I expect to have alot of 'retired' hens just hanging out. Thankfully we are in the country. LOL

zzackey- The kind we used was also listed for greenhouse use and had a high heat tolerance rating as well. I believe it was the same Suntuf that Dottie mentioned. It was purchased at the local 'big box' store. In summer I have to watch the heat in there probably similar to central Florida. It can really jump fast on sunny days. Hopefully it will continue to take the heat as well.

grow_your_heirlooms- Yep! If you look closely you will see 2 of those little portable greenhouses in the center of the photo. The plastic covers are removed and one has some scrap screening laid on top to shade the babies. They give me some portable shelving cause I'm always moving things around in there. We are building some raised beds now and hope to do a patio

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