How do insulate the knee wall of a redwood greenhouse?
Elizabeth Hall
3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (6)
mindshift
3 years agoRelated Discussions
how do you heat your greenhouse
Comments (43)farminggreen: Presuming your use of the term "aquaculture" means growing fish for the table, unless you live in an area that never drops below freezing, I would have grave reservations about using aquarium heaters to raise water temps high enough to radiate sufficient heat to serve as space heaters, without heating the water to a degree that would kill the fish. Also, aquarium heaters are not really made to raise water temps much over 10 - 12 degrees above ambient air and why every Discus breeder I know has to use multiple heaters in their larger tanks, or risk having their 90 deg. loving fish keel over in winter, even with room temps in the 70s. I suppose it could be done, but you could end up spending far more on the heaters and electricity to run them than if you simply installed a space heater in your GH. So it's really a case of your expected air temps and the volume of warm but not hot enough to kill the fish water necessary to radiate enough heat to warm your GH. However, also keep in mind that regardless if baseboard, old fashoned cast iron stand ups, or underfloor- radiant heat circulates hot water or oil in a closed system. Fish need as much open surface as possible, which also accelerates both evaporation and heat loss. The cooler the ambient air in relation to the tank, the faster it will evaporate and require topping off, and the more wattage to maintain the optimum temp. for the health of the fish....See MoreGreenhouse Bubble insulation
Comments (19)Hi all! On advice from the forums here at Gardenweb, I bought a clear pool cover for use in my 6'x 8' HFGH. I put it on the inside of the greenhouse, because I was worried about the weather and winds blowing the stuff off the outside. It has been helping enormously! The temperature hasn't gotten below 50 in there since I installed it! The only problem I found was getting the stuff to stay on the walls. What I most wanted to cover were the metal beams that make up the skeletal structure of my HFGH since, on really cold days, those aluminum beams transmit the cold right inside the greenhouse, but they were the only place to attach the plastic to, especially in the corners. I tried tape, even duct tape, but taping to the alternatively freezing or wet metal just wasn't working. In the end, I built a small frame of 2"x2"s that pressure fit into the inside of the greenhouse and attached the pool cover to that. It holds it up splendidly and even gives me a place to hang a few things! I'd have posted the pictures, but the new forum doesn't seem to like them. Hmmm... sad. Hope the links work! Edit: Nope, links don't work either. Hmm... try taking a look at my greenhouse over at - s17(dot)photobucket(dot)com(forwardslash)user(forwardslash)Arielphf(forwardslash)library(forwardslash)Greenhouse ( replacing the slashes and dots and parentheses as necessary)...See MoreInsulation idea for northern greenhouses
Comments (7)It would be good if people said which R-value they were using when working out insulation. There are two different units (ft^2 F hr/BTU and m^2 K/W) and they are close enough that determining which is being used is tricky. I say this because Ohiojay said that foil coating gives an extra 2, but this seems like a m^2 K/W R-value (I've seen values for foil alone ranging from 1 to 2 m^2 K/W), rather than around 10 ft^2 F hr/BTU. (And I assumed that someone in Ohio probably uses ft^2 F hr/BTU) Regarding sealing it up, I'd just use duct tape :) The idea is a good one and I think you're on to something, a further extension of the this would be to permanently mount thin, high-R-value panels at such an angle that they block none of the light in mid-winter, but progressively block more into summer. If you then used very thin plastic sheeting to stop convection (I'd use cheap plastic drop sheet) you would probably double you GH R-value. Here is a link that might be useful: Understanding R-values...See MoreBuilt-in cabinets/shelves in bonus-room knee wall
Comments (1)On the plywood issue, the one that's $28.00 a sheet is probably a "Sanded"ply. In my area(LI,NY) it's a luan veneer for that money. Much better to use than MDF. Another choice would be melamine covered flakeboard. Lower cost but won't hold up to any sort of stress. I've used the kneewall to recess all manner of desk, bureau, bookcases, etc. But I frame the entire recess and insulate and sheetrock it traditionally. It cuts down air infiltration and keeps the furniture in a controlled environment. Ron...See MoreElizabeth Hall
3 years agoElizabeth Hall
3 years ago- PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
Related Stories
REMODELING GUIDES11 Reasons to Love Wall-to-Wall Carpeting Again
Is it time to kick the hard stuff? Your feet, wallet and downstairs neighbors may be nodding
Full Story
WINTER GARDENINGWarm Up a Greenhouse for Winter
Add heat and light to keep plants growing through the winter
Full Story
OUTBUILDINGSStudio Solution: A Kit Greenhouse Becomes a Creative Private Office
See how an inventive work-from-home designer made an office from a greenhouse, for some inspired thinking in the backyard
Full Story
GREEN BUILDINGHow to Donate or Recycle Home Remodeling Materials
Cut greenhouse gas emissions, ease landfill loads and give back to neighbors with an eco-friendly approach to renovation
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Lovingly Resurrecting a Historic Queen Anne
Dedication and a keen eye turn a neglected eyesore into the jewel of its Atlanta neighborhood
Full Story
BATHROOM DESIGN5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
Get your bath right for the long haul by dodging these blunders in toilet placement, shower type and more
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGN20 Kitchen Must-Haves From Houzz Readers
We asked you to tell us your top kitchen amenities. See what popular kitchen features made the list
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESFrom Queasy Colors to Killer Tables: Your Worst Decorating Mistakes
Houzzers spill the beans about buying blunders, painting problems and DIY disasters
Full Story
ARCHITECTURE10 Advantages of the Humble Ranch House
Boomer-friendly and not so big, the common ranch adapts to modern tastes for open plans, outdoor living and midcentury mojo
Full Story
HOUSEKEEPINGWhat's That Sound? 9 Home Noises and How to Fix Them
Bumps and thumps might be driving you crazy, but they also might mean big trouble. We give you the lowdown and which pro to call for help
Full Story
SJ McCarthy