DIY Greenhouse Scheme
- The Riff-Raff Element
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DIY Greenhouse Scheme
I've always wanted a greenhouse. I know poly tunnels are very practical and efficient, but I want a greenhouse because I like them.
Unhappily, a decent sized, decent quality, greenhouse would appear to cost in the region of €3000. That I do not have. What I have found is plans that would allow me - I think - to build a good sized greenhouse (possibly with a little space for a chair, little woodburning stove, bookcase, radio & drinks cabinet) for about €600, which I reckon I can scrape together before the autumn.
What I would like is a critique of what this lady did: http://ana-white.com/2012/05/plans/barn-greenhouse
Thoughts, please?
Unhappily, a decent sized, decent quality, greenhouse would appear to cost in the region of €3000. That I do not have. What I have found is plans that would allow me - I think - to build a good sized greenhouse (possibly with a little space for a chair, little woodburning stove, bookcase, radio & drinks cabinet) for about €600, which I reckon I can scrape together before the autumn.
What I would like is a critique of what this lady did: http://ana-white.com/2012/05/plans/barn-greenhouse
Thoughts, please?
Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
looks good!
Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
Would a 10'x12'GH really cost 3grand? Bloody hell.
To be honest,it doesn't do a lot for me.Firstly there's a hell of a lot of timber in it,that would be major pricey (over here at least).Next,the metal sides are a complete no.(heat retention etc etc).Thirdly,corrugated is corrugated to point down!(in terms of strength,draughts and basic 'properness' that 's a bit wonky..
..Apart from all that it's great!!
Whatever happened to buying 2nd hand GHs and sticking them end to end..............takes ages,always looks a bit weird,but costs best part of nothing,and it's traditional !!!
To be honest,it doesn't do a lot for me.Firstly there's a hell of a lot of timber in it,that would be major pricey (over here at least).Next,the metal sides are a complete no.(heat retention etc etc).Thirdly,corrugated is corrugated to point down!(in terms of strength,draughts and basic 'properness' that 's a bit wonky..
..Apart from all that it's great!!
Whatever happened to buying 2nd hand GHs and sticking them end to end..............takes ages,always looks a bit weird,but costs best part of nothing,and it's traditional !!!
- diggernotdreamer
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Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
I don't think this greenhouse would have much going for growing plants in, too much wood in the roof causing shading and the metal sides would exclude even more light, but as a little snug for sipping the auld G&T or hot toddy next to the woodburning stove, reclining on a chaise longue reading Babara Cartland novels ......... probably perfick
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Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
A quick google suggests that a greenhouse 7ft by 6ft would cost about £600 or less brand new. I reckon I could build one twice that size out of wood and polythene for about a quarter of that. With corrugated plastic maybe a bit more. Or if you want it should be easy enough to join two smaller greenhouses together to make a big one.
Malc
High in the sky, what do you see ?
Come down to Earth, a cup of tea
Flying saucer, flying teacup
From outer space, Flying Teapot
High in the sky, what do you see ?
Come down to Earth, a cup of tea
Flying saucer, flying teacup
From outer space, Flying Teapot
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Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
Go for it "and forget the plants"
I can't do great things, so I do little things with love.
- The Riff-Raff Element
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Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
Thanks for the replies. On the points raised:
- Wood is not wildly expensive here, and I imagine that painted white they would reflect light, which would help to an extent with the shading. For the size I'm thinking of I'd add a central pillar too.
- Agree about the metal sheets. I'd use wood or at the very least add insulating board.
- The corrugated polycarbonate does worry me when laid horizontally - it will trap water and go green or something. I'm looking at sheets of flat polycarbonate. For a 3 by 5m greenhouse I'd need 30m2 which I can get for about €300.
- The design appears to omit vents in the roof, but I suppose these could be included easily enough.
- Wood is not wildly expensive here, and I imagine that painted white they would reflect light, which would help to an extent with the shading. For the size I'm thinking of I'd add a central pillar too.
- Agree about the metal sheets. I'd use wood or at the very least add insulating board.
- The corrugated polycarbonate does worry me when laid horizontally - it will trap water and go green or something. I'm looking at sheets of flat polycarbonate. For a 3 by 5m greenhouse I'd need 30m2 which I can get for about €300.
- The design appears to omit vents in the roof, but I suppose these could be included easily enough.
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Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
It all sounds very interesting this "design" . I only wish I could see the link but I just get a squared background and nothing else
I've got a plan in my head for another greenhouse and have been hoarding glass over a few years and plan to build it in 2x2" timbers to suit the glass to give me a minimum of cutting to do.
I've got a plan in my head for another greenhouse and have been hoarding glass over a few years and plan to build it in 2x2" timbers to suit the glass to give me a minimum of cutting to do.
Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
I built one many years ago using second hand 2' x 2' sheets of glass and with reject auction timber and is 20' x 12' ish.
Mine is a lean-to one though and also sunk into the ground, which makes it wind proof and acts as a very good heat sink (but only when the sun deigns to shine )
I rebuilt it in 2010 with better quality timber and you can see the photo here http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... 38&t=18367
Jon, the roof timbers are 6" x 2" with noggins and the front timbers are 3" x 2" and there is absolutely no problem with light.
Mine is a lean-to one though and also sunk into the ground, which makes it wind proof and acts as a very good heat sink (but only when the sun deigns to shine )
I rebuilt it in 2010 with better quality timber and you can see the photo here http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... 38&t=18367
Jon, the roof timbers are 6" x 2" with noggins and the front timbers are 3" x 2" and there is absolutely no problem with light.
Tony
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
- The Riff-Raff Element
- A selfsufficientish Regular
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Re: DIY Greenhouse Scheme
Skippy - no idea why you can see only the wallpaper on that site: browser, perhaps?
Tony - that is nice and it just goes to show what can be done DIY.
Tony - that is nice and it just goes to show what can be done DIY.