Many people are growing more and more enthusiastic about getting themselves a greenhouse. Greenhouses are very practical to have nowadays especially when the prices of crops in the market are becoming more and more expensive.
In building greenhouses, you have several options to choose from. You can actually hire a professional greenhouse expert to guide you throughout the whole process of building your greenhouse. From the creation of plans to the actual creation of the greenhouse, you can use the services of a professional. However, this approach will entail a lot of costs. The professional fees will definitely take its toll in the pockets of the greenhouse enthusiast. Another way to do it is to buy resources about building greenhouses. There are many resources out there that contain greenhouse plans and other tips which can be used in building a greenhouse. However, there are sources which give free plans and tips which can be very useful, especially for greenhouse enthusiasts who are just beginning.
There are several parts of a greenhouse which need careful consideration and planning. These are:
1) Base
The base is made from sawn timber. This kind of timber can easily be availed from local timber merchants. This timber is more commonly found in fences. The base for our plan is measured at 2400 mm by 3000 mm.
2) Side Walls
The side walls should be built from 75 by 50 tanalised sawn timber. They usually come in 4800 mm.
When the base is established on a flat ground, the two side walls should be built. The two side walls should be put upright and temporarily in place on top of the base. They are to be attached to the base using galvanized nails.
3) Roof Frame
The roof frame should also be built using the 75 by 50 tanalised sawn timber. The roof frames should be placed above the side walls. A roof frame should be placed at each end of the side walls. They are also to be attached using galvanized nails.
4) Windows
The windows should be made of 50 by 50 sawn tanalised timber. Some people would want a couple of windows for their greenhouses. The windows should be hinged so as to allow regulation of temperature.
5) Covering
The greenhouse covering should be made up of polythene which is resistant to ultra-violet rays. The covering is to be placed using thin battens which will hold the polythene to the greenhouse. The battens are to be nailed to the greenhouse studs and roof rafters.
You must be cautious about the kind of polythene which you will obtain from the hardware store since most of the suppliers only have polythene which is not ultra-violet-resistant.
There are other things to consider when building greenhouses. Here are some of them:
- You should check the local building regulations before engaging into greenhouse construction. If in any case that there are restrictions regarding deeds, you should look at the requirements regarding set backs and regulations about easement. Hoop houses are greenhouses which are made from frames which can be easily disassembled. These kinds of greenhouses are not considered as permanent structures and therefore exempt from the regulations concerning such structures.
- You should make a layout of the whole yard and the house before building a greenhouse. A greenhouse would often times become the centerpiece of a garden or a yard and it is much recommended that people plan before putting a single nail into it.
- Time management and budgeting are two important things to constantly consider in building a greenhouse. You should allot around eight to twenty thousand US dollars if you are serious about constructing a quality greenhouse. However, there are greenhouse kits that are available out there that are not as expensive. You should know what to spend and how to spend it. The time table in constructing a greenhouse should be set according to the plans of the owner. Greenhouses can be built in a couple of days to a couple of years. It all depends on the owner.
You can find many free greenhouse construction plans in the Internet. All you need to know is how to use search engines. These free plans come with good tips and wonderful illustrations to guide you in constructing a greenhouse for your plants.
