greenhouses

[MELOC]

i would like to have a greenhouse but do not really have the money to buy a kit. i considered making one with old windows but that seemed difficult and i do not have access to matching windows so it would look ugly.

i thought about using pvc pipe to frame the building. i would fill the frame with water to weigh it down. my concern it for the membrane of plastic that would go on the outside. how long do the kits last? each kit comes with a cover membrane. is there a special type of plastic that is used? i cannot see having to replace it every year.

[Pony]

I bought one of those steel-framed kits from Farm and Fleet for something like $40 on sale. It has a tube-type metal frame, and this sort of zipper tent thing that goes over it.

The plastic tent held up pretty well, but then a big storm knocked the whole shootin' match over and the frame was shot. I set aside the plastic tent until I could get around to fixing the frame, and the darned plastic melted in the sun.

I know, I shouldn't have left it out. Just letting you know not to let the clear plastic sit out. It melts. But it probably would have been all right if I'd tended to it immediately.

Pony!

[Marcia in MT]

It's best to get special greenhouse plastic. It's UV stabilized, clear, and won't melt. Put two layers of it on your frame, seal all the edges, hook up a small fan to blow air inbetween the layers, and cut a VERY small X in the end opposite the fan (so the whole thing won't blow up like a balloon!).

We have made frames out of pvc, but the best of the cheap materials is rebar. Tie or weld the joints. The bottom frame is 2 x 8s, held to the ground with rebar driven through to the ground at an angle. Sink the uprights into the ground, too. Will still be vulnerable to wet, heavy snow, however. And that's the voice of experience!

You may be able to find a greenhouse with a pipe bender, and then you can get the bows out of metal pipe. They shouldn't be too expensive. Ours have lasted almost 20 years and we are still using them.

[fireliteca]

i've found a great place in manitoba canada-yes they ship to the U.S. it's called (northern greenhousesales ).Bob and Margeret davies run it .they have the best catalogue lots of ideas and pictures that Bob's family have tried and stuff from their customers also. it is a special woven plastic-very tough.If it works on the Canadian prairies it will work anywhere!!!! I don't have the website handy right now but you can look for it. we pick up and deliver to many greenhouses all over can. and u.s. --- this is the greenhouse fabric and rebar construction that will be going on our greenhouses. hope it helps. fireliteca

[fireliteca]

I found the site it's www.northerngreenhousesales.com Ireally think you'll like the product and the folks there are great too! fireliteca

[SolarGary]

Hi,
There are some plans for DIIY greenhouses on my site that you might find helpful:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects.../sunspaces.htm

There are some very reasonable pipe frame and curved wood fram designs that use greenhouse poly for glazing.

If you want to do a greenhouse that won't cost a lot to heat, the Shapiro book on solar greenhouses is good. Its out of print, but available on Amazon used books (or other used book places) for next to nothing.

Gary

[mightybooboo]

Originally Posted by fireliteca

I found the site it's www.northerngreenhousesales.com Ireally think you'll like the product and the folks there are great too! fireliteca

Awesome site with great do it yourself plans.Thanks,downloaded that one.

BooBoo

[Country Doc]

PVC failed for me. Google a compant called lost creek systems. They are out of texas and they make a cheap steel tube bender for making hoop houses.