Greenhouse out of old windows...

[therunbunch]

We have so many windows that were replaced on our house and I'm thinking a Greenhouse would be a great upcycle for them. I have a question after some of my reading....

What's the best greenhouse??? A "lean-to" design or a free-standing design? I keep reading that lean-to's are great but I'm not understanding the pros/cons here. I have enough windows to do either/or.

Has anyone does this? I'd love insider tips to making it a great first-run.

[Callieslamb]

It kind of depends on your specific location. and what you want to use the greenhouse for? Starting transplants? Winter tomatoes? . Where do you have the most sun available? It might not be next to the house. You might google solar greenhouses - not that all greenhouses aren't solar-- but there are some syles you might not have thought about that will catch the most sun by slanting the front the right angle for the maximum sunlight in winter.

If you want to catch some heat for the house in the winter through a lean-to greenhouse - be aware that with the right conditions it can produce rain in your house.

[Harry Chickpea]

Forty or more years ago, that idea was somewhat common. The problem is that there is a LOT of finessing required in framing, and it is not cost effective. Rather than a greenhouse (especially if you have never been around them before to understand the downsides) I would consider raised beds and using the windows as removable coldframes.

[45n5]

If you want to catch some heat for the house in the winter through a lean-to greenhouse - be aware that with the right conditions it can produce rain in your house.

wow, any idea what this is called or what I could look up to read more about this or google it?

[Bret F]

I made one as a lean to against a storage shed with old sliding glass doors. It fit my area better than a free-standing and I was able to make it a little longer by not making another wall of glass. It was also easy attach the framing to the existing solid structure.

The side against my shed has barrels of water for heat retention with boards across the top for a shelf for the plants. The side against the windows (South side) has a 10" high planter box set on the ground.

I have had it up for just over a year and am still learning what I can do in it.

[rags57078]

google can be a great tool



http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It...reenhouse.aspx
http://thepuregardener.blogspot.com/...ut-of-old.html

[mistletoad]

Here's a picture of the one DH built last spring. It is a lean-to on the barn mostly because I have fig trees on every other south facing wall! lol

I designed it, DH did as he was told

The windows are old storm windows and they open. The door is an old storm door and it opens too

It worked for me. As you can see in this picture, I have it situated at the edge of the woods, so that when the leaves fill out, it gets shaded pretty good, i can still use it some, as opposed to it being unbearably hot in summer. I have a wood stove in there with the stovepipe running the length of the greenhouse. All the lumber was salvage too, I only paid for the polycarbonate panels I used for the roof. At the right hand ens is a regular covered section where I sit, mess with the fire, type into fourms, all sorts of stuff. Also keep most of my garden supplies in that end too, in a set of cabinets I salvaged from a kitchen I did some work on years ago.

[jwal10]

Mine is against the south end of my shop, it is leanto style. I have a door to enter from the shop which makes an airlock so the cold outside air doesn't enter. The south wall of my shop is 6' tall, concrete blocks painted dark brown so it is a thermal mass. 3 rows high of concrete block on the other 3 sides. I have 2 small transom style openings at the top that lets heat into my shop and give air circulation on warm days. It has black rubbermaid water tanks along outside wall and both ends to raise yellow perch and have floating aquaponic beds on top and hooks for the hanging strawberries. Shop wall has a heat blanket starting bed. I didn't use windows, I have a 2"x3" cedar frame with rigid greenhouse material on both sides. Leanto style need to fce south where 4 sided get the sun at any orientation. all greenhouses need air circulation or they will sweat. I would not want a greenhouse attached to my house without a proper moisture barrier to stop condensation. All depends on what use you need, year around, just to start plants in the spring, etc. If single pane I would probably figure on some type of storm window setup for a yeararound. Other wise I would use as Harry Chickpea suggested. I have seen some great ones made years ago from windows. Any glass house is better than none....James

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by 45n5

wow, any idea what this is called or what I could look up to read more about this or google it?

Dripping condensation.

[fantasymaker]

A leanto puts the windows at a good angle to collect sunlight. and you get out of building one wall

[Pony]

We have a lot of windows that I'd like to convert to a greenhouse on our south wall. I would definitely make it an attached house, b/c it is windy as all get-out here - hate the thought of flying glass all over!

[Maura]

DH built a lean to on the south side of his house about 28 years ago. Spring comes early to that type of green house because of the heat from the house. Be sure to have venting (openable windows). If your house windowsills are wood, you may have trouble with rot because the greenhouse will be humid all summer long. If built on the south side of the house, as is commonly done, the green house will be protected from the northerly winds. We had tulips blooming 6 weeks before anyone else, which is kind of cool.

[Karenrbw]

A lean-to greenhouse will be more energy efficient since you will not be heating that extra wall. You can also make it bigger (longer) because you won't be using your windows for that wall. On the down side, you will reduce sun exposure since one side will be a house or other building.

[7thswan]

I have built 4 greenhouses. 3 were built from used,damaged windows/doorwalls.1 with all new materials and corrigated clear fiberglass. 2 were lean to's and 2 were freestanding. I prefer lean to's. My favorite was made from doorwall glass that the seal had been broken. Got them from the lumberyard my BIL worked at. Neather had a door opening into the house,but that would have been nice,because they could have been heated with just house heat. There isn't much worry from too much moisture if you heat your home with wood.In 2 of them I used a gable end exhaust fan-cheeper than a greenhouse fan and it also has a tempature sensor that opens it where everyou set it. Brick floors/paths are better than gravel. Paint the wood inside with white paint for more reflective light.Wood slats are nicer for shelving than hardware cloth. The sheling one can get for closets(white covered metal) is also nice.

[therunbunch]

Wow, love the pictures. You guys are so wise. This is definitely way more information than I started out with.

[ksfarmer]

Here's mine, made on the side of a garden shed, from old storm windows.



Here's the inside:

[nobrabbit]

Originally Posted by rags57078

google can be a great tool



http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It...reenhouse.aspx
http://thepuregardener.blogspot.com/...ut-of-old.html

Love me some Google! Here lots more images of greenhouses made from windows