How to Construct a Greenhouse With Free Plans
You can find all types of free greenhouse plans on the Internet. A straightforward plan like the hoop-style greenhouse below is an ideal start for beginners. Before you build, locate a level spot with maximum exposure to sunlight. Full sun is best, but morning sun will suffice. Consider what resources you will need--such as access to electricity and water--when deciding on the ideal location of your greenhouse. You can use salvaged materials and tables for the interior to reduce costs, or you can purchase new equipment online or from a garden supply shop. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wood
- Schedule 80 thickness PVC tubing
- EMT (electric metallic tubing) clamps
- Hand saw
- Nails and hammer
- Cement (optional)
- Clear plastic greenhouse film
- Staple gun
Instructions
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1
Make sure the ground is level before you begin. Using nails and a hammer, construct a wooden box frame that will serve as the outer edges of the greenhouse.
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2
Lay 20-foot-long sections of PVC tubing from one side of the frame to the other, leaving approximately two feet between sections of PVC pipe. These will curve gently in half to create a half-dome top.
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3
Tighten the EMT clamps to secure the tubing to the base. You can also use cement to secure the PVC tubing to the ground if you plan on making the greenhouse a permanent structure.
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4
Construct a door out of scraps of two-by-fours left over from the frame. Using door hinges, attach the door to one end of the greenhouse so that the top edge of the door abuts the PVC rib.
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5
Use a staple gun to attach the clear greenhouse film to the plastic ribs of the greenhouse until the exterior is covered. Use as many staples as it takes to ensure the film is taut and well-secured.
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Tips & Warnings
Fill the bottom of the greenhouse with sand or gravel for extra water absorption. Use salvaged benches and tables in the greenhouse to keep costs low. While large holes in your greenhouse film mean you must tear out that section and replace it will new film, you can easily repair minor rips with a few strips of high-quality packing tape.
Do not use commercial plastic wrap or other materials to cover your greenhouse; greenhouse plastic films are specially formatted to withstand the elements. Do not use overwintering greenhouse film for more than one season as it is not designed to last longer than a few months.
