How to Design a Small Green House
It's easy to build a small greenhouse using simple materials such as plastic sheeting, corrugated hard plastic and lumber. Check with local building authorities to see if you are allowed to build non-permanent structures in your area. If not, you will need to review building materials that are acceptable. For example, building codes in your area might require glass covering for your greenhouse space. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Salt-treated lumber
- Metal bolts
- Electric screwdriver
- Paper and pencil
- Concrete slab or equivalent
- Various saws
- Water supply
- Plastic storage bins
- Small greenhouse fan
- Electrical wiring
- Light fixture
Instructions
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1
Figure out the best place to position your greenhouse. You might want to build it near your kitchen or near a gardening area. Since you will need to place a small electric fan to ventilate your greenhouse, you will need a source of electricity. You will also need to build near a water supply.
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2
Find greenhouse books at the library. Study the mechanics of how to operate a small greenhouse. You must understand the importance of venting heat and moisture to manage the greenhouse. All greenhouses will need a venting fan at the far end to dissipate built-up heat during sunny periods of the day. Over-heating will cause greenhouse plants to wilt and die very quickly.
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3
Sketch the dimensions of the greenhouse you would like to build. A 10-by-12-foot greenhouse is sufficient for growing vegetable plants and flowers, along with additional house plants. Draw greenhouse benches that will fit along each side of the room with a walking aisle in the middle. Figure out where to install a faucet and sink. You will need a faucet to attach a water hose for watering the plants. Or, you will need to design a water pipe sprinkling system to water the plants. Consult with greenhouse gardeners online or in person to review what practices work best for them.
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4
Consider the foundation you will build on. Concrete is easier to maintain, but it will absorb a lot of heat during the day. You might prefer to enclose a foundation of small pebbles for the greenhouse floor.
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Measure and cut lumber to build a simple framework for the greenhouse. A rectangular shape with a traditional A-frame roof is one design that's easy to assemble. Use nuts and bolts to assemble the wooden framework so you can take the greenhouse apart if you ever decide to move it. Install corrugated hard plastic on the sides and top of the structure, or staple plastic sheeting as the greenhouse covering.
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Tips & Warnings
Build the bottom half of the greenhouse out of cinder blocks if you desire. This solid space can help to hide bags of fertilizer or greenhouse gardening supplies and tools. You can grow twice as many plants in a greenhouse with clear sides, however.
If you decide to construct a greenhouse made of glass, follow strict building codes. High winds can destroy a greenhouse structure quite easily. You will need to use glass specifically designed for greenhouse use.
