Glass, Fiberglas, or plastic such as polyethylene, are materials used for greenhouse light; 20- to 30-inch panes are preferable. One of the most popular prefabs comes with 24- by 30-inch lights. If using glass, you need not buy Grade A quality. Double-thickness Grade B will suffice. Many old greenhouse books caution against using anything but Grade A, but Grade B has proved entirely practical.
Today a prefabricated unit somewhat over 8 feet wide and 14 feet long, constructed of first-grade redwood, aluminum, and double-strength glass, costs a little less than $1450.00, and this does not include the foundation.
An 8- by 10-foot lean-to, 11 feet high, costs about $300.00.
If you plan to assemble the material yourself, ask for prices on glass in box lots. Purchased this way, it costs much less, and you will have extra lights on hand in case of breakage. One of the large companies in my area sells glass in box lots for approximately 50 cents per light.
Glazing compound (putty) costs a few cents per pound.
By assembling your own materials, you can save 10 to 20 per cent of the cost of a prefabricated structure.
Upkeep and depreciation will depend on the original construction and the materials used. Greenhouses made of aluminum stand for years without seasonal replacement or repairs. Cypress and redwood, though the strongest types of wood for greenhouse use, still will show loosened screws and bolts as well as weather damage with the passage of time.
Basic Requirements
All greenhouses should offer plenty of light and good ventilation, and those planned for year-round operation also require efficient heating systems.
The glass and frame are actually only part of your greenhouse, which you count on to provide an artificial climate. Heater, ventilators, humidifiers, and perhaps a cooling system, must be considered in almost all greenhouse operations. Requirements will vary with each house, depending on location and nature of the crop or crops to be grown.
The foundation of the house must be strong enough to carry the whole weight and give support against wind and ice. You can use concrete, poured cement, cinder blocks, or Transite. All of these materials have good insulating qualities and will give protection against loss of heat.
The framework may be of aluminum, redwood, or cypress. Aluminum is originally more expensive than wood but involves little or no upkeep. You can purchase either aluminum or wood already cut and grooved for easy installation.
Before you build, get estimates for a number of greenhouse makes and sizes. Manufacturers are glad to send you their "literature." Builders in your own area, and elsewhere, will furnish a price list for partial or complete building. Even your lumber company will help you compute costs of a suitable structure. At the same time, ask for estimates from plumbers for heating and cooling each of the greenhouse sizes under consideration. Before you settle for a slightly smaller size than you want, because of costs, remember that a greenhouse is an operating unit, and in the long run the cheapest to build is not always the most economical to run. Get plenty of advice.
(Check garden publication advertisements and, for local firms, refer to your classified telephone directory.) Look at other greenhouses, note the complaints of the owners as well as their satisfaction. Here is a general rule to guide you: Labor and material for the small greenhouse usually run higher than for a large one. Hence, the smaller the greenhouse, the higher the cost per square foot.
You will have to plan carefully before you buy or build a greenhouse of your own. There are several things to consider when building your dream greenhouse. You can save a lot of time and energy by planning ahead. You will need an array of factors all working together to have the right greenhouse system, including an advanced lighting system depending on how much light you do or do not want into your new structure.
Greenhouses come in a wide variety of styles and sizes. You can find premade greenhouses that will give you all the options you can think of, including a variety of designs, sizes and prices to best accommodate your budget. You can find an array of different materials, including plastic, polycarbonates, glass, partial wood, aluminum and more that makes up your greenhouse. If you are constructing your own, you can locate a wider variety of materials to be used.
You will find similar issues if you buy or if you build a premade greenhouse. You will have to solve some questions on your greenhouse.
You still need to decide on the type of foundation you desire or if you even want a foundation at all. Most times, however, your foundation will be either gravel, wood or cement. You can even find brick foundations. You will have to decide whether or not you want to cover your foundation with linoleum, tile or carpet on top of that, depending on your preference and where you live. You can also find floor heating systems that will keep your floors comfortable in the winter months. These systems, however, will take time to clean and investment funds.
You should make a study of the species of trees in your neighborhood and how many trees exist. This affects the duration in which you have access to direct sunlight. You should be armed with some knowledge of your local weather and climate patterns to adjust with the snow or rainy conditions. You will need to ensure that your greenhouse can withstand your own elements.
Depending on your geographic location, you will find greenhouses that can best accommodate your surroundings. In the northern states, you will see less sunshine in the winter months and have to deal with a high amount of snow, but you can find greenhouses that will help you around these factors, including electrical lighting and heating systems to protect your plants and flowers.
The amount of heat and moisture in the area will also affect your plants. Summers can be more dry in some areas of the country than in others, so these dry areas will need more water than more lush areas like the Northeast New Hampshire area.
You will need to also make sure that the size of your greenhouse matches the size of your property. You will need a flat area ideal for your greenhouse. You will not want an area that is exposed to wind or is blocked by trees if you desire more direct sunlight in your greenhouse. You can find trees that will block rainfall and the sunshine so depending on what you wan to do with your greenhouse, you will have to look out for these things on your own property.
Both Gerald Mason & Moses Wright are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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