Michigan Gardening: Hoop greenhouse, 1 by penth2o

penth2o wrote:
Man it hit 71 degrees yesterday and 76 today. I couldn’t see myself working, not a work any ways. I tried to bump into a layoff for the week but it didn’t happen. I was able to go on call for the week and got yesterday & today off so there is hope for the rest of the week. Not likely though as I go on vacation in two weeks. I must be tired as I’m rambling.

I found a bunch of treated 2x8x12’s & 16’s, 2x6’s & 8’s under my deck along with a bunch of treated 2x2’s so I started to build a 12 x 16 foundation. I dug the ground & squared the base and secured it 2 ft in the ground. I had 8 ft ¾” rebar so I whacked those in half and buried those 2ft down every two ft along the sides of the base.

I bought 1” x 10’ schedule 80 PVC and sanded all connections with 60 grit then primed & glued. I tried to paint it white with PVC paint but it wasn’t happening. $7.89 a can three cans later it didn’t even look white. (you will see the zebra effect in the pics where I gave up). I will probably cover all PVC & the wood ends with the pile of foam pipe insulation that I found in my basement to slow down U.V. rays that make PVC brittle over time & pad the poly cover. I hooped the rebar and leveled PVC with the bottom of the 2x8 base then secured with pipe clamps.

I cut a treated 2x8 for the back wall base plate to run studs on to mount the back wall ply board. I then cut my white studs for the back wall. (I don’t need no stinking treated here it’s not touching the ground) I’ll paint it white to slow rot. No door on this end, maybe frame for fans if needed. In the corners I cut studs 2 ft high to double as a stud for the treated 2x2 wall brace that will run the length of the greenhouse & secure to the hoops. These are braced also for the back wall. I pipe clamped any PVC that touched wood.

This was an impulsive act when I woke up yesterday. (More like Spastic).
I have to finish this quick as I was not planning on building this and it is taking away from other projects I have going. I’ll get the back & front ends done with plywood, finish running the knee high brace along the hoops & run a 16 ft angle iron along the top for snow support. I need to look online for 12 mil poly woven greenhouse material to cover it with. I do know a commercial grower in Ludington so maybe I will see what he recommends or have him get it for me.

Joel.
I'll add it to that blog thing I started when I get some time so you can see the final result.
http://pentwaterproperty.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.htm...