Looking for help in GH replacement materials

I recently came across what I thought was a good deal at a neighbor who had no interest in a GH. It belonged to her DD who left it behind after a bad relationship. I have no idea what model this is, and also no idea where to start with covering it. It is 9X16, and previously had glass, but they broke alot of it, so I don't believe it was ever moved with the GH. I think I would like to use the twin wall, but the sizes it comes in don't seem to match the openings, and I'm not sure if the weight and rigidity of glass is needed to stabilize it.

I thought at the very least it could be covered with a continuous plastic sheet, and left on the ground, (I'm short!!) but it is meant to be mounted on 3 rows of concrete blocks. My DH thinks he could mount it on a treated wood base, but I'm concerned about moisture, and like the permanence of a block foundation.

So, I will post some pics, and hope all of you who have been there,done that, can help me. This may not happen instantly, but I need to know where to start.

Here is another view, the bench and crates of supplies went with the deal for $300, AND they delivered it!! I couldn't pass this up!

Here are some controls, I am not sure what they are, DUH!

And finally 4 crates of flats and small pots, I won't need supplies any time soon!

I would make a wood base. Then you can secure the plastic to the wood.
The controls ? Some people lay awake at night trying to make things complicated I think. We buy a $50.00 thermostat at a farm store to control our fans. That's all you need. You can wire them to run heat or cool.
The thing on the left looks like a very old style off of a space heater. Wouldn't know what the gauge is used for.
One greenhouse we bought used came with a box of controls. The lady mentioned some big $ figures. They are still in the same box in our shed, probably will be there forever.
Good growing,
Bernie

If you want to use twinwall I would. It's more permanent than the plastic and insulates better. You can cut it to the sizes you need.

I was originally thinking only in terms of block for the base, but now I am thinking, DH can build a base from treated wood himself, cutting labor costs, and I would think you could insulate it with the pink insulation used on foundations, also it would match the porches better and blend in better.

DH is concerned about poly-tex or twin-wall not being rigid enough for this application. It previously had glass on it, and he feels it needs more rigid material that will help stabilize it. I suggested to him if he feels it is not stable enough he could run cables from corner to corner with turnbuckles. I used twinwall on my other smaller gh and it is not a terribly rigid material. Don't remember the thickness. Any ideas?

The other thing I would like to find is a local dealer, I paid huge shipping costs for the other twinwall.

Legit

The farmtek catalog will give you plenty of ideas as to materials. Do a Google.

Here is a nice site for construction. http://www.plantideas.com/greenhouse/construcition.htm

http://www.plantideas.com/greenhouse/5techtips.html


Hope this gives you a start.

Rick

Just last night I was reading a Charlie's Greenhouse catalogue. It might be wise to get one and look through it. They do a very nice job with comparing the different types of glazing and the costs. If you are going to run your GH 12 months, then you might consider triple wall.

www.charleysgreenhouse.com


Rick

Thanks, Rick, I have a Charley's catalog. I will be ordering a fan system from them later this week. I was hoping to find somewhat better prices than they have. Legit

The cheapest would probably be to use rip stop translucent plastic and hold it with Tek screws. Last about 5-7 years or so? Then during that time you could save your money to do it right with lexan or polycarbonate.

Rick

Rick, I think that will be the way to go for me, I am ordering the fan kit for the smaller Gh, and would like to get a misting system too. We just had the remainder of materials delivered to finish our long-awaited porch yesterday. I think I'd better finish a few projects before I get into too many or I won't do them up as good as I could.

I think we will go with a treated wood foundation too, just because dh can build that in his spare time, probably with screws so if I decide to move it, it's still not quite permanent, maybe later on I'll get it with a concrete foundation and some decent panels. If I get that far into it, it's going just outside my patio doors so I can play in it to my heart's delight into my retirement years, which right now are a day-dream!!! LOL Legit

Does anyone have any opinion about using this type of covering for a couple of years before I get serious?? They have end walls also. I am looking to just get a jump on the seasons, not for heating and such. I am thinking about these with a treated wood base.
Legit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2786587982&category=16041&ssPageName=WD1V&rd=1

Hi Legit! In the description of the clear tarp I noticed it has a 3X3 grid, which leads me to think it's reinforced, which may cut your light coming through, might want to check it out. That probably wouldn't be a problem in the late spring/summer, but it might be in winter/early spring when there isn't as much light anyway.
I have a 12X12 wood frame greenhouse my DH built. We have always just put regular clear 4 mil plastic (off the shelf) on it, works fine, however you have to change it once a year,sometimes twice because the sun destroys it in the summer. Of course the upside is it's a lot cheaper, but it is a pain in the rear changing it so often.
This year we are going to try the greenhouse poly from farm tek, says it lasts 3-4 yrs and is uv treated. Will cost less than $100. and if it lasts as long as it says well worth it.
With your greenhouse you could use the poly and attach it with clips that they sell on farm tek, they really work great, we bought some this year and used them to make a cold frame with pvc pipe, worked like a charm!
The base of my greenhouse is railroad ties (they are treated against bugs when you buy them) filled with river gravel (5 tons of it). Absorbs heat in the daytime and helps with heating at night. I guess it is semi-permanent! :) $300 is a steal! We have about $1500 in mine with the water, heat, vent fan, electric, etc., but I sure enjoy it!

btailoring,
I did notice the grids in the clear tarps. I was thinking this would be a good feature since I absolutely won't be heating this in the winter. That won't happen unless I get polycarbonate panels for it someday. I have another smaller gh shown partway down in this Home Made Green House thread http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/408751/
Well, it doesn't seem as the plants get enough light through this one. The plants sometimes get lanky, stretching toward the light, and they will sunburn if I put them out without hardening off. That is why I was interested in something with just a little more light transmission.

Oh, BTW, when my gh had a truck topper roof, I used off the shelf plastic too, and boy you said it, It's not fun to replace. I think I did it twice and then had to come up with another plan.

Which clips did you think would work to secure the plastic? Were the railroad ties less expensive than treated wood? We are just finishing up a summer long covered porch project, and I'm not sure if I can afford that much more treated lumber!!! LOL One more question.....how deep is your gravel? Legit

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/371449/

Hi Legit!
The gravel in my greenhouse is about two inches from the top of the railroad ties (probably 8 inches deep) We attached the greenhouse sill to the railroad ties and then filled any gaps with expandable foam. The above hyperlink is to a post with pictures of the greenhouse as we were building it. The railroad ties were cheaper then treated because they are bigger and you only have to use one layer,plus they are tuff enough to use a trimmer around without beating them up too much (I'm dangerous with a weed trimmer!:))

After looking at your pictures again the clips probably wouldn't work, I was thinking your frame was tubular but it's flat. The clips work on tubular stuff, pvc or metal pipe.

I'll check back later, gotta be at work in 30 minutes! Bye for now

I am thinking that Railroad ties might work nicely also.. You can run rebar through them into the ground to keep them from shifting.
I was thinking of doing that myself if I got a greenhouse. some of the smaller ones aren't very tall. (And I am)

You should check out farmtec if you haven't already. You can get the polycarb sheets cut very close to the sizes you need.. but I think you could use a table saw if you needed too.. always cheaper to get larger sheets and cut them yourself I think.

I think those controls are for a heater? maybe?

Hi' Legit, Ihave a small greenhouse in my yard where get the supplies from ?.........Sharon

Hi Sassygranng! I don't have a local 'real greenhouse' supply source. I get what I need wherever I can find it. Our local feed mill carries some supplies, but mostly I rely on Walmart, and you wouldn't guess, but we have a small Mom and Pop Ace Hardware nearby that carries everything from soup to nuts, and they carry alot of what I need for soil, fertilizer, bugs, etc. If I can't find it locally I have to mailorder, Greenhouse Supply is the one I usually turn to. Hope that helps, it would sure be fun to be able to go shop somewhere for stuff, but then I would probably spend way more than I do this way!! Legit