Part 2 of I ordered my greenhouse!!! Putting it together!

Great job! Enjoy filling it up!

MollyD

Looks very nice.

LOL Mainden................., very funny. As if I need ladder storage, LOL That darn ladder is there because you wouldn't believe how I was getting to the middle of the greenhouse on that side. I had to use that ladder which is against the house in that space along with a ladder (not shown) in front of the greenhouse. Then I would have a foot on each ladder totally straddling them. It was a sight to be seen. Am glad I am not big or heavy...................

TT, yes, I can't wait to have fun..................

Missy, it is tall so I am looking forward to having some hanging baskets for sure. Am not sure on how to do trees or large plants yet. I hate to have to heat it in the wintertime so...............not sure if I want to do tropicals tho.............but you never know about me, LOL

Molly, I can't wait to fill it up.

Thanks, Intercessor. I think it is real nice!

Today it was another nice sunny warm day.
I went out to see if my automatic vent was working. It hadn't opened up yet. My thermometer said it was 58 degs. so guess it wasn't to open up yet. But finally later it opened up when it got to like 62 deg. Am not sure if I want it to open that early but will be playing with it for a bit.

This picture is the starting of my benches!
This one is the 8' bench. It is only 3/4 way long of the 12' long greenhouse. So I had to do some makeshifting. Not the best job. So if anyone has any comments on how to make this more studier and better looking, just say so!

I will show you and tell you what I mean in the next pictures.

This is the 12' long bench. As you can see way on the back wall at the end of the 2 x 4, tho I guess this picture doesn't show the brackets very well. Anyways, there are 2 brackets holding the 2 x 4's into the 1 x 2 on the back wall. If you will look at the previous picture of the 8' bench, you will see that one end is attached to the back wall with brackets but the other end isn't.

I couldn't screw into the side wall with a bracket to hold that makeshift 2 x 6 board (didn't have any 2 x 4 to use and I needed the height to make the bench level I found out) because of the metal brackets on the side wall were in the way, so I had to make it lower. So I can't use the brackets to hold the other end up with brackets.

Had to do my makeshift 4 x 4 leg. It isn't real sturdy so am afraid I will kick it and it will collapse. I will post some more pictures on what each side looks like.

Here is the bench with the makeshift leg. I just put the bench slats on top to see what it would look like.
Nice looking tho.

As you can see, at the end of the right 2 x 4 is an bracket that I will attach to the 2 x 6 to at least hold it onto that 2 x 6. There is only one hole for a screw so........ I will put one also on the left 2 x 4 too.

One dilemma is it looks ugly at that end showing.
What can I do to make it look better or if anyone has a better idea on how to do this end, SPEAK UP please!
I haven't nailed down the slats yet so I am more than willing to do something else.

One thing what was handy I found out tho. Is I took pictures of all this and took it to HD and it sure helped the guys figure out what I might need. Of course, I boo-booed on this and didn't realize how stupid it would be since I didn't realize that the metal bracket on the side wall would be in the way.

Here is the other side of that makeshift leg. I attached another short piece of a 2 x 6 on top of the 4 x 4 to try to make it sturdier. Didn't really do much.

Another closer view of that makeshift leg.
Any comments???

Here is the other side. The 12' long bench with the slats just sitting on top. This bench is much easier to work with since it attaches to the end walls.
But on the other side, I wanted some space empty to do whatever with.

At the end you will see a pot that has a gardenia in it. That is the open space I am talking about on the 8' bench side.

A longer look at the 12' bench.

Now a close up of the bench slats.

They sure don't give you enough. The gap is like 1" and I do not like that. Too much space. I do want a gap but not that much. So am trying to figure out what to do about this situation.

May add some boards at the ends so it doesn't look bad but need to figure out what boards to use. I have some neat redwood pieces from my dad that he got years ago and was going to build things with it. I only have 2 of them. Wished I had saved more!
So more work needs to be done for this before I can finally screw the slats down. Can't wait!

Do love the pretty colored of the redwood tho!

Last picture for the night.

Here is my kitty trying out the bench. Unfortunately, she walked on the edge of the slats and they aren't attached yet, so down she went quickly, LOL Landed on her feet thankfully. This is Ruffles, by the way.

So, comments??? Say what you think please!

I think it looks great!! ANd I do have an idea for your leg. Why not take another piece of 4x4 and run it from the bottom of the leg to the wall. I know there are a bunch of metal brackets at the wall but I think there is an "L" backet that would fit there to secure it to the wall. let me draw a picture

Carol, I'd use cedar. You could get one 8 foot 1 X 4 and have four slats from it. Usually it's furry on one side but smooth on the other. It's hard to tell the difference between redwood and cedar. There's quite a variation in the cedar boards (just like your redwood) so you could pick you one that has lots of red in it and once it's up there only you ( and us ...LOL)will know it's not redwood.

Carol,

For that 12' bench make two more "legs" (put one towards the middle) like the ones you already made. Even if you can attach them to the wall at the back of the bench I would also attach them to each other by using a 1 x 3 (or similar size) the length of the bench set behind the legs about 1/3 of the way up from the floor. That would keep all the "legs" plumb and supporting your bench even when there is weight on it. Ditto for the 8' bench.
As for the bench tops just move your slats to the spacing you want and add your redwood pieces at each end to match. They'll look like they're framing the other pieces.

MollyD

Oooh yeah!! She wouldn't even have to put the 4x4 on the ground..she could put it part way up where there are no metal brackets on the wall!

I have an idea for the end of your bench.
First, you would need another small piece of the same material that supports your slats. Run that piece across the ends of the supports. That piece is indicated by the black lines on my picture. Next, use 2 legs. Run them right up to the top of the support that you just added. A 4x4 is really large - you could probably use the same size lumber as the top supports. Screw the legs into the supports with 2 long screws. I show the legs on the outside of the supports, but you could also put them on the inside - if you used 4x4 I guess that would be the only way that had enough room for them. That should be sturdy enough, metal supports probably wouldn't be needed. Run your top slats all the way to the end to cover the tops of all this stuff, and overlap the end about an inch. It will look very finished. Also, you should probably keep the slats at least an inch from the window for circulation.

Sorry about my crude drawing - I'm not very good at this sort of thing.
Just my idea, I'm sure you're going to get lots of them!

GREAT IDEAS, guys!
Wow, all kinds of ideas and I don't know which one to use.

Today was a beautiful day here in the NW. It was sunny, warm (up to 68 deg.), and no wind. I wished I could have played hooky from work, LOL

So after after work tonight, I was kind of frustrated at that leg/bench problem (hadn't had time to get online to see all the great ideas here) so I just spent some time in my new greenhouse potting up some honeysuckles that I had rooted. It was kind of fun to finally get to do that.

I had put in my potting bench in that open space at the end of the 8' bench. So it was a very nice space to be working in. I will take a picture and show you all tomorrow, I hope, on what it looks like.

My vent did work today! I got home and was so worried because I did have a few seeds in pots germing and wondered if they had fried. Well, that wax automatic vent worked great! The greenhouse was only 67 deg. inside when it was like 60 deg. outside. I was real happy to see that. So hopefully with a shade cloth, the summertime temps. should be ok.

Onto figuring out what to do about that makeshift bench.

Jazz, what a way to show me by actual drawing the picture. You must be an engineer with that kind of drawing? You remind me of my dad with his drawing. He alwasy drew out his projects. Thanks.

Maiden......., I do happen to have some cedar fence slat/boards that I can cut up. I had gotten them from a neighbor. They would do just fine as bench slats. Good idea, thanks a bunch!

Molly, a support in the middle will work. I was actually thinking of doing that because I want the benches to be strong because pots and soil can be very heavy.

Missy, what an artist you are. I had thought of putting something at the end of the bench like you had drawn. Yes, I could do the legs that way too. I just don't like my way since it looks tacky and also isn't very strong.

Now will have to think more on what I really want to do. Thanks all for your good comments tho.
Carol

Nope.. not an engineer, Just a visual person who feels like she doens't explain things very weel so she adds pictures.. lol I see that there are lots of options and I hope one works for you! Your greenhouse is looking great!

Thanks, Jazz.
I am a visual person too so I love the written word and pictures. Due to me being hard of hearing makes me use my eyes so much more.
Carol

CONGRDULATION! i especally like the high peak roof it will be a blessing in th winter for sure, find a small {blower} and mount on the floor in the middle of the gh blowing right up the wall on low speed or about 50% power it will circulate heat and moisture very nicely,also if you get hit with a blast of air when you open the door the blower is to high and will forch heat out of the gh i know this is sound advise i would never have been able to get celosia to grow well with out it

Thanks, bulbh. I haven't decided on how to do a fan. That is next on the list.
Am taking a break and helping out my mother in WA right now. Am anxious to get back to working on my greenhouse badly!!!
Love your benches tho. Am still pondering on how to do mine. Hope to have some ideas as I drive 6 hrs tomorrow home so I shall figure it out.........................
We had high winds here in WA the past 2 days and wonder if we did in OR. Hope my vent held out ok. Need to fix that so it will come down all the way on the one side....................
Carol

TaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaDaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Finished one bench. The 12' long one.
This bench was attached to each end of the greenhouse so I could finally finish it.

Don't know if you can see it but where the wood panels on the walls meet with the bench slats, I had to end up cutting those slats off. I could have tried to cut each of those slats to fit nicely but it was too much bother. I didn't have the right saw either.
But I think it all came out nicely!

Here is the 8' long bench. As you can see, I had to make up more bench slats.
Ended up using some cedar fencing boards. They were the right height at like 1/2". Plus they had come free a few years ago.
These cedar slats don't look the nicest but this area, I figured, would be the rough, dirty bench anyways.

The redwood bench slats are sticking out some as you can see. These slats haven't been cut yet. Haven't totally decided on how to do the leg/legs yet under this bench. So haven't gotten to finish the bench slats yet.

Ended up taking the day off to do this work on the greenhouse. It was a glorious day and wanted to do something for myself for a change, instead of always taking time off for my mother/dad, sons, etc.
A day for me, LOL

This is a close-up of the bench slats.

This is the 12' long bench from the other direction.

In the background, out the door, you will see in the background a red currant flowering plant. It looks so nice now.
In the post of the 8' long bench, outside that door is a wonderful smelling Daphne Ordora plant. It has been so nice to work in the greenhouse and have such a great smelling air all around!

Looks great, Carol!!

Didn't have enough bench slats (they want you to have a gap of 1" between slats and that is way too much!), so I needed to figure out other pieces of wood.

This piece of wood is, I think, walnut. From my dad's workshop after he died. He had many of these piece of wood he would make all kinds of things with. Wished I had saved more of them.

So decided to use a couple of them in the corner of the benches. Not the right height, but hey, it looks good I think and is a good memory for me.

Might put like a pot of geraniums on it.

Edited to say, note the piece of cedar fence for a small piece.

This message was edited Mar 16, 2007 11:17 PM

Here is the other piece on the other end of the 12' long bench.

Am not real sure what kind of would it is tho.

Here is the amazing automatic vent opener!

It was quite warm today. Like up to 70 degrees or more.
Need to get a thermometer. Broke the one I had in the greenhouse the other day. It fell down and broke the mercury part.

So want to get a high/low one but can't find one yet. Anyone know where to get one?

Here is my potting bench installed!
Along with my cheap 50 cents peg board! All hung up.

The potting bench fits just right, I found out.
The cedar fence slats are right next to the potting bench so that will be the dirty area, LOL

I just love this potting bench. Has a nice bowl/sink to use for dirt or water. And a solid surface to work on too.

Got my stool in there already too. Got that at a garage sale for $1. Not a bad deal, huh? LOL

I did use the stool with the potting bench this afternoon to take a break and sit down. Ended up potting up some wintersowed seedlings. Was so much fun to use it all!

Here is the potting bench from the other direction.

Now for another idea.
These green open pieces were from my old plastic greenhouse that blew over and broke into many pieces. These green open pieces are plastic coated metal. I have a bunch of them so would like to use these for shelves above the redwood bench slats.

I just put these green open pieces on the 8' long bench without the cedar fence and redwood bench slats to see how it would work with 2 x 4's. Seems to fix good.
So see the next picture to understand what I want to do.

Now, this is the 12' long bench side.
On the back wall, you will see the wood piece going across the back to meet with the side wall.
I would like to be able to use this back wall wood piece to hold up something to use the green open pieces on.

Got any ideas on how to attach to the wood pieces of the back wall and side wall???

I was going to do like there is already for the redwood bench slats with the special bracket that holds the 2 x 4 to the back walls. But the problem is the 12' long span.
The redwood bench slats have legs underneath to hold it up which I am going to add another one at the other end too. Got the parts to do from HD tonight.

My son said I could put up a support in the middle but think that would be tacky. Was going to maybe look into some of those shelve brackets that hold up wood shelving that would attach on the side walls. But don't really want to spend anymore money!

This is the 8' bench side now. Same idea on how to put up those green open pieces.

They have those white metal shelves that you use in closets and I could buy those since they have the attachments on the side which could go into the side walls. But they aren't cheap. Wonder if a discount stores would have them?

Last picture of the night. Don't want to bore you all, LOL

This is underneath of the benches. See Ruffles gazing out the door, LOL

Too much stuff underneath already so don't mind the mess.
I would like to put some of those green open pieces underneath here too partway. Am going to leave some space for large items and plants, I hope.
As you can see, there isn't any wood pieces on the back or side walls to attach to.

So any ideas???

Was thinking of like some bricks that have holes in to hold like some 2 x 4's lengthwise and then put the open green pieces crosswise?

That plant on the right is a hardy gardenia. It will smell wonderful soon too. Has a few buds on it already!

It has been fun putting all these pieces together of the greenhouse with its benches, etc. Feels good to get all done.

Mendy, thanks! Didn't mean to ignore you. Just wanted to get these pictures posted before I lost track, LOL

You want to use the green wire shelving above the redwood bench, right?

This suggestion may reflect the fact that I don't completely understand your problem, Daisy. But here it is anyway...

Why don't you just hang the supporting 2x4s from joist hangers? That way you wouldn't take up bench space with blocks. You could nail/screw a 2x4 along the back wall for the back side support. You could hang a joist hanger on the horizontal member of the side walls to hold up the front side 2x4. If the 12' span sags in the middle, just put a 2x2 "leg" from the front side 2x4 down to the bench. You'd probably want to center that support over the leg on the lower redwood shelf.

SB

Yes, SB. Guess I didn't make that very clear. But yes, the green wire shelving above the redwood bench. Just to use like for light weight things and more possible space.
Yes, SB, your ideas are what I was thinking of. I just didn't want to have to have a support in the way on the redwood bench tho. That is what I was trying to avoid.
So thanks for your very nice comments on what to do.

Am going outside to see what I can do now. Went to HD last nite to get more parts and scored some good deals. Got a cedar board for only 50 cents, 3' long, for the underneath of the 12' long redwood bench for supporting the other end.
Then got some pegboard hooks to use.
And more metal brackets for that darn 4 x 4 leg under the 8' long redwood bench.

Carol

I didn't know you started a new one, Carol. For anyone else who got lost, the new thread is here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/704177/

:o)