Ok I am building a green/shade house and for it I will need benches. One of our local DG's gardeners is interested in doing a article about building a green house.. I am interested in knowing what y'all would like in benches if you could have them built.
I am building them with PVC pipe and joints and hardware wire cloth , or wire fence with small holes.
How wide would you want them.12 in. 24in 36 inch or what every.
how high each shelves, if starting with one a few inches off the floor(to discourage pest)
How about a hanging rack above the shelves.
Please think about this and give me your answer.
My green house will be after I redesign it 13ft long, 7feet wide and 7feet in the front and 6 1/2 feet in the back tall
help planning benches.
It sounds like you are doing great so far! Please post pics when you get done.
I like benches where the dirt and water can fall through. For the bench tops, you could do a frame of wood and then attach the hardware cloth to it and then set concrete blocks under it on both sides and maybe in the middle for support.. I've noticed that home depot and those places have setups similar to that but with a solid metal top instead of wood frame.
I like the idea of adding some type of poles horizontally across the tops for all your hanging baskets etc. I am thinking about doing that on my screen patio so I don't have so many hooks hanging from the ceiling.
I am planning on using PVC pipe as you do not need power tools. Even thought I have and can use powertools, most people do not have the power tools .
I am also thinking on designing a potting bench using the pvc pipe. Any ideas out there?
I bet you could use those heavy duty zip ties to fasten the wire to your pvc pipe to form the top of the table.
I love those things. I use them all the time.. I was out in the shade house and it looks like I better start with the plant shelves first one of the ones I have is bending under the load-it does not help that there is a slight slope. I think I will make it three high with 2 feet between each. I have planned them in such a way that they can be added on to. So I can start with a four foot length and later add on.
One the sides it will be 6 feet, across the back it will be 14 feet long.
Well back to deciding what I will need to build them with at the less cost. My head hurts.
Sandy the epi nut
I have just added new shelving to my greenhouse that I am very happy with. Bought it at Lowe's for approx. $25. per unit. Each unit has five shelves made of plastic with pvc piping as the riser poles. Each shelf is 18 inches high but you can alter heights by using 1 1/2 inch piping to do so or using connectors with the piping supplied with the unit.'. I have made some units with spaces of 36 inches to accommodate outside planters that I am overwintering. Shelves are 18 inches wide and four foot long. Each unit is made to interlock with each other for added strength.
These units will last forever and allow light through as much as possible. I think this is going to work out well for me. On the unit closest to my door, I just used two shelves and made a nice work bench just the right height. bob
Can you show a picture?
I may look at them.
I have some bought shelves but on the slight slop in the back yard it throws them out of line and they collapse-suppose to hold up to 300 pounds yell right. The plastic bends on the shelves. The pipes are metal.
Sandy the epi nut
Wren: I'll try to get a few up in the next few days. bob (all the epies you gave me are doing great!!!)
Great.
Here is a lay out of my future benches. I have designed them in such a way that I can do them in sections. The one to the left is the end view. They will be 3 shelves high. each shelve will be 2 feet wide and high. The right view is the lay out of all the the shelves. They will be connected.
The center row of shelves will be 4 feet wide.
+----------+---------+ +---------+---------+---------+--------+--------+
l l l l l l l l l
l l l l l l l l l
+----------+---------+ +-------- +-------- +---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
l l l l l l l l l l
l l l l l l l l l l
+---------+---------+ +--------+ +---------+---------+ +---------+
l l l l l l l l l l
l l l l l l l l l l
=============== +--------+ +---------+ --------+ +--------+
l l l l l l l
l l l l l l l
+--------+ +--------+---------+ +---------+
Sandy, Bob must be talking about these benches: We purchased these from HD on sale last year, and they're easy to put together, this is a sing unit....
Then we can stack 'em up like these....
(above post; Typo 'sing' I meant to say 'single').
This is a set up in my basement 'makeshift' greenhouse.
1. Stacking shelves, top off with plywoods.
2. Catch basin by using kiddies pools.
3. 24/7 fans
4. Plenty florescent light.
5. Watering wands.
6. Light timer; 12 on/off.
7. Dual reading Thermometer/hygrometer (humidity meter).
Nice . But they would no fit my needs. Mine are out side and I need to use all the selves for plants.(200+plants take up a lot of space) and the ground is not even so they need to be hooked together. The plywood would not last very long. Plus I am working to design places for hanging basket.
Sandy the epi nut.
Wren and Lily: Very similar, as you can see. Perfect for outdoor and greenhouse use as they are totally plastic, can be adjusted in size as needed, and the units will lock together. bob
Here's another view. Width is 18 inches. bob
Bob thank you , nice set up. What I am going to build is similar but I will use hardware cloth for the bench shelves as it will give me more air circulation. I am probable going to have to put a fan or two out there. It gets way to hot out there. I have decided to put solid 4 ft panels alternating with 2 ft strips of translucent. to cut down on the sun. With 70% shade cloth on two side and 50% on the other two side to start with. In winter will put up double plastic sheets that I can roll up and down.
Sandy the epi nut
How are the benches coming along?
I get all most all the parts. Need ten 1 1/2 " pvc pipes and hardware cloth.. Waiting for pay day. But it will be but on back burner until the green house is finished and I have all most all the parts there to.Just need ten 2" pvc pipes and some more t joints and a + joint if I can find one and 5 panels for roof and plastic for sides.. Two more weeks until pay day.
Sandy the epi nut.
My plant room is pretty similar with the bench idea but I purchased the cheapie plastic units at wal-mart with the solid shelves. The reason I did it that way is because I wanted to attach lights under each shelf. I got the cheapie flourescent light fixtures at wal-mart that are meant to be used under kitchen cabinets. Since the shelves are fairly thin it was easy to put a screw through the plastic and attach the light units. Now I have inexpensive lighted shelves that are easy to take apart and move during the summer but also easy to put up again when I need them in the winter. I have found that I can vary the height of the shelves by purchasing pvc pipe and cutting to size. Will have to get a pic.
Please do. I have bought shelves but the problem is we are on a slight slope(yes even the carport slopes and the cheapie units brake. the ones I have been using are said to hold up to 300 pounds but they do not. To comp for the slope in the back yard I think I will cut post on the the down hill ends side a little longer. I am also planning a seed starting shelves unit. One of the greenhouse web sites has shelve panels that might work.
Sandy
Finally I have the first set of benches finished. I am going to try using 1 1/4 pipe or maybe even 1 inch pipe. I plan to add one or two more 2foot squire section onto this one. That is the nice thin about using PVC pipes and joints. The hard part is the shelving. I am working with plastic chicken fencing. No totally happy with it but it is easier that metal.
Sandy the epi nut
Here is a picture of the top shelf before I put in onto the bottom section.
Sandy,
I love your shelf frame, but the plastic chicken fencing looks like it gives too much. You lose some of your valuable shelf space because of that. Lowe's sells a white hard plastic grid stuff that is used in lights. It comes in (I think) 2' X 4' sections for not too much money. I have used it for shelves in a saltwater aquarium I used to have for growing out coral. Here is a picture of a section of it cut for this aquarium to show you the stuff I am talking about: http://www.amphibiancare.com/frogs/articles/falsebottom.html Anyway, just a suggestion.
This message was edited Jan 6, 2009 2:16 PM
Thanks sounds good, how much weight does it take? I am looking at a number of different stuff to use. I am going to look at it right now.
I'm not real sure, but since you have some real sturdy frames to put it on, (versus the flimsy legs in the picture) I think it would work real well for you.
This message was edited Jan 6, 2009 2:45 PM
I will get a piece next week (payday) I think I will also get some boards and attact the plastic fencing to it or some of the wire fencing I tried on first.I plan on trying a number of different material to see what is best. Non of my epi pots that will be on the benches are as heavy as the pot in the picture. The main problem is attaching the panels to the pvc pipes. If push come to shove I many go for the closetmaid shelves. The plastic fencing is strange enough but the zip ties slid. Maybe I just need to get my own power drill. LOL The greenhouse supple place that I get the joints from has panels but shipping is high for the panel. 30+dollars for one 2x4 9.00 panel.
The bought rack in the back corner of this picture in not the right size and the holes do not let enough light through.
You have some challenges. And yeah, you probably need a power drill. You seem to have a lot of projects going to justify getting yourself one.
Yes but I think I will try the Closet maid shelves first, as they will also salve another problem.
The inside of my shade house is 16x8 feet. The back shelves I hope will be 3 feet wide. and the front ones will be 2 feet that leaves 3 feet on the sides and with the Closet maids shelves they are strong enough to bridge that distant with out building shelves.
That sounds like a winner. I know you just have to make the best use of space in the whole area. It's going to look so cool when you're done and get a bunch of your collection in there. I'm anxious to see that picture!
They are in there now on the old plant shalves.
That is a very pretty peach color on the real big one. I bought 2 from the Marketplace here called:
'Sunset Blvd.' and 'Roman Holiday'. They are still small and haven't bloomed yet, but the pictures of the flowers and just gorgeous.
This is the one that I found last month loaded with blooms, lost a lot of them but the ones on it have bloomed and new ones are starting to grow. Most of mine are small also but some may bloom this summer I hope!!!! But I may have to wait another year. There has been a lot of growth sense I put them into the green house.
Oh my! It looks like a cotton candy pink color now. So pretty.....
It was taken with a flash which lighten the color.
This one was the cutting that I took with me to Ga and was taken with out a flash.
Oh yeah...I see the orange tones in the outside petals. It's amazing how light changes the colors so much. It's the same with the colors of live coral that is underwater.
Yes
sorry short answer-shoulder is hurting bad.
Well I have finially finished the first of my benches. Had to change the design some what. As soon as I move the plants over I will post pictures. Boy will I have the room for more epi's when I am finish with all on the benches, over half of my pots right now fit on this one bench. I will have to keep in mind that they will get a lot bigger and not buy too many more. LOL
The one I just finish is make with the heavy 1" pvc pipe and the closet maid shelves. The frame is 6 1/2 feet long. the bottom shelf is 1 ft high and 16 inches wide. the second shelf is 2 feet high and it and the third shelf are 2 1/2 feet wide. The shelves are 8 ft long. I will build another one about the same size and 2 more that will be 2 feet wide and 6 feet long on door side of the epi house.
Now if I can just move all the plants over with out breaking any more. I dropped my poor Pink Flamingo and it took a major hit. Darn it was big enough to bloom this year.
A tire Sandy the epi nut