It sounds like you are prepared to build other parts of your structure with wood. "enclosed narrow lean-to shed that we would build" All I can suggest is build the whole custom structure yourself. A greenhouse is basically a garden shed with see through walls.

That's the best definition I've ever heard Chris!

Dave
Milwaukee

Well, I know that it just won't ever happen if we think we will do it all by ourselves---it will end up being one of those "Round-to-its".

So does anyone have any input on wood framed greenhouses in general? their upkeep, etc.
Or on any of the specified ones listed above?
Does anyone have a wood GH?

I had a wood GH, it was very nice. One good thing about wood GHs is that you can stick a nail or screw anywhere you like, or staple things to it. I had no trouble with rot with untreated hardwood, but treated softwood rotted in all the joints (which stayed basically wet).

I'm still undecided whether my new greenhouse will be wood or gal-steel. Aluminium is too expensive/flimsy for me. Does anyone have any comments about steel framed greenhouses? I'm pondering half inch steel square tubing with wood batons for the roof and wood benches /bench fronts.

plantknitter,

I have a wood framed greenhouse. I bought it as a kit. It cost $700 and that included the cement blocks for the base and the exterior grade plywood for the north wall, the knee wall and the north roof.

I had to then buy the screws, paint and the covering seperatly. In total I think it cost me about $1200. That is including inlet vents and exhaust fans.

It is 24x14....

chris
How long ago did you get this kit? What kind of wood is it? what dimension is the wood? What did you use to cover it? How has it held up?
I like the idea of having the north wall solid, for sure.
I only have room for about half that size.
Thanks.

How long ago did you get this kit?

About 4 years ago.

What kind of wood is it?

Unfortunatly it is pressure treated pine, it is all I could/can afford.

what dimension is the wood?

It is built of 2x4s. Some 1x4s and 1x6s in there but they are mostly non-structural. The plywood is 1/2 inch sheets.

What did you use to cover it?

For the first 3 seasons I used cheap construction plastic that gave out after 6-7 months. I was covering it in Oct-Nov and the plastic was wrecked by the following May. This October I covered it in Tufflite IV Should last me 3-4 years.

How has it held up?

It is WAY over engineered. 80-90 mph winds have had no effect on the structure except to punch holes in the poly by flying objects. Then the poly tears itself off. I am however seriously worried about the poly coming off in a strong south wind. The north wall is solid, so is half the north roof. With no poly on it the structure is a giant air scoop. The emergency plan is to cut off or rip holes in the poly on the East and West walls to try to prevent the whole thing being blown over.

I like the idea of having the north wall solid, for sure.

A solid North wall is the same as a lean-to. I only have half my north roof solid for a very good reason. I built it on my own, a 4x8 sheet of damp pressure treated ply weighs over 50lbs. I couldn't get the sheets up that high. :)

I only have room for about half that size.

These things can be scaled down. The reason it is 14ft wide is that with a 30 degree roof slope and using 8ft lengths of wood the numbers fit.

When I said a "kit" I may have misled you slightly, What I should have said was "I saved up $700 and did a lot of head scratching and worrying and eventually called up the local hardware store and had 50 cement blocks, 120 2x4x8s and 14 sheets of exterior ply delivered.

I didn't work from a "plan" I just looked at how the old chicken shed and hog shed were framed, and the only angles I needed to cut were 30deg, 60deg (tricky) and 90deg.

Taking that big pile of wood and building the frame was the most fun I ever had in the snow with all my clothes on!

A note on the picture. Notice the biological shade cloth? It is a Mulberry. A weed tree, but it seems to be ideal because it gets its leaves very late in spring.

Also, check out the abandoned coldframe... That damn thing got me hooked on gardening.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:287695}}

Chris, I love the looks of your greenhouse. If I decide I really want one, that is the style I want, maybe half that size though.

How did you fasten your Tuflite?
Also, you may have already said, but I missed it. Do you heat it at all?

gld

gldno1,

The Tufflite is fastened by waterproof tape and staples then calking and lath strips.

The wriggle wire stuff would be great and I would do that next time.

I don't heat it as in a heater, I use loads of water and a pond pump. This year an aquarium heater for bench heating and some nights I cheat with an oil filled electric heater.

plantknitter,

This may not be of any help because I can't give you direct experience yet, but I faced a similar problem: I needed something that would blend in with my garden and I decided that wood was the way I wanted to go.

After checking around, I decided that I liked the way the Sturdi-Build greenhouses looked the best. Next I called and visited a few references and received very good comments. Finally, I flew to their facility so that I could compare the different models. The owner has worked with me on the design and is customizing it exactly the way I wanted.

So far, its been a great experience. The proof will come later. (I've asked for delivery in April).

The downside is that Sturdi-Built is definately more expensive than most of the units I've seen discussed in this forum. But, I know that I'm not resouceful enough to build my own and I didn't have any luck finding someone who has experience building a greenhouse.

Good Luck.

Paul

btw--be careful about taking literally the earlier comment about a greenhouse being "a garden shed with see through walls", it depends on what you want to do with it.