I can give you some idea of costs of the HFGH. Can't tell you how much time to put it together -- we're retired and work at a slower pace. Reading posts here on how others put their together will definitely be helpful.

I didn't document the details of building because it had already been done so well. We did put the roof on piece by piece rather than as the instructions directed. Can you imagine two old people on ladders struggling with an unwieldy aluminum structure eight feet in the air?

Additional purchases for HFGH reinforcement:

Spring Clips -- $10.95
Bolts -- 15.96
Bolts -- 24.27
Aluminum tape 19.94
Aluminum piece 10.98
Straps 9.44
Wafer Screws 7.97
Clamps 4.67
-- a cost of about $105.00 US.

The following would be necessary for any greenhouse set up that we might have used, not just the HFGH:

Treated lumber for base and hardware for assembly
Ground Fault outlets
Water pump
Drum fittings and hoses
Hoses
Elec. Box and Breakers
Wire -- we already had wire -- that's another hundred.
Outlet boxes
Duplex boxes, recept. covers
Conduit
Water Valve
Pipe and fittings
Temperature Gauge
Water Drums

Adding this doubled the cost of the HFGH.

I have not included the cost of buying or building benches, patio pavers for the paths and barrel support, nor the cost of a heater (we already have heaters), nor the cost of shading.

Everybody's mileage will vary because of regional differences, personal needs and individual ideas on how this should be done.

I hope this gives you a general idea of what to expect.

Nell

Here is a link that might be useful: Greenhouse

There are some 'do it yourself' greenhouse sites on University Extension sites on the web, using plastic sheeting and a hoop frame.

Unversity West Virginia Planning and Building a Greenhouse

U. Alabama Publications

U. Alabama Plans

U.Tenn Plans

There are others.

Oh, and I forgot to list the HF vent openers as another expense for the HFGH -- optional, but nice.

Nell

HI there let me wiegh in on this and ask a question aswell...
The home depot is having a sale now on starter greenhouses.They are just a 4 shelf stand covered in plastic with 2 zippers.You cold just get one of these and heat it alone and thus would eliminate the need to heat the whole GH.This would be only good for a hobbyist.
My question is...I have a friend who is a ginsin farmer...Could I use some shade cloth from his farm for the greenhouse? Also Does it go on the inside or outside?

Everybody has their own notions about what works best. I've done okay up to now with cuttings and tropicals in the unheated laundry room windows where it never gets below 40 degrees. Last winter, I trundled a kitchen cart in and out with little seedling trays on it to get sun and avoid the cold.

Shade cloth doesn't mind what it shades. Does the percentage of shade this particular cloth provides meet your need? If used, is it in good shape? Shade generally goes on the outside, unless you can work out some kind of support for it inside. If you put it outside, you can hem it to fit and then put grommets so you can tie it to stakes to keep it from blowing away, unless you use some other means to secure it.