my 8x16 shed walls are built out of 6 over 9 lite "french doors"with plenty of light. Garage doors on both ends allow plenty of ventilation. My greenhouse is an 10x12 hfgh. check your salvage yards first. bangell

I don't have a greenhouse, but I am considering one...if you are going to be making it a combo garage and greenhouse, wouldn't it make sense to make that the design all the way around?

What I mean is, don't include a lot of windows in the area that you plan to use as a garage (for storage), but increase the windows in the area that you plan to use as a greenhouse. I would also encapsulate the area used as a garage with walls (complete with insulation, for both summer and winter) to keep the heat out of the garage in the summer, and the heat in the greenhouse in the winter! This smaller greenhouse space would require a much smaller exhaust and cooling system.

Secondly, I don't understand why you would have the windows on the NORTH side. They will offer you no heating or light intake, but only be a source of heat loss in the winter. The SOUTH side will provide you with a much higher light intake, but at the same time, that will be a problem in the summer. Limiting the cubic feet of interior will limit the power exhaust fan you will need.

Personally, I am considering a combination greenhouse tool/potting shed. I don't want a lot of windows in the storage area, because that will heat up tremendously in the summer. (I don't want/need a 12 month greenhouse, just a 6 month greenhouse.) In the summer I plan to use on the tool shed, so the cooler the better! So, less windows is best there and I can use the door to ventilate as I need to go in there for items. Conversely, the greenhouse section will need to be designed to allow for maximum light in the winter and minimize heat loss at night. Insulating between the two will keep the tool shed cooler in the summer and the greenhouse warmer in the winter.

Well, I hope this helps.

First off, thanks for the input. In looking over the previous post, I mistakenly listed East and North, meaning East and South walls being "heavily windowed".

I've since obtained the approval for a 24X24 ft structure which must match "the architectural and cosmetic" appearance of our home. This will mean stucco and shingles. To the front (North) I'm planning on a garage door to the right (West) and French doors with a fancy entry to spruce up the curb appeal a bit.

In terms of utility of the GH, I'm looking to extend the growth season (veggies) and keep some year round growth. Hobby use at-most; I'm no pro. I may even build a small indoor pond for water plant growth.

Location detail: Well drained, no shade. We live on a hill with airflow that varies from heavy breeze to 40 mph winds at all times. This has proven problematic for growth outdoors due to lack of shelter but I'm planning on this helping tremendously on ventilation.

My thoughts on windows are to find the least expensive 3x6 windows for the East and South walls and place them just far enough apart to make this structurally sound. The West half of the South Wall and the West wall will have only enough glass to balance the appearance a bit. For skylights I am 100% open to suggestions. This will be applied on a composition roof. Aside from that I'd love input from you guys on #, spacing, sources, etc.

Any experience with sources for plans for the building itself? I'll be contracting the concrete and stucco. The rest is DIY.

Thanks again, J.

I have a 10x10 greenhouse. Im having overheating issues on these 70 plus degree sunny days. IM venting adequatly. I have a rainbarrel watering sytem setup with the guttering on my greenhouse. Its a 55 gallon barrel. Now here comes the question part. I want to use a transfer pump to irrigate my greenhouse and for cooling purposes. I bought some fancy misting nozzles, 3 are a very fine mist for watering and one is more for cooling. Would a 115 volt transfer pump do the trick. The one I have my eye on is at lowes, the water ace for 88.00 bucks. If I set it up on a timer, would it do the job. This pump will pump out 300 gallons and hr, or 5 gallons a minute. I just want something for soft misting seedlings and for watering my propagtion table. I would use pvc. I got my nozzles at AFC greenhouses.They use 1/2 in pvc. I do have a 12 volt transfer pump but I cant figure out how to use a timer with it. Its pretty much an on or off pump. Anyways IM wanting to try and make this work. Would it?

Check out the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: carport to greenhouse conversion