Greetings lawmar, congratulations on your greenhouse! We put our Harbor Freight 10x12 up over two years ago. I think how long it takes varies a lot from person to person, and how much you modify or improve the structure. We poked along and built our floor and benches before finally completing the panel installation, so ours was probably the slowest build in history (but we liked it that way.)

There are many very good tips (and critical info about modifications for strength and wind resistance) here at the GardenWeb forum. I tried to gather up many of those tips and put them in a blog while we built ours, and maybe it will be helpful to you. The HF manual is famous for driving people slightly insane, and sometimes photos help.
mudhouse blog for our 10x12 Harbor Freight greenhouse

I'll be back in a jiff with links to more of the very helpful reads you can find here.

Ok, some more good reading and photos:

Gardenerwantabe's thread on HFGH modifications:
A Guide to the Modifications of 10x12 HFGH
...and a link to his photos:
Gardenerwantabe's HFGH photos

Laserfan's thread, with links to his photos:
HFGH 10x12 Lessons Learned

Oraylawson's thread, with links to his photos:
10x12 HFGH

Troykd's site:
Building our Greenhouse, an Adventure in Pain

FoxesearthÂs blog:
HF Greenhouse in Progress

Amigatec's site:
How I Built My 10x12 Harbor Freight Greenhouse

Joe Urda's site:
Harbor Freight Greenhouse

These are just a few I've managed to save for my own reference, and I'm sure I've managed to miss some that should be included here. Do be sure to do searches for HFGH 10x12 in this forum as well. Folks here are very nice and super helpful (and many of them know a lot more about greenhouses than I do.)

I hope you will keep in touch and let us know how it goes.

Thanks mudhouse. I guess after looking in here, we have decided to sell this one, we got it in a city that is 300 miles away. So can't take it back. I don't think we should have too much trouble selling it though. It's just too darn windy here where we live and we should have considered that before we bought it, but after reading some of the postings here in this forum it's just not worth it to spend that much money on something that may not hold together for one season. We're looking at a smaller lean-to, which might be a little more practical for a beginner like me. Thanks for your help!

With the modifications from I think it was Mudhouses postings my HFGH has withstood MANY windstorms. (last one loosened all but 6 bolts in the frame!!!) I put mine together myself with the exception of the roof (I had help for that). It took me at least 50 hours, but I tried to follow the directions that came with it. It went SO MUCH FASTER when I started to follow the directions here instead.
Maybe find a better spot in your yard that is protected from direct wind?

Now that it's finished I LOVE IT!

Andrea

PS: Read 2-3 pages AHEAD of where you are when your following the directions... sometimes they have you put a bolt/nut on then the next page has you take it off to insert something.... grrrrr

lawmar posted: "It's just too darn windy here where we live and we should have considered that before we bought it, but after reading some of the postings here in this forum it's just not worth it to spend that much money on something that may not hold together for one season."

Anyone reading some of those scary stories about wind damaged HFGHs would be goofy to not pay attention, but I'd practically bet money that the postings you've read in this forum with wind damage problems were posted by folks who did not know to make the modifications outlined in the above links...or figured they weren't important. These modifications (strengthening the walls with EMT braces, adding screws to the panels, and adding extra clips) are not expensive or difficult...just take a bit more time and thought. And, they make all the difference, as evidenced by the community of happy Harbor Freight greenhouse owners in this forum.

We live in southern New Mexico, known for high winds, on a hill. (It's not uncommon for us to have high wind advisories here, with closed interstates, because the dust storms get so bad folks can't see to drive.) My greenhouse is sheltered on the north by our house, but it takes a direct hit on the doors from frequent west winds. Our greenhouse has been up for over 2 1/2 years, and has withstood wind gusts in the 50mph range (or more) repeatedly, with no wind damage. There are many members here who've had Harbor Freight greenhouses in place for longer than I have, so you may reconsider abandoning ship prematurely...lots of us here love our Harbor Freight greenhouses (modified for strength) and I'd hate for you to miss out on the enjoyment!

If I thought the Harbor Freight greenhouses wouldn't "hold together for one season" I sure wouldn't be recommending them to folks, or maintaining a blog with tips to help build them in a successful way. We all have to find our own way in getting started with a greenhouse, but my HFGH 10x12 has been a terrific way for me to get started with a very low cost.

Whatever you decide, I sure wish you the best! It's a very enjoyable hobby.

Hi all,
Here in Michigan we would not think of putting up one of these- the snow crushes them like a cardboard box.

I live in Wi and have had no problems with snow...We hit the record last year and this year in greenbay with the most snowfall and she is still going strong.... All it takes is a few mod and it is a greta gh for the money we are attaching number two to it....:))))))) Barb I have pics posted under were going saturday....

Howdy verdure1, no snow here (thank goodness). As Barb mentioned, here are her good threads showing their modifications for snow load:
Snow load brace
Mid west snow storm

Gardenerwantabe (link above) is in Michigan, and he was the first here to engineer and document his modifications for strength. He put his HFGH 10x12 up in Feb of 2006, and has reported no problems with snow load.

Joe Urda (link above) is in New York state and has a lovely photo in his blog of his Harbor Freight greenhouse with a hefty snow blanket.

I think it depends on the modifications. Many folks tend to see the HF kit as a great price for the basic supplies for what they need, and then modify it according to their climate and needs. Not saying it doesn't require some effort, but after reading here for several years I'm convinced the HFGH can be successful in a wide range of climates with some thoughtful modifications and basic materials.