Marcie, your question came at a very fortuetous time.. I just today finished installing screens on my Clearspan Prostar 12x24 Ghouse. I too was baffled on how to do so until I visited my local LOWE"S store. They have this porch creening "system" that I found fits the bill just fine. it is a plastic "profile" about inch and a half wide with two channels to hold the screening and the spline. The instructions in the link below shows an installer using wood screws to attattch to a porch BUT I had very good luck using selftapping sheet metal screws (#10-3/4") to attach the system to the aluminum frame of my intake vent( which is aluminum ) the system also includes cap strips of assorted colors to cover the screws. System also works best with the .175 inch screen spline.

Here is a link that might be useful: porch screening how to at Lowes

I also just purchased a HFGH. My head is spinning with all the things to think about. One question comes to mind after reading the above message. Could a person put some sort of shadecloth in the Lowe's porch screening system instead of house screening? That make changing the amount of sun in certain areas of the gh easier. Also, I'd be interested how good a job bubble wrap does for insulation. How would one install it? Does it stay up all year round? Thanks!

gootziecat

Bubble wrap is excellent for insulation. there are two ways it could be installed. Permanently, by attaching it to the polycarb panels before they are placed in the framework. Or, temporarily, by the use of clips from Charley's or another greenhouse supplier. I used the clips for my first winter but I'm considering attaching it to the panels permanently as I wasn't that thrilled with the clips. Any other ideas, anyone?

Dave
Milwaukee

Bubble wrap will last much longer on the inside of the PC than on the outside. (due to UV)

I've had PC protected bubble wrap last 5 years.

(On a related note, a while back we talked about foam-in-a-can outside. I filled up some gaps, and the few bits I didn't cement render outside have gone yellow and crumbly already, whereas the same stuff inside some PC looks good as new.)

A word of caution. I would not hang very many plants from the roof. I own a 10x12 HFGH and it is not a very sturdy built structure. Since you probably won't have to contend with a snow load on the roof like I do in the winter time you should be able to hang some but don't get carried away with it or the whole thing will collapse.

Gootzie, Good shacecloth is far too thick to use with the porchscreen system.. Does seem possible to use with poly sheeting. And Bubblewrap is wonderful for insulating.. Especially the foilbacked bubblewwrap. I have considered using it on the north side, but my greenhouse is on the large side and would still be expensive. I think Lowe's has the 7-layer foil bubble insulation for $37 a roll.. No clue on how long a roll is.. I have fergottn LOL

Re: screens FWIW my sister just got done making some "shade screens", using shade cloth and screen kits from Lowes. She said it was just like making a conventional screen, except that to get the cloth taut involved more stress on the frame than conventional bugscreen material--there's a tendency to "bow-in" and hers do that a little though honestly if she had not pointed this out to me I'm not sure I'd have noticed.

In any case re: virgo's comment I suppose it depends on the shade cloth, though I might've guessed the porchscreen system, which appear to be much more substantial than "screen replacement kit" frames, should handle just about anything!