Wondering if this will work

19 years ago

Hi everyone. I have wanted my own greenhouse forever but due to cost that hasn't happened. Well over the summer i worked at a garden center and my boss recently gave me some of the hoops from one of his houses that was damaged by snow last year. So my plan is to cut the hoops to size and build a frame to attach on to the back of my house. Kind of like a lean to thats a bit curved. We are planning to use 6ml poly and double it as well as some other insulating ideas for the north side. Keep in mind this is a greenhouse on a budget. The biggest issue i can see is heating it since im in zone 5. Where i want to attach it there are two windows i could open and use the heat from the house. This is where my patio is so it would be a concrete floor. So does anyone think this idea is totally nuts? LOL Obvious concern is i dont want my heating bill to like double. Just seems like heating it with heat from my house would be the cheapest method. My long term plan would be to use this do it yourself greenhouse for a couple years till i can save up for the type i really want. I would love to hear some opinions on if you think this plan will work or will i go broke trying to heat it? Oh and P.S. Hubby is my "contractor" who is very handy, but when it comes to plants and there needs is totally clueless. Thanks ahead. TamiK

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Comments (3)

poppa
19 years ago
Being a cheapskate... um... frugal person myself... this sounds great.

When you say "double it", i assume you are planning to have an air layer between the two?. You might consider using some sheets of foam insulation as the floor of your GH. (maybe plywood on to of those or a couple of boards to walk on. You may have to watch the humidity... Other than that, it sounds like a decent idea to me.

Just for future thought... keep your eyes open for auctions on landscaping, garden centers, flower shops etc. You'd be surprised how cheaply you can pick up a GH.

Good luck!
Poppa
tamik
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks Poppa for the response. Umm i wasn't planning a air layer between the two, just thinking two layers,one on top of the other, then its kind of like 12ml. So how would I go about having a air layer between the two? Im kind of confused about this. But open to all ideas and suggestions.
Thanks for the idea of the auctions, i hadn't really thought of that.
Gotta get that hubby "contractor" of mine in gear though since i seen next week they are calling for a low of 41 eek. I know thats a pipe dream, no way will it be done by then. Was just wishfull thinking on my part. I do figure once i bring my oh hundred or so plants inside the house that will motivate him a bit. LOL Thanks again. Tami
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imqtpi
19 years ago
I'll weigh in with my (Totally non-expert) opinion here!

To create a "dead-air space," you might consider attaching one layer of the 6 mil poly to the "in" side of the hoop framework, and a second layer to the "out" side.

That way you'd have a gap between the 2 layers - and that *should* decrease the difference between "inside" the hoop-house/lean-to and the outside, ambient temps.

It's the same theory as using twin-wall or triple-wall polycarbonate panels. The more "layers," the greater the insulating properties... (in theory anyway!)

Of course, logistically, it might not be all that easy to accomplish. I'm envisioning that your hoop-house is supported by some kind of bent piping (be it aluminum, galvanized, or even PVC). And with it being 'arced' you'll have some challenges keeping the inner-layer attached without too much drooping. And, the outer layer of poly is gonna want to droop down onto the inner-layer, so it's not going to be a consistent "thickness" of air-space (unless, maybe, you stuck a layer of bubble-wrap between them ???).

Anyway, anything you can do to separate the layers of poly would probably help!

You'll definitely want to find a way to minimize heat-loss if you're planning on opening the house windows to heat it - or you *will* be looking at outrageous heating bills! Another thought: How high are the house windows in relation to the GH structure (and the plants within)?

Heat rises, so if the windows are high, and your plants are low, I'm not sure how much benefit you'll gain from that approach. Maybe stick a thermometer in there - at the level where the plants will live - to see if you realize any benefit at all...

Again, I'm no expert, so maybe someone more knowledgeable will weigh in! But those are just my thoughts!

HTH! :-)

-Nancy