skip to main content

Greenhouses & Garden Structures

HFGH with 4x4 base

3 years ago

I have recently purchased a 10x12 HFGH and as soon as the weather warms up will begin assembly. I have been reading this forum, the blog by mudhouse and watching many youtube videos. I hopefully know what I am getting myself into with this project. In watching the videos and looking at the manuals for the 10x12 and the 6x8 greenhouses I notices that the smaller one can be installed directly to 4x4's for the foundation. Can parts 1-6 of the 10x12 also be installed directly to 4x4's or must the base assembly (parts 44-46) be assembled and attached to the 4x4's? Just wondering if there is any reason the use the base assembly if I am going to anchor 4x4's to the ground for my base.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

mudhouse
3 years ago
With apologies, I'll post a half-answer, because I'm helping a relative with a move and I don't have access to my manuals (and some of my brain cells, lol.)

Over the years I can recall another HFGH owner years ago, contacting me through my blog, and they didn't want to use the steel base for the 10x12 either. Their concern was a very wet environment; they felt the steel might not hold up (although I don't know of a steel base ever failing; they're pretty heavy.) I know they were successful with their build, but I don't know the specific re-engineering steps that eliminating the base may have caused. So it's possible to eliminate the base, but if there are resulting tweaks I can't outline them for you.

You might specifically check to see if the part 47 hold-down connectors (that secure the diagonal braces to the base) attach to a lip on the base itself, or to a lip on the top plates. (It's been too many years since my build, and I can't recall...and don't have easy access right now.) I just have a question in my mind about that possible complication.

In my warm climate I didn't mind the extra inches of height that are contributed by the base, even though we mounted our steel base on top of a (taller) wooden foundation as well. My biggest problem is cooling, and warm air rises, so a slightly taller greenhouse was a slight advantage for me. It did require me to build a few paver steps up to the doorway on the outside of my greenhouse, and there's a very slight step down to my paver floor inside.

Apologies for the half-answer! Maybe someone who has built one more currently could do a little brainstorming with you. I do know these kits lend themselves well to re-inventing, if you're willing to figure out the possible solutions. Over the years I've been very impressed by changes that are possible with a little creativity.
clkirk72
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks so much for the prompt reply. I'll keep diggin through the instructions to see what I can figure out. I will probably end up using the base and adding a step up to the door as you mentioned.
Related Discussions
Kitchen update - backsplash/walls. Maybe more
Q
Comments (19)
An idea I have for you is that the tile-to-the-ceiling could work very well here, as long as it stays on the back wall only (with just the below-cabinet area done elsewhere). ...laid in horizontal courses, creating the impression that the end of your room is actually a stone wall. ...perhaps alternating 4 x 4's with 4 x 8's, in horizontal courses, or better yet 6 x 6's alternating with 6 x 12's, in horizontal courses. ...mortar (light grey) colored grout with fairly substantial spacing to carry through the stone wall look Should be a very uniformly light colored natural tumbled stone, perhaps Durango, Botticcino, or light Travertine - with as much edge irregularity as possible, for good visual texture without the color movement that would fight your granite. I suggest no additional tile decoration at all. Not really room under micro-hood. The the stone show off for what it is. I might do this on the floor, too... square-laid 12 x 12's?. Seems to me that the wood-grained stone would not be a good companion to my stone wall idea. Doesn't really look like a wood floor, and your genuine Tuscan room would have either an old stone or an old wood floor. For a wood look on the floor, medium colored hand-scraped real wood would be best, or a PVC floor that looks enough like it to fool most people (Karndean Art-Select "Hand-Scraped Hickory Paprika?) Good Luck! Mark
...See More
Footing settled and dropped my front step. How do I fix?
Q
Comments (5)
You need to dig out the old concrete. Pour two 18" x18" holes. Insert 4 24" 3/8 rebar straight up and down in holes beating them into the ground until flush. Spread these out evenly. Then pour a mixture of concrete of two 80lb bags plus water . After these harden up bolt ( redhead )two compression bolts through the center hole of a 4x4 post anchor base. This should take care of this problem. But I would check the rest of the post out as well Kenneth
...See More
tiniest bath needs a tiny tub/shower.
Q
Comments (14)
If you can get that tub out of your house in one piece, I would LOVE to have it for my itty-bitty bathroom. My house was built in 1870-ish and originally did not have an indoor bathroom. My current bathroom was carved out of a 5' x 6' closet in the upstairs hallway. I have been talking about this tub ever since I saw one in my friend's house when I was in 3rd grade...I thought it was THE coolest bathtub ever! My current bathtub is a petite clawfoot which needs to be refinished in the worst way.
...See More
what size tile for the flooring
Q
Comments (1)
Using a tile that is longer than it is wide, and running it lengthwise will expand your bath visually. I have a long narrow bath in my hall, and used 12x 24 tiles. Based on your sizes, I'd use the 8x16 on the floor.
...See More

Related Stories

LIVING ROOMS New This Week: 4 Well-Decorated Living Rooms, 4 Different Styles

By Mitchell Parker

See how color, scale and furnishing choices come together beautifully in a range of looks

DESIGN DETAILS Design Workshop: The Modern Wall Base, 4 Ways

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Do you really need baseboards? Contemporary design provides minimalist alternatives to the common intersection of floor and wall

KITCHEN ISLANDS New This Week: 4 Storage Ideas for the End of Your Kitchen Island

By Mitchell Parker

See the ways to design drawers, shelves, racks and more for this island area

FOR PROS See the Creativity at Work in 4 Designer Studios

By Becky Harris

These design pros’ offices show why investing in your workspace can be worthwhile for your business

NEW THIS WEEK 4 Kitchens With White Cabinets and a Wood Island

By Mitchell Parker

Try this classic kitchen combination for a design that’s warm and inviting

DECORATING GUIDES How to Remove Wallpaper in 4 Steps

By Christine Tusher

Learn the best way to remove wallpaper with only water (and elbow grease) so your next wall treatment will look great

KITCHEN DESIGN New This Week: 4 Kitchens That Embrace Openness and Raw Materials

By Mitchell Parker

Exposed shelves, open floor plans and simple materials make these kitchens light and airy

KITCHEN DESIGN New This Week: 4 Kitchen Design Ideas You Might Not Have Thought Of

By Mitchell Parker

A table on wheels? Exterior siding on interior walls? Consider these unique ideas and more from projects recently uploaded to Houzz

BUDGET DECORATING Reader Laundry Room: A Better Way In for $4,100 in Wisconsin

By Erin Carlyle

This laundry room serves as an entrance to the home, but its original finishes lacked personality

MOST POPULAR New This Week: 4 Incredibly Functional Compact Kitchen Islands

By Mitchell Parker

These small and slim island designs pack in a ton of storage, function and style

Sponsored

5 Reviews

Greater DC's Source for Creative & Unique Interiors

More Discussions

Bubble Wrap Insulation

5

Pergola plans sound stable?

7

What kind of greenhouse

0

Selling Lean-to greenhouse

2

Automatic ventilation in my greenhouse.

2