Cactushobbyman, here I go again
- cactushobbyman
- Posts: 1437
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:01 pm
- Location: Sanger, California
Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Two and a half years ago I built my greenhouse, last year my sunroom, and this year expanding my greenhouse.
When I first built my greenhouse I did have plans to be able to expand it. The greenhouse is now two and a half years old and last Fall I started looking into expanding it. First issue was the cost of the polycarbonate, wood and the freight to ship the polycarbonate. The increase of cost was surprising. So I started looking into other options. I saw a few used greenhouses, but the cost was even more. And then I saw a coupon at Harbor Freight for 20% off on a single purchase. I know, HF. The first question I had to ask was, “What will be the main usage of the expansion.” Then, could HF greenhouse meet the needs of those usages. I took some time to review a lot of the problems HF greenhouses have and would those same problems become issues in my usages. First, in strong winds the greenhouse could become airborne and fly away. Second, hail damage. In my area high winds don’t occur too often and we hardly ever get more than pea size hail. Then the 10’ x 12’ greenhouse came on sale. With the coupon and the sale price I got the greenhouse for just over $550.00. Like I said, I couldn’t buy the poly for much less than that. Now, I just have to make sure all the issues that have been posted with the greenhouse I can correct and make the greenhouse become a great purchase.
When I first built my greenhouse I did have plans to be able to expand it. The greenhouse is now two and a half years old and last Fall I started looking into expanding it. First issue was the cost of the polycarbonate, wood and the freight to ship the polycarbonate. The increase of cost was surprising. So I started looking into other options. I saw a few used greenhouses, but the cost was even more. And then I saw a coupon at Harbor Freight for 20% off on a single purchase. I know, HF. The first question I had to ask was, “What will be the main usage of the expansion.” Then, could HF greenhouse meet the needs of those usages. I took some time to review a lot of the problems HF greenhouses have and would those same problems become issues in my usages. First, in strong winds the greenhouse could become airborne and fly away. Second, hail damage. In my area high winds don’t occur too often and we hardly ever get more than pea size hail. Then the 10’ x 12’ greenhouse came on sale. With the coupon and the sale price I got the greenhouse for just over $550.00. Like I said, I couldn’t buy the poly for much less than that. Now, I just have to make sure all the issues that have been posted with the greenhouse I can correct and make the greenhouse become a great purchase.
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Fingers crossed.
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Good luck! By the way, ANY greenhouse will blow away in a strong enough wind if they are not properly anchored to the ground. The HF ones might be a bit more prone to it because they are so light but if you properly secure it to the ground it shouldn't be an issue. While I don't have one of my own yet, I know many people with the HF greenhouse. They haven't run into the problems you may have seen on that one website you've probably seen (the one that tells you how to make it extra strong) so I think the quality may have improved some since 2007 or whenever they built theirs.
I'm now selling plants on Ebay. Check it out! Kyle's Plants
- cactushobbyman
- Posts: 1437
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:01 pm
- Location: Sanger, California
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
The first step was to lay out the foot print of the new greenhouse. Next, using a shovel point as a pick to loosen the soil and then let Mother Nature’s rain soak into the hard pack clay and wait and wait. After several months the soil loosens enough to start digging the footings. I dug down 8 inches and will back fill with 2 inches of pea gravel to level the greenhouse base.
To solve the problem of the greenhouse flying away I built a foundation using stained pressure treated wood. Then I mounted the greenhouse base to the foundation and will lower the complete assembly into the footing trenches and backfill with pea gravel up to one inch of the base. About six inches will be buried leaving one inch of the greenhouse base exposed. In addition, I used a bulb auger to dig a hole an additional 10 to 12 inches deep in each corner. I filled the auger hole with cement and drove a 12 inch piece of All-thread through the pressure treated foundation into the hole. How hard is the soil that deep? I bent two pieces of All-thread driving them into the hole. I believe the foundation and greenhouse base will be well anchored in place. Next, assembly.
To solve the problem of the greenhouse flying away I built a foundation using stained pressure treated wood. Then I mounted the greenhouse base to the foundation and will lower the complete assembly into the footing trenches and backfill with pea gravel up to one inch of the base. About six inches will be buried leaving one inch of the greenhouse base exposed. In addition, I used a bulb auger to dig a hole an additional 10 to 12 inches deep in each corner. I filled the auger hole with cement and drove a 12 inch piece of All-thread through the pressure treated foundation into the hole. How hard is the soil that deep? I bent two pieces of All-thread driving them into the hole. I believe the foundation and greenhouse base will be well anchored in place. Next, assembly.
- CoronaCactus
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- Location: Corona, California USA [Zone 10]
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Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Very nice!
The long, hard and tedious part is the foundation...but of course, the most important part too!
The long, hard and tedious part is the foundation...but of course, the most important part too!
- Peterthecactusguy
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
- Location: Black Canyon City, Arizona
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
lol and just thing, in my yard I will likely hit Caliche.. we are going to work on the greenhouse/shade house soon here. I will detail exactly how we tie it down and anchor it into the ground when we get to that point. lol
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Always love seeing these builds! One of these day's I'll probably have to head down the same path myself but I'm not fully there as yet. Nearly pulled the trigger today on one of those softsided 6x8 "temporary" things half price at the local bigbox store, had one still in stock but just didn't dare do it as the state of the box was horrid! Years of being stored outdoors had deteriorated the cardboard box to a state where it looked like it could fall apart at the slightest touch so there's no telling what the PVC plastic inside would be like.
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Awsome job
That's going to be nice and solid for sure.
Hopefully I will get mine in the build process in the nexy couple months. Growth cambers first
That's going to be nice and solid for sure.
Hopefully I will get mine in the build process in the nexy couple months. Growth cambers first
Sharpy (Doug)
Just say NO to glochids!
Just say NO to glochids!
- gemhunter178
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- Location: Massachusetts,USA. Zone 6A
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Nice looking existing greenhouse and nice looking area and foundation for the next! Will it look like an extension of the one next to it?
A cactus and succulent collector who especially likes Ariocarpus. …Though I have a bit of everything! Want some pictures? See my flickr! I also do art and such.
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
I've always admired your existing greenhouse, but I can sure relate to your comments about the cost. Everything is getting so expensive - you've got to do what you can. Even so, I'm sure you'll improve on the design and building of it. And the best part = more room for more plants!
All Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are Cacti
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Good photos. Can't wait for the next installment.
Susi
Susi
Nature Lover
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- hendryterok
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Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
New GH, more cacti/plants...
Cheers
Hendry
Cheers
Hendry
- cactushobbyman
- Posts: 1437
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Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
I wish I could add to my current greenhouse but the cost was way too much. Increase in freight has increased the cost on all goods and services. I will try to make the addition look as if it was planned all along.gemhunter178 wrote:Nice looking existing greenhouse and nice looking area and foundation for the next! Will it look like an extension of the one next to it?
- cactushobbyman
- Posts: 1437
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:01 pm
- Location: Sanger, California
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
Daiv, it is a risk I'm taking on a HF product. Most of the HF greenhouse will be used for cactus that won't be moved much or for overwintering. Work benches, seed beds and sink are all in the old greenhouse, so I think the HF greenhouse will work as an expansion.daiv wrote:I've always admired your existing greenhouse, but I can sure relate to your comments about the cost. Everything is getting so expensive - you've got to do what you can. Even so, I'm sure you'll improve on the design and building of it. And the best part = more room for more plants!
- cactushobbyman
- Posts: 1437
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:01 pm
- Location: Sanger, California
Re: Cactushobbyman, here I go again
The base is now in place. The base appears about 3 plus inches above the soil surface. The directions stated you need one inch clearance to install the floor plate. I was going to add my weed screen and pea gravel before I installed the wall frame, but all the nuts and bolts are aluminum and if I drop them, they would be extra hard to find. So, the floor material will be done later. When installing the GH base some shifting occurred. The base comes in two pieces on the length and width and the splices are not very stable even when it was attached to the footing frame I made. After adjusting and packing the gravel around the base, I was able to set the base as square as possible. On the diagonal I was off about 1/16 of an inch. Since the GH is an assembled only project, I spent extra time to make sure the base was as leveled and squared as possible.