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It's been awhile since I have last posted but last summer I decided to bite the bullet and finally build a greenhouse. I decided on a 9x12 using cedar. I was actually surprised on how easy it was to build. The hardest part so far was lugging all the concrete bags from the driveway up into the yard. Over the winter I just used some Home Depot plastic to keep the rain out. Only have to purchase the panels and attach them. Very stoked on how it turned out.

Some of the shelving and plants.

I think I can say without hesitation that this is a professional job.

I only was thinking how come it is a plastic over it instead of policarbonate plates? Or is that another phase?

majcka wrote:I think I can say without hesitation that this is a professional job.

I only was thinking how come it is a plastic over it instead of policarbonate plates? Or is that another phase?

The plastic is only temporary as funds were running a bit low. Looking at purchasing polycarbonate panels now. Will be buying them from Charley's Greenhouse in Mt.Vernon, WA. Thank you for the complement.

Did you use Western Cedar? Very nice job.

cactushobbyman wrote:Did you use Western Cedar? Very nice job.

Yes. Western Red Cedar

Beautiful! And it looks nice and solid. A really nice addition to the garden.

Susi

Very very nice!!! Like Maja said, a professional job!!

Looks great! I like your fence as well. Your frame looks sturdy enough to support salvaged windows as a possible cheaper alternative to polycarb.

Looks excellent! Way more level than mine.

Well planned, meticulous work and an attractive, sturdy result! Excellent job on all counts. Good luck on however you plan to complete the windows. Remember to post photos of the complete GH. Will you need heat during the winter out there? And fans to keep air moving during the summer? I don't imagine it gets too terribly hot out there--at least not for long stretches. Oh, yes, and nice cactus collection as well!

Very well done. Without doing any research on your zone, will this be heated? Ive been trying to find professionally made green houses that were made in cold zones.

Interesting the differences in US greenhouse construction for a retired carpenter in the UK. I built three increasing larger wooden greenhouses in the past before I decided aluminium was more suited to our climate in the UK and less maintenance.

Why not an overall concrete floor rather than gravel, was it too much effort? Probably your climate is different but I find that an overall concrete floor, provided you put a polythene damp roof membrane under it when laying, cuts down on humidity and acts like a concrete block heater in winter. Being warmed by the sun during the day and helping to keep the greenhouse warm by radiation on cold winter nights. I suppose you in warmer climates have different requirements though?

Obviously red cedar is also cheaper where you are since I notice most US greenhouses are wood as ours used to be in days gone by. Wood lost out in the UK due to our wet climate soon rotting it and the constant need to paint or treat it since red cedar was on the expensive side here. In the UK maintenance free aluminium greenhouses seem to be the most common these days and most still use horticultural glass rather than polycarbonate.

Nice job anyway. If your climate is hot though I think you would find providing at least one roof vent would help in summer rather than just relying on those in the sides. Easy to do before you finally cover it with polycarbonate.

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My 18ft x 12ft aluminium greenhouse has 4 roof vents and 4 louver side vents on automatic openers to keep it cooler in summer. However being near the road I need them as I cannot leave my greenhouse doors open and unlocked as most do in the UK for extra ventilation in summer.

The greenhouse should make a big difference to the growth of your plants.

I believe wood greenhouses can be constructed with more strength. The metal greenhouses I have seen are just not made strong unless they are commercial. My wooden greenhouse I can stand on the ridge beam, but I would never try that on my metal one.

That's true for cheap timber countries like the US Hobbyman, or when you build them yourself, but in the UK the normal timber ones for sale are no stronger than aluminium ones and don't usually last as long. The section of the rafters in Wayup's greenhouse would be about the same as used in house roofs over here supporting a few tons of concrete tiles! A commercial cedar greenhouse firm in the UK would have made a couple of greenhouses that size out of the cedar used.

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Of course in sunny USA it does not matter so much, but the thinking in the UK is that thinner bars stop less light from reaching the plants which is where aluminium scores, but of course we don't usually need to resort to thick shade cloth in our so called summers.

Compare our prices for Cedar to those you pay in the US, whereas aluminium prices would probably be similar:-

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