How to Build a Greenhouse From the Salvage Yard

Visit the local salvage yard. Decide what materials are available and sketch a plan. You can visit the Pendle Hill Greenhouse Project for design ideas (see Resources).

Dig a hole about 3 feet deep. Set a 4-by-4-foot post in the hole. Level the post. Mix concrete, according to the directions on the bag. Pour nearly a half of a bag of concrete mix around the base of the post. Repeat this process until you have all four corner posts in the ground and concrete mix in place.

Lay out your floor. This can be old pavers, bricks, flagstone, crushed concrete or basically anything that you can find that will create a solid, flat surface.

Decide what materials you will use for the side walls. For example, old windows are a good option. Lay your materials on the ground and assemble your side walls, sort of like a putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Take some strips of lumber and attach the windows together.

Position on the ground your materials for the front and back walls. Don't forget to include a door on the front wall.

Raise the walls. Be sure to get help, as they will be heavy. Be careful of the glass. Attach the walls with lag bolts to the 4-by-4-foot posts.

Make a frame for the roof from old lumber. Run lumber strips along the frame. Attach Plexiglas with screws and rubber seals to the roof strips.

Caulk the gaps in the side walls. Make sure to caulk every gap. Paint the lumber and window frames.