Different Materials That Make a Greenhouse

Conservatory Types

• If you are building a greenhouse as an addition to your home, to show off rare plants you have grown, you may want to invest in a more expensive, conservatory style greenhouse. This will be made with glass panels and constructed with a brick or concrete base and a metal or wood frame. It will use exhaust vents and will look as nice as it is functional. Choose a southern location of your house to provide the rare plants with the much needed sunlight that is a replica of more tropical climates. Some people even add misting units to increase humidity and give the greenhouse a more tropical feel.

Wood Frames

• A less expensive, though just as functional, greenhouse will be made with a wood frame using a polyvinyl or plexiglass sheath. Glass is not advised for this type of hothouse, unless, again, it is being used as an addition to your home, as glass is easiest to be damaged by weather. Building the frame from wood gives the stability of a house and allows for painting and decorating to make it more appealing. It can be secured into the ground for extra strength in the harsher winter winds and allows for easier framing of heat release vents. It also allows for the support of portable heaters for less sunny winter days.

PVC Construction

• The most cost efficient way to build a greenhouse, especially if it is to be only a temporary structure to protect outdoor plants in winter, is to use PVC pipe and rolled polyvinyl sheeting. The frame is made from bending the pipe to fit the scheme of the design and allowing the pipe to bow, giving it the bunker shape. The fittings and the pipe itself are enough to make the greenhouse, however if the winds in winter are aggressive, you may need to secure the structure into the ground by pounding rebar through the center of the bottom pipes to add support. Then roll the polyvinyl out over the frame and secure it by either nailing or stapling it to the bottom frame. Many people add a wood base to make securing the polyvinyl easier.

Combination Frames

• Many people want the sturdier structure of a wood frame and the cost efficiency of PVC, and get this by using both. The outside and bottom frames will be made of wood, and the inside grid frame will be made from PVC. This does give the structure more strength and allows for more ease in framing a door or windows for venting, but it also gives a bit more waste in the PVC and is a bit more costly. This type is not usually used for a temporary structure as it is securely fastened into the ground with cement, and will require more work to remove at the end of winter. This type of structure works well with both the polyvinyl sheeting and plexiglass, and can be made on a permanent foundation of brick or cement for extra durability and support.

Other Greenhouse Needs

• Beyond the basics in building a greenhouse, you may need a few optional pieces. Your needs will be dependent on the type of winter you have. Portable heaters will be needed in the harsher winter climates to ensure the right temperature settings for more delicate, tropical plants. Roof or wall vents may be needed for warmer climates to prevent overheating. A well placed thermometer is a great investment to make sure your greenhouse is staying at the optimal temperature. Water misters and hanging fans may be required for humidity and additional heat release. Remember, a bright, sunny 60-degree day can cause your greenhouse to get close to 90 or 100 degrees inside. Usually just opening the door is enough to release the excess heat, but in warmer climates other cooling may be necessary.