Step 1: Design and Build your greenhouse
1.0 What you need
Bills of Materials
Type | References & Dimensions | Quantity | Unit price | Total price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wooden battens | L=2m40 or 2m50, section ~2cmx2cm | 11 | 4.5 € | 50 € |
Screws | 4.5mm x 60mm, for outside use | 30 | 0.20 € | 6 € |
Geotextile | 3 m2 (bottom included),
1.5 m2 (sides only) |
2 €/m2 | 10 €
(?, often sold in larger quantities) | |
Palette wood | 3 palettes | 0 | 0 | |
TOTAL | 56€ |
Type | References & Dimensions | Quantity | Unit price | Total price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plastic film | transparent, U.V. resistant, 200 microns
(example) |
8 m2 | 2.20 €/m2 | 18 € |
Hook and loop fastener (Velcro) | 20mm wide | 15 m | 35 € / 25m | 21 € |
Sewing Thread | ? | ? | ? | ? |
TOTAL | 40€ |
Nota
Wooden battens
To optimise the number of battens that you need, and to minimise the amount of wasted wood, the following dimensions are a good compromise (all dimensions are measured inside the greenhouse, see here): For 2m40 battens: WxDxH = 1.10m x 1.10m x 1.34m. For 2m50 battens: WxDxH = 1.16m x 1.16m x 1.40m. In both cases, you will need 11 battens.
Geotextile
Inside the box, you can either use geotextile or plastic sheets for "drainage" (google). In french, search for "feutre géotextile" and "drainage vertical alvéolé" (example). If the greenhouse will be put on a terrace, a hard surface, or polluted ground, you have to cover the bottom of the box with geotextile that let's the water through. If the greenhouse is put on soil, you only have to protect the sides of the box.
Plastic cover
For the cover, we use transparent, U.V. resistant, 200 microns plastic film. It's not the most beautiful solution but it's the cheapest one. Alternative solutions (glass, transparent polycarbonate, or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, or Plexiglass)) are much more expensive.
Fasteners
So far, we've used hook and loop fasteners (velcro) to fix the greenhouse cover. Alternative options are snap fasteners and eyelets (Fr.: oeillet metal) but we haven't tried them, yet.
Equipment
|
|
1.1 Design your greenhouse
The final result looks something like this
The first thing you need to do is to calculate the length of the different elements of your greenhouse, and firstly, the wooden barrens.
You need the following elements to build the structure:
((Insert table with general dimensions))
Use the calculator to adapt the general dimension of the blueprint to suit your needs.
1.2 Build the greenhouse structure
1.2.1 Cut the wooden battens
Mark the different elements prior to cut the wood. Double check before cutting, and try to limit wood waste.
Use a hand saw or a rotating saw to cut the battens to length. A mitre box is better to make clean cuts when using a hand saw.
Use sandpaper to smooth the edges.
1.2.2 Assemble the battens
Start by assembling each sides and the roof separately.
Use clamps to keep the bars in place while drilling.
Drill holes before screwing the bars
Try to drill "in parallel" to avoid mistakes and measuring dimensions only once.
Use a right angle when fixing bars at 90°. Tape bars to keep bars in place after angle is mesured.
To ease the operation, work on a flat zone.
To assemble the sides together, use some help from someone else.
1.2.3 Cut the palette wood
Option 1: Disassemble the palette by using a crowbar, a hammer and/or a nail puller => best solution to limit wood waste
Option 2: Cut the palette woods between the legs => best solution if you're lazy
Cut as many panels as needed as width may vary depending on the palette. Length should be around 30 cm, check the up-to-date blueprint above.
1.2.4 Assemble the side panels
Put the side panels in place and use tape to keep them in place. Wait after putting the geotextile to drill and screw.
1.2.5 Add the geotextile
Cut the geotextile to dimensions (side-only or with bottom depending of your configuration) and place it inside the side panels. Keep it in place with tape to find the right position.
Take extra-caution with the angles
Fill greenhouse with soil. Fix geotextile and/or wood panels if needed.
1.3 Make the greenhouse cover
1.3.1 Draw the shape on the plastic
Use a long ruler to draw the shape on the cover plastic. Respect the dimensions as we don't want any extra material on the greenhouse.
1.3.2 Cut the plastic
Cut the plastic with scissors.
1.3.3 Sew the velcro
Use a sewing thread not too thick, as it will break in the sewing machine, but strong enough.
1.3.4 Fix the velcro on the greenhouse
Use staples to fix the velcro.
1.4 Add the roof
Add the roof after putting the cover on the sides of the greenhouse
Add the velcro on the roof and cut the cover to make a hinge.