New GH Build

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:49 pm

I've been collecting old patio doors for a while now, decided it was time to try and do something with them

Just a rough plan, a bit of framing, and then build to fit.

Was able to get all the windows roughed in, next is the roof, then the finishing work

Side wall,

Back wall,

Steve

Okanagan desert-palms · Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:45 pm

Steve seeing that those sliding gass doors are double paned glass should give you good insulation this winter. Lookin good.

John

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:56 am

steve tell me about your foundation. Are you pouring footers or somehow anchoring to the ground ? Nice work and a great job of recycling.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:51 am

John,
The double pane glass should make a big difference. The one used in the robusta enclosure last winter felt cool to the touch, while the single pane windows were iced over on the inside. ( around 0F/-18C )
Hoping to get this new section as airtight as possible with hopes of not having to upgrade my heaters, also going to add a small pond for the Nypa, plant some Cycads, see if I can grow some things large enough to set seed

Kent,
No footers or permanent foundation, the zoning laws are such that this is considered a temporary green house structure. (the same category as assembling a Harbor Freight kit) I did file a permit with the original GH, the inspection was just to make sure no underground lines, etc were impacted.

With the weight of these windows I doubt it could move much

Used concrete block on compacted ground under the door opening, the rest is treated 4" X 4", to be on the safe side, I will drill though the 4" X 4"'s and stake it into the ground with rebar.

Steve

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:45 pm

Looking good, Steve. It looks like you were do for an upgrade. More room means more plants.

Dean

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:51 pm

Great build Steve, but your going to need to build a silo above for that washy...

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:50 pm

A silo is not a bad idea

(two more years and something like that will be stuck to the roof)

Finished up the roof today, used tinted Polycarbonate panels from Lowes.

Top side, the caulking will turn clear once it is fully cured.

Slowly piecing it all together .

Steve

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:37 am

nicely done. are you going to put braces on top to hold the panels down.? I'd be a little nervous about wind peeling the top back. We've had some unbelievable wind this year in my backyard. We have not had any wind problems for a couple of years and then this year we've had a couple of storms blow through with 50-75 MPH winds and I am telling you mother nature can be nasty.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:36 am

Kent,
We had a couple of those storms come through about 3AM this morning, everything held fine, the only problem was some of the caulking washed out before it had fully cured.

The panels are somewhat flexible, as long as the edges are held down tight, ( a fastener every 1 - 2 inches), the wind should not be able to lift them.

I hear you about the weather, we have spent more time in the tornado shelter under the high school than I care to recall.

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:37 pm

Steve,
Great design and construction! I envy you.

It must be so doggone satisfying to create something and have it work out.
Wonderful that you're using recycled windows.

Yup, you'll need a second floor above the Washy next year!

In my next life I want to be a carpenter!
Barb

PALMETTOMAN · Post by **PALMETTOMAN** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:33 pm

Nice work kansas...

Looks like I'll need something like that for one of my trachy palms...

I like the polycarbonate roof...Is that a Suntuf product with uv protection?

Palmettoman Z6-Ajax, On

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:28 am

Barb,
I'm only playing at being a carpenter out of necessity, had no idea what this would look like until I started piecing the windows together

Palmettoman,
Thanks, the panels are a Tuftex product carried by Lowes.

http://www.tuftexpanel.com/polycarb.htm

The majority is done now, just need to finish the trim, caulking, and paint.

For ventilation, have a screen that will fit over the sliding door, also a small vent in the upper left corner.

Steve

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:50 am

Steve, it's looking great. You work will be rewarded this winter.

Dean

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:10 am

Thanks Dean,
Still need to dig out the pond, I'll post some photos when things are finished

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:58 pm

Is your GH now double the original size?

Look forward to more pics...
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:36 pm

Almost doubled

, the original was 12' X 12', the addition is 12' X 8'

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:02 pm

Great it's almost doubled the size...
Quick question off topic: my baby c.debaoensis and c.panzhi....should they be in full sun all day now that it's blistering hot?
There's still only a quarter inch of a stem coming on all of them.

And do I now water until it drains out the bottom, or continued misting/sparse watering?
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:45 pm

Barb,
Have yet to grow either of those, so I really can't speak from experience.
Maybe as much light as possible, but keep them out of direct sun. ( they will burn/stunt as this stage)
And, as long as it is warm, regular watering is fine, ( it can be beneficial to flush the containers when watering, just let them dry out a bit between )

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:00 pm

Ooops, have them in full sun.
Will move them into shade after a few hours of a.m. sun.

I had wanted to flush the containers but was worried I'd start mold growing if any water got into the open seed coat.

Thanks for the tips...now that I think about it, that makes perfect sense!

Barb

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:43 pm

My neighbor and I threw up this cover for his tomato plants last weekend. He grows heirloom tomatoes and really wants them to avoid any possible rain which may produce blight.
This photo shows it mainly in place. More bracing was added later to make the structure more ridgid.

Cheers, Barrie.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:07 pm

Barrie,
Looks like a nice clean build, are those brackets easy to work with?

Barb,
Still need to work in a 125 gallon pond, not quite done with the construction, and of course, I'm slowly filling it up already

Here's a couple photos,

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:59 am

It must be so much fun adding plants to the GH.
You've certainly got a ton of seedlings ready to go in there.
I'd be working by flashlight through the night

Are you digging out an area for the pond? or adding a preformed resin "pool"?
Barb

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:43 am

Looks great. How long has this taken you?

I wish I had room for a greenhouse. But no such luck.

Barb, I have a c. Panzi in direct sun all day. It has had one flush of one leaf and a small one too. Mine was planted out during last winter. Survived no problem but it is not producing a lot of new leafs.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:53 am

Good to know, Wes, thanks.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:15 pm

Wes,
Started this the second week of June, 2 - 3 hours a day on average.
( Taking my time, just need to be done before the snow flies

Barb,
I decided to use a liner for the pond, ( if I can call it that now? more like a deep wading pool )
All I need to do now is dig out this square about 3' - 4' deep

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:23 pm

That's a lot of digging, Steve.
Considering how long you've planned the GH addition, bet you're enjoying every moment.

Look forward to pics of everything in there!
Barb

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:24 pm

Have fun digging the hole, Steve. I recently dug a really deep hole myself for some bananas. So your not alone.

Dean

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:48 am

If I was 20 years younger, it would be done by now

Steve

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:56 pm

Decided to rethink digging the hole for a number of reasons

(Started hitting large roots about 12" down)

This is what I came up with, the ground has been raised 4" around it, the deepest portion is 22"

The above ground portion is anchored by 3' rebar stakes.

30# felt paper as an underlayment.

Here we are all together.

Barb,
I need a better photo, but these fish are getting large!

Steve

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:10 pm

Looks good, Steve, hope the wood last.

Dean

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:21 pm

A raised pond is a clever idea when digging is impossible.
Maybe a couple of boards crossing the corner (to be used as a chair for you

)

Wow have those fish ever grown.
Wait till they have babies!
Presume the cataractarum and nypis (what was that name???) palms are already in there?

A reduction in pond gallonage leaves you more room for plants, too.

Good job as always, Steve.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:23 pm

Dean, I hope so too

(The bottom pieces are treated, and the upper frame is not in direct contact with any soil)

Barb, I'm happy with it

, altogether, maybe somewhere between 120 to 150 gallons.

Nypa fruticans, Chamaedorea cataractarum, Salacca wallichiana, and 3 goldfish from WalMart

Steve

Steve

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:00 am

Just catching up on this thread. Nice work Steve! If there's one thing I hate, it's digging large holes, mainly because there's plenty of rock here and many trees are established and roots are a problem.
I do have a nice 15 gallon Brahea edulis that's literally busting the pot apart. So it needs planting and I have to work up the nerve to not just dig the planting hole, but some hardscape and correct siting for this beast is also a challenge. When I do, I'll be sure to post some pics. Again ... lookin' great!

Cheers, Barrie.

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:40 am

Thanks Barrie, I'm hoping to devote a full day tomorrow to getting it finished.

Your Brahea edulis sounds like it's more than ready to stretch out it's roots

Looking forward to the photos.

Steve

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:05 pm

Was able to get most of the exterior finished today

Steve

Okanagan desert-palms · Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:40 am

Looks great Steve. You may need to build another one soon with all those seedlings growing up.

John

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:54 am

You need to start collecting more glass...for the next addition

Your tomatoes will benefit from the heat generated near the GH windows...great size already.
The banana has really responded to the heat.

Nice job finishing your project.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:34 am

Thanks for the comments! I've come to the realization no matter how large the GH is, will never have enough room

Now I can really start loading it up!

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:59 am

Steve, on the hottest days--even with doors open and fans blowing over the fish pond--I'm curious whether
it risks getting brutally hot inside from the sheer volume of space behind all that glass?

Or do you throw some shade cloth over it?
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:07 am

Barb,

Took the wall down between the addition and GH yesterday, was about 95*F outside, inside the greenhouse was about 98*F with the exhaust fan running.

Seems easier to cool with the larger volume, the windows I used were mostly tinted to begin with, and the others are cloudy
enough that I don't need any shade cloth

Steve

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