Question about our greenhouse plans

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After reviewing a couple different plans for an easy-to-construct greenhouse, and realizing I can't vent the thing into the basement by making the structure in the shape of a quonset as I originally planned, I'm thinking of making it against the south side of the house, in the shape of a half-quonset, or capitol D if that makes sense. We have vinyl siding over T-1ll type siding. My thought is to anchor a long 2 x 4 along the house, and place one end of welded cattle panels under the bottom edge of it, arching the panel and anchoring the other end to the inside of a 4 x 4 which would be bolted into the tops of concrete pier anchors. Cover the thing with plastic, door in one end, vent in the other perhaps, with a fan to blow the excess heat into one or both basement windows on that side of the house. So, any recommendations as to how to anchor the 2 x 4 to the house so it will be secure? Hubby is having a fit at anchoring anything to the siding, but finally agreed. Would long anchor bolts or something work? Or is the a faulty idea? Due to winds, can't have a free standing greenhouse unless it is really sturdy, constructed of lumber, etc. Have the plastic and the panels, just need to know it it is feasible? Thanks, Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), December 17, 2001

Answers

Do you get a lot of snow where you are? Does the position you want to put the greenhouse have a roof that will drop a lot of snow on it? Just a thought. 2X4 is prety light I'd go to at least a 2X6 even a 2X8 Lag screw it to the wall but remove the siding first. You'll want to flash it anyhow. I bent a few half arches around an old seed drill wheel to make green house frames. It was light square tubing and a real pain to bend consistantly. You have the panels bent already?? If your doing it yourself I'd like to hear how, I'm making a crowding tub for sheep and the technique would suit that too.

-- Ross (Amulet@istar.ca), December 17, 2001.

No, actually we don't get a lot of snow, and there is not much roof overlap on the ends of the house, so it wouldn't get snow dumped on the roof. Ugh. If we have to remove the siding, I can hear the husband now! I was hoping we could somehow bolt it to the house through the siding, and just caulk it well underneath and on top, then use it to hold the panel as we bent it. Haven't bent it yet, but from other's descriptions of doing it in the quonset style, it doesn't sound too difficult for two people to do. Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), December 17, 2001.

I'm thinking that by removing the siding, you will be preserving it to put back on if the project doesn't work out long term! You havn't bent the panels yet............. oh. Well if they're like the cattle panels I have that might be a bit of a struggle. I was thinking I'd take two down to the local welding shop if they would run them through thier roller. It's three steel rollers that you can feed metal through and depending on how close the rollers are, puts a curl in the steel. I'm still interested in how you do it.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), December 17, 2001.

I thought someone would have addressed the 'cattle panel bending' issue (or non-issue) by now, but since they haven't - here goes. Cattle panels are 52 inches by 16 feet and are made entirely of quarter inch steel(?) rods. Bending one is extremely simple - just pick it up in the middle. It will form a nice arch all by itself, and will straighten out again if you set it down. A few were here when we bought this place 6 years ago, and they have not rusted except where the former owner had them buried in manure - that's why I'm not sure they are steel. I would think steel would have rusted by now.

One thing I AM sure of, though - DO buy the higher quality ones ($18.50 vs $16.00 each). They will not break. I've seen the cheapos pop welds for no reason and they end up with loose rods sticking out all over.

I've built a couple of hoophouses of cattle panels covered with a tarp or construction plastic. One is just one arched panel with all 4 corners attached to fence posts set 4 or 6 feet apart - used to store furniture for my daughter. The other is 3 panels wired together, raised on 2 rows of dry-stacked concrete blocks, covered with reinforced construction plastic, and also pegged to the ground with T posts. This one is 9 feet wide and I use it as a tent and may store hay there later. Both have withstood some terrific windstorms and downpours with no damage.

-- Sandy in MN (onestonefarm@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.


Ok, guess I wasn't too clear on the shape issue, pointed out to me by my husband last night! Actually, we would be making the shape more like the bottom of a printed "h", with the straight side the outside of the house. The panels we have don't seem that difficult to bend, so might be a bit lighter wire than some folks have. A friend also mentioned the problem of moisture, and I know we don't want to introduce that to the basement, although it would be welcome in the upper level of the house during winter. May have to vent it outside after all. Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), December 19, 2001.


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