Do you want to know how to build a greenhouse? Congratulations because you’ve come to the perfect place! In this post, we will present to you the information you need on how to build your own greenhouse at home using Plexiglass.
Before you design and create your own greenhouse, you must consider the variety of glazing materials accessible. This includes the material, which covers your greenhouse frame. Glazing materials include plastic, fiberglass, and glass that can be polyethylene, polycarbonate, and acrylic sheets.
Why Build Your Own Greenhouse?
Nothing tastes better than fruits and veggies fresh from your garden. However, rain, frost, and vermin could massively lower your harvest. Building a greenhouse is a wonderful solution as you have an enhanced microclimate. You can also control the irrigation, and you will be keeping snails and birds away from your crops.
Plastics such as Plexiglass are famous greenhouse materials because of its impact and strength resistance. They are not just utilized to create windbreaks, terrace canopies, and carports. You see, they also create rock-solid greenhouses.
If you are one of those people who have basic handy skills and green fingers, building your own greenhouse will surely be a breeze. You can easily create a greenhouse garden using strong plexiglass glazing. The entire design will be up to you. Our job is to impart the most vital tips on the placement and construction of the plastic glazing in your greenhouse.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Materials that You Would Need
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Screws with a flat head
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Screws with a countersunk head
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Drills
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Fret bolts
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Acrylate kit
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Concrete
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Stainless-steel crews
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Corner brackets
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Timer beams for the side walls
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Hardwood poles for the foundation
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Hardwood ground posts
Procedure
- Choose the dimension and location of your greenhouse
It’s a no brainer that your greenhouse needs a sunny area. However, you must also consider the impact of the wind force on your creation. Take note that a greenhouse has a massive vertical surface and acrylic glass is comparatively light. That denotes that even a minimal breeze places a powerful load on the structure of your greenhouse.
When you place your greenhouse on a windy area, you need to anchor it steadfastly. Remember that a solid foundation is always vital.
The dimensions will be identified by two aspects: the dimensions of the sheet and the space of the pitch. The majority of greenhouses have a ridge height of 250 to 280cm. Its vertical side is normally at least two meters high.
You have the freedom to choose the dimensions of the short wall. For instance, you can divide a full-screen sheet 75 centimeters wide.
- Place the foundation and anchorage of the greenhouse
You will find different methods for creating and anchoring the foundation for your construction. However, not every DIYer has the needed tools and materials. That’s why you must only opt on what’s available: hardware and timber.
You build the foundation from hardwood poles of 60 x 60 mm. You will screw the foundation stakes into a rectangle with angle irons or corner brackets.
Then push the anchoring into the surface. Use hardwood stakes that are 70cm long. Four stakes are situated in the corners of the foundation. The other two are halfway on the longer side. Put the stakes as further as possible in the ground. The heads must project a maximum of 6 cm.
The foundation must be fixed to the ground posts along with 12 mm fret bolt. The holes in the hardwood should be pre-drilled. Begin with a drill of 5mm, followed by a 9 mm drill. Ultimately, drill a 12 mm hole over the foundation beams. Secure the foundation beams at one angle through a fret bolt. Utilize a spirit level to identify the mounting point.
- Set up the side walls
Screw the vertical uprights into the foundation poles through corner brackets. Put the opposite of the upright to one another on the right and left side of your greenhouse. Those two uprights link to one another at the top with a crossbeam and a corner bracket. You can screw a longitudinal girder temporarily through the sleepers with every upright is mounted. Now the frame of your greenhouse has the needed strength, and you can continue along with the installation of your plexiglass windows.
Put the windows in the U-profiles. At the bottom, you will find screw holes wherein you can screw the profile to the uprights. At the corner, you miter the profiles, so they fit together precisely. Unscrew the U-profiles on the foundation beam and over the vertical uprights.
You can employ the screw holes in the profiles. You can complete the profiles through a foam tape against the outside and inside of the profile. Install now the windows. Lower them into the profiles from above.
- Attach the roof construction
The structure of the roof is supported by the beam. That beam is known as the wall plate. The angle of the miter corresponds to the roof slope. The flat side of the wall beam is on the uprights. The roof trusses are situated on the sloping side. You could have the beams divided lengthwise with a miter.
Your wall plate lies on the top of your vertical poles. It is screwed to them with a corner bracket. You can construct the rest of the roof structure similarly.
- Install the roof of the greenhouse
Your roof is not mounted in U-profiles. However, they are screwed straight onto the wood. We recommend you to opt for Plexiglas plates. This sheet material is robust. Thus, the risk of breakage by flying branches or hail is zero.
Every screw hole in the plate should be pre-drilled. Don’t utilize countersunk screws for screwing. Utilize an H-profile between both plates if you mount 2 plates next to one another. After every roofing sheet has been installed, you can begin finishing.
Seal every edge. Make sure you also seal the seams along with the glazing. Now, your greenhouse construction is complete. The last thing you need to do is to install a row of tiles and floor on which you can walk.
