Greenhouses are a great addition for any gardener’s arsenal. They keep tender plants safe from deer, rabbits, and other pests, and provide the perfect environment for plants to grow throughout the year.
There are many different types of DIY greenhouses ranging from plastic to glass, domed to lean-to, walk-in to tabletop, indoor or outdoor, and many more.
You can easily spend hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars on a prefabricated greenhouse. Save money and build a custom-order greenhouse that’s perfect for your garden!
Before You Build a Small Greenhouse
As exciting as it is to build your own greenhouse, take a moment before you start sawing away! There are several things you need to take into consideration for your design.
- Foundation: Level the ground before you start building. It’s much more difficult to level a crooked greenhouse after it’s already been built! At this stage, it may be a good idea to install a PVC or ABS pipe beneath the foundation for future wiring or water lines.
- Orientation: Most plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Unless you’re incorporating lighting installations into your design, this means you should generally orient your greenhouse in a southerly direction.
- Ventilation: Incorporate ventilation options into your greenhouse design to help control temperature and humidity levels inside your greenhouse year-round. This can be an easily-accessible flap in a plastic greenhouse, or a hinged window in a glass greenhouse.
- Type of building material: The type of building material you choose will greatly influence the durability of your greenhouse. If you make a greenhouse out of PVC piping and plastic, it may not last as many seasons as a greenhouse built from pressure treated lumber and glass.
- Base/flooring material: It’s usually a good idea to lay a sheet of landscape fabric beneath your flooring material to prevent weeds from poking through later. Paving stones with pea gravel filling is a great option for flooring, as these allow water to drain through. Whatever you ultimately choose, make sure the flooring allows water to drain; otherwise you may have moisture control problems later.
- Storage Space: There are no shortage of options for storage space in a DIY greenhouse. Don’t be afraid to use vertical space to hang your tools, build in a loft for watering canisters and plant food, or pull-out storage bins for extra pots or seeds.
How to Build a Small Greenhouse
Now that you’ve nailed down the small details, it’s time to start building. This plan will build a basic free-standing greenhouse which can easily be scaled to your garden’s needs.
Note: The base will be wider the top. This keeps the greenhouse more stable in strong wind.
You Will Need:
- Saw
- Drill
- Level
- 2 ½” wood screws
- 2 – 3 Hinges
- Door latch or doorknob (depending on your preference)
- Silicone Adhesive Caulk
Side Walls
- 2 – 2×4 at 120″
- 2 – 2×4 at 113″
- 8 – 2×4 at 85″
Facing Walls (each)
- 2 – 2×4 at 80″
- 1 – 2×4 at 96″
- 1 – 2×4 at 65″
Roof
- 1 – 2×6 at 120″
- 8 – 2×4 at 40 3/4″
Door
- 2 – 2×4 at 32″
- 2 – 2×4 at 73″
- 1 – 2×4 at 25″
Method:
- Assemble the side walls. Cut the ends of the studs at 82°. For each wall, attach the 85” boards to the 113” and 120” boards at 38” intervals.
- Attach the facing walls, making sure to first cut the ends of these boards at 82°. Affix the 96” (bottom) and 65” (top) boards to the side walls first. Then, install the 80” boards 25” away from the side walls. Make sure the structure is level before securing your screws.
- Build the roof. Cut the ends of the 40 ¾” boards: one end at 30° and the other end at 60° – these will be the rafters. Attach these to the 120” top ridge board at 38” intervals, 60° side on top and 30° side against the frame.
- Lastly, build the door. Assemble the 32” and 73” pieces in a frame, and place the 25” in the center for stability. Attach the door to the greenhouse with hinges, and add a latch or knob if desired.
Congratulations! Your greenhouse frame is finished. Now it’s time to install siding.
Glass or Rigid Plastic
Obtain appropriately-sized glass or rigid plastic sheets for your greenhouse. Carefully place each sheet into the open frames and secure with
Plastic
If using non-rigid plastic sheets, purchase a sheet large enough to fit over the frame width. Pull the sheet taut and staple the sheet directly into the frame. Cut sheets to size for the ends of the greenhouse and staple them in place.
Glass vs. Plastic Siding
You can build effective greenhouse siding out of glass or plastic. There are pros and cons to both materials. The best type for one person may not be the best for your greenhouse.
Glass: Pros and Cons
- Attractive
- Can come in multiple thicknesses
- Single, double, or even triple paned for insulation purposes
- Easy to patch up
- Can use recycled glass
- More labor intensive to install
- Can be fragile
- Can be expensive
Plastic: Pros and Cons
- Comes in both rigid and draping sheets
- Easy to install
- Inexpensive – a great option for builders on a budget
- Can tear easily
- Not always eye-catching
- May not insulate well in extreme conditions
Northside Tool Rental
Building a greenhouse will take about a week, depending on your experience and skill level. At the end, you’ll have the perfect housing for your tender vegetable plants, new blooms, and plant housing during the winter.
Northside Tool Rental has all the tools you need to prevent those pesky deer from eating your plants! Contact us at one of our five metro Atlanta locations today.