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Scope Out a Family Greenhouse Grown From Scraps
Can-do resourcefulness and less than $400 lead to a new 8- by 8-foot home for plants on a Tennessee family's property
Houzz Editorial Staff
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“I've never been an idle person," says Amy Moore. Aside from caring for a family of eight, harvesting and selling homemade honey, and raising chickens and horses on her family’s 8-acre property, she has recently built her own greenhouse using primarily recycled materials.
After picking up 26 vintage oak casement windows for free from a glass cutter looking to unload them, Moore decided that building a greenhouse would be the perfect way to extend the short Tennessee growing season and to get her children involved in a meaningful home improvement project. Using a circular saw, a jigsaw and a battery-powered drill, she spent about a month and less than $400 to erect an 8-foot by 8-foot greenhouse on her family’s ridge. Now she is just itching to get the first season's crops growing.
After picking up 26 vintage oak casement windows for free from a glass cutter looking to unload them, Moore decided that building a greenhouse would be the perfect way to extend the short Tennessee growing season and to get her children involved in a meaningful home improvement project. Using a circular saw, a jigsaw and a battery-powered drill, she spent about a month and less than $400 to erect an 8-foot by 8-foot greenhouse on her family’s ridge. Now she is just itching to get the first season's crops growing.
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| Resources abound for salvage projects like this — people throw building materials away all the time, and many stores specialize in vintage and reclaimed materials. When Moore was a child, she visited her grandfather’s lake house in Texas every summer. When “Granny needed a bigger closet for canning,” she says, they drove around the community hunting for building materials and “trash” that other people had tossed out — and the resourcefulness of her grandfather stuck with Moore. |
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| She stuffed all 26 windows into her Chevy Impala and schlepped them home — before taking stock of what she had. Turning them into greenhouse walls was “like putting together a puzzle,” she says. |
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| Constructing the greenhouse. Moore’s husband helped install 4-foot pieces of rebar into a railroad timber foundation. Moore attached 2-by-4 framing for the walls. She involved the three youngest of her six children (Anna, 10; Sarah, 12; and Zach, 15) extensively in this project. Before they move out of the house or get sucked into the busy years of high school and college, she wants to involve them in as many home projects that would allow them to get their hands dirty as possible. They helped cut roof panels, applied the olive green paint and even helped with the framing. |
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| Two weeks later, the walls were up. |
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| The windows and design of the greenhouse strongly influenced its framing. Moore says she framed the greenhouse rather unconventionally to accommodate the maximum 27- by 42-inch window span. "Solid 2-by-4 horizontal beams between each row of windows give strength and stability to the walls," says Moore. "The weight load is carried by the horizontal beams and vertical 2-by-4 jack studs, while accommodating the existing oak frames of the windows." Building from the ground up, Moore squared and plumbed the structure as she went. She used decking screws to build it, saying, "They don't back out with the swell and contraction that wood goes through seasonally." Moore's property is advantageously situated on the southeast side of a tall ridge, which offers shelter from most direct winds. "I do consider the 70-foot-tall trees a potential disaster. God willing, it'll be here for a long time," she says. While Moore has a home renovation and other garden building projects under her belt, she’s the first to admit that this project wasn’t without its challenges. “I’m not a professional builder,” she says, and between maneuvering a 6-foot-tall ladder on an 8-foot-tall wall and cutting rafters to fit flush on the roof, Moore had her share of obstacles. “I would take a glass of wine and walk down to the hill and sit and stare at the greenhouse and ponder,” she says. Taking a step back, she would think, “I can get this. If I can pack six kids in the van for a family trip, find room for luggage and still have access to the cooler, I can make a rafter fit flush on the roof.” |
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| Two weeks after the walls were up, a corrugated polycarbonate panel roof was on. While its longevity is yet to be determined, as of now it keeps the rain out. A pitched roof was originally envisioned, but this shed roof design involved a lot less cutting and less square footage — a plus when the panels cost $30 apiece. |
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| Bringing on the heat. Winter on the ridge drops to temperatures in the teens, and Moore hopes to use passive heating to warm the greenhouse. She’ll observe temperatures in it over the winter to see if supplemental heating is required — solar panels, perhaps. She's looking forward to growing a lot more in the coming seasons, and maintaining a balmy temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit over the winters would make a world of difference. She caulked the windows and then let her kids have a go with the olive green paint. Moore says she has only a few more trips to the glass with the razor blade left to go. |
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To control air and heat flow, a transom above the greenhouse door will be added. Silicone caulking will also make the joints tighter. This greenhouse is going to be forever, says Moore.
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| Considering the plantings. Moore says pomegranates are a must for growing. Her grandfather grew pomegranates and Shasta daisies in Texas, and this homage to his influence really brings the process full cycle. Avocados are on the wish list as well. She’s considering salvaged stainless steel restaurant shelving for stacking and displaying the plants. For now, two hanging planters and heirloom tomato cuttings are testing out conditions over the winter while temperatures are monitored and sun patterns observed. |
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Moore is looking forward to the time she'll spend in her new greenhouse. "It's perfect," she says. "It's quiet but not removed. You can just sit down there and watch the trees, the horses and enjoy the house."
Let her process inspire your own project. Here are the materials she used:
Let her process inspire your own project. Here are the materials she used:
- Foundation: Salvaged railroad timbers and 4-foot rebar pieces
- Framing: Various lengths of 2-by-4s; various-size lumber for trim, door frame and base
- Walls: 26 oak-framed windows of various sizes; exterior latex caulk, primer and paint
- Rafters: Seven 10-foot lengths of 2-by-6s, stained and sealed
- Roofing: Polycarbonate panels with fasteners and foam inserts
- Window ledges: Scrap 1-by-8 oak shelves
- Deck screws (2 inch, 2 1/2 inches and 3 inches)
- Door hinges (smaller for side windows, larger for door)
- Antique wood door
- Decorative door header: Scrap plate rail
Ideabook updated on May 16, 2013.
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Read more: Are Railroad Ties Safe for Gardens? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7557575_railroad-ties-safe-gardens.html#ixzz2GGlrhIsy
"This is stunning and inspirational! I do have a question, however. Do you think you will get enough sun for your greenhouse? It looks like there will be a broad canopy over it by summer. I ask because your setting seems similar to mine--on a slope with trees overhead."
I do. The sun's path in this area allows for good light until mid to late afternoon through out the summer months. This had been an area I had used as a vegetable garden in past years. I actually think this will be best when the late afternoon sun/heat of summer could cook the plants inside. If you have any
other questions please feel free to ask.
"Hope we get updates as to how the roof holds up, and if passive solar heating keeps the temperatures where she wants it! I would love to build a greenhouse in my backyard eventually, and love the salvaged style of this greenhouse!"
Well, the holidays are over and so far so good...We've had some good winds, small hail and a little snow! The roof seems to be as good as new...I am wondering if UV won't be the killer over time...I'll have to wait and see. I was very careful to document and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. The product was pricey and had a decent warranty.
I found a "wireless temperature station" in my office that was a past Christmas gift. I had never even opened it. It may not have quiet a long enough wireless range...But, I'm gonna try it. Wouldn't it be great to be able to stand in the kitchen, hot coffee in hand and compare the outside porch temp with what's happening in my greenhouse. By comparison I hope to determine what would be sufficient to "heat" it. I'll be sure to share my findings.
"This is a super-cool project. I'd love to have a few wooded acres (or more) to try something like it. My only question: Do you need a permit to build stuff like that?"
Permits and building codes in your area will help you determine this. You can contact the Building Department of your local government, state, county or city...
Some interesting facts....No permit is generally required in most areas if...the greenhouse is movable or a kit, is NOT on a permanent foundation, ie a concrete slab...I used timbers.
If you add electric or water...you will probably be required to have a permit.
"This is a great way to repurpose old single glaze windows. One note of caution, though: replace the glass in the lowest windows with tempered glass for safety."
I absolutely agree. I was really pleased to find that these windows all have a bygone era "plate glass" installed in them...Very heavy and could do a lot of damage if someone fell through...Thankfully we live way out and all my kiddos a practically raised...Still definitely a future consideration should one need replacing.
Numerous sources advise against using railroad ties or any other creosote-treated wood in gardens or for other landscaping applications. As recently as March 2003, the University of Missouri Extension recommended on its website that gardeners forming raised gardens with railroad ties use heavy plastic sheeting to protect the soil from contact with the ties. In April 2010, the same website advised, "Avoid using treated lumber or railroad ties because their chemical content can be harmful to the plants."
Read more: Are Railroad Ties Safe for Gardens? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7557575_railroad-ties-safe-gardens.html#ixzz2GGlrhIsy
I didn't have any "studies" to quote but that was my "o'natural/organic" opinion too. I use a very heavy mil. black plastic to line my raised bed. Other things I can't give you data on but I would avoid would be, treated lumber (contains arsenic) and cinder (cement) blocks (contains lime and will effect the ph level of your soil)...Both could be used if the interior was lined with plastic. I won't be growing anything in the "floor" of my greenhouse but I still lined the foundation walls to add to the longevity of the timbers.
http://contentedheartcreations.blogspot.com/
I'm not a writer so I tend to feature a lot, a lot of photos...If your looking for more pictures of the building process feel free to visit and comment. I'm usually working on a few "rabbit trails" at a time...