Thoughts on Building a Greenhouse

It’s the time of year that many people start the process of building a greenhouse. You get towards the end of summer and realize that this is the perfect time to start this project since you can extend your current growing season and possible grow those wonderful vegetables you love all the way through the winter and I could not agree more!

For the sake of time and space I will assume that you are building your greenhouse out of timber as this is what most people use. Before you decide how far the framing or trusses should be apart, you will need to look into what type of greenhouse covering you want to use on the structure. This is a very important factor when building a greenhouse since it heavily impacts the R Factor, or the measurement of ‘insulating ability’ of the material. (The higher the R Factor number the greater the insulation value) as well as the U Value or the measurement of ‘heat loss’ through the material. (The lower the U Value the less heat is escaping).

Without establishing the material you will be using to cover the frame, before you build, can end up being a major mistake in the process. Most people recommend trusses and frame to be no more then 24″ apart and no less then 16″ but you will want to make sure before starting to build.

Start by checking the R-Factor and U-Value of the greenhouse coverings, the region of the country you live in and the price. The colder the region the higher R Factor you will need and lower U Value. You can get away with some lower insulated values and higher heat loss in areas that have a more temperate climate.

Once this important piece has been completed, you will need to consider how you are going to ventilate the greenhouse as well as heat it during the colder months. Again, the covering will make a great difference in your heating bills in the winter as well so if you think you can skimp on the covering because of price, you will pay for that mistake with heating costs if you choose to use the greenhouse during the colder months of the year.

There are some alternative ways to heat a greenhouse but they too will be affected by what type of covering you end up using. The better experiences always come from those who spend the time doing the research and investing in the things that truly matter.

You can get more information on greenhouse coverings and how to correctly install them so you can make better decisions when planning to build your own greenhouse. You can also look at some additional greenhouse supplies that can help you get your greenhouse off to a great start and keep it growing!. You can also invest in a greenhouse kit that only requires installation and can be a great asset if you don’t want to build your own from scratch.

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