Homemade greenhouses fit perfectly into modern trends. This is not surprising, because even a small greenhouse can contribute to growing more demanding plants.
Materials for construction
A small greenhouse can be built from different materials. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. First you need to consider materials for the supporting structure.
Wooden greenhouse look very aesthetic. It combines well with arbors and wooden elements of a small garden architecture. In addition, construction from wood does not represent much difficulty. Unfortunately, wood also has its drawbacks. In addition, a wooden greenhouse requires regular impregnation of the entire design. Without this, the tree can be attacked by pests or mold.
Steel has high resistance to mechanical damage and adverse weather conditions. Construction on a steel frame may be more laborious, but this design will be in perfect condition for many years.
Aluminum design is as resistant to moisture, like steel. Nevertheless, it does not show such good resistance to mechanical damage. Aluminum frame is well suited for small structures.
Material for coating
The aforementioned three materials are very popular. However, the choice of material for the frame is only the beginning. There is still a coating material. Homemade greenhouse can have several types of coatings. The most suitable are:
polyethylene film;
polycarbonate;
glass.
Covered with orangeneie do not require complex assembly. The film is well missed and does not load the carrying structure. The big advantage of this coating material is an attractive price and easy accessibility. The main disadvantages are low resistance to mechanical damage.
Polycarbonate is very resistant to changing weather conditions and even to mechanical damage. Polycarbonate coating does not change its size and skips the sun's rays well. Polycarbonate panels will not crumble and are not broken into small pieces like glass. The only drawback is a higher price.
For construction, you can use both absolutely transparent and tinted glass. This allows you to plan the optimal level of lighting. Unfortunately, even a small greenhouse made of glass in the garden will be quite severe.
The choice of cover should be determined by plants that are planned to be grown. For glazed plants, glazing is recommended, a characteristic feature of which is fast heating. On the other hand, the greenhouse, covered with polycarbonate, may not provide sufficient amount of sunlight in winter.
The second criterion for selecting the material is the location. It should be remembered that glass, especially tempered, rather heavy. Those who plan to put a greenhouse on the terrace or on the floor of the building should take into account the load. The glass option will be perfect in the garden.
Building
First you need to select the location. The best place will be the sunny side away from trees or buildings, and at the same time protected from wind. Long sides of the greenhouses should be oriented to the South and North.
Plant care requires the conservation of appropriate conditions. You can make irrigation settings and connect heating or ventilation.
When assembling the frame, it is best to fulfill the structure in stages, collecting each wall separately. Doors need to be located on the western side, from which the wind is most often blowing.
The next stage of construction is the installation of a wall and roof. The easiest to use is the film, but it can break even when trying to attach it to the design! Therefore, it is better to choose polycarbonate plates. This elastic material can be attached with screws.
Important. Before you start assembling with polycarbonate, you need to carefully read the manufacturer's instruction.
Installation of glass panels is also not complicated, but largely depends on the design of the greenhouses and the selected solutions. Sometimes glass panels are mounted with screws for wooden construction (if the glass has a frame for this). You can arrange glass panels, separate them with special clamps of stainless steel and press the frame with the help of window brackets. Another method involves the use of plastic washers and glass gluing with silicone.
Important. It is worth mentioning the regular maintenance of the greenhouse. In high temperature and humidity conditions, fungi or dangerous microorganisms can be formed. It is necessary to remember the cleaning and disinfection - both frame, glazing and the equipment itself, as well as the periodic metabolism of the soil.
To determine the cost of the greenhouse, you must first design or at least determine its main characteristics. The cost depends on the construction technology, such as materials and size.