…… Greenhouse

kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've been batting a greenhouse build around for a couple of years but just couldn't work out all the issues because of landscape/trees/etc. I finally have a solution, I think. I'm going to build it off the front of one of the garage doors. There is no driveway beyond a 3 ft concrete apron piece, so the majority of it will be over regular ground.
I have all the windows I could need. I have a three door, insulated, french door set. I have access to pallets and can do a build with treated pallet wood. (I love demolition blades.)
So the question that popped into my head today... instead of trying to find very expensive, ground contact lumber nowadays, can I use railroad ties? Not worried about chemicals. This is a spring starter, winter protection greenhouse. Anything put in it will be in pots, not directly into the soil. I have shelves that will work just fine.
I was thinking two tiers of railroad ties to be the base, and then the windows on top of that. The roof will be poly because of tree debris and the need for me to be able to lift it to vent heat. Replacing a poly panel is a heck of a lot easier than replacing a section of glass overhead.
I'm hoping to get started on this in March so I can use it to protect potted citrus by next fall.
So railroad ties? Or alternatives?
 
Freeholder

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
Railroad ties should be just fine for your use. Would love to see pictures when you get it built!

Kathleen
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I am going to try to remember to take pictures as I go along. Because I see homemade greenhouse from old windows all over the internet, but no one gives any type of details on making them.
I think at the least, there will be one layer of railroad ties dug in to level the ground with the concrete. And then, maybe, a layer of pressure treated, ground contact lumber on top of that.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Marseydoats said:
Make sure that you make it tall enough that you can stand up straight inside, and make the door wide enough that you can comfortably get thru it carrying a large tray of seedlings.
I would like to see pics as well!
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Oh yeah. So far I've done 3 different greenhouses from plastic and learned a few things. That is one of the reasons why it's a winter over/spring sprouting greenhouse. And why I'm placing it where it will get summer shade. That is also why the final decision to go with plexi for the roof, rather than glass. And not to use the automatic openers. Things learned from previous incarnations.
One of the bonuses of this spot is that if I need supplemental heat, I can plug into the garage. And I can set a heater in a position where it is surrounded by fire resistant materials (concrete and metal). Little things.
 
Toosh

Toosh

Veteran Member
My wood ties greenhouse base lasted 7 years. Last year I tore it all down and started new with cinder block at the base.

While you're connecting to the garage, consider rainwater harvesting from the garage downspout for water in the greenhouse. With that water comes opportunities for hydroponics, if you wish.

If you're not planting in the dirt in the greenhouse then you'll prefer a gravel floor over mud.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Toosh said:
My wood ties greenhouse base lasted 7 years. Last year I tore it all down and started new with cinder block at the base.

While you're connecting to the garage, consider rainwater harvesting from the garage downspout for water in the greenhouse. With that water comes opportunities for hydroponics, if you wish.

If you're not planting in the dirt in the greenhouse then you'll prefer a gravel floor over mud.
Click to expand...
Cinderblock makes it a permanent add-on or structure and jumps the taxes. And means that if I move, I can't take it without a world of hassle. While this will be made with windows, it will be made in such a way that it can be dismantled and moved if needs be. Each pair of windows is designed as an independent segment bolted to the next segment and the base.

And rainwater harvesting is already being planned. There are a couple of ideas bouncing for that because I'm worried that stacked IBC totes will cause foundation issues. Very old house and garage. Garage might be okay but I have no way of knowing how deep they went with the concrete pad it was built on. And I've already found issues with the building overall. And there are no gutters. And the roofs, when replaced, did not leave enough overhang for gutters. So I'm plotting another catch design that doesn't need gutters, but does need Trex or a lined wood trench. I think the final decision is whether I'm going to use single layer of IBC totes or do stacks of 55 gallon drums. I prefer the IBC totes for many reasons.

Gravel or pavers will be the end goal. But as I've discovered very thoroughly in the past, grass doesn't stop growing somewhere just because you put a greenhouse up. Not even when temps skyrocket. So pavers so that I don't have to mow, but not high on the priority list.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
kyrsyan said:
Cinderblock makes it a permanent add-on or structure and jumps the taxes. And means that if I move, I can't take it without a world of hassle. While this will be made with windows, it will be made in such a way that it can be dismantled and moved if needs be. Each pair of windows is designed as an independent segment bolted to the next segment and the base.
Click to expand...

Can you do a hoop house instead, like Arms Family Homestead on Youtube did?
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
packyderms_wife said:
There's a greenhouse thread in the Gardening sub forum here for additional ideas, etc., if you need them.
Click to expand...
Okay, I'm blind. Please share a link. Thank you.

packyderms_wife said:
Can you do a hoop house instead, like Arms Family Homestead on Youtube did?
Click to expand...

I had similar at one point. Two problems. First, it just did not hold up long term. Second, I may be in a tiny, tiny town but I'm smack dab in the center of it. So things that would be appropriate on a larger property or a property more out in the country, are not... appreciated here. The more neat and orderly and town-like things look, the less headaches I get from people who really should just mind their own business but don't. There are already a slew of folk that seem to think they have a right to be upset because I installed fabric privacy screens over our chain link fence because neighbors decided to clear out shrubs and trees that were along property lines. But, brand new privacy screen and it looks nice and neat, so they can't do more than frown at me whenever they see me. (And these aren't property owners, these are renters. Although the property owners are the ones who have decided to remove the shrubbery and trees.)
 
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