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Monday, April 15, 2013

Carport-Frame Greenhouse Design

Quite a handsome little greenhouse, don't you think!

One of the guiding principles of the Sharing Gardens is to Re-use and Re-purpose as many materials as we can - to keep them out of burn-piles, and the dump. This carport greenhouse was made with 100% salvaged and donated materials (we didn't spend a penny!) Such a beautiful demonstration of what the Sharing Gardens are all about!

Here is a greenhouse we made using a metal carport frame, pressure-treated lumber and plywood. (Finished size - 10' x 20') We had a door and aluminum windows to use as well, though we've made vents and doors in other greenhouses by framing them with 2 x 4 lumber and covering in plywood, or plastic. We've assembled it entirely with screws, which makes it possible to disassemble and move. Someone donated the aluminum track (Spring Lock) to attach the plastic but it can be expensive to buy it new. On other greenhouses we've built, we've used long strips of lathe to screw down the plastic.

Finished carport greenhouse - side view.


North end. Note unpainted vent-door at peak. Greenhouse is cooled by convection; cool air comes in lower windows at south end and exits through upper vent and door. Window on left is also operable.
North end from inside. Plywood construction means you can hang shelves/tool rack.
South end is all glass (two sliding windows) and greenhouse plastic for maximum light.
Here are some close-ups for construction details:

Begin by setting up frame on level ground with the ends facing north and south.

Use 2 x 4's to frame side-walls. Upright metal posts are on bricks or blocks of wood to keep structure level and prevent it from sinking into the ground. Any wood that touches the ground should be pressure-treated.
Splicing 2 x 4's. The inner board makes a nice support for a shelf or tables.
The next step is to install a pressure-treated 6 x 6 across the bottom of the end walls. In our case, we spliced two shorter pieces together with a full-length 2 x 6. Keep making the structure level and square. This will make the rest of your framing much easier.
We use metal plumber's tape to secure sides to poles. Note painted cedar 1 x 4 "sill" and metal track (Spring Lock) to attach plastic.
Detail of inner walls. If you don't have corrugated fiber-glass, you can simply use more greenhouse plastic, or plywood.
Detail - outer corner. Note - we used 2 - 8" lag bolts to fasten lower corner to 6 x 6.
Detail - inner corner.

South wall, ready for framing and windows.
Next stage is to frame the end-walls:
This shows one of many possible variations for framing end wall. You need framing for windows or vents and to be able to attach plastic all the way around.

North wall framed for door and vent above door.



Framing details: 


Upper corner detail. 2 x 4's cut with a reciprocating saw (Sawzall).

More end wall:
Aluminum-framed, sliding windows for ventilation.

South wall framing.

Inside north wall (still needs vent above door).

Attaching plastic:
This is what the Spring Lock track looks like. The plastic is laid in the track and locked into place with the "wiggle wire".

Detail of corner showing plastic wrapped around and attached on end-wall, and along 1 x 4 sill on side with Spring Lock and wiggle-wire.

Plastic attached along sill. The nice thing about Spring Lock is that you can go back and stretch plastic to be taught and even (which we did after this picture was taken).

Skid-free ramp.
Greenhouse in use:

Jen and Doreen transplanting peppers.

Our new friend Austin, getting a transplanting lesson from Llyn.
To see other "How To" articles, go to our new and improved site: http://thesharinggardens.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or suggestions for improvements, please comment below.

11 comments:

  1. We are getting ready to put up a similar one so I appreciate the great details. Our yard also looks similar to yals and was wondering if that was just mulch on floor. We have alot of johnson grass and bermuda and wanting to put raised propagation beds in and not for sure how to eliminate the grass issue. Also have blackland thats why going to use raised beds.Sounds like yal have had a few so any info would be appreciated Thanks Tonia

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  2. Hi Tonia, thanks for your comments and questions. We are fortunate in that our garden-site does not have either the Johnson or Bermuda grass. As you know, these are extremely difficult to get rid of! In the greenhouse pictured here (carport greenhouse) we simply put down a double layer of cardboard and covered it with 6-8 inches of dried leaves. Hay or straw work well too. These keep things dry under-foot, kill less invasive weeds and grasses and provide organic matter (for planting directly into the ground as we do later in the season). For your situation, you can put down road-carpet (black woven plastic "cloth" used under gravel road-beds), or a heavy-duty plastic. We hate to suggest the use of adding more plastic into the environment but, short of a cement slab, you may need a stronger barrier than cardboard and mulch can provide to prevent those grasses from invading.

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  3. Thank you so much for your step by step directions. They are so helpful.

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  5. Thank a lot. You have done excellent job. I enjoyed your blog . Nice efforts carportsmelbourne

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  6. I just acquired a 10x10x20 car port looks similar to yours. Thanks for taking step by step pictures, great job!
    Pat

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  7. Again thanks for sharing very helpful. Im going to fashion mine and send pics after completed. Thanks☺

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    1. Hope your project goes well! We'd love to see your pics. If you like, send us a link to them. ShareInJoy AT gmail.com

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  8. I am hoping to build something very similar to this very soon! My only problem is that we have cleared a spot in our forest (we live completely surround by trees in the PNW) and I’m afraid that falling tree debris will puncture the garden house plastic.... do you have any thoughts on something that I could use that would be a little more stable and sturdy to hold up to the possible branches and limbs that may fall on it?! Thanks for the beautiful step by step instructions - so very helpful!

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  9. Does the plastic across the roof collect water when it rains? Some "carport frames" like yours and mine have that crossbar where the roof "rafter" pole connects to the wall poles (soffit area). Do those "cross bars" create puddling in the plastic on the roof? Or is there enough tension on the plastic that the rainwater runs off the roof and does not collect there? Beneficial post.

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    1. Hello - We haven't had any trouble with pooling rainwater. Two things to keep in mind that might help prevent this problem for your own project: be sure to use 6 mil plastic that is specifically designed for greenhouses. The thickness prevents pooling and tearing. This type of plastic also is treated with an agent that protects it from UV rays. This will make it last longer so you don't have to reapply it as often as you would if you use non-GH plastic.

      The other thing that will help prevent pooling is to put the plastic on in the coolest part of the day (we always do it in the early morning). The plastic expands and contracts with temperature changes. If you put it on in the heat of the day, and apply it snugly then, when it cools down it may be too tight and contribute to its degradation over time (from the added stress).

      You'll also want to pick a morning when there's little or no wind as a large sheet of plastic can become quite the unruly "sail" on a windy day. We wish you all the best! Llyn and Chris, Sharing Gardens

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