Greenhouse Buyers Guide
For many gardeners, a greenhouse is a dream—a way to
keep the growing season going year-round or the key to turning
your hobby into a profession. A greenhouse may be as simple
as a temporary shelter that costs less than $500 or as elaborate
as a solarium you build onto your home. To help you sort through
the bewildering array of options available, we've compiled
the following questions to help you choose the right greenhouse
for you.
Factors
to consider:
What purpose will your greenhouse serve? Will this be a purely
functional building hidden from plain view so its appearance
is unimportant or will you integrate your greenhouse into
the landscape of your lawn and garden? Would you like it to
also serve as a living space in addition to a greenhouse?
If you answer purely functional, then are you looking to
grow vegetables and/or flowers year round? Or, maybe you just
want a practical place to start spring seeds and cultivate
some tasty greens in the cold winter months.
Now, perhaps most importantly, how much money can you invest?
This may ultimately be your deciding factor. There is no simple
answer as to how much a greenhouse will cost. The price depends
so much on the materials, the size, and whether you'll be
building it yourself or hiring a professional. A small, temporary
walk-in greenhouse for spring and summer use can cost less
than $500; a sunroom will cost as much as any other addition
to your home. You will also need to factor in the cost of
heating. With these parameters in mind, read on and see which
options best fit your greenhouse needs.
Different structural options:
In simplest terms, greenhouses come in two basic styles: freestanding
and attached. Freestanding greenhouses allow you to choose
the best possible site. Ideally, the greenhouse should receive
full winter sun, and its longest side should face south. But
because freestanding structures are more exposed to the elements,
they can be more expensive to construct and operate. You'll
need to have plumbing, a heat source, and electricity installed.
With an attached greenhouse, you'll probably have to compromise
on sun exposure. But keep in mind that you can even have a
greenhouse on the north side of your house if you're willing
to add supplemental lighting or grow plants that prefer shade.
If you plan carefully, you may be able to make full use of
your home's existing features, including water pipes, heating,
and electricity.
Materials:
Frames
# Wood is the easiest to use if you're building it yourself.
It is strong enough to support glass glazing, but it is also
the heaviest and therefore costs more to ship. In addition,
you must treat even decay-resistant woods (cedar and redwood)
with linseed oil or another wood preservative to prevent rotting
in the humid greenhouse environment.
# Galvanized steel and aluminum are also strong enough to
bear the weight of glass glazing. One drawback is that they
may conduct heat and cold.
# PVC (polyvinyl chloride) frames are only appropriate for
lightweight film-covered structures.
Glazing
You have numerous choices for glazing including: glass, polycarbonate,
acrylic, fiberglass and plastic film. One common misperception
is that transparency means better light transmission. The
truth is that many translucent materials transmit just as
much light as clear glass.
# Tempered glass is still the longest lasting and easiest
to maintain, making it the ideal choice for sunrooms and solariums.
# Polycarbonate and acrylic panels are almost as permanent
and transparent as glass. These three materials are more expensive
than fiberglass and require a stable foundation.
# Fiberglass panels, on the other hand, are relatively inexpensive
and long-lasting when properly maintained. But you can't see
through them, and their ability to transmit light tends to
fade over time.
# Plastic Film ranges from transparent to translucent. Some
films with ultraviolet (UV) protection can last 5 years or
longer. Other must be replaced yearly, so be sure to check
on guarantees.
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