How to Build a Greenhouse

Building your own greenhouse can be extremely rewarding, granting you the ability to achieve a greater degree of self sufficiency by being able to grown your own fruits, vegetables and various produce. It’s also quite fun to have an almost completely climate controlled environment to grow shrubs and flowers if you’re an official green thumb.

There are actually quite a few different greenhouse designs that you can choose from that will allow you to build one that best fits your particular growing needs. However, if this is your first greenhouse building experience, then you may wish to consider sticking one of the easier greenhouse designs, such as those that are constructed as an attached greenhouse or a lean-to because they are often structurally simpler than other types. Having said that though, the following quick guide will help you step up and get a greater variety of growing benefits as it offers a slightly more advanced design.

First, as excited as you might be to get started with your new greenhouse plans, you will need to make sure you pick a proper location for it in your yard. This requires careful consideration since you need to choose the spot in your yard that receives the most sunlight throughout the year. Once you’ve got this spot settled upon you can get building.

Start by constructing the base of the greenhouse from 100x100 treated wood. Make an oblong 3000mm x 2400mm frame and connect the wood at the corners with galvanized nails and nail plates—make sure the diagonals are equal. You’ll then want to make sure the base is secure by pounding in pegs around the perimeter. Hammer the pegs to the base and cut them so that they are even with the base.

Next, you will build the framing from 75x50 treated wood. Using a flat surface on the ground construct two side wall frames to match the dimensions of the base. After you’ve squared the wall you will need to cut and place the bracing components in the corners of the framing. Then fix the walls to the base using galvanized nails through the bottom plates.

You’ll then cut the roof timbers to match up with the frame size, using angled cuts. You should cut about five rafters for your roof. Complement this with five gussets made from plywood. You will then attach the roof frames to the side wall top plate with more galvanized nails.

The final step involves covering your greenhouse with UV-resistant polythene. Hold the cover tightly in place with battens and then nail the battens into the studs using and roof rafters.