December 15, 2022

Greenhouse Project: Weather Permitting

Progress on the greenhouse has been slow this month. When it isn't raining, it's foggy, soggy, and overcast, so that nothing dries out. But we have had a few really nice days. For the record, here's a photo update showing Dan's progress since my last greenhouse project update, about a month ago.






The openings are sized for the windows below.

New windows from our builders' surplus warehouse, $10 each.


First window in

12 comments:

SmartAlex said...

Great price on those surplus windows! It's tough to save money building anything in this day and age. My husband has a permanent, malignant case of sticker shock.

Rosalea said...

It's going to be a beauty, Leigh! Can't believe the price on those windows.

Leigh said...

Alex, Dan does too! lol. Between the builders' surplus place and craigslist, we can do this project. Plus the sawmill. And I'm glad we saved all windows we replaced! Sometimes it pays to be a hoarder! :)

Rosalea, thanks! We couldn't have afforded to build it from full retail purchases. Everything is just too high nowadays.

Ed said...

I've said it before but I'll say it again, living further south where you can build "foundations" like yours really has a lot of advantages.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! Looking forward to next installment and yes I know I haven’t sent you any pictures yet. I am so sorry but like you when we get decent weather besides 45 mile an hour winds and a ton of rain I try to make use of it.

Cederq said...

Looking cool!

Leigh said...

Ed, very true. There are trade-offs, of course, like blazingly hot sun and summers! But there are pluses and minuses to every location.

Goatldi, always make use of the weather! lol. We are (as you can see).

Kevin, thanks!

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

That is a smoking hot deal on window!

It looks good to my untrained eyes. And to Ed's comment, it is amazing what one can do when one is not contending with bitterly cold Winters (although there is always the payoff of trying to do things during the Face of The Sun season...).

Leigh said...

TB, regional climate affects things a lot! We are able to do a lot in winter, whereas summer it's just too hot. Pretty much opposite of the north, where summer is the better outdoor project time.

Michael said...

A LOT of ventilation and shade cloth for summers overheating.

Otherwise, your home is going to get a LOT of unwanted summer solar gain.

Humidity from growing plants can be a hazard to homes for structural rot and mold so be careful. I've had to remove one and help repair a neighbor's home for those reasons. Free standing is sometimes for a good reason.

A Florida room is not a greenhouse, it's a place for a few plants and some chairs to enjoy when it's snowy. My neighbor has one but almost never uses it due to glare and how chilled the glass is in NH's winters.

You might want to look over at a Rocket Mass Heater for heating the greenhouse in winter. A poor man's version that works well just uses more storm damaged branches is a Crimean oven.

https://www.notechmagazine.com/2014/03/crimean-ovens.html

I've used one in my deer camp "Hot Tent" and it's pretty nice.

Leigh said...

Michael, our ventilation system plans will be in an upcoming post. For winter heat, a RMH for the greenhouse is a possibility. Thanks for the link! We're planning to build a batch box rocket stove next summer to replace our soapstone stove in the house.

Powell River Books said...

Looks like a great addition, like a solarium where you can sit and visit your plants when it's cold outside. - Margy