| Greenhouse: Assembling the Frame and Installing Polycarbonate Panels |
From "Weekend Handyman"
episode WKH-203 |
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Time: 16 hours over 2-1/2 days. Difficulty Rating: This project rates a 2 on the Weekend Handyman scale.
Materials: Greenhouse kit
Class-5 aggregate
Sand
Timbers
Pavers
Phillips-head screwdriver
10mm wrench
10mm nut driver
Metric tape measure
Hammer
Skill saw
Drill and bits
Steel rake
Shovel
Tamper
Ladder
Long level
Paver splitter Day One continued - Lay out your frame on the ground according to the instructions. The gable wall includes two roof gables, corner studs, wall studs and connecting plates.
Expert Tip: You always need to work on the greenhouse as if you are inside. So, lay it out inside up. The reason for this is that all the channels for attaching the bolts are on the inside of the frame. - Attach the bottom plate to the corner struts and the wall struts to the bottom plate. The corner struts attach to the roof gable and for this use a corner plate. Use two bolts in the corner wall struts and two in the roof gable (figure A). Put two additional bolts, which will be used to connect the braces and door header, in the center wall struts.
- Slide on four bolts for the roof gable and attach them to the corner strut with an angle plate and then tighten the nuts. Tighten the bolts enough to hold them in place.
Expert Tip: Do not tighten the bolts too much or do not use a drill mounted nut drive because the bolts are aluminum and will twist off. - Assemble the other end wall like the first one, but without a door frame.
- Lay out your wall and then attach your bolts. Tighten the bolts.
- For the side walls, lay out the wall struts (figure B) and then attach the bottom sill of the greenhouse to the bottom of your wall struts. The two side walls are identical.
Expert Tip: Put extra nuts and bolts into the gable before putting the side wall in. They will attach the gable end to the side wall once you get them up. - It's time to raise the walls. The end wall pieces have a channel (figure C ), and this is where the side wall slides in. To attach the corners, loosen the four nuts on the plate that connects the end wall to the roof gable. Spread this connection apart in order to slide in the side-wall section, then bolt the bottom braces together. Do this in each of the four corners.
- Attach the ridge pole, that goes along the top of the roof and connects to the top of each one of the gables to the door wall and then to the back wall. Just loosen the bracket, slide it in (figure D) and tighten it up.
- Attach the six roof struts by lining them up with the wall struts and bolting them in.
- Assemble the frames for the doors and windows (figure E), and attach them with screws.
- Attach the lock and handle to the door (figure F).
- Install the polycarbonate window panes in the windows and doors. This needs to be done on day one because the silicone needs to set overnight night and create a seal. Slide the gaskets (figure G) on the top and bottom of your polycarbonate panel before applying the silicone.
- Run short beads of silicone along the edge of your frame, put the frame in and then secure it with the spring clips provided. The clips will stay in place even after the silicone has set.
- To install the polycarbonate panels, slide a plastic gasket on the top and bottom of each panel and then connect them to the frame of the greenhouse (figure H). The gaskets keep bugs and water from getting into the polycarbonate. You will need one person on the inside of the greenhouse and another on the outside to bow the panel out and flex it into place.
Expert Tip: Polycarbonate is a good choice because it has a UV protector so it will not turn yellow and crack over the years. Also, those corrugated pockets actually diffuse the light and distribute it more evenly throughout the greenhouse and it will not break and shatter if something hits it -- it is very durable. - Start with the four corners of the side walls and once a panel is in place, there is another vinyl gasket that goes along the side of each panel. Snap it into place between the frame and the polycarbonate (figure I).
RESOURCES :
Holland Paving Stones (Anchor)
Brand Name: Anchor
Anchor
North St. Paul, MN 55109
Premium 8.3 Greenhouse (Juliana)
Brand Name: Juliana
Model Number: 10 mm
Color: Green
Misc. Product Info:
- Available with aluminum finish or durable powder coated green finish.
- Extra thick polycarbonate provides additional protection from the cooler temperatures and elements.
- Features like one of the strongest frames available, extra overall heights, thicker 6mm (1/4") polycarbonate covering, heavy-duty hinged door, and rainwater down pipes makes these greenhouse stand out from the rest.
Juliana America
Eagan, MN 55121
Phone: 651-289-3312
Fax: 651-289-3315
Website: www.julianaamerica.com
Greenhouse Accessories (Juliana)
Juliana Univent automatic opener, Model #JU123
Schaefer exhaust fan -- motorized, Model #SF1200
Juliana 3 section table, aluminum potting bench, Model #JUA4556
Juliana Plant Rings (20 per pack), Gray, Model #JUA4711
Juliana Plant Spiral -- 3 pack, Black, Model #JUA4901
Juliana Vanlet Watering System, Black, Model #JUA4201
Juliana America
Eagan, MN 55121
Phone: 651-289-3312
Fax: 651-289-3315
Website: www.julianaamerica.com
Plastic Lumber (Bedford Technology Lumber)
Model Number: 4"x6"x10' reinforced plastic lumber
Color: Forest Green
Bedford Technology Lumber
Worthington, MN 56187
Fax: 507-372-5726
Ortho's All About Greenhouses
ISBN: 0897214633
Author: Ortho Books Editor
Order this title from Amazon.
Meredith Books Corp.
Website: www.meredith.com
GUESTS :
Keri Lahl
Sales Representative, Gardenstyles
Excelsior, MN
Phone: 952-401-1682
John Evans
Marketing Manager, Holland Paving Stones
North St. Paul, MN
Phone: 651-777-8321
Gene Tubbs
Operations, Juliana America
Website: www.julianaamerica.com
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