Greenhouse Building Plans – A Few Things to Consider Before Beginning

In this article I would like to discuss a few of the more popular concepts relating to greenhouse building plans as they relate to detached greenhouse structures. I believe that, generally speaking, these are the best option for the amateur greenhouse grower to construct themselves. because they don’t involve having to tie into the the main living structure, costly framing, drywall and insulation alterations can be avoided.

Detached Greenhouses

Detached greenhouses are stand alone or independent structures. These do not share a common wall with your house. The advantage a detached greenhouse has is that it’s size can be comparatively larger than that of the attached varieties, and it depends on your ability to manage your greenhouse that determines it’s size. Not being encumbered by the shadows of an abutting wall, they receive more sunlight. A word of caution is in order here; being larger, these greenhouses may need greater investment with regard to electricity, ventilation, irrigation and heating as well as personal time.

Quonset Greenhouse

Quonset greenhouses are an inexpensive option for the garden enthusiast. Their cost is limited due the cost of polycarbonate or polyethylene plastic which is stretched over a framework of what is usually a pvc tubing. It looks like an inverted “U” when it’s fully assembled. These are definitely the least expensive of all the greenhouse options. The thing is though – they work great. If you’re a little strapped for cash and can’t spend a lot up front, this is a wonderful option to go for.

The only drawback, if you want to call it that, is that being arched, Quonset greenhouses tend to sit pretty low which can restrict overall storage space as well as headroom.

Gothic Arch Greenhouse

Gothic arch greenhouses are similar to the Quonset. They are made up of two separate curved pieces that meet up at the ridge line of the roof. Their walls have a less pronounced curvature however. As a result, compared with the Quonset, these offer better space and headroom along the walls and the design lends it’s self to more efficient ventilation. The Gothic arch style is preferred for it’s aesthetic appeal by many greenhouse owners.

Classic A-Frame Greenhouse

These are so called for an obvious reason – They look just like the letter A. They are very simple in design and can be assembled on the ground in sections before being lifted up to be erected. They have slanted panels that meet at the top in the center ridge. the advantage is that the sloping walls are good for dealing with snow, if you live i a part of the country that deals with a lot of that. They’re also very simple to build, but the design does tend to lend it’s self to a compromise in usable space. They also tend to consume more energy for heating because of their high ceilings. Again though, they are very simple to assemble and maintain, which is probably their greatest strength.

Modified A-Frame Greenhouse

Shaped like a typical house, these greenhouses have straight high walls with a wide A-shaped roof that is much less steep than it’s classic A-frame counter-part. These have gabled roofs without eaves. They are less expensive than the A-frame because the slope of the roof is much less steep. The straight walls increase usable space and allow for more headroom.

Barn Style Greenhouses

This has upright walls with an eave at the roof’s edge that connects the roof to a sidewall. It has more headroom as the peaked roof slants to meet the eaves. The straight walls also provide more choice for placing vents appropriately. barn style greenhouses may be straight or slant sided. The slant sided barn style offers a wider sunny span.

Dome Greenhouses

These are detached greenhouses that are semi-circular in design. They have the advantage of offering minimum resistance and allowing maximum light transmission.