Greenhouse flooring project.

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello all,

As a summer project, I would like to install some kind of floor for my greenhouse. Currently, the floor is just top soil. I believe I would like to use pavers stones (but am still open to other choices) as I find brick pavers very aesthetically pleasing. Is this a bad choice of flooring? Is there something better I’m overlooking?

Either way, I have no idea how to install them and would like to know how if they end up being the final choice.

Allegedly, they get placed on top of sand. Many sands apparently come in two forms to be used in conjunction: a coarser sand to be used as a base and a finer sand to be used as a second layer.

Do I actually need both or is one optional? Do I need additional pebbles at the base to make sure it drains well? I am completely unsure and would love advice.

[Dollythehun]

We used a layer of sand, topped with pavers, with coarse gravel between the pavers. This was in our lath house. It drained well w no algea. For the greenhouse we used a heavy ground cloth and pinned it down. You could get fancy, but why?

[DirtyCoconuts]

A couple questions
Do you have any drainage issues now
Do you have sandy soil or more clay
Do you care how finished it looks, like super smooth and all the bricks at the same level and height?

[Ray]

As DC asked, how well does your current dirt floor drain?

My GH in PA was built on a hillside. The front right was at grade and the left rear was about 4’-5’ in the air, so I several truckloads of fill dirt brought in to make a level floor. That I covered with about 6” of 3/4”-1” round river gravel.

[DirtyCoconuts]

since i have a minute to type:

the sand in two parts is for both stability and level- to add to the drainage you will use gravel or rocks of decreasing size.

there are dozens of graphics on the internet relating to laying pavers or laying a brick walkway and you can consider many of the layers as "as needed" depending on the conditions like the drainage and frost and such.

also, do you have a soil tamper?

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https://i.pinimg.com/originals/12/cb...c4b7f46ebc.jpg

i don't know why it wont embed but here is an example infographic

[WaterWitchin]

1/4" limestone chip makes an excellent base for pavers. My favorite, and also cheapest, is crushed concrete. I learned that trick from an excavator friend who does septic tank/lateral repair and replacement. It works up really well, and can be used both for the layer you place the brick or paver on, plus the fill between the stones/brick.

My favorite fill between pavers outside is polymer sand. But you have to know how to use it, or pay VERY close attention to the directions.

If you have a stable layout of your greenhouse benches, pea gravel under them with paver walkways above grade also makes for good drainage.

[DirtyCoconuts]

crushed concrete sounds awesome but where do you source it?

[WaterWitchin]

Our local rock and concrete place. Most rock/sand/concrete places sell crushed concrete... they just don't advertise it.

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

A couple questions
Do you have any drainage issues now
Do you have sandy soil or more clay
Do you care how finished it looks, like super smooth and all the bricks at the same level and height?

I do have some drainage issues. I put garden soil as the base for the greenhouse when I built the GH as the ground was too uneven.

It tends to get rather muddy when it rains or I water. That said, while the topsoil in the GH is more mulch like, the soil in my yard is extreme clay and water runs over the top of it. Nothing will grow in some parts of the yard and the dirt can even be used for pottery.

The GH is on a slight grade so groundwater generally does run from the north side to the south side of it however, it does pool is some locations.

Ideally, it would have a nice finished look and be pleasant to walk on. Ideally, a material that doesn’t get scorching hot.

[DirtyCoconuts]

here is my humble suggestion

dig and dig

lay down a large (4-6")rock layer of inch or smaller rocks, cover that with some (3-4") of compactable gravel (half to quarter inch size pieces with the crushed stuff too, and then at least an inch of sand.

if you don't want to do that, go with 8" or so of the smaller gravel but that is A LOT of gravel.

the larger rocks are cheaper for filing the larger area


another option is to make drains...use 10" corrugated plastic tubing and drill a ton of holes in the top and bury it and cover with gravel, then grade the pipe to flow out to a spill over and grade the floor to run to the drains


it is called a landscape drain or something like that and people use them to prevent flooding and such at the bottom of hills...it is escaping me.