greenhouse basics 101

[Becca]

Thank you for the helpful info Howard and Ray! After Howards reply, I started talking to my husband about what part we could do on our own to save money. We have our house on the market, and the house we are wanting (I know, wishful thinking) already has frost free water spickets out where I would put the greenhouse. He said we could dig down about 4 feet (as Ray mentioned) and tie into these for the greenhouse. He feels comfortable doing most of the other work but may have an electrician help out (good thing I know a few working in the construction industry!) Now I am assuming a good quality greenhouse (say a 10 x 20) with all the goodies would still be cheaper then adding a sunroom of the same size onto the house? Yes or No or about the same costs maybe?

[Connie Star]

Hi Howard,
I'm curious about the difference between the 2nd and 4th pictures. It seems as if there is some kind of material hanging from the ceiling in #4 that isn't there in #2- is that a seasonal thing?

[BikerDoc5968]

Connie, not to take away from Becca's thread but the 1st year I had the GH I had a major problem with condensation. So I put up a temporary liner. It did what I needed it to do but was ugly and so I got sheets of acrylic and cut it to fit as panels inside the aluminum ribs of the roof and now it is clear and permanent. So I went from the first picture to the second. The acrylic blends in so well, you really don't see it but it is there and you can just make out the condensation.

[Connie Star]

Hi Howard,
Is the condensation bad because it cuts down on light transmission? Promotes fungus? Or just messy?

[BikerDoc5968]

The water would drip into the crown of my phals and this is what I grow for the most part and I was fearful of rot. I'm sure the condensation decreases some light but there isn't anything I can do about that.