greenhouse basics 101

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Becca

Hi everyone. I'm starting my research on greenhouses...I plan on it taking a while....then when I am ready for the greenhouse, I won't have to wait to research everything.

Anyways, my question is for those who have had someone run the electricity and plumbing to your greenhouse in the construction phase of it, how much was it to have this done? Just looking for a ball park is all. I'm trying to get an idea of what the overall price would be to have the electricity and plumbing done professionaly and a good quality greenhouse versus adding a sunroom onto a house and just tying into the existing heating and plumbing system. If anyone has any info or can direct me on where to start my research or on how to start it I would greatly appreciated.

Also, what is or does the R -value stand for with the insulation?

Becca, when I built my greenhouse, I hired a guy with a back-hoe to dig me a trench 5 feet deep by the 125 feet from the side of my house (where the utilities would run through the wall) the the GH foundation. The water line (1" PE pipe) and electricity were in the bottom. As I completed those, he back-filled about 1 foot in the trench behind me, and when I had completed those, I ran the gas line (1/2" copper tubing) in the now-4' deep trench, and he followed-up and filled that. The whole thing took 4 hours and cost $300.

[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.