|
The Tucson Gardener |
|||
|
In the Garden Calendar
Local Garden Links
You're visiting Tucsongardener.com |
More Greenhouse
Madness Scrimweve® rip-stop poly film was another possibility but seemed too much like polyethylene. No, again. Glass was definitely out. BB guns, rocks and cost were deciding factors there. Corrugated fiberglass for the top and sides and rolled flat fiberglass for the greenhouse ends seemed like the best bet. Cost, durability and availability were the deciding factors. My first choice would have been 4 by 8 foot flat, twin wall insulated glazing panels but they were too expensive and I'd probably have to go to Phoenix to get them or pay a premium to have them shipped to me.
The fiberglass itself was easy to come by. What wasn't was the galvanized and corrugated ridge roll that went on the peek of the greenhouse. The plans called for 2 foot lengths. I found 10 foot lengths. The place I bought my greenhouse fiberglass didn't know what I was talking about. I also had trouble finding straight closing strips and wood corrugated strips that helps the fiberglass sit flat on the perlins and closes the ends. With all the wood strips in place I purchased a gallon of paint and coated all the wood. I probably should have let the wood dry out some more before painting because I've noticed some of the 2 by 4s still ooze sap through the paint. Once the paint dried I was ready to start putting on my fiberglass covering. I thought it cut easily with a jigsaw and went on fairly well except I don't recommend trying to do it by yourself on a windy day. Those sheets of fiberglass are like a big kite when held into the wind at the right angle. Although my fiberglass is well attached I'm not looking forward to the monsoon season and the heavy winds which could put my greenhouse panels in my neighbors' yards. Once the fiberglass was all attached with a combination of neoprene washered nails and screws I found out that I didn't have such a good fit after all. There were plenty of gaps where the fiberglass meets the wooden corrugated strips. I wouldn't have had the problem using flat panels. I also might have avoided some alignment problems if two people had installed the panels instead of just one. By this time three weeks had passed and the greenhouse needed a door and the end panels attached. Only problem was I had no power to the greenhouse and I wasn't sure I wanted an evaporative cooling system to increase my utility bills. (1998) Visit The Tucson Gardener, September, 1998 for Greenhouse Madness, Part 2. |
||
