Insulating The Base Of Your Greenhouse
During winter, insulation keeps cold air out and keeps warm air inside the greenhouse. During hot weather, insulation keeps the temperature of your greenhouse stable. Proper insulation prevents heat loss and does not force your heating system to work as much; hence you don’t have to spend more on electric bill.
You know how important proper insulation is for your greenhouse; doing it is not that complicated too.
The principle of proper insulation is to have a building material that will be able to absorb heat from an external source, store this heat internally, and release it slowly over time. In practical terms, your insulation materials should be able absorb and store heat from the earth and the sun during the day, and release this heat slowly as the temperature dips at night.
Materials Needed
Proper insulation requires the following materials: sand, gravel, crushed rock, insulating foam, hardware cloth, and concrete pavers. If you budget is limited, polystyrene foam can be used as an insulation. If you have a larger budget, high quality foam like PUR (polyurethane foam) or PIR polyisocyanurate foam is a great material of choice.
Insulating The Base of Your Greenhouse
Set the ground where the foundation of your greenhouse will be placed. Spread an inch of sand on a compacted ground. Make sure that the foundation of your greenhouse is leveled. Lay the hardware cloth to keep pests and rodents out of your greenhouse. Top this with insulating foam. Add as much foam as your budget allows. Add another layer of hardware cloth. Then spread a few inches of gravel and crushed rock and finish it off with concrete pavers.
Setting Up Your Greenhouse
After the base insulation has been set, assemble the frame of your greenhouse. Make sure that the size of your base is the same with the size of your greenhouse. Otherwise, you will encounter problems with pests, rodents, and heat loss. Measure carefully the size of your greenhouse against its base before going any further.
Once the frame has been installed, you are only a few steps away to completing your greenhouse project.
To maximize insulating properties of your greenhouse, use the best materials that your budget allows. Thicker cover insulates better and lasts longer. Pick the right spot for your greenhouse depending on the type of weather you have. And finally, do not start to build without creating a plan.
Related posts: