Planning Your Inexpensive Greenhouse
It is not every day that you build a greenhouse. When you decide you wish to install a greenhouse, you will want the best and the most affordable. We say “the best you can afford” since popular knowledge teaches us that building a greenhouse is expensive. More often than not, a decent-looking greenhouse costs at least $500 to build; and that’s for the materials alone. If your skill will not take you do build one and you opt to hire a contractor, the cost will definitely go higher. Still, building a greenhouse does not have to be expensive. Take note of these tips that will help you lower the cost of your construction:
1.Design according to your need. Savings start in your design. Ideally, the smaller your greenhouse is, the cheaper the cost. Do not construct something that is totally beyond your need. The height, width, and length of your greenhouse should be just right to promote maximum growth for your plants and for you to walk around. More importantly, you want to build a greenhouse that will fit in your property.
2.Save on the frames. You don’t have to spend on industrial-strength iron for your frames; they will not support an entire building. There are cheaper alternatives such as wood, PVC pipes and other plastic tubes that are durable and rot-resistant.
3.Choose your flooring. You don’t have to buy bricks, tiles or lay concrete cement for your flooring. Dirt will do perfectly. Use high quality soil and lay mulch or rocks so that the water will drain right. This type of flooring is also perfect to regulate humidity.
4.Glazing and covering. You have several cheap options for greenhouse covers. Polyethylene is one. Choose thicker plastic films though, as thinner ones they tend to wear over time and you’ll be finding yourself replacing the panes every year.
5.Heating, cooling and ventilation. The amount of heat you need depends on the weather condition of your location. Usually, greenhouse needs some heating device to keep the tropical temperature and humidity inside even if you are in the middle of winter. You can orient your greenhouse so that you can save money on heating system. If your place is very hot, put your greenhouse near a tree or a large structure so that it gets shaded in the afternoon. If you live in the northern part, cover your greenhouse with blanket or some insulation so that you keep the cold air out.
Finally, think of your overall design. There are several types of greenhouses. Each has its pros and cons. See what type fits to your property, weather and budget and work your way from there.
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