Harbor Freight Greenhouse Construction

[dragoneggs]

Yes, I did the roof too. I have two layers of 1" bubble wrap installed over everything but the door. I got the bubble wrap from Home Depot. I ordered both 24" and 48" width rolls 250' long. It had to be ordered from the website and shipped to the store. I found a vendor on Ebay that sells plastic clips that snap into the aluminum tracks to hold the bubble wrap. They had to be shipped in from the UK. You will need about 100 of the regular clips and 50 of the corner clips. The clips need to be about 2' apart. Super Alliplugs greenhouse shading clips

Could you please take a pic or two of the clips in action? Both corner and regular? I went the the website... and thanks very much for the tip but I don't exactly see how effective these will work.

Also if anyone knows where to get some T-bolts that fit in the frame slot that don't require sliding in from the end of the extrusion, that would be great too! I have had to grind down the flats of a few extra T-bolts that came with the greenhouse kit to fit them in the frame slot. Pain in the arse.

 

[dragoneggs]

Although I am a long ways from needing heat... any suggestions on electric heaters would be good too. Preferrably, water/moisture tolerant.

 

[Mendonsy]

Here's a couple pictures of the clips.
The first picture shows 3 extended clips which fit in the slots in the aluminum frame. These are used to separate the bubble wrap when installing two layers.
If you look closely just below them you will see 3 standard clips that hold the bottom layer of bubble wrap to the aluminum tracks. They are below the top layer of wrap so you have to look to notice them.
The second picture shows one of the corner clips. These are used where you don't have a slot in the aluminum rail such as in corners and by the door. You can slip them in behind the aluminum angles to fasten the bubble wrap.
It does take a bit of creativity to figure out the best places to put the clips, and a few will come loose so you need to check periodically and put them back if they do.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay just about finished with the brains of the project... at least for spring to fall gardening. I have the fan in and just installed a thermostat and variable fan speed control. The fan is working great! I also installed a mister system that cools and humidifies (this is on a simple timer as well as my drip watering system)... great place to hang out in the middle of the day for a bit! We are harvesting albeit with a Margarita in hand! Hit 34degC/94degF today. Wow! Not bad for the shores of the Hood Canal!



I should probably throw in a non-greenhouse shot of our corn! Yes... corn in the PNW. The tassels hit the overhead netting, didn't expect that. What a bumper crop year!

 

[Mendonsy]

Lookin' good!!

 

[randy41]

Although I am a long ways from needing heat... any suggestions on electric heaters would be good too. Preferrably, water/moisture tolerant.

Portable Electric Heater, 240V - Greenhouse Heaters | Greenhouse Megastore

i have this heater in my 6x8 (?) julianna greenhouse and it is more than adequate.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay update time... been 3+ years and thought I should update you all on condition. Thanks to a lot of reinforcing of the structure and screwing down panels, it has remained standing. A couple of lessons learned.

1. I taped the open edges of the panels to keep water and 'growth' from accumulating in the 'cells'. I think I should have only taped the top end and left the bottom (lower end) open to allow for drainage. I have water build up that is not evaporating.

2. The automatic (no power required) vent actuators working perfectly.

3. I filled the entire greenhouse with clean crushed rock. I should have made a raised bed on one side for larger plants and/or root vegetables.

4. Originally installed two electrical circuits. Really only need one. Powering a fan, auto watering system, and some lighting but not the high wattage I was originally thinking.

Question? Where does one buy replacement panel material? During our big blow this past weekend I did lose a panel even though I had it screwed down in the middle along with the standard clips. First failure since the initial reinforcement. Could have been worse. Predictions were for much higher (worst in 50 years) winds but they didn't come. Thank goodness.

 

[cqaigy2]

Thanks for the update! I've looked at one of those because our local climate isn't worth a darn for tomatoes and i really really like home made tomatoes.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

My reinforced, double end to end HF (10 X 20 now) has also weathered going on the fourth winter. I built a 2 X 4 frame on the inside that really firmed it up. I only installed one set of doors, scrapped the other. Dragon, HF sells the panels but they normally do not have in stock. Call there tech help line.

Ron

 

[Mendonsy]

FarmTek has the polycarbonate panels available in 4'x8' sheets. Their prices seem a bit high though.
4 mm & 6 mm Twin-Wall Polycarbonate Sheets - Clear - FarmTek