HF Greenhouse foundation question
- Thread starter dragoneggs
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troutsqueezer
Veteran Member
As for winds, you will do fine if you follow the simple advice that is out there. You mentioned having already done the research so you are one step ahead of the game. Mine has withstood very high wind gusts and some snow. It stills stands proudly.
What I would do differently, if I had it to do it all over again is to find another way to seal the ends of the panels. I used aluminum tape along the edges and carefully perforated a pinhole into each channel in the plastic. After two years, the aluminum tape is peeling off on some panels. I think I would try caulking the top and bottom of the panels next time and live with any condensation inside the plastic. Or maybe do something to keep the tape from peeling, dunno.....
What I would do differently, if I had it to do it all over again is to find another way to seal the ends of the panels. I used aluminum tape along the edges and carefully perforated a pinhole into each channel in the plastic. After two years, the aluminum tape is peeling off on some panels. I think I would try caulking the top and bottom of the panels next time and live with any condensation inside the plastic. Or maybe do something to keep the tape from peeling, dunno.....
NY_Yankees_Fan
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I have the small 6x8 HF unit, 11 years, still working for us. Calking is the way to go, have not lost one panel. After this winter with 2 feet of snow on the greenhouse I thought for sure it would be the last year, nope no problems, still standing all panels in place.
Last edited:
BeltfedGoodness
Member
I personally am super interested in this thread as the wife and i bought two 10x12 HF units this spring. After reading many blogs and posts on the HFGH we didn't feel afraid of the needed upgrades to make them long lasting.
I plan on placing my pair end to end to give me a 10x24 unit. The front unit will be for our own vegies through fall and winter months. The back portion will be for fooder feed for the goats,sheep,cattle, whatnot.....
My concern for the building is heat in the winter months. This last winter was a bad one for northern AR and single digits were more common than needed at night!
What can be done for winter heating? Id like something heated directly or indirectly with wood as we have plenty of that. Id prefer NOT using LP just to be self sufficient from LP costs. Also electric heat is also out for me too...same reason. Would a subsurface grid of water lines heated by a wood/waterjacket stove be overkill? I'd like to fire up at night and be good to go for the night on those cold ones. I read of fellas using heat banks of rock and water filled barrels that circulate through underground piping???? Any ideas on this from the been there done that crowd?
>>>>>>anxiously waiting
for replies!!
I plan on placing my pair end to end to give me a 10x24 unit. The front unit will be for our own vegies through fall and winter months. The back portion will be for fooder feed for the goats,sheep,cattle, whatnot.....
My concern for the building is heat in the winter months. This last winter was a bad one for northern AR and single digits were more common than needed at night!
What can be done for winter heating? Id like something heated directly or indirectly with wood as we have plenty of that. Id prefer NOT using LP just to be self sufficient from LP costs. Also electric heat is also out for me too...same reason. Would a subsurface grid of water lines heated by a wood/waterjacket stove be overkill? I'd like to fire up at night and be good to go for the night on those cold ones. I read of fellas using heat banks of rock and water filled barrels that circulate through underground piping???? Any ideas on this from the been there done that crowd?
>>>>>>anxiously waiting
for replies!!DFB
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I personally am super interested in this thread as the wife and i bought two 10x12 HF units this spring. After reading many blogs and posts on the HFGH we didn't feel afraid of the needed upgrades to make them long lasting.
I plan on placing my pair end to end to give me a 10x24 unit. The front unit will be for our own vegies through fall and winter months. The back portion will be for fooder feed for the goats,sheep,cattle, whatnot.....
My concern for the building is heat in the winter months. This last winter was a bad one for northern AR and single digits were more common than needed at night!
What can be done for winter heating? Id like something heated directly or indirectly with wood as we have plenty of that. Id prefer NOT using LP just to be self sufficient from LP costs. Also electric heat is also out for me too...same reason. Would a subsurface grid of water lines heated by a wood/waterjacket stove be overkill? I'd like to fire up at night and be good to go for the night on those cold ones. I read of fellas using heat banks of rock and water filled barrels that circulate through underground piping???? Any ideas on this from the been there done that crowd?
>>>>>>anxiously waiting
Well it would certainly depend on the severity of your winters and what plants you are trying to keep established. 4 Season farming with minimal heat is well documented for many crops that include greens like lettuces and spinach. Nighttime temperatures kept above freezing up to 40-50 degrees in the daytime are easily attainable and plants can tolerate periods of dormancy due to the cold without incident ready to start growing as temperatures increase. Use of row cover fabrics on and over beds increase cold tolerance too.
Now growing tomatoes all season would be a totally different animal and its now being considered less than economical for growers in areas with long winters.
doxford jim
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I would add some centre supports inside to handle any snow build up on the roof.
We just had our 20' long fibreglass green house collapse under accumulated snow weight. admittedly the greenhouse is probably 30 years old and weathering and UV rays have taken their toll. However, it never occurred to me to put in some centre supports for the snow load - duh:ashamed::shocked:
Have attached before and after pictures.
Note that the smaller aluminium frame, plastic covered green house did perfectly well
We just had our 20' long fibreglass green house collapse under accumulated snow weight. admittedly the greenhouse is probably 30 years old and weathering and UV rays have taken their toll. However, it never occurred to me to put in some centre supports for the snow load - duh
:ashamed::shocked:Have attached before and after pictures.
Note that the smaller aluminium frame, plastic covered green house did perfectly well
Attachments
i heat my approx 6x8 greenhouse with a small electric heater but i only use that greenhouse for starting things. a lot of farmers who depend on propane for heat had a bad time finding any this past winter. you can heat with wood but that can make for some sleepless nights. there are more sophisticated hydronic systems that run under the benches. if you have no budget restrictions.......