Every gardener knows what a greenhouse is and why it is needed. But there are many types of these irreplaceable helpers in growing crops. Therefore, when choosing a greenhouse, questions inevitably arise about which one is more reliable and convenient.
Manufacturers offer different versions of these structures, which differ in shape, material of manufacture, and degree of light transmittance. There are many nuances that need to be taken into account when choosing. Knowing these subtleties will help you find a greenhouse that will serve flawlessly for many years.
Any greenhouse is a simple structure that consists of two main elements - a frame and an awning. In most cases, they are sold separately, but there are options for ready-made designs in which the manufacturer provides literally every little detail.
In any case, the choice of greenhouse is made according to two main parameters:
- frame;
- covering material.
First of all, you need to decide on the shape of the greenhouse. The market offers many models from domestic and foreign manufacturers.
The following types of structures are distinguished:
- with vertical walls;
- with sloping walls;
- arched;
- single-pitched;
- gable;
- with a mansard roof.
The choice is wide. You can find exactly the option that suits you in all respects. One of the most important selection criteria is the convenience of the greenhouse. And here the summer resident is offered a lot of opportunities to minimize labor costs in growing crops. A “smart” greenhouse will perform most of the tasks of ventilation, watering, and heating. You can choose a model with the set of functions that is necessary for a specific climate and area.
Types of covering for greenhouses
There are only three types of greenhouse coverings. All of them are capable of efficiently performing the main task - protecting plants from harmful environmental influences.
Coatings are made from:
- polycarbonate;
- glass;
- polyethylene film.
Why is polycarbonate good?
The most reliable material for greenhouses is. This is a light-transmitting multilayer material, the structure of which in cross-section resembles a honeycomb, which is why it is called honeycomb.
There is another type of this material - monolithic. But it is not used in greenhouse construction for the reason that it does not meet all the requirements for these structures.
Important! Monolithic has much more weight and does not have the light transmittance so necessary for growing crops. Therefore, it is never considered as a covering material for the greenhouse frame.
Cellular polycarbonate, due to its hollow structure, is able to retain heat well. The reason is that there is air in the space between the honeycombs. This is the best heat accumulator. Therefore, polycarbonate structures are the “warmest”. For gardeners living in regions with harsh climates, this is a decisive factor when choosing a greenhouse.
Cellular polycarbonate is a sheet material, but it can be rolled into rolls, which are most convenient for transportation. The roll diameter depends on. The thinner it is, the easier it is to roll. However, even with a 4-mm thickness of the web, the roll will be quite voluminous - with a diameter of 1.5 to 1.6 m. If you exceed the permissible bending radius, you can damage the structure of the material.
Polycarbonate with a thickness of 4 to 10 mm is suitable for covering greenhouse frames. It should be noted that the thicker the canvas, the greater its weight. Not every frame is able to withstand the load created by a 10 mm polycarbonate coating. Considering that in winter it is necessary to add snow load to this indicator, the requirements for the strength and stability of the frame increase many times over. The best choice for medium-sized greenhouses is 4- or 6-mm polycarbonate.
Table. The main technical characteristics of cellular polycarbonate that must be taken into account when choosing.
| Blade thickness | Weight (kg/m2) | Light transmittance of white transparent fabric (%) | Light transmittance of white matte canvas (%) | Light transmittance of colored fabric (%) | Thermal conductivity (W/m2 °C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 mm | 0,8 | 82 | 52 | 42 | 3,6 |
| 6 mm | 1,3 | 82 | 58 | 35 | 3,5 |
| 8 mm | 1,5 | 80 | 54 | 35 | 3,3 |
| 10 mm | 1,7 | 76 | 48 | 32 | 2,4 |
The average service life of polycarbonate greenhouses is 15 years. These are the most durable and reliable designs of all existing ones.
Advantages and disadvantages of glass greenhouses
Glass is an inflexible material, so it is only suitable for single- and double-slope structures. - classics of the genre. You can easily assemble it yourself from used materials. Therefore, the main advantage of these designs is their low cost.
But glass also has other advantages that have long been appreciated by gardeners. Greenhouses with such a coating can withstand significant weight loads. A cracked or broken part can be quickly replaced. The main advantage of glass is its transparency. Plants in such a greenhouse will not suffer from lack of light.
Important! Glass greenhouses also have disadvantages. These are fragility, the need for careful handling, and fairly high requirements for the strength of the frame.
What are the benefits of a polyethylene awning?
The most popular material for covering greenhouses is polyethylene. If previously the choice was clear (dense polyethylene), today you can choose from several types of this material.
In any gardening store you can find the following films:
- light stabilized;
- light scattering;
- copolymer ethylene vinyl citate;
- polyvinyl chloride (cellophane);
- foamed.
Each of these materials can be used to construct a greenhouse and greenhouse. But when choosing, you need to pay attention to the characteristics. For regions with snowy winters, the best choice is reinforced film.
The Russian market offers products from Turkish, Korean and domestic manufacturers. How are these materials different? Foreign companies produce film with polyethylene reinforcement, while Russian companies produce film from high-strength polypropylene mesh. Therefore, domestic products are more durable and durable.
Cellophane film has the highest light transmittance. But this material has the least strength of all the others, so it is suitable only for temporary or annual structures.
Stabilized film is capable of reflecting heat into the greenhouse or greenhouse. This property is taken into account when constructing shelters for seedlings. Antifog, which is part of the film, prevents the formation of condensation on the outer surface of the awning.
Light-scattering film is capable of reflecting UV and IR rays. This ensures the maximum possible protection of plants from the negative effects of the environment. The phosphors included in the film make it possible to obtain uniform illumination of the interior of the greenhouse.
The most durable film is copolymer. It perfectly withstands wind speeds of 18-20 m/s. Another advantage is its frost resistance. The copolymer film will not crack at temperatures down to -80C°, so this material is chosen for constructing greenhouses in areas with cold and windy climates.
Double-layer foam film. One layer is dense and smooth, the second is porous. The space in the cells of the second layer is filled with air. Therefore, the foamed film has a fairly low thermal conductivity. This is an important indicator for greenhouses. But this material also has its drawback: low light transmittance. Therefore, foam film is chosen for constructing shelters in areas with a lot of sunny days.
Greenhouse frames
Greenhouse frames are made of steel and aluminum. When constructing homemade structures, wooden blocks are often used. What should you pay attention to when choosing the material from which the frame is made?
Many manufacturers offer greenhouses with powder-coated frames. This is a good solution to ensure the durability of the structure. Regardless of the metal processing method, aluminum frames are almost twice as expensive as steel frames. This is due to the lighter weight of the former and their maximum resistance to corrosion.
However, aluminum frames have one significant drawback. Frames made of this material are unable to withstand significant weight loads from the severity of some types of coating, as well as from snow. Therefore, in the spring you can often see greenhouses that have overwintered on the site, the racks of which are curved. This suggests that the owner did not take into account the climatic characteristics of his region when choosing a design.
An alternative option is a wooden frame for a greenhouse
Types of frame designs
There are two main types of greenhouse frame designs:
- stationary;
- collapsible.
The first ones are optimal for those who are often at the dacha, regardless of the season. Collapsible structures are chosen by those gardeners who visit their plot only during the warm season. In this case, it makes sense to buy exactly those greenhouses that can be dismantled and stored until the start of the next season. This way you won’t have to worry about the safety of your property.
Prices and quality
The most affordable are small greenhouses (up to 5 m2) with a polyethylene awning and a frame made of powder-painted steel - 8-10 thousand rubles. The same structures, but with a polycarbonate coating, will cost about 50% more – up to 15 thousand rubles. The most expensive are glass greenhouses. These structures are mounted only on the basis of reliable steel frames. A glass greenhouse with an area of up to 5 m2 will cost a little more than 20 thousand rubles.
The price depends on various parameters - in particular, on:
- the presence or absence of windows to ventilate the interior of the greenhouse;
- number of doors;
- thickness and type of coating;
- frame material;
- design forms.
They are considered the most practical and high-quality. They are almost 200 times stronger and more reliable than glass. The least number of positive reviews about polyethylene greenhouses. They serve, as a rule, no more than 1-2 summer seasons.
Greenhouse forms
Greenhouses can be of absolutely any shape, length and configuration. The frames of stationary structures are made as follows: steel profiles are welded together and the corners and joints are reinforced. All greenhouse manufacturers offer the service of manufacturing these products according to the customer’s dimensions and sketches. Therefore, it is not difficult to obtain a structure of exactly the shape and size that is needed.
Arched greenhouses
The arched shape is the most successful for several reasons.
- A high layer of snow does not form on it. This ensures the safety of the covering material.
- The arched shape requires a minimum number of seams and joints. This gives the design the greatest reliability in operation.
- Greenhouses of this form are resistant to winds.
- Finally, such structures are easy to install and can be easily extended in length.
But despite everything, arched structures cannot be called perfect. They also have their drawbacks. The main one is a smaller volume of internal space than that of rectangular greenhouses. Another disadvantage is that for structures more than 2 meters high, the installation of reinforcing beams is required.
The most popular models of arched greenhouses:
- "People's"
- "Nurse";
- "Sun";
- "Rostock";
- "Orange";
- "Oasis".
Greenhouse "Alpha"
Lean greenhouses
This type of structure is classified as an extension structure. Lean-to greenhouses are convenient because they can be placed in close proximity to the walls of any country building - a house, a summer kitchen, a warehouse, a barn. This is the main advantage of this type of structure. But it is also the main disadvantage. The fact is that in such rooms only one-sided illumination is possible. Therefore, plants will be in the shade for a significant part of the daylight hours. However, this is not always a bad thing. If a gardener grows shade-loving crops, a lean-to greenhouse is one of the best choices for him. This design will save space on the site and will do the main job of shading the plants.
This type of structure can be covered with any material - polycarbonate, glass, polyethylene film. The frame can also be anything. For homemade structures, an excellent solution is wooden blocks. But they will need to be covered with a moisture- and bioprotective solution. You can choose any one: “Senezh Ognebio” and “Senezh Ognebio Prof”, “Neomid 450”, “Pirilax”.
Gable greenhouses
Gable greenhouses can be safely classified as universal and traditional.
There are two possible options for these designs:
- with walls located at right angles to the surface of the earth;
- with walls located at an obtuse angle to the surface of the earth.
The first option is classic. Summer residents call such greenhouses “houses.”
These structures are built much more often for several reasons:
- they are easy to install;
- allow the use of any covering material;
- You can easily and simply install vents on the slopes for ventilation;
- installing the door will not cause any difficulties;
- you can choose any slope angle and any ridge height;
- there is no need to install snow protection, since snow will not linger on the peaked roof;
- Wooden blocks of any cross-section are suitable for mounting the frame.
Important! If the greenhouse is small in size and weight, it can be installed directly on the ground without constructing a foundation.
But these designs also have their drawbacks. The first is that the gable greenhouse is stationary. In case of redevelopment of the site, it is very difficult to move it to another place. The second disadvantage of these structures is that they have a significant number of joints in both the frame and the skin. Therefore, the roof is not always airtight. If cellular polycarbonate is used, the thickness of the sheets must be at least 6 mm.
Another option is the Dachnaya-Strelka greenhouse
Dome greenhouses
The main advantage of these greenhouses is the uniform distribution of the weight load. Therefore, you can use any material, even the heaviest, for cladding. The frame consists of many segments of triangular, rectangular and trapezoidal shapes. A significant number of joints ensures maximum strength of the frame.
Dome greenhouses have ideal streamlining parameters, which guarantees maximum resistance to winds. These structures are not afraid of any precipitation. Snow will roll off the roof surface. This circumstance entails the need to install a sufficiently high foundation that will protect the internal space from moisture penetration.
Polycarbonate- a material that has long been known on the market and is very popular among consumers. This is explained, first of all, by the fact that it has a unique structure. This type of building material consists of hundred filled with air. Thanks to this, polycarbonate has a number of positive properties. Advantages of polycarbonate:
Has and flaws greenhouse made of polycarbonate. There are few of them, but they are there:
- Do not clean the greenhouse (cellular polycarbonate) with detergents abrasive type, because it is very easy to scratch. If scratches do appear, then you need to know that in this case, the sheets will transmit light less well.
- Does not cope well with high and low temperatures, due to which it begins to change your size. When building a greenhouse, you should definitely take this fact into account so that the entire structure does not end up deformed.
Having considered the huge list of positive properties of polycarbonate, we can safely say that today it is at the first place from all materials suitable for creating greenhouses.
Polycarbonate greenhouse - photo: 
Polycarbonate greenhouse: types of structures, varieties and different shapes
Which ones are there? polycarbonate greenhouses? Today there are many types of structures.
Let's analyze in detail types of polycarbonate greenhouses:
Prefabricated
Prefabricated polycarbonate greenhouses also include tented ones:
- Arched outwardly they resemble a long semicircular tunnel. Among the advantages of such greenhouses, we note the following: precipitation on their surface does not linger, but quickly rolls down; transmit sunlight evenly; do not require special skills during construction.
- Tents have a rectangular or square shape and a very large number of varieties. They differ from each other depending on depending on the type of roofs And. That is why the forms of polycarbonate greenhouses are:
Of the minuses it should be noted Difficulty installing vents on the rounded walls of the structure. In addition, due to the shape of such a greenhouse, the opportunity to plant many tall plants disappears.
- single-pitched. They are attached to the wall of the house, which can significantly reduce the consumption of necessary materials, retain heat well, and are easy to assemble. The disadvantages of this design are that it limits the access of sunlight to the plants. The roof often cannot withstand heavy rainfall;
- gable. They have two roof slopes. Thanks to this, tall crops can be planted throughout the entire area of the structure being built. They are easy to carry out ventilation installation. Disadvantages include: impossibility creating such a rectangular greenhouse from polycarbonate alone, high consumption of material, high total cost of construction, problem with sealing the gaps between the layers;
- polygonal. They are not built very often, but they have an attractive appearance, provide excellent access to the sun, and are resistant to strong gusts of wind and snow. If you really want to create beautiful polygonal structure, it will be necessary to work hard;
- drop-shaped. A very beautiful greenhouse that requires considerable skill during the installation process. Among the advantages, it combines all of the above models.
Double layer
Double-layer greenhouses They are very rarely built from polycarbonate. This is a rather labor-intensive process.
But, it is quite possible to do without it if you make any type of prefabricated structure correctly.
In addition, thanks to the characteristics, by correctly securing the material to the frame, getting rid of all the cracks, you will be able to create a beautiful garden greenhouse made of polycarbonate.
Double-layer polycarbonate greenhouses will cost expensive ordinary.
They have an unattractive appearance, because to ventilate them you will need to install much more windows. Light is refracted differently through the two surface layers, so the internal area does not heat up equally.
REFERENCE: Using PVC profile And polycarbonate layers small thickness, you can still make a fairly airtight greenhouse by correctly inserting sheets of material into the grooves.
Big and small
Small greenhouses carbonate is built in areas with a small area. They are also built from a metal frame, which is covered with polycarbonate sheets.
Such frame greenhouses made of polycarbonate must be built ventilation, because due to their small area the plants can be very hot.
Due to its small size, polycarbonate is easy to assemble, move to another place and disassemble for the winter (if so desired).
Small greenhouses cost a lot cheaper large, which allows absolutely all customers to purchase them.
It is easy to care for such greenhouses; watering can even be done manually, because it will not be difficult. You can only grow vegetables or fruits in them that will have equal development conditions(for example, they will only be moisture-loving or heat-loving). It's easy to explain. In a small room it is difficult to create conditions for different crops.
Small greenhouses made of polycarbonate - photo: 
Large greenhouses installed over large areas. The space in a large polycarbonate greenhouse can be divided into zones, which allows you to grow different crops that will not interfere with each other. It is impossible to move such structures; they require a lot of care, special watering, heating and lighting. We also need such greenhouses.
In order for a large greenhouse made of cellular polycarbonate to serve you for a long time, you need to take care of a high-quality one that can withstand the significant weight of the entire structure and will prevent its destruction.
Growing plants in large greenhouses, you can provide not only yourself with the necessary amount of healthy and tasty vegetables, but also put some of them up for sale.
Large greenhouses made of polycarbonate - photo:
Farm and industrial
Made of polycarbonate, it is much larger in size compared to the country house. That's why she demands more attention And material costs.
- They have big size.
- Can be assembled and disassembled if necessary.
- Plants are grown in them in significant quantities.
- The construction process is thought out to the smallest detail, because in case of failure or heat loss, a lot of seedlings will be lost.
- They can function in winter, if they are equipped with a good heating system.
- Making the work of farmers easier, they are equipped with automatic watering.
- Ability to maintain and set the required lighting and temperature.
Industrial varieties of greenhouses- these are structures that are not always used for growing crops. In them you can equip a garage, a swimming pool, a warehouse and make a workshop. These are very high quality polycarbonate greenhouses. They have increased strength and reliability, which allows them to be used in various climatic conditions.
Such polycarbonate greenhouse designs can reach lengths 20 meters and more. They have practically no joints on the walls, so they retain heat perfectly. You can grow absolutely any plants in them if you create suitable development conditions for them (lighting, watering, etc.). In order not to lose heat in industrial greenhouses in winter, additionally at the entrance to them they install vestibule.
Types of polycarbonate greenhouses - photo: 
Types of frames
When planning to install a polycarbonate greenhouse, you need to think about what it will be made of frame.
For polycarbonate greenhouse frame the following materials are used:
- Frame - metal (aluminum)- an excellent option, but you will need to pay a lot of money for it. Such a greenhouse frame made of polycarbonate can serve its owner for many years. This environmentally friendly material, has good strength and does not corrode.
- - a good choice for creating a greenhouse, but it is short-lived and requires constant care. You can extend its service life with various paints and products that prevent rotting, mold and mildew.
- retains heat well, does not rust, and has a low cost. Most often used for small structures.
- They have good strength and are inexpensive.
REFERENCE: In recent years it has been invented heavy-duty profile, made of plastic. This polycarbonate greenhouse frame can also be used for large structures.
Now you know all the pros and cons polycarbonate greenhouses. Do you need a polycarbonate greenhouse? Certainly Yes! After all, this is a great solution to always have fresh vegetables and fruits at your dacha.
It all depends on everyone’s personal preferences: whether it will be a small, not very heavy structure or a huge structure that can only be placed on a large plot of land. Perfectly transmitting sunlight through themselves, retaining heat, you can get fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables already at the beginning of spring, by properly caring for them and competently having arranged your greenhouse.
Goals and objectives:
- creating an optimal microclimate for plants: humidity, temperature, lighting and ventilation;
- organizing a comfortable workplace;
- rational use of space.
Planning the interior space
So, one of the main questions in arranging the internal space is how to make beds in a polycarbonate greenhouse. This is the first thing that needs to be thought about at the stage of creating drawings. How they will be located yield depends- and this is the main task of a gardener.
Arrangement of beds in the greenhouse depends on its size and location on which it is located. Possible options:
- two ridges with 1 passage between them;
- three ridges with 2 passages;
- transverse beds.
It all depends on the capabilities of the gardener. If it is too expensive to build, you can make the calculation for 2 beds 80-95 cm wide. The minimum passage width is 50 cm, the most convenient is 70 cm.
If financial capabilities allow, the greenhouse is designed for three beds. Moreover, the middle bed can be wider than the side ones. It is accessible from two sides, so it can be made 1.5 m wide.
Relief of the site may be with a slope, and this also affects the location of the plantings. In this case, it is advisable to place the beds across the structure. This will help maintain the light regime for the plants and will not allow water to flow down the slope from the beds.
Construction of beds and passages
Beds in a greenhouse must be raised above ground level 20-30 cm and fenced.
This will make it easier to care for plants, increase the fertile layer of soil and prevent soil from falling from the bed onto the paths.
Material that can be used for the edges of beds:
- Tree. These can be boards, timber and small diameter logs.
Disadvantages of such a fence:- fragility - wood rots under the influence of moisture;
- the use of antiseptics for impregnation can harm plants.
- Brick, concrete or stone. The most durable material, but it will take much longer to arrange the beds. But it will also serve for decades.
- Flat slate or polymer materials, resistant to aggressive environments and biological influences.
Often fences are sold complete with.
Planning aisle width, we must take into account that not only will a person walk along them, he will also carry buckets and watering cans. If the passage is too narrow, they will touch and injure the plants.
Greenhouses always have high humidity, so it’s worth thinking about what they will covered paths. They shouldn't be slippery.
Best coverage options: 
- dense rubber;
- geotextiles;
- decking (garden parquet).
Budget options:
- fine gravel with sand;
- paving slabs;
- brick;
- roofing felt with boards laid on top.
Don't forget about aesthetics. It is much more pleasant to work in a beautiful and clean interior space.
Partition in a polycarbonate greenhouse
The need for them arises when they are nearby adjacent not exactly friendly culture. For example, they have completely different requirements for temperature and humidity.
The most reliable way to separate different cultures from each other is to install solid polycarbonate partition with a door.
It will harmoniously fit into the interior of the greenhouse and will reliably fence off the beds. It is possible to install the same partition with an open doorway.
This option is best used when there are tomatoes in the greenhouse that need constant air movement in the greenhouse.
If it is not possible to install a polycarbonate partition, it can be made from a film stretched over a frame.
The main condition when installing any partition is to ensure sufficient ventilation in the room to quickly regulate temperature and humidity.
To do this, you will need additional vents or a forced ventilation system.
"Pantry" in the greenhouse
Agree, it’s not very convenient to carry the necessary things from home every time inventory for working with plants. This means that it must provide place to store it. At the stage of creating the drawing, you can calculate the space for the “hallway”.
This could be a small vestibule where there will be buckets, watering cans, a shovel, a rake, fertilizers and everything else that is necessary to care for the plants.
Shelves, cells or other storage amenities are limited only by the gardener’s imagination. If it is not possible to make a vestibule, utility compartments can be organized directly in the greenhouse.
It is especially convenient to do this when plants are grown not in the ground, but on racks. The least convenient levels - lower and upper - can be adapted for these purposes.
Photo
In the photo below: the construction of a greenhouse made of polycarbonate inside, how to arrange the beds in a polycarbonate greenhouse
Equipment in the greenhouse
To facilitate work and create ideal conditions for plants, it can be equipped with technical devices and equipment. Its minimum set is as follows:
- additional lighting;
- irrigation system;
- forced ventilation.
It will require hoses and several plastic tees. The hoses will be located on the beds, and outside they can be connected to an electric pump.
If there is none on the site, a garden barrel installed at a height of 1.5-2 m will do. You will only have to spend money on a controller with a timer, which is installed under the tap. 
Ventilation
For a greenhouse, instead of expensive equipment, a hydraulic thermal drive is quite suitable. It will trigger when the temperature rises above the specified threshold. Such a device will not require electrification of the greenhouse.
Greenhouse lighting and heating
If the greenhouse is used for vegetables, electricity is needed. The specificity of the installation of the electrical network and equipment is that it must be carefully insulated, since there is always high humidity in the greenhouse.
For heating, it is best to use a miracle of technology of the latest generation. The system is good for its efficiency and the fact that the plants underneath will never overheat.
Phytolamps are used for lighting.
Growing crops on racks
If the greenhouse is intended for growing low-growing plants, it is advisable to equip it with shelving. It is convenient to place boxes with them, pots with them, or plant them in the autumn-winter period.
Shelving is installed instead of beds and assumes a similar layout in a greenhouse. This method of arranging plants allows you to save space by planting a much larger number of plants. Most often, racks are used for growing strawberries.
Advantages of shelving:
- ease of plant care;
- efficiency of space use;
- increase in yield;
- saving on heating.
Shelving can be installed above the beds. The lower tiers are planted with crops that will tolerate light shading from the shelves; on the upper tiers there are pots or boxes with more light-loving plants.
Making racks with your own hands
There can be no recommendations for the height of the racks; each owner builds them to suit his own height. But the width can be similar to what the beds are made in a greenhouse. If they stand in three rows, then the width of the shelves can be 80 - 150 - 80.
You can simply determine the height of the main shelf by measuring the height of your kitchen table. If you are comfortable cooking with it, then it will be comfortable caring for your plants.
The length of the structure can match the length of the greenhouse itself or be shorter. For the strength of the structure (and it must withstand a lot of weight), intermediate racks are installed. Their number depends on the length of the rack.
The most widely used material for shelving is wood. It can withstand quite heavy loads and is cheaper than others. Timber is used for racks, and boards with a thickness of at least 4 cm are used for shelves.
All parts of the wooden structure must be treated with a special impregnation that protects against moisture and painted. Shelves should have sides with a height of 15 to 20 cm. The bottom of the shelf is lined with boards with a gap of up to 5 mm between them so that water does not accumulate in them. 
Disadvantages of wooden construction:
- the need for constant processing and painting;
- heavy weight of the structure;
- inability to use with a drip irrigation system.
A much more acceptable option is a design made of metal and plastic. The assembly principle is similar to a wooden rack. Metal or steel profiles are used for racks. It also requires anti-corrosion coating and painting.
The cost of the rack will be higher, but it has advantages:
- durability;
- ease of design - if necessary, you can rearrange the greenhouse;
- possibility of using any irrigation system.
If there is no bed under the rack, you can arrange another shelf below for storing equipment and fertilizers and chemicals for processing from. In general, the number of shelves depends on the organization of access to them. If it is possible to use stairs in a greenhouse, then they can be made in several tiers.
The internal equipment of the greenhouse is no less important than what material it is made of and how it is made. By arranging it correctly, you will receive not only a good harvest, but also the pleasure of working in it. And we hope that we have answered the question of how to build a greenhouse inside using polycarbonate.
Useful video
In the video below: how to equip a polycarbonate greenhouse inside
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As a rule, planting is done in the spring, but you need to take care of the conditions, in particular we are talking about protection from low temperatures. Especially when it comes to vegetables.
Greenhouses and greenhouses do an excellent job with this task. Let's see how to make it from almost improvised materials below.
How is a greenhouse different from a greenhouse?
Before delving into the question of how to make a greenhouse, let's determine the difference between a greenhouse and a greenhouse:
- A greenhouse is used for growing seedlings and further planting them in open beds; plants can be kept in a greenhouse all year round;
- The required level of temperature in the greenhouse is maintained due to the presence of compost or manure in the soil; in the greenhouse there is an additional, third-party source of heating;
- It is possible to grow trees in a greenhouse, but this cannot be done in a greenhouse.
What types of greenhouses are there?
The greenhouse can be stationary or portable (a photo of a greenhouse at the dacha is presented below).
A stationary greenhouse can have any shape, the most common model is the butterfly (it got its name due to the doors that open on both sides).
Portable, often in the form of a tunnel. The main material in both cases is polymer film.
From all this it follows that it is quite possible to make a greenhouse with your own hands; this is the same creative process as growing cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.
Material selection
Before we look at how to make a greenhouse with our own hands, let’s look at the issue of choosing the material.
When choosing a material, it must be taken into account that it must meet the following requirements:
- Good light transmission;
- Resistance to various types of deformation, such as strong gusts of wind;
- Easy to install and assemble the entire structure;
- Durability.
As for the materials used, the cheapest, and most importantly practical, is film, and here are its types:
- polyethylene;
- stabilized film;
- polyvinyl chloride
Covering materials include:
- agril;
- lutrasil.
In order to finally decide and understand which material is preferable, it is necessary to compare them and consider the pros and cons of each.
Glass
The advantages of glass include: it transmits approximately 94% of light, lasts a long time, and retains heat.
The disadvantages: it gets very hot in the summer, there is a heavy load on the main frame.
Film
The advantages of this material include: low cost, low weight, no foundation required.
Note!
Disadvantages: fragility, difficult to wash.
Polycarbonate
Pros: transmits light well, high level of thermal insulation, lightweight and durable.
What to use to make a greenhouse frame
The frame is a kind of base for a greenhouse; most often it is made of wood or plastic, less often of metal pipes.
Wooden frame
The main advantage is its environmental friendliness. It is also worth noting that it is very simple in terms of installation.
For installation you will need the following tools: hammer, screwdriver, saw, nails, rubber as a sealing element, wooden beams, ruler.
Note!
It is advisable to cover the wooden elements of the future structure with drying oil before the installation process.
Execution Sequence
First of all, a beam is attached to the mortgage fastening; it will then become the base. Then the main beam is placed around the perimeter of the foundation, and everything is temporarily secured with nails.
Side and corner beams are fastened diagonally with timber. The door frame is installed to the side posts. The cornice is attached to the top of the side and corner beams.
Roof
In the area of the points where the vertical beams are fixed, it is necessary to remove a beam, the length of which is 2 m. The roofing beams must be fastened at an angle of 30 degrees, they are connected to each other by a beam. In the area of the end points they must be supported by vertical guides.
The final fastening of the roof frame is done using corners and strips on self-tapping screws.
Note!
Doorway
First the door frame is attached. Do not forget that in the middle and upper parts the opening is secured with special stiffeners.
Application of metal pipes
A greenhouse, as mentioned above, can be made from metal pipes, and also with your own hands. This design is more wear-resistant.
You will need: a welding machine, a hammer, a grinder, a special attachment for working with metal (disk).
The pipe is divided into two equal parts. Tees are welded to the edges of the base pipe, and crosspieces are welded every half meter. The cut elements must be welded to the crosspieces.
Special tees are attached to the arch to secure the door pillar.
Covering the greenhouse
Once the frame is ready, you can start covering.
Film
The easiest material to use is film. It is necessary to cover the entire structure, leaving a margin of 15 cm, and then cut it off.
Polycarbonate
The front side of the polycarbonate is the one where the drawing is depicted. First you need to cut the sheets. Seal the sections with sealing tape on top and perforated tape on the bottom.
First, the polycarbonate is attached to the top, then to the sides. It is attached to the frame with a special profile, as well as rubber gaskets.
Finally, the seal and door hardware are installed.
Ventilation
In greenhouses, in order to create ventilation (ventilation), you just need to open the doors, but it is advisable to do this in warm weather.
A greenhouse is an indispensable thing for a gardener who is going to harvest a large harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables in the future. By approaching the design wisely and following all the instructions, everything will definitely work out.
DIY greenhouse photo
