Polycarbonate and thick polyethylene film are most commonly used to build greenhouses and hothouses. However, if these materials are unavailable, more readily available materials—old window frames—can be used. A homemade greenhouse made from window frames will do just as well in providing optimal conditions for plants.
The pros and cons of window frames as a greenhouse material
Before you begin building a greenhouse from frames, it's worth exploring all the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution.
The advantages include:
- Low cost. Old window frames are often given away for free or for a nominal fee.
- Relatively easy to install. The main thing is to build a solid foundation.
- Repairability. If some of the glass gets damaged, they can be replaced with new ones or the frame can be covered with film.
- Durability. With proper maintenance, a wooden frame greenhouse can last up to 10 years.
- Ease of maintenance. If the greenhouse walls get dirty, they'll be much easier to clean than the film.
- Speed of construction. Installation takes little time.
- Creating optimal indoor conditions. Sunlight passes through the glass into the structure, and the material retains heat, protecting the plants from frost.
The most significant drawback of a DIY greenhouse made from window frames is instability (unless a foundation is built). It also takes time to prepare the frames for installation: removing old paint, applying an antiseptic primer, and repainting.
It's important to keep in mind that high humidity inside the greenhouse can cause the wood to swell, causing gaps to form between the frame and the glass. It's important to monitor these and seal them promptly. During cold weather, you'll need to clear snow from the roof, as the weight of the snow can cause the glass to crack.
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The two most common types of greenhouses built from window frames are those with a single-pitched roof and those with a gable roof. Watch the video to see what they look like and how they differ.
The first option is a simple structure consisting of a box made of planks, one of whose long sides is twice as tall as the other. A frame is attached to the top of the box. The difference in height between the side walls creates a sloped roof, preventing precipitation from accumulating on it.
Standard dimensions: low wall height – 20 cm, high wall – 40 cm, length – 4 m, width – 1.5 m. For growing tall crops, another option is used: length – 2 m, width – 1 m, low wall height – 40 cm, high wall – 80 cm.
Building a greenhouse with a gable roof is more complex and requires more skill and materials. The length of the structure is the same, but the width is almost doubled. Two frames are installed on top of the box, angled toward the side walls. The dimensions of the structure are: length – 4 m, width – 2.5 m, wall height – 20 cm, central end height – 40 cm.
Materials and tools
If you're making a greenhouse yourself from window frames, as pictured, you'll need:
- bricks;
- window frames;
- boards 25*100;
- saw or jigsaw;
- a small cross-section bar;
- container for mixing the solution;
- cement;
- sand;
- screwdriver;
- loops;
- building level;
- mixer attachment;
- door handle;
- pegs
- rope;
- self-tapping screws.
To treat the frames, you'll need primer, paint, brushes, and a paint tray. You can remove old paint from the frames using a wire-bristled brush.
You may be interested in:Detailed instructions for making a greenhouse
First, prepare the window frames: carefully remove any remaining old paint and apply a primer. Wait for the primer to dry, then carefully repaint the frames. To avoid staining the glass, it's a good idea to tape it with masking tape beforehand.
It is recommended to coat the boards that will be used to build the frame with oil or bitumen mastic - this will protect them from moisture and pests.
After the preparatory work, they proceed to the construction of the foundation:
- The selected area is cleared of debris and grass, marked out using a building level, pegs and rope, guided by the selected drawing.
- The turf is removed within the markings.
- Cover with a 10-centimeter layer of sand.
- Bricks are laid around the perimeter.
- The mortar is mixed and poured into the sand bed. The concrete must be completely cured before the frame can be installed.
The frame is assembled from planks cut to the required length. For a single-pitched greenhouse measuring 150 x 400 cm, you'll need six planks 2 meters long (20 cm wide) and three 1.5 meters long. The two-meter pieces are joined together to form three pieces.
Place 2 parallel to each other at a distance of 150 cm. Place 150 cm boards at the ends and fix them together with screws.
A third piece is screwed to one of the long walls; this will become the tall wall of the greenhouse. The choice of which side to extend should be based on the greenhouse's location. The plants need to be exposed to sunlight for most of the day.
On the remaining 150 cm long board, draw a diagonal line and saw it. The two resulting pieces are attached to the frame. To provide additional stability, the structure is reinforced with beams – two 20 cm long and two 40 cm long.
Each beam is inserted into the corners of the frame from the inside (short beams to the low wall, long beams to the high wall), and screwed in place with self-tapping screws.
Mark the locations for attaching the hinges to the frame and the sashes (it's recommended to use at least two for each). Using a screwdriver and screws, attach the frames to the hinges. Install door handles to make it easier to open the greenhouse for ventilation and plant maintenance.
You may be interested in:Manufacturing a three-dimensional greenhouse
If you've decided to build a large greenhouse from old window frames quickly and with your own hands, this information is for you. The accelerated installation phase takes just a couple of days and is completed after the foundation has been laid. All that remains is to assemble the frames, and the structure is complete.
List of necessary tools:
- hammer;
- nails.
Materials:
- Crushed rock and sand for the foundation. A greenhouse without a foundation is of rather questionable reliability.
- Boards and bars of the following dimensions: 50 x 100 mm – for the wall space, corner ¬¬¬- 100 x 100 mm.
- Hardware. Door and window hinges, nails, locks, door handles, wood preservative.
- Also, depending on the needs, steel roofing may be required.
Tools used:
- screwdriver;
- hammer;
- roulette;
- circular saw;
- chisel;
- wood drills;
- coal level;
- a piece of cord;
- mounting foam;
- screws.
Building a greenhouse yourself – the necessary drawings
Construction work begins with a design, and building a greenhouse is no exception. But in this case, everything is much simpler, especially if you build a greenhouse from window frames yourself without a foundation. This is because there's a ready-made modular structure, like the one in the photo, that just needs to be assembled.
Preparatory activities:
- Laying out window frames on a flat surface.
- Fitting of components.
- Taking measurements and recording the layout results.
- Preparation of a drawing with a detailed description of the dimensions of the components of the structure.
- Preparation of drawings for the foundation, frame, and roof.
How to make a three-dimensional greenhouse from window frames with your own hands is described below.
Stages of greenhouse construction
Stage 1. Armed with tools, we select a location for the future greenhouse, taking into account access to sunlight.
Stage 2. The area for the foundation must first be cleared—remove weeds, debris, etc. Next, you can dig holes up to 0.5 meters deep in each corner, fill them with crushed stone, and compact them.
After this, insert a 10-15 cm diameter asbestos-cement pipe into the holes, level it, and insert the reinforcement. It's crucial to reinforce the structure with bricks and fill it with concrete.
Once the covering is prepared, we begin assembling the lower timber crown. It's important to securely fasten the timber with iron plates. In practice, the concrete covering dries completely within a few weeks, and then the entire perimeter can be paved with brick.
Stage 3. This stage involves assembling the structure's frame in the following sequence: first installing the pillars and timber frame and then attaching the window frames.
After measuring the width of the window frame, we measure sections around the perimeter of the foundation (their length is 5-7 centimeters longer than the frame width – mark the appropriate locations). We lay the timber horizontally, creating "cells" for the window frame. Now we can install the frame, sealing the gaps with foam.
Stage 4. Let's begin building the roof. There are only two types: gable and shed. In our case, we'll be talking about shed. First, we need to lay the boards for the rafter supports on the wall frame.
The studs are placed on the side corners of the wall panel, thereby creating the desired slope. We secure the front board to the block previously laid between the studs. We make grooves for the boards and, using a taut string, ensure the rafters are level. We then lay the roofing material on top.
The following types of greenhouses can be distinguished:
- large sizes;
- small sizes;
- gable;
- single-pitched;
- arched.
Take a look at the photos showing how to build a greenhouse from old window frames. This type of greenhouse is simple and easy to use, and its installation doesn't require significant construction skills or significant expense, so you can do all the work yourself if necessary.
In fact, make a greenhouse with your own hands It's not difficult at all, you just need to carefully and thoroughly study the instructions, take measurements, and be patient.