Monday, January 23, 2012

The Durability of Aluminum Greenhouses

Today is a sad, sad day. For those of you that live in the mid-west, I am sure you noticed the awful storms we had last night. For those of you that don't, we had up to 60-mph winds, torrential rainfall, and tornado watches all night. For some reason that has become the winter norm for us in southern Indiana.

I was a little worried about my greenhouse when I left for work last night. A few panels had blown out from the last storm. I thought maybe a few panels might bust out, maybe even shatter. Oh well, they sell replacements at the hardware store. I didn't expect this though.

Yes, I did cry like a baby. No, I didn't pay a whole lot for it. But this throws back my seed starting schedule, and just the fact that I did put over $100 into it (after purchasing the wood to mount it on), is frustrating.

My dad thinks we may be able to salvage it and use steel framing to build it back up. I suppose we will see what happens. If this doesn't work I am going to try a homemade PVC pipe greenhouse. Either way, I am determined to get some seeds started this spring!





Growing Home


9 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry about your greenhouse. But, better the greenhouse than you! Your Dad has a good idea, though. Here's hoping you get your seeds started soon.

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    1. Thanks :) I am considering starting some seeds in the window like I did last year... Just have to lock the cat out!

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  2. So sorry about your greenhouse. We also have an aluminum framed greenhouse, and 3 weeks after it was up the Spring winds(we have horrible winds in the Spring) came and completely twisted it. My hubby was able to patch it, tie down the corners, reinforce with re bar...fast forward to the next Spring...winds...hubby reinforces again with chicken wire over the top and down the sides...fast forward again...well you get the point:) Next greenhouse will not be aluminum!!!

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    1. Uh oh, that's not a good sign! We have really bad winds here too. I am almost wondering if I would be better off building a PVC based greenhouse.

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  3. Nichole,
    I am so sorry to see and hear of this misfortune. It looks like (from the images) your Dad may be right though. it's probably salvageable. I sure hope so. If not, I had my hubby make me real cheap hoop houses last fall and they really work. I am at WINDY 4000 foot elevation, have only a small 3 & 1/2 month growing window without cover, and my hoop houses worked fine and cost $2 per hoop (5 per 16' long bed) plus 3 mil plastic cost$40/100'. Here's a link: http://mysimplecountryliving.blogspot.com/search/label/hoop%20houses

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  4. Here is a link to a guy who modified his harbor freight greenhouse to withstand the winds and so forth. Its been helpful to us. We just started building ours and knowing that there are problems with 75 mph winds here in New Mexico, we need to do a little extra. I hope this link will help you too:

    http://hfgh10x12.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you so much! I will show DH when he gets home tonight!

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    1. Actually I have, (Ok, my husband did...) Once I get it straightened up and my shelves in it I'm gonna post some pictures of it!

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