Do-it-yourself Greenhouse From Window Frames (69 Photos): How To Build From Old Double-glazed Windows From Plastic Windows, Step-by-step Instructions On How To Make A Greenhouse

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

Greenhouses today are built from a wide variety of materials. It can be polycarbonate, metal-plastic, and other similar elements. However, many consumers are aiming to build an inexpensive greenhouse in a short time from materials that are more affordable and easier to use. Quite good structures are obtained from ordinary window frames. Today we will analyze in detail how to correctly make a greenhouse from such parts.

Peculiarities

It's not a secret for anyone that the presence of a greenhouse on the site allows you to improve and increase the yield in the cool spring season, when it is not possible to plant plants in open soil. Young shoots and seeds in greenhouse conditions grow and develop rather quickly, and by the time the first warm days come, they bloom.

Currently, most of the owners of apartments and private houses are replacing old wooden windows in their homes with plastic ones. As a rule, after the completion of all installation work, the old frames are simply disposed of - they are thrown out, removed away as unnecessary. In fact, such details can still come in handy. With their use, it will be possible to build a neat and inexpensive greenhouse.

You should not get rid of glass in such elements. They will be needed for the greenhouse, as they are able to maintain an optimal and comfortable temperature regime for plants.

Using old wooden frames, you can build a very reliable and sturdy frame that will support the greenhouse structure for years to come.

The vents on the windows will also be useful in such buildings. They are useful for providing ventilation in the greenhouse. In addition, with the help of these elements, it is possible to regulate the temperature in the interior of the entire structure.

Wood itself is a reliable and stable material, but it will be expensive to buy new wooden parts for making a greenhouse, since they will not be cheap. That is why buildings assembled from old window frames are an excellent and inexpensive solution.

In addition to wooden ones, plastic double-glazed windows are often used in the construction of greenhouses. Many owners use old balcony windows, which have an impressive weight, in the construction of such buildings.

If we focus on the main advantages of such designs, then you should pay attention to the following features:

• There will always be high-quality ventilation in the inside of the greenhouse thanks to the vents on the old windows.
• With the help of window frames made of wood or PVC material, it will be possible to build a stationary and non-separable greenhouse in the shortest possible time.
• In these conditions, you can grow flowers, fruits and vegetables all year round.
• A greenhouse built from old frames is also good because it has excellent thermal insulation characteristics.
• In such a building, it is quite possible to install additional lighting devices. Thus, in the greenhouse from the windows, it will be possible to combine both natural and artificial lighting.

There are no serious flaws in such designs. The only drawback that many users note is that it can be difficult to find the required number of frames of the same dimensions to make the greenhouse smoother and more accurate.

Homemade greenhouses from window frames are not uncommon. It is quite possible to build such structures with your own hands. Moreover, such work, as a rule, does not take much time and effort.

Self-construction

As a rule, inexpensive greenhouses from old windows are made by the owners of the sites themselves. Such work cannot be called too difficult and inaccessible, however, a certain algorithm of actions should be adhered to, so that the resulting greenhouse turns out to be of high quality and reliable.

Preparation of drawings

First you need to do all the preparatory work. You can proceed directly to the assembly of the greenhouse only after this stage. Otherwise, the structure may turn out to be uneven, and its location will not be the best.

First, you need to find the right number of wooden window frames with the same dimensions. If you could not stock up on such elements, then you will have to apply all your skills and abilities regarding architectural issues. We'll have to measure each frame separately, write the resulting value on paper, and then try to draw up a suitable drawing.

When drawing up a greenhouse project, it is necessary to take into account the following parameters:

• The ratio between the dimensions of the frames and the height you need. The recommended height of the walls in the greenhouse is 180 cm. If you cannot put the frames on top of each other, then you will have to slightly increase the walls in the lower part using other materials.
• Roof. Often a metal frame or timber is chosen for the construction of the roof. These dense and durable materials are essential because snow can accumulate on them during the winter season. Under its load, "fragile" roofs will break.
• Also, when drawing up a drawing of a greenhouse, it is necessary to take into account the ridge of the roof. It is recommended to direct it along the north-south axis so that sufficient and correct lighting is present in the greenhouse.

Only with the use of a drawing can a neat and aesthetic greenhouse be built.

It is not recommended to use parts of different sizes, since they are unlikely to be able to achieve the correct geometry of the building. At the same time, the tightness of the greenhouse will also suffer, which is undesirable for him.

Seat selection

For the installation of a greenhouse from old windows, it is very important to choose a suitable place, since the functionality of such a structure will depend on it. Experts recommend placing greenhouses exclusively on flat surfaces that are sufficiently illuminated by the sun from all sides.

Besides, it is necessary to find a place protected from constant and strong winds . There should be no tall structures or trees near the greenhouse - they will create large shadows that can fall on plants in a panic.

In addition, it must be borne in mind that a greenhouse made of old windows should stand so that its longitudinal side is from the north to the south.

Priming

The land under the greenhouse must be dry and clean. According to the assurances of experts, the most successful is the option in which there is a sandy layer of soil under the chernozem.

Glasses in old frames often have a lot of weight, so the soil under the greenhouse should be well compacted. This criterion is especially important when it comes to installing a greenhouse without pouring the foundation.

If your site is located in a clay area, then the selected place will need to be well prepared for the installation of the greenhouse. To do this, you need to make a blind area of gravel of the middle fraction, and then build a special cushion of sand with a thickness of at least 10 cm. On such a base, you will then need to fill in fertile soil.

When choosing a place for building a greenhouse, you need to take into account the location of groundwater. They should be located at a depth of at least 1.5 m. If the soil in your area is too wet, then it is not recommended to build a heavy greenhouse from window frames on it.

Design options

Window frame greenhouses can be of various designs. Let's consider the most popular options that many users choose:

• For the lower part of the frame, it is possible to use sheathing boards. With this design, when weeding the beds, you will definitely not damage the glass elements or injure yourself. Similar problems can be avoided when digging or watering the beds.
• Glasses from the same window frames can be inserted into a ready-made frame. This design will look especially attractive and interesting.
• Window frames can be docked together. With such a design, the design of the greenhouse will not be the most presentable. And if the frames are different in size, then it will be very difficult to connect them.

Some gardeners prefer to build quality greenhouses not from wooden window frames, but from double-glazed windows with plastic profiles. Someone buys them specifically for such construction work, while someone else has unnecessary PVC structures in their arsenal. Greenhouses made of these materials are very durable and reliable. They are not subject to mechanical damage and serve for a very long time. However, double-glazed windows have an impressive weight, so they can only be installed on well-prepared and dry soil (preferably with a foundation).

The most popular insulating glass structures are windows connected in a row on all sides of the building. Similar structures can be supplemented with a gable roof made of similar materials.

Heavy insulating glass greenhouses can be of any shape and structure. They can be built in mini format or made very large - it all depends on the wishes of the owners. Of course, square and rectangular greenhouses are classic. Slightly less common are polygonal structures.

Detailed guide

To build a high-quality greenhouse from window frames with your own hands, you need to stock up on the following tools:

• hammer;
• a screwdriver (it can be electric);
• circular saw;
• chisel;
• special drills for woodworking;
• building level;
• square;
• tape measure;
• polyurethane foam;
• fasteners.

If you have already chosen a suitable place for installing a greenhouse on the site, then you can proceed to the construction of the foundation. It is optional, but it is recommended to do it if the soil and the weight of the future structure require it.

Consider the step-by-step instructions for installing the foundation for a greenhouse:

1. First, the selected area must be cleaned of dirt, debris, weeds, hemp and other similar elements.
2. After that, you need to transfer the size of the greenhouse to the cleaned area and hammer in small stakes around the perimeter. Stretch a cord or rope between them.
3. Further, in each corner and near the sides, it is necessary to dig small holes, the depth of which should be no more than 0.5 m - the level of soil freezing.
4. In the holes made, you need to fill in gravel, and then tamp it.
5. The next step will be the construction of the formwork. An asbestos-cement pipe with a diameter of no more than 15 cm must be inserted into each pit. Next, you need to align and insert reinforcement.
6. Reinforce the structure with bricks and then pour concrete.
7. Further, on the foundation, it is necessary to assemble the lower crown from a bar and fasten it with iron plates.

Note that the concrete will only dry completely after a couple of weeks. After that, the area for the greenhouse must be laid out with bricks around the perimeter. As a result, you will get a flat plane, thanks to which it will be easier and easier to assemble a greenhouse.

Then you can proceed to the manufacture of the greenhouse frame. For this, you can use a bar or boards. But first you need to measure the width of the frames. Measure along the perimeter of the poured foundation the segments that exceed the width of the window structures by 5-7 cm. These places should be noted.

At the marked points, you need to fix the uprights from the bar, which have the same height. Then you need to stretch a thread along the top of the pillars. Use a level so that the tops can be corrected. If there are prominent elements on the pillars, then they need to be cut down.

After that, you need to take a bar and put it on the tops in a horizontal position. Thus, you get a kind of cells for installing window frames. Now you should mount the windows themselves, not forgetting about the doors and vents. Fasten all parts as securely as possible. Work carefully to avoid splitting the glass elements.

All cracks and joints should be treated with polyurethane foam. It is recommended to cover dried foam with a putty or paint - this will help to protect this material from excessive drying out.

The final stage in the construction of the greenhouse will be the installation of the roof. It can be two- or one-pitched. Let's take a closer look at the process of installing a roof using the example of a shed structure:

• First you need to lay the boards on the wall strapping under the rafter support. Be sure to mark the slots for mounting the sloped beams of the future roof.
• Place uprights at each corner of the side wall to form a slope. You need to put a block between them. The front of the roof will then be attached to it.
• Now you need to install the side boards in the roof and attach them to the front piece with screws.
• Make grooves for the rafter boards in the edge board. For this, it is recommended to use a special template, which is a cut out letter "P".
• Next, you need to pull the cord and check that all the rafters are in the same plane. We put the roofing material on top. Experts advise using a material made of cellular polycarbonate, glass or special film for this.

As a result, you should have an attractive and neat greenhouse. The main thing is not to use the level at all stages so that the structure is even.

Owners opinion

Greenhouses assembled from old wood or PVC frames are found in many areas. The popularity of such structures is due to their low cost and fairly simple construction.

As a rule, reviews of frame greenhouses are positive. Such buildings seemed very warm to many owners. Such conditions are very comfortable for the growth and flowering of various plantations.

In addition, many users noted that the construction of such greenhouses seemed quite simple to them. The main thing is to choose in advance a suitable place for construction and draw up a detailed drawing of the greenhouse. Then, in the process of installation work, you will not encounter various problems and inconsistencies.

However, some people claim that their old frame greenhouses lasted less than 5 years, after which they began to rot at the bottom, in contact with the ground. Owners facing these challenges recommend painting their greenhouses annually to extend their lifespan. Users did not notice other significant shortcomings.

Useful Tips

If you are going to assemble a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands, then you should consider some recommendations from professionals. Perhaps they will help you avoid many problems in the process of making a greenhouse:

• When building a greenhouse from window frames, it is recommended to use an electric tool - a jigsaw, a screwdriver. It is much easier to work with such devices.
• Keep in mind that a greenhouse made of old frames is only suitable for home backyards. It will hardly be possible to grow vegetables and fruits in them on an industrial scale - such plantings will require a more reliable and expensive metal structure.

• If you want to make a greenhouse frame from a bar, and not from boards, then you need to take into account its thickness. Too thin bars may not support the weight of the entire structure. Such structures will not last long.
• To make the whole structure more stable and reliable, vertical supports should be installed. It is recommended to prepare them at the stage of frame construction.
• If you want to lay a roof made of polycarbonate on a greenhouse made of windows, then it is better to insert glass only after all roofing work is completed.
• It is not recommended to use old windows for arranging the roof. It is better to use a special plastic wrap or polycarbonate instead of such elements.

• When the roof of the greenhouse is completely transparent, it must be treated with a chalk slurry, since too much light will penetrate into the room and it will be very hot. With some additional processing, you will provide the space with a little shadow.
• It was mentioned above that greenhouses can be built not only from old wooden, but also from plastic windows. Of course, such a structure will be more reliable and durable, but it will cost much more - this must be taken into account if you decide to build such a structure.

• Use only absolutely dry beams during construction. If they do not dry out completely, then in the process of using the greenhouse, the wood will begin to warp. Such defects can lead to cracking of the windows.
• When pouring the foundation for a greenhouse, it is not at all necessary to use reinforcement or piles. According to experienced gardeners, buying such parts, you will only spend extra money, because for such bases, as a rule, additional strengthening is not needed.

• It is recommended to replace glasses (if necessary) only after completion of all installation work. This will minimize the risk of damage.
• When you have completed all the installation work and covered the roof, it is recommended to check again how correctly you built everything.
• It should be borne in mind that greenhouses from window frames require constant care. They need to be washed, cleaned regularly, and connections must be strengthened. Thus, you will extend the life of such a structure.
• If you want to give your greenhouse a more interesting and attractive look, you can paint the outside of the greenhouse in your favorite color. As for painting the greenhouse inside, it all depends on your preferences.

Beautiful examples for inspiration

Many owners build greenhouses on their plots not only for growing various plants, vegetables and fruits, but also for decorating the landscape, because well-built structures always look attractive and original. With the help of such products, you can transform the site and add zest to it.

Large greenhouses built of plastic windows look very nice and neat. They can be fitted with a triangular matt polycarbonate roof. Such buildings in the conditions of personal plots look inconspicuous, but organic, especially if they are surrounded by green spaces or a lawn.

If you erected a small greenhouse on the site (for example, for growing flowers) from wooden frames with a low triangular roof, then you can give it a more interesting and expressive look by painting it white and complementing it with hanging pots with colorful flowers. Ornamental bushes can also be placed around such a structure. In a single ensemble with living plants, such a greenhouse will look great.

Mini-greenhouses look interesting on personal plots. They can have a wooden, brick or stone box, supplemented on top by opening window sashes with glass. According to the owners, such designs are very simple and convenient to use. In addition, they look very unusual.