How to build a DIY Greenhouse

Y’all, we did it. I’m still in shock and very tired but we did it!!!! This post is about the journey of How To Build A DIY Greenhouse. Because we are not professional builders, this is not a step by step how to, with all the nitty gitty details. This post in meant to inspire you to not give up on a dream and hopefully encourage your step out of your comfort level to take on new projects.

If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you know that having a Greenhouse has been a dream of mine. Well, as sometimes happens, things didn’t exactly go as planned, but the dream Greenhouse is finally a reality. Here is the process of How to build a DIY Greenhouse from conception to completion. The satisfaction that comes with a handmade project and building with reclaimed materials was very appealing to us.

How the Story Begins

The process of collecting some reclaimed window had started and my husband was even somewhat on board with the idea. After much debate, a spot for the building had been chosen.

Time to Window Shop

Next it was time for some serious window shopping. Then the Covid19 Pandemic hit our country. Suddenly, all thrift stores and vintage shops were closed which resulted in no window shopping. This was just a minor set back, compared to so many hardships that other’s have endured. However, complaining about the situation on Instagram paid off because a follower contacted me with an offer. He had several sets of french doors, rescued from a coastal home after hurricane Florence. He had planned to use them for his own greenhouse construction, but unfortunately, he was not going to use them after all. Since he was unable to use them, he offered to sell them for a great price. Because he was located a short distance away, pick up was easy.

A Homemade Greenhouse

Once the doors arrived, a plan was taking form and it quickly became evident that the doors would allow more than enough light for the space. Therefore, the windows were no longer needed.

Materials Needed to Build a Greenhouse

• Treated Lumber – 2×4, 2×6, 1×6, 4×4, etc. depending on size of your structure
• Clear Polycarbonate Roofing
• 8 Sets of French Doors – rescued
• Nail Gun and Air Compressor Kit
• Circular Saw
• Chop Saw

Treated Lumber was used to build the base of the DIY Greenhouse. Each step of the process could be written as a whole DIY Tutorial. This post is not intended to be a tutorial, however if you have questions about our handmade process, be sure to ask in comments.

The Walls Go Up

Next the construction of the walls began. Without any experience in this area of construction, diy tutorials came in handy. You can find a tutorial for just about anything you wish. This was fortunate because we are such amateurs.

The construction was moving right along and we were feeling pretty proud of ourselves at this time.

Rafters Installed

Installing the rafters was a little more involved than building the walls. This was primarily because of the height involved and working with only two people. To avoid painting on a ladder, the rafter’s got a coat of white primer prior to installation.

Moving right Along with the Building of the DIY Greenhouse

Can you tell we’ve been working hard? Installing the doors and roofing was definitely the most challenging part of the constructing the handmade greenhouse. These doors are super heavy and hard to manage with just 4 hands. The challenging part of the roof was that my husband had to do it all himself and my job was to hold the ladder and pray he wouldn’t get hurt. There may have been some tears during this part. However, the work is completed and many lessons were learned. LOL

To allow plenty of light to flood the Greenhouse, clear polycarbonate sheets were used for roofing. From this view, you can see the natural side of the reclaimed ship lap.

The DIY Greenhouse is closed in.

Finally, the walls are completely closed in and the roof is finished. From this view, you can see the reclaimed ship lap siding that was used to cover the exterior. Since there was not enough of the reclaimed ship lap for the entire project, outdoor siding was added to fill in the gaps. To pull the exterior together, it was painted with White Dove exterior paint by Benjamin Moore. In addition, a small porch was a last minute idea for the DIY Greenhouse. At this point, the construction has been underway for exactly 3 weeks.

Since it was the Memorial Day Weekend now was a perfect time for a break. Once the break was over, all the trim work was applied and some interior painting was completed. Whew, almost at the finish line.

Some interior Views

Here is a primitive desk and folding chair that fit perfectly in this little corner of the DIY Greenhouse.

A thrift store chandelier got an update and works perfectly inside the greenhouse. Solar lights have been added because there is no electricity in the greenhouse. See how to re-purpose a boring thrift store chandelier here.

Foundation filled with Field Rock

Gathering field rock from around the property was an easy task as so much is available. The rock was used to fill in around the foundation and a few larger rocks were added as steps to enter the Greenhouse.

All the french doors were installed to open outward because this would allow the doors to open without disturbing anything on the interior of the greenhouse. And in addition, because this allows for great air flow.

Although building a DIY Greenhouse was the most challenging project we have ever tackled, the results are a dream come true. It’s a little late in the season to actually use the greenhouse for growing, but it is all ready for this Fall and next Spring.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed seeing the process. Your questions and comments are always appreciated.

xoxo,

Rachel