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A greenhouse in a temperate climate is a necessary building at any dacha. Sudden spring cold snaps, frosts at the surface of the ground destroy the plants planted in open ground, while the greenhouse allows them to be grown already from early spring.
And since few people want to spend money on complex structures and expensive materials, there is always a temptation to make a greenhouse from improvised meansone of which is the window frames. If you or someone you know changes windows, this is a good chance to acquire cheap material for building a greenhouse.
Wooden and plastic frames: pros and cons
We build a greenhouse with our own hands from old window frames: which frames to choose - wooden or plastic?
Window frames have certain advantages compared to other materials. First of all, it is strength of window frames.
The wooden frame will have to be built in any case, but the frames fastened together will take part of the mechanical load on themselves, and the resulting structure will turn out to be stronger than wire arches or pine poles, from which frames for the greenhouse are most often made (but not stronger than factory-made galvanized steel frames).
Additional advantage appears at such a greenhouse, if windows can open... In this way, it is very easy to regulate the temperature inside in late spring and summer, when on a sunny day in a closed greenhouse, the temperature can reach a destructive 60 degrees.
Opening and closing the necessary windows, temperature can be adjusted even in parts of the greenhouse, if it is large enough.
Double glass provides good thermal insulation in the absence of cracks through which heat could escape and cold wind blow.
Another plus - durability... Glass does not decompose under the sun, like plastic film, and if it breaks for some reason, it is easy to replace it, especially for wooden frames.
Finally, price... If you change the windows yourself, then you get the material for the greenhouse. is free, if your friend changes them, he can sell the material he does not need for a song.
Disadvantage is less strength in comparison with metal frames, vulnerability to the effects of putrefactive fungi that decompose wood and various insect pests. This makes a greenhouse out of wooden frames short-lived.
A greenhouse made of window frames has its advantages and disadvantages, but if building a greenhouse is necessary, try it, do it yourself.
Plastic windows for greenhouses
As a rule, double-glazed windows are installed in plastic windows, which allows them to provide more reliable thermal insulationthan wooden frames with single glasses.
Positive sides double-glazed windows is strength (and the rigidity of the structure), as well as resistance to negative environmental factors... They do not swell or dry out from moisture changes, like wood, and do not rot. Therefore, they do not need to be treated with antiseptics or painted.
Disadvantages of plastic windows are their heavy weight, inaccessibility and difficulty in repair (glass in a wooden frame can be replaced or simply clog the frame with a film if the glass breaks and the glass unit will have to be changed completely).
Preparatory work
How to build a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands, how to choose a place, what kind of foundation to make? Let's try to answer these questions.
Seat selection
When choosing a place for a greenhouse, a summer resident usually has a poor choice. The main thing that the place was not shaded from the south, southeast and southwest... The proximity to the walnut is especially destructive for greenhouse plants, for this tree not only casts a shadow, but also releases phytoncides, which inhibit the growth of all other plants.
Trees can be dangerous also by the fact that in a storm heavy dry branches break off from them, which can damage or destroy the greenhouse.
It is also desirable that the structure was protected from the windthat can destroy it.
The ground under the structure must be level, motionless and dry.... It is desirable that it is sandy soil. If the soil is clay, you should cover it with gravel, and pour sand on top and apply a fertile layer.
You can read more about the rules for the location of greenhouses on the site by following the link.
Preparation of the project and drawing
When designing a greenhouse, it is important to consider the following points:
- the ratio of the size of window frames and the height you need (it is desirable that the height of the walls be at least 180 cm), if it is not possible to put the frames one on top of the other, you will have to build up the walls from below using other materials;
- roof: most likely, it will have to use a timber or a metal frame for the roof, since in winter it can accumulate on the roof up to several tons of snow;
- the ridge of the roof must be oriented along the north-south axisto ensure proper lighting of the greenhouse.
If, according to calculations, it turns out that there are not enough window frames, you can use polycarbonate sheets instead appropriate size.
If the greenhouse will be heated by a stove, immediately think about where the smoke will go. Chimney can go out both through the wall and through the roof, but if it is made of metal, it will be very hot, and therefore must not come into contact with either polyethylene or polycarbonate.
For it, it is advisable to provide a special window (you can also use the existing window), and close the space between the round pipe and the square frame of the window, for example, with tin or plywood.
Foundation
Unlike conventional greenhouses made of wood or steel frames and plastic sheeting, greenhouses made of window frames foundation is needed... This is due to the fact that the frames are too heavy, and the soil under them will sink unevenly if you build a greenhouse without a foundation.
What materials can be used to create such a frame? It turns out there are a lot of options:
- Wood... It is very durable but completely short-lived material... It will quickly rot in the soil, and after a few years (usually 5-6, but it may happen faster, it depends on the humidity), the greenhouse will have to be rebuilt.
Fig. 1. A greenhouse made of window frames with a wooden foundation. - Red brick... The material is good, durable, but just the same not very reliable... Under the influence of moisture and temperature changes, a baked clay brick collapses, and a greenhouse on such a foundation is unlikely to stand for more than ten years.
Fig. 2. Red brick foundation.
- Silicate (white) brick somewhat stronger than red, and the whims of the weather will not be able to overcome it for decades, thanks to which, even when the greenhouse itself becomes unusable, it will be possible to build a new one on the same foundation. Disadvantage white brick - his high price.
- Concrete... This material is cheaper than bricks and is self-made from cement, sand, rubble and water. Strip foundation made of such material will last for many years and will be vulnerable only to severe frosts.
Fig. 3. Concrete foundation - A rock... This material is the most reliable, but also very expensive, especially in those areas that are remote from the deposits of this building material.
Fig. 1. A greenhouse made of window frames with a wooden foundation. 
Fig. 3. Concrete foundationIn areas subject to severe frosts, the foundation must reach maximum depth of freezing of the ground... Also use thermal insulation, for example, foam.
Step by step: building a greenhouse
How to prepare the frames?
Before you start building walls frames should be prepared... The first step is to remove all metal parts such as hinges, awnings, latches and protruding nails. Then the frames are cleaned of old paint with metal brushes.
After that, the tree is necessary pickle with antisepticso that bacteria and fungi do not destroy it too quickly. Fortunately, the choice of antiseptics is wide enough today. Then you can additionally paint the framesbut the antiseptic itself provides sufficient protection against fungi, insects, rodents and moisture.
If you decide to nail the frames with nails, the glasses must be removed during installation, if with screws, then you can not do this.
Frame
How to build a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands: to see this more clearly and build your own version of a greenhouse from wooden or plastic windows, photos and drawings will help us. To build the frame, use timber 50Х50 mm or a 40 mm thick board... The frame consists of uprights, upper and lower straps. The latter should be made of identical planks and increase the height of the greenhouse walls. The racks should be spaced from each other at such a distance that the window frame was placed strictly between them, and they, in turn, would cover the gaps between two adjacent frames.
For real the roof frame must be strong... It is best to have a gable roof, with additional supports under the ridge, otherwise it may collapse under the weight of the snow. Therefore, perform a roof frame best of all from a bar.
Fig. 4. Diagram of the structure of the frame and the placement of window frames on it.
Assembly
Installation can be carried out with both nails and screws. The screws hold more firmly, but are more expensive. Each frame is fixed from the outside and from the inside, on each of its four sides. Then the gaps between the frames are sealed with polyurethane foam.
Installation of greenhouses from plastic windows will have to be done with bolts and nuts, drilling holes for them.
Roof
It is undesirable to use windows for the roof... Alternatively, you can stretch plastic wrap or use polycarbonate. Completely a transparent roof means it will be too hot inside in warmer months, so it must be sprinkled with a slurry of chalk (as for whitewashing) to create a slight shade. The light that penetrates the walls is enough for photosynthesis. The film is attached with strips.
Doors
It is desirable to make them two at the ends of the greenhouseso that a draft can be created if ventilation is required. The easiest way is to put together their frames from boards and tighten them with plastic wrap, nailing it to the tree using thin slats.
Fig. 5. The role of the door is played by the opening window.
Conclusion
Thus, the window frames are cheap and convenient material for self-construction of a greenhouse... The advantages of such a greenhouse are the availability of materials, ease of installation and operation, and the disadvantages are the need for a foundation and less strength in comparison with a steel frame.
Some more information about homemade greenhouses from window frames can be seen in the video.
