Building Greenhouse, welding and attaching covers, need advice please.
Printer-friendly versionHello, looking for some advice on building a greenhouse from scratch here. If you have read my Intro., you probably know, I am looking to build a greenhouse for my fiance for a Christmas surprise. (He is a landscaper, loves to grow plants,etc. ) My father welds and has a metal fabrication shop at his house, so I am thinking that we can build a frame (steel, aluminum? ) there, then all I need to buy, because $$ is an issue here, is covers and parts. I was looking at buying a greenhouse online, but if I can get enough information on building one, I would rather us build him one.
My question is, has anyone ever built a greenhouse like this? Build a frame, preferably metal, then have to get the 'rest' of the equipment to install covers, etc.? I have no idea how to, so any advice on this is more than welcome. I know it sounds crazy, but I am quick to learn what needs to be done and know that we can get this together with some help. ( hence, I am here! ). :)
Thanks in advance!
-Em
Yeah, thanks for the reply. We are currently drawing up some plans, looking at other greenhouses (pre-fabricated, etc. ) as a model. We could do pipe, as we have the equipment to do so, but I totally agree, I really love the look of the gabled, metal framed ones (and since it will be in OUR backyard,......haha). So, I will keep y'all updated as we go along- I can post the blueprints,etc. up soon- pleae feel free to make comments, suggestions, etc. on anything I post- all advice, suggestions, critiques, are welcome.Also, any thoughts that you have to put onto this greenhouse are appreciated. Any 'little extras' you prefer on a greenhouse? Vents, lighting (?), water sprinklers or just a hose, what kind of covering, shelves, etc.
I am curious still as to if anyone else has tried this- making one like I have mentioned, or just similar to?
Also, what would you recommend for a cover, or how to pull a cover across it or fasten it? (Any good articles on covering out there?!?!)
I know it's a lot of work, and this post is a lot of questions, but any and all advice, or just 'good thoughts' towards it are greatly appreciated! 
Thanks!
-Em
Well if you have someone willing to weld then I would be fully confident that you can construct something pretty awesome. It really wouldn't even require welding, since most of the kits you will find are just bolt together; kind of like big erector sets. Even the big, full commercial buildings are this way. If you had a pipe bender or something you could definitely build a nice hoop house, but personally I like the look of the gabled houses.
Either way, in choosing to build your own you are certainly walking down a pretty ambitious path since you'll basically be on your own as to the plans and design. There will certainly be a wealth of information out there to pull this off, but it can be a lot more involved.
With all that said though, if you have a welder on your side, you'll probably be able to pull off just about anything.