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Greenhouse construction

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by mrbreeze, Aug 2, 2012.

  1. mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    Thanks to one and all for the advices. Not much new to report. The electrician came out this morning while I was away and put some cool looking plastic cover thingies over most of the outlets and and laid some conduit. Still waiting for the contractors to finish the south wall interior so the electric can continue there. The swamp cooler is in the wall and the motor runs when it is plugged in! I'm kind of baffled by the float valve but hopefully can figure that out myself. I've noticed over the years that most 'plumbing' isn't very hard.

    I think the concrete board *is* the type with the fiberglass. Don't see any paper on it and it does have kind of a fiberglass looking webbing embedded within. The side vents are screwed in. The contractors punch list at this point, off the top of my head:
    -create and install roof vents, openers, and screens
    -create and install screens on the outside of the side vents
    -finish the south wall (mainly lay concrete board)
    -fix the gap issue with the panels
    -install some kind of ridge cap (probably flashing or gutter stock bent to an angle)
    -install a door knob and finish door framing
    -install some boards across the walls for a nailing surface for hanging mounting grids, nozzles, hooks, etc.
    -finish the drainage system
    -install a small pipe below the cooler to run a water line from inside to the back of the cooler. One that i can close off in the winter with some screw caps.

    I'm going to try to get them to do some painting where the nailing boards will go and I figure i'll put the actual finish paint on the inside. I also want them to screw in a board near my water supply so i can hang up a manifold with two to four hoses so i can have dedicated supply to the cooler, a regular hose, one for a r/o, and an extra maybe for nozzles to wet the floor. And i'm going to see if they have enough scrap cedar to put in two more cross pieces, one at each end. I think it will look better and will also give me another nailing surface.

    Then at some point the plumber needs to get the gas line *into* the gh. And the electrician still needs to get up in the attic and bring electricity to the gh. I told him he can wait until it cools off for that. ;)

    And i still need to get a heater and figure out if it needs a fresh air intake through the wall. etc. etc. I never realized how @#$%^& complicated a gh could be!
     
  2. Reyna

    Reyna Orchid Obsessed Supporting Member

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    So cool to see ! I bet you are thrilled. So exciting!
     
  3. keithrs

    keithrs Member

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    Getting close!!!!!

    When you said that you where using "mildew resistant drywall", I thought you where talking about the 'purple' or 'green' drywall.... Not backer board or cement board!
     
  4. mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    And now the building is done! Woohoo! Just a few thousand little details left to figure out now. But the contractors are finished. Here is the result:

    Upper view to the North:


    Same direction, lower view showing cooler, side vent, strips of wood to nail crap into, some outlets, etc. You can also see the pipe opening that I had them install to provide a conduit for the eventual swamp cooler water supply:


    Here is the view to the South where the door is and where the utilities will all come in or are already in, plus another vent:


    Here is part of the finished West wall and you can see that pipe again:


    Finally, the back of the North wall where the cooler is, an outside outlet i'll probably never use, and the other end of that pipe. They made the pipe a LOT bigger than I wanted but whatever.


    So that's pretty much it. Still need to get the cooler hooked up, get the gas line from the stub into the GH, and get a heater; get the electrician back to hook up a thermostat, finish some wiring, and bring the electric into the GH from the house; need to tweak the roof vents some and fabricate a better screen for them; test everything; paint the concrete board; probably sand the wood and maybe seal it with something; and then.......start bringing in the Angs! (I can already tell it won't be big enough)
    GHdone 003sm.jpg GHdone 004sm.jpg GHdone 006sm.jpg GHdone 007sm.jpg GHdone 008sm.jpg
     
  5. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Congratulations!!! They are never big enough.
     
  6. Uluwehi

    Uluwehi angraecoids, dendrobiums and more Supporting Member

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    Wow, I'm so happy for you :D
     
  7. xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

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    Glad you've made it to the holy land of greenhouse growing and left the hell hole of tanks, misters and CFLs behind. Sigh.....one day!
     
    Reyna likes this.
  8. Reyna

    Reyna Orchid Obsessed Supporting Member

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    Congratulations! That is fantastic!
    I felt like I had to learn how to grow orchids again when I switched from windowsill to greenhouse -- in a good way. How exciting for you -- and your plants. :D
     
  9. orchidnut57

    orchidnut57 Member

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    Well I am still jealous...indoor grower here. Though I do manage a private GH each week I still am jealous. Congrats
     
  10. mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    Thanks all y'all. I'm still in process. Naturally, waiting on a plumber to finish the gas line install. #$%^*&@ plumbers! :mad: I think there's a reason 'plumbing' isn't a college degree.

    Waiting to receive a thermostat that the electrician will install along with finishing some things inside. He also still needs to hook up the juice to the house.

    And i'm still trying to figure out the water connections for the swamp cooler. Got one end of a 25' .25" tubing hooked up to a hose manifold. Need to get another compression fitting for the other end of the tube. Still need to paint, sand, seal, get a heater and a bunch of other things. It's been too hot lately to mess with it much. We set a new 'latest in the season high temp over 100' record at 105 a couple days ago and then last night set a new lowest temp for the date (51 F) last night. Always an adventure....
     
  11. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    When is the greenhouse-warming party? I have a gift basket ready now!
     
  12. mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    The party is today! So you better get that gift basket in the mail ASAP. (Angs only, please)
     
  13. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    I wasn't invited to the party? I am keeping the damn gorgeous gift basket for myself then.
     
  14. mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    You can keep the basket....just send me the Angs! ;-)
    I'm sure your invitation was simply lost in the mail.
     
  15. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    So was mine. :rolleyes:
     
  16. John Klinger

    John Klinger Active Member Supporting Member

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    Nice green house, I know you will enjoy it when all the plants are in.
     
  17. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    I would like to see photos of your new greenhouse, O/C, with your plants.
     
  18. Reyna

    Reyna Orchid Obsessed Supporting Member

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    Yes, show us pictures. We want pictures. :D
     
  19. mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    Still failing to find time to finish it. Electricity isn't hooked up yet, heater isn't bought yet, etc. etc.
     
  20. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    Any updates on your greenhouse? Hopefully, you're all moved in! I know your plants are going to love it once they get in there.