Greenhouse Project: Feeling Closed In

It’s time for another backyard greenhouse shed update and I’m excited about this one!  You might ask why am I so excited…the doors have been set! This is when I can see that everything is starting to look like I originally intended. The front doors are on after a little bit of repair work. We shaved off an inch of the bottom of each door because of rotted wood. The rot didn’t extend far up the door (less than the inch we cut) but needed removed otherwise it would continue to spread.  The doors have been sitting outside for a long time resting on the ground and just couldn’t weather the weather! Additionally cutting an inch off the doors helped the doors fit a little better.

Here in these pictures I have the door and one window propped closed. I needed to attach a latch to the more stationary left side of the front doors so that the right side would lock against it. That’s done now but it wasn’t when the picture was taken. The window is being held closed since latches haven’t been installed for it yet. I have some things to add on the inside before I attach them. The right window needs latches too but holds itself closed pretty well.


What Needs Done on the Front of the Greenhouse: Door trim, trim the gables, window latches, siding, install small windows, paint and stain siding and window frames.

On the back side of the greenhouse shed we added the plywood in the gables, a window in the gable area, the back door and a door/wall. The gable window is hinged and will serve as a vent for the greenhouse. I opened it from the inside today and felt a rush of air, I think it’s going to work fine!

The door/wall will be covered in siding and will blend in with the surrounding siding to essentially be a hidden door. The left hand door can open and shut while the door on the right remains closed allowing it to function as either a single door or a double door.

Today I installed doorknobs and deadbolts in the back door from our old patio doors. they are keyed the same as our house which will be very convenient. I need to replace the doorknob and deadbolt on the French doors in the front of the greenhouse with some others I have after I have them matched to our keys.

What Needs Done on the Back of the Greenhouse: Door trim, window latches, secure the right door with latches, add siding, trim gables, paint and stain siding, windows frames and doors.

Here’s a little look through the backdoor at the inside of the greenhouse shed, or to paraphrase myself “here’s a look at my mess!” All the materials I want to keep dry are stored inside until I don’t need them anymore. I doubt I’ll have many leftovers. All the plywood will be used to cover the stud openings after insulating to help retain any heat gains the windows make. So much yet to do, but so much has been accomplished!

9 thoughts on “Greenhouse Project: Feeling Closed In”

  1. I'm starting to think that we need to remove the half-quonset-style greenhouse from the side of the barn and build something like this instead, and this post is urging me more in this direction. Guess I'll see what the spring brings, and meanwhile follow the ongoing adventure here with care.

  2. Dave, Just in time for winter solstice sowing or Christmas! This is so exciting to watch! We hope to build a shed for Mr I and this gives me a few good ideas! Glad you had a good holiday. gail

  3. Congrats, Dave. You have done a lot of work & it shows. It's almost done & I've enjoyed the progress. It's sure looking good. Waiting to see the end results.

  4. Thanks everyone for your comments. I'll be working on it today to hopefully finish up a few of windows and maybe some other elements. I picked up some latches at Habitat for Humanity very cheap for the back door and the windows.

    Darla,

    Go Craigslisting and start a window collection to build yourself one. Building it yourself is way more economical than buying a kit.

    Jodi,

    I probably would have been happy to add this to the side of a barn if I had one. At least there you have a wall ready to go! I guess one disadvantage would be that you don't have the light (with no windows) from one side.

    Gail,

    Ideally I'd love to be ready for that but I'm not sure I can get it fully insulated in time. I have several walls inside that need insulated and sealed. There are little cracks between plywood pieces that will release too much heat if I don't!

    Lola,

    Thanks! I'll be thrilled when I get the structural elements finally completed and all I have left to do is cosmetic!

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