I am wanting to build a full sized Greenhouse, and I think I have located some 4X8 foot sheets of 1/4 inch think tempered glass that is tinted. It was made for a store front.

I plan to concrete some 4X4 inch square posts in the ground, build some trusses for the roof, and use these sheets of glass for the roof, and sides.

Being tempered means I can't cut them, I have to use them whole. I will have to measure them first before I can finish the plans for it.

My question is since they have a dark tint, would that cut out to much sunlight to the plants?

not if you put them on the south wall. you wouldn't want to use them for a north or east wall, but the south or west walls will be fine, and, even at that, the tint will cut the heat as much as anything else.

I had planned on doing just the south half.

it will be fine. are you going to not have windows on the other sides? how are you lining it out?

I am not sure what you mean by lining?

I do plan to use 1/4 plywood for the other sides, and I may add some insulation to the inside.

ok. lining wasn't a good choice of words, but you answered my question anyway.

are you going to have it squared to the south, or could you rotate it so that it sits facing southwest? that would give you maximum light.

and, for the 1/4 ply, though should do it. i wouldn't put insulation up until you see how it holds/releases the heat. and are you going to have a vent system? you will need one for the surprise warm days.

I may have to build it stronger than I had planned, the glass will add a lot of weight to the roof.

I plan to make the roof an offset gable design, with one side longer then the other. I have also found some small windows to use as vents along the top.

This is all still very early in the planning stage. I haven't decided on the final size yet, but it should be about 10 X 12 feet with 6 foot side walls and a total height of 8 feet.

I will post some early drawings of it.

cool! I can't wait to see!!

South Side


East End-Front


West End-Back


South Side-Roof


East End With Offset Roof

I like to work out the math before I start building, it helps in figuring the cost of wood.

This drawing is almost a scale drawing, it is as close as I can get with the software I have.

wow! you just made my cheap greenhouse seem more cheapier! cant wait to see yours when its done! you put alot of thought in yours!

i just made a 5 by 5 frame out of 2 by 4s and through plastic [the kind you use to cover up your windows in winter] around it works for me!

I have another view to add and updated a couple of the drawings I did earlier.


Second Offset Roof

Wow I can't wait to see it completed!!! So it will have a roof like, when you are using solar energy, is that correct? Are you going to put running water in it? Are you going have raised beds also in it or what kind of floor will have dirt or gravel?

The roof will be either Glass or Polycabonite, it depends what is cheaper. I do plan to have at least one full length table in it, it will probably be filled with dirt or sand.

The floor will at first be dirt, and then maybe later gravel.

I also have an idea for a watering system, I can take a bucket or plastic barrel, put a sump pump in it, and run some pvc pipe with misting nozzles. I can run the water system with a small timer.

I want it tall enough so I can grow small orange or banana trees in it.

I hope to get started on it this year, I will have to see how things go this year.

Wow! That is a great plan you have there Pat.Cannot wait to see it..:-)

Just a note, and not to discourage, but normally the greener the glass, the more iron content in it and therefore the less UV rays penetrate. Since plants thrive on UV, tinted glass is less favorable than non tinted. Again, not to dicourage but thought you would like to know. I don't think the tint will affect it that much. By the way, looks like you have put a lot of thought into it! Great Job!

Checked my little mini greenhouse today, and after 3 days of ice, the lowest recorded temp was only 46*. We did lose power for 2 hours today.

My little seedings looked good, I hadn't checked on them since the ice hit. Tomorrow night the temps are supposeded to be 0.

It will be interesting to see what happenes.

i can't wait! please post pics!!