Building A Low Cost Lean To Greenhouse
There is something admirable about the people that have the resourcefulness to build their own prospering ecological community. The waiting that one has to endure is too much for most. The sad truth though is, even if you have all the patience to do something like this, the one unavoidable problem is cost.
No matter how inexperienced you are, if you are not able to build a lean to greenhouse (or lean to conservatory) cheaply it might be that you are trying to over complicate things. Lean Tos are not difficult to build, especially the free standing ones. You will however, need to get the right materials for the building and this might get a bit expensive if you are not careful.
It is very cheap to build a mini lean to greenhouse. These are small enough to fit in the most cramped living areas or those which only have a small area for plants such as a flat. If you are able to build something such as a small dogs kennel or a post box then you have what it takes to build a mini lean to.
Don’t forget to take your environment into account. If you are prone to heavy wind or rain storms then it is probably best to have a solid wooden frame with a glass covering. Since glass is not the cheapest of materials the chances are better to save a few pounds if you use the correct size of fiberglass. Wood is not expensive and any lumber yard will have what you need.
On the topic of lumber, if you are doing the job yourself, a wooden greenhouse would probably be the most cost effective one to build. Whether the greenhouse is stand alone or attached your budget will be within reason by sticking to wood. A bag of nails, a hammer (which you probably already have) and some glass, fiberglass or polyethylene covering, is all that you should need.
If you are blessed with good weather then polyethylene is a both cheap and effective solution. Wood needs to be taken care of especially in areas which has cold, rainy conditions or too much sun. To avoid the wood splitting apply a coat of varnish periodically.
An aluminum greenhouse is the most expensive option to build. Even though it is a very common material it is still rather pricey. It is not as easy to work with and it is not as versatile as wood. Greenhouses made from aluminum are meant to be attached to a house or garage so trying to avoid costs this way is definitely not an option.
Although you might not get the same satisfaction as if you were building one yourself from raw materials, another option to consider is buying a prefabricated uPVC lean to conservatory installation kit. If you follow the manufacturer’s instructions you will find that they are not difficult to build and they have many advantages. They are durable enough for any weather conditions, they need no maintenance, they are easy to clean and they are relatively cheap. A wooden one is admittedly cheaper but the fact that you won’t have any long term maintenance costs definitely makes it a more efficient choice.
Imperial Windows specialise in windows, doors and Conservatories. The lean to greenhouse (or lean to conservatory) is only one of the ranges that we supply. Visit us at http://www.imperialwindows.co.uk