Greenhouse from old window frames. Do-it-yourself greenhouse: new life for old window frames

Only financial means and thinking allow the summer resident to create certain structures on his site. After all, as a rule, we try to create everything with our own hands. Today we can talk about the creation of structures such as greenhouses, and they will be made from old window frames. This is the most budget option of all possible ones that can only exist. And you don’t have to look for materials, since old windows can be found everywhere.

Where can I get window frames? It's very simple: in a neighboring house or even an apartment, in a kindergarten, in a school, windows can be changed. Don't waste your chance: you need to take the frames to your garage. At the same time, they will even be grateful to you for the fact that construction waste (which is the frame) will be taken out of the site.

But only the availability of building materials will not solve the problem. You need to know how to properly make a greenhouse from frames for.

Greenhouse base: choosing the right foundation

It is worth noting that under the greenhouse it is necessary to carry out the foundation. Without it, the structure will collapse. The weight of the frames will be so great that over time the greenhouse will simply sag.

The most high-quality and reliable material is brick. However, the material is quite expensive. But with long-term use, it justifies itself perfectly. With excessive moisture, the stone can collapse.

Natural stone is also expensive, but will be able to withstand the most robust greenhouse structures. Natural stone can also withstand the most humid environments, which allows you to give advantages in the use of this particular material.

wooden foundation

The tree is also very durable material, however, after five years, the wooden foundation will have to be changed, which, under the influence of moisture and temperature changes, will begin to crumble.

Experts assure that the most the best option is concrete. Such a foundation can serve as long as possible. Of course, you can use absolutely any building option. It all depends on what financial means you have.

Structure frame

It is worth noting that the greenhouse itself from window frames is already quite durable. You just need to strengthen it and mount it correctly. In order for the frame to be strong, it must be firmly strengthened with the base. Window frames are simply connected to each other on the base using corners, self-tapping screws, studs and other fastening materials. Each person himself determines what materials for fastening to use. Everything depends on the budget.

So, consider the most common types of frame mounts

Corners and screws are rightfully the most reliable. During the installation of the greenhouse, it will only be necessary to put the greenhouse in high quality and strengthen it on the foundation. Parts of the greenhouse are attached with corners, and then interconnected with self-tapping screws. In this way, maximum stability can be achieved.

You can also install a greenhouse with wooden nails, as well as bars. This option is even easier than the previous method of connecting structures. Inside the frames are connected using bars of a small section.

There is another way that requires a minimum of time and effort. To do this, you need wire and clamps. With the help of a wire, you can wind it around the connection parts and pull it off with pliers. For tension, plastic clamps are also used, which can be bought at a hardware store.

Installation of a greenhouse from old windows

I must say that from the frames you can create any design of the greenhouse. The only thing is that you need to assemble everything correctly so that the design lasts a long time. In order for the work to be done qualitatively, it is necessary to carry out all the work in stages.

The frame and base are the most important parts of the greenhouse during installation. Fasteners must be selected strong, reliable, so that the greenhouse serves for a long time. There may be connections that require welding.

How to cover a greenhouse from frames

Since the frames themselves have a high mass, it is not recommended to use glass. In this case, the weight will increase even more. Glass is used when a small greenhouse is assembled. The best option is to cover the greenhouse plastic wrap. For this, they are used simple crate at the top of the structure. Once the film is covered over the greenhouse, you can begin to stretch the film.

Once all the work is completed, you need to check their quality. If no flaws are found, then you can start planting various crops. Now on your site at any time of the year you can plant different cultures, which can only be grown on the site.

With the advent of spring, each owner of a summer cottage is faced with the choice of buying or building a greenhouse for seedlings. Shops offer a wide variety of options, ranging from simple arched structures made of arcs with agrofibre coating to complex structures made of polycarbonate. But the goal of any summer resident is to grow a crop with least cost, so in the areas you can increasingly find greenhouses built from old window frames. Fortunately, they replaced the wooden ones modern windows PVC profile and outdated frames are dismantled.

Advantages and disadvantages of window frames as a material for building a greenhouse

Prefabricated greenhouses and hotbeds offered by stores are easily assembled according to the diagrams attached to them. But with a sufficient number of old window frames and minimal construction skills, almost everyone who knows how to hold a hammer in their hands and use a screwdriver can build a greenhouse. Like any material, frames have their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of window frames

This material has the following advantages:

Availability of material and its low cost. Old frames can be obtained during the dismantling and replacement of windows for free or for a small price if you purchase them from an organization involved in these works.
The possibility of building a greenhouse in a relatively short time. Frames are easily mounted on a pre-prepared foundation.
Long service life. At proper preparation frames and constant care for them, a greenhouse can last about 10 years.
Not required special tools and fixtures. To install a greenhouse, a hammer, a screwdriver and a building level are enough.
Installation on different kinds foundation. Depending on the weight of the frames for building a greenhouse, a strip or column foundation can be poured, but you can get by with a simple strapping.
Glasses maintain the optimum temperature for plants and let through maximum amount Sveta. In case of damage, glass can be replaced with polyethylene film.
Possibility of combination with other materials. A frame greenhouse can have a roof made of polycarbonate, film or other suitable coating.

Plastic, metal-plastic and aluminum frames will last longer, but the cost of the greenhouse will be much higher.

Material disadvantages

The disadvantages include:

Difficulty in preparing frames for installation. Thorough cleaning required old paint, antiseptic treatment and fine painting.
Requires constant care. During operation, gaps may appear between the frames that will need to be sealed.
Brittleness of glass. If the foundation sinks or is hit, the glass may crack and need to be replaced.
Lifetime restrictions. Depending on the material from which the frames are made and their proper processing, a greenhouse can last several years.

Frames can be painted in one color to make the finished structure look more aesthetically pleasing.

Preparatory work: dimensions, diagram, drawing up a drawing

On how correctly the preliminary calculations are made and the installation diagram is drawn up, it largely depends on how much time will be spent on installing the greenhouse. In this case, you do not need to urgently buy the missing material or make adjustments right on the site.

Selecting a location for installation

One of the most important factors in building a greenhouse is the choice of location. Depends on future harvest. It should be even and well lit throughout the day, be away from the building and trees, not be in a lowland so that water does not stagnate. It is necessary to have a greenhouse in the direction from north to south. Based on the site plan and the location of trees and buildings, you can choose the installation site and determine allowable dimensions future greenhouse. After that, it is worth starting a more detailed study.

Preliminary calculations, drawing

Determine the exact number of frames available, write down their size. It's best if they are the same. This will avoid additional height adjustment. After that, you can draw up a diagram according to which the installation will be carried out. This will help determine the installation sequence, mark the place for doors and vents.

Depending on the exact size of the frames, the necessary adjustments should be made. If you need to increase the height of the walls, the vents can be placed horizontally by attaching them above the main frames.

Depending on the weight of the frames, you should decide on the type of foundation on which the greenhouse will be installed. If you plan to engage in gardening for quite a long time, it is better to install a greenhouse on strip or columnar foundations. If it is planned for 1–2 years, a base made of timber, previously isolated with roofing felt or treated with an antiseptic, will suffice.

The roof in the greenhouse can be either single-pitched or gable or arched. It largely depends on the material from which they decided to make it. This can be an arched roof made of polycarbonate or a structure made of frames covered with plastic wrap.

Roofs made of glazed window frames are less common. If the slope is insufficient, it is likely that in a snowy winter the glass may break under the weight of snow.

You must first create detail drawing roofs and consider mounting options.

In the construction of greenhouses, wooden frames are most often used. They are affordable and with the right preliminary preparation can last a long time. Before installation, you need to carefully inspect all frames, put aside those in which there are defects. If during operation they become numb, they will show signs of decay - peeling paint, darkened wood color, change in structure. Frames with a high degree damage should not be used for installation.

Frames with minor defects may last for some time. When drawing up a drawing, this point must be taken into account and, if there is no possibility of replacement, provide for installation in such a way that the places with defects are located in the upper part, near the roof itself. So they will be less exposed to moisture and increase their service life.

In preparation for installation, you must:

Remove all unnecessary hinges and handles from the frames.
Using sandpaper or a grinder, remove layers of old paint to the base.
To protect against rotting and damage by pests, treat the frames with an antiseptic.
Remove the glass so that it is not damaged during installation if the assembly is carried out with nails and a hammer.
Fix the vents to be used in a convenient way so that they do not open during the greenhouse assembly process.
Vents that are not planned to be opened, clog with nails or sealant.

Calculation of the required amount of material

We make all preliminary calculations based on the drawing drawn up earlier. Calculate the number of frames you need depending on the size. At standard size frames 1200x900 mm, the length of the greenhouse will be a multiple of 90 cm, and the height will be 120 cm + foundation height + roof height. Taking into account the fact that optimal width the beds are 1 m, and the distance between them varies from 40 to 60 cm, the most convenient width of the greenhouse will be 2.7 m, i.e. 3 frames. If the windows are larger, two frames may be sufficient.

Swing windows have big sizes and will require significantly fewer.

If there are few frames, you can make a greenhouse with shed roof, attaching it to a house or other building on the south side.

Apart from the right amount frames, you will need:

Entrance door. You can use a standard balcony door, shortening it if necessary, or you can make it yourself according to the size of the opening.
Bars for building a frame. For a small greenhouse, you will need 4 bars with a length equal to the height of the building. If a long structure is planned, support beams can be used to strengthen it.
Foundation materials. For tape, formwork material is required - posts and boards, a mixture of concrete, crushed stone and cement, reinforcement or large stones. For normal wooden foundation you will need a beam 15X15 cm long, equal to the perimeter of the greenhouse, and roofing material for waterproofing.
Anchor bolts, screws.
Wooden bars for rafters. Depending on the type of roof, their number will vary significantly. The largest number required for gable roof.
Roofing material. It can be polycarbonate with a thickness of at least 6 mm or a polyethylene film.

Tools needed for the job

In the process of installing a greenhouse you will need:

cord and pegs;
a hammer;
screwdriver;
a circular saw;
building level;
drills of various diameters;
square;
roulette;
shovel;
assembly foam.

Detailed instructions for making a greenhouse

During the construction of almost any greenhouse, the main stages are the following:

Marking the place for installation. With the help of pegs and a cord, we mark out the place where the greenhouse will be installed. If planned strip foundation, we determine the width of the formwork and, by marking, we dig a trench with a depth of about 40 cm.
For a tape greenhouse, it is necessary to dig a trench
Building a foundation. For the strip foundation, we install the formwork from the boards. We strengthen their rows with pegs and put reinforcement or large stones inside. Then we fill the channels with a pre-prepared cement mortar. Drying time is about 5 days. Only after that you can proceed to further work.
Filling is carried out in a pre-prepared formwork
To set the corners of the columnar foundation, you can use a metal pipe, brick, gas silicate blocks. The crown of timber is mounted at the installation site. The bars are fastened with metal corners, and a rod is driven into the ground at the corners for reliable fixation. In order to prevent rotting, paving slabs or other material can be placed in the corners and in the center of each side of the base.
Garden beds arrangement. Before installing the frame, it will be convenient to make beds and arrange paths between them. Depending on the location of the entrance to the greenhouse and their number, there may be various options for the location of the beds.
When arranging a greenhouse, it is important to properly position the beds
5. There are many types of track design. It could be paving stones paving slabs, brick or stone, which are laid in a pre-prepared trench 10–15 cm deep with a sand cushion 5–7 cm high. Alternative option- backfill path of sand and gravel.
For the design of the tracks, small trenches are pre-digged
6. Sand or gravel is poured into a trench 5–10 cm high. Use of wood mulch or straw is optional.
Paths can be mulched with sawdust, straw or other material
7. Installing the frame and attaching frames to it. We cover the foundation with strips of roofing material and, with the help of anchors, we mount bars for the lower strapping on top of the roofing material. We connect these elements for structural strength with steel corners. After that, we make markings for the installation of vertical supports. Using steel corners, checking the accuracy of vertical lines with a level, we fix the corner posts, and then, if necessary, install intermediate ones.
The frame of the greenhouse is prepared for the installation of frames
8. With the help of bars, we make a temporary fixation so that the racks do not tilt from their own gravity. After installing all vertical elements we attach the upper trim to the racks by means of corners - it will not allow the elements to tilt under their own weight. Only after the final installation of the frame, we remove the temporary supports. Can be used as stands metal pipes buried in the soil. To attach the frames to the frame, it is best to use self-tapping screws or screws. This will eliminate the possibility of glass damage. It is optimal to fasten the frames directly to the timber in those holes that are already in the frames.
Frame attachment points can be patched mounting foam
9. After completing the installation, the gaps that have formed between the racks and frames must be sealed with mounting foam. This will eliminate drafts and the penetration of cold air into the greenhouse.
The gaps between the frames and the frame are sealed with mounting foam
10. Building a roof. The frame of a gable roof consists of two vertical racks of gables, a ridge and rafter legs on both sides of it. First of all, racks are installed, then a beam is thrown from one rack to another - it will play the role of a skate. Rafters are attached to it.
For greenhouses of great length, you need to install additional racks

Old windows, which today are often replaced with double-glazed windows enclosed in plastic, are usually sent to the scrap later. But they can be given a second life by using greenhouses in the construction. Especially when there is not enough money for a factory product made of polycarbonate, for example, and a profile. And here at hand is solid, safe for plants and, most importantly, free material. Window glass has sufficient strength and perfectly transmits light, which is important for plant life.

Getting old frames is not difficult, especially when you need only a few for a small greenhouse. It is good if they were preserved after the dismantling of the old building or replacement with double-glazed windows. As a last resort, required amount old frames can be asked from friends and neighbors who performed overhaul housing, or negotiate with installers plastic windows who simply take their dismantled products to a landfill.

From the material obtained, you can assemble the main parts of the greenhouse. This process is creative. You will have to delve into the nuances of the foundation device for the intended design and determine the location of each window frame in it. If there are problems with fitting the constituent elements of the structure, pieces of polycarbonate, mounting foam and screws, sealant and ordinary cement can come to the rescue.

In general, there are three main options for assembling a greenhouse from old windows:

Sewing the bottom of the frame wooden planks. This will ensure that when watering plants or digging the soil, the glass of the greenhouse will remain intact.
Glaze the finished frame with material taken from old windows. Then the greenhouse will look full, and the frames can be used at your discretion.
Dock window frames into a single structure. If they are of different sizes, you will have to be creative. To begin with, draw up a plan for placing frames in the structure so that the structure looks harmonious.

Advantages of greenhouses from old windows

Due to the availability of material and simple assembly, even a beginner in this business can make a greenhouse out of window frames with his own hands.

The advantages of such a structure "on the face":

Wood is strong enough good care frames made from it will last more than one year. Quality processing wooden products makes them immune to the influence of precipitation and sunlight.
The glass of the windows, in addition to its good ability to transmit light, qualitatively protects the interior of the greenhouse from the outside cold air.
The assembly of the structure from window frames attracts many because in such a greenhouse it is convenient to carry out ventilation through any window.

In addition to all of the above, there are many more positive aspects in the construction and use of such a structure:

Economy and practicality. They are due to the fact that at low costs for the purchase of consumables, you can get a ready-made, protected from external influences greenhouse. Most often, old frames are covered with paint and not even one layer.
Environmental Safety. wood like natural material harmoniously fits into the interior of the greenhouse.
Durability. It depends on the type of wood that was used in the manufacture of the frame. The hardiest species are oak and larch. A greenhouse with a wooden frame can last an average of 5 years. However, this period varies depending on the care of the building and climate zone its location.
Heat capacity. Window frames perfectly retain the accumulated heat. Passing freely through them sunlight contributes to the warming of the greenhouse in a natural way.
Quality lighting. Thanks to the high light transmission window glass the space of the greenhouse is not illuminated worse than beds outdoors. Harmful to some plants, ultraviolet radiation can be eliminated by sticking a tinted film on the glass from the inside of the greenhouse.
High strength wood. This quality is indispensable for the stability of the window frame greenhouse. It can be increased by impregnating products with modern preparations.

Advice! If there are no glasses in the frames assembled for construction, cellular polycarbonate or, in the worst case, plastic film can be successfully used instead.

Technology for mounting a greenhouse from window frames

The structure of the greenhouse from frames includes a support, a frame and a cover. Consider the phased manufacture of each of these elements.

Preparing to build a greenhouse

This stage of work includes the choice of a place for the structure, its design, preparation of materials and the necessary tools.

Before you make a greenhouse out of window frames, you need to make it detailed drawing with the frame layout, especially if they different sizes. Each frame will need to be measured first. The total width of all products determines the length of the greenhouse. To make it symmetrical, it is recommended to select frames of the same height.

The width of the building should be chosen in accordance with the planned dimensions of the beds and passages, which are convenient in terms of walking and passing the household cart. The width of the beds in the greenhouse is usually 1 m.

After compiling detailed drawing it will be easy to calculate expendable materials necessary for the construction of the greenhouse: fasteners, key parts, fittings, etc.

When the dimensions of the future greenhouse have already been determined, you need to choose a place to place it. The functionality of the structure will depend on how correctly this is done. It needs a flat, well-lit area. There should be no objects near the greenhouse that can shade it: tall trees, a fence, other buildings, etc. In addition, such structures are not recommended to be located in the path of the prevailing winds. AT winter period years it will reduce heat loss greenhouse. Ideally, the longitudinal axis of the greenhouse should be oriented from north to south.

The soil for a structure made of old windows should not be damp and strong, since the mass of such greenhouses is very significant, and excess moisture for wooden structure destructive. A successful soil structure for greenhouse farming should consist of a lower sandy layer and an upper layer of fertile chernozem.

If the soil on the site is clay, the place for the construction of the greenhouse must be covered with gravel, on top of it make a pillow with a thickness of at least 100 mm from sand, tamp it down and ennoble fertile soil. For such a "pie", you first need to remove from the entire building area upper layer soil to a depth of 30-40 cm.

The level of occurrence is of great importance ground water. For a greenhouse, it must be at least one and a half meters down. Raw soil for the construction of such structures is not suitable.

Treatment of old windows

If you plan to build a greenhouse from old window frames, they should be prepared properly. Previously, the material must be carefully examined for damage. To facilitate this and subsequent work from the frames, it is required to remove the glass and all fittings - latches, handles, etc. After that, the surface of the products must be cleaned from paint to wood. If rotten elements are found, they must be replaced with new ones.

Cleaned frames must be treated with an antiseptic, which will protect the structure from dampness, mice and insects in the future.

The presence of small cracks is easily corrected with a special putty for wood. After it dries, problem areas should be sanded with sandpaper. Then the prepared surface of the frames must be painted with enamel for outdoor use. Such paint is not afraid of moisture and frost.

The height of the walls of the future greenhouse from the frames should be planned at least 1.7-1.8 m. The total height of the structure depends on the slope of the roof slopes. For a film coating, it must be greater than for a polycarbonate or glass coating.

Building a foundation for a greenhouse from windows

A stationary frame structure, which is not dismantled for the winter and can serve 3-5 seasons, has a solid weight and therefore requires a strong foundation. Another need for its construction is the small height of the window frames, it averages 1.5 m. It is not enough for comfortable movement inside the greenhouse. Therefore, two or three dozen centimeters missing to the norm can be built up with foundation walls. Another advantage of this solution is the exclusion of direct contact between the wood of the bottom of the frame and the ground. This means that the window frames of the greenhouse will rot less.

Having decided on the desired height of the structure, it is easy to calculate the vertical size of the above-ground part of its support. The total height of the frames and walls of the foundation should allow you to move around the greenhouse without bending over.

The most reliable is the concrete strip foundation. After choosing a place and laying out a site for construction along its perimeter, you need to dig a trench 50-70 cm deep, depending on the level of soil freezing. Standard Width trenches - 15-20 cm. The large depth of the excavation will make the structure frost-proof. This will enable early planting in early spring.

The bottom of the trench must be covered with rubble, and on top of it create sand cushion 10 cm thick. Then it must be impregnated with liquid concrete, fill the trench with stones and pour the remaining mixture into it, filling the recess to the level of the soil surface.

The next day, you need to install a panel formwork to raise the walls of the foundation to the required height. Usually it is 15-25 cm. Stones or reinforcement can be laid in the formwork, which will make the above-ground part of the support under the greenhouse stronger. After that, everything should be poured with concrete and left for 28 days for it to completely solidify.

You can ignore the formwork device by making the above-ground part of the support from a wooden beam with a section of 150x150 mm. To obtain an additional 30 cm of greenhouse height, eight bars must be placed in pairs on top of each other. Before installation, they should be impregnated with used car oil. Between themselves, the bars must be connected with brackets, and the end joints of the structure should be strengthened with metal corners. The frame from the foundation must be separated with roofing felt waterproofing.

To build the foundation of a miniature greenhouse, it will be enough to dig a trench 30 cm deep, fill it first with rubble, then sand, and then immediately mount the supporting frame from the bar from above. The downside of this solution is that such a greenhouse can freeze in winter.

Installation of a frame for a greenhouse from window frames

It consists of racks and two harnesses - upper and lower. For strapping, you can use metal corners or timber and boards. The horizontal lower trim of steel angles should be performed when pouring the upper part of the foundation for strong connection metal parts with support. The side racks of the structure in this case must be made from the same corners, then welded or bolted to the bottom trim. The height of the top trim must be determined with great care. It is important that the wooden frames do not suddenly end up behind her line - higher or lower.

For the manufacture of wooden frame greenhouses will need a beam with a section of 100x100 mm, eight boards 40 mm thick, four side racks and several intermediate ones. Their number depends on the number of windows that need to be installed. For example, if the frame consists of four frames in length and two frames in width, three racks will be needed on each of its sides and one on the end.

The size of the cross-section of the beam for the racks must be at least 50x50 mm. All connections wooden parts the frame must be made with metal corners, pre-drilling seats for screws in the wood. It is desirable to protect steel parts from rust with anti-corrosion enamel.

The frame assembly should be carried out in the following order:

Attach to foundation anchor bolts timber 100x100 mm. It will serve as the basis for the further installation of the frame.
Install the side racks, checking their verticality with a building level.
Performing a half-tree cut at the junctions, use nails to fix the boards that form the lower trim of the greenhouse frame.
Install intermediate posts. The distance between them should correspond to the width of the window.
Run the top strapping with boards on the racks.
To protect against rot and insect invasion, the frame racks must be treated with an antiseptic.

It is convenient to knock down a gable roof frame below on the ground, and then install it on the walls of the structure. The central risers, which serve as a support for the roof, are recommended to be made of a more powerful beam than the one that will be used for the rest of the roof elements. For rafters and ridge, you can use a beam with a section of 50x50 mm. Intermediate rafters of the roof frame can be made from a thick board instead of timber. The distance between them usually corresponds to the width of the frames.

Greenhouse cover device

The coating of such a greenhouse is recommended to be made of polycarbonate or polyethylene film. Frames are less suitable for this. The fact is that they greatly increase the weight of the structure, and it is inconvenient to fix glass on the roof slopes. Another thing is plastic or film. They can be easily removed for the winter. And the glazed frames, which are difficult to disassemble, will accumulate snow caps in winter, creating an additional load and thereby shortening the life of the wooden frame of the greenhouse.

For a film coating of a window frame structure, the slope of the roof slopes must be large. This is useful so that rain water does not linger on the film when it is deflected and flows down well. Polycarbonate sheets are more rigid than film. Therefore, when they are used for covering, the slope of the roof of the greenhouse may be less than in the previous case.

Sheets cellular polycarbonate need to be fixed on the rafters and gables using bolts with wide washers. To protect the walls of the greenhouse from rainwater, it is necessary to leave roof overhangs, which should protrude beyond the side enclosing structures by 150-200 mm.

It is convenient to mount the film on the frame simultaneously with different sides. Therefore, this operation is best performed by two people, easily controlling the amount of material tension. For its fastening, thin wooden slats are suitable, which, after pressing the film, must be fixed with nails on the roof frame.

In order to minimize the sagging of the film on the greenhouse, it is recommended to lay the cover on a wire mesh frame stretched between the roof rafters.

Fastening window frames to the frame

After making the roof of the greenhouse, window frames can be installed in its frame. The fixation of these elements of the structure should be carried out with its outer side with screws. The gaps between the frames must be filled with mounting foam, and then closed with thin strips for maximum tightness.

Glasses in frames must be laid on a sealing compound, and then fixed with glazing beads. In this case, the movement of air through the closed frame will be excluded.

When mounting the frames, it is necessary to check the condition of the vents. They must not be skewed. If necessary, they must be corrected. To hold the vents in the closed position, hooks must be nailed. In addition, you should come up with a latch that holds them open.

Greenhouse doors should be installed at the end of the structure. If it is narrow, then its end can be left without frames at all - they will not fit there. It will be easier if in this case the entire end, except for the doorway, is sheathed with a film.

The door frame must be made of timber. Door leaf it can be hung on using the hinges taken out of the window frames. After that, it remains to fill the fertile layer of earth into the greenhouse, make beds and start planting.

How to make a greenhouse from window frames - look at the video:

As you can see, an environmentally friendly and convenient greenhouse from window frames can be built independently for mere pennies. Think about this opportunity when you are going to change the old windows in your home for new modern double-glazed windows. Good luck!

Mastery is not about using expensive materials and tools for ennobling your summer cottage, and in the opportunity to use with maximum benefit all available, and, most importantly, free items for the same purposes. A prime example such a profitable investment of time and effort is the construction of a greenhouse from old unnecessary window frames. There should be no problems with the availability of this material - almost everyone changed windows in the house, and prudent summer residents must have kept the old window frames.

How to start building a greenhouse

First of all, it is necessary to estimate the number building material, in our case, these are glass frames. Sketch a rough drawing of the greenhouse to determine its design. Having learned the area of \u200b\u200bthe future greenhouse, it is necessary to determine its location on suburban area. The installation site should be chosen so that the walls of the greenhouse are at least 2 m away from the nearest structures.

Important: be sure to take care of hitting direct sun rays in a greenhouse, this means it should not be with sunny side no tall buildings, no trees or other vegetation.

Next preparatory stage for the construction of the greenhouse there will be a fee necessary tools and materials. In addition to the glass frames themselves, you will need:

Polyethylene film
Cement, sand, water
Self-tapping screws, nails
sealant
wooden planks

From tool:

Hammer, pliers, wire cutters
Shovel, shuffle, trowel
Drill, screwdriver
Jigsaw or hacksaw

Can be used and additional tool and building materials, it all depends on the frame material, the type of foundation, roof construction technology and other conditions.

Foundation pouring

Naturally, much less requirements are imposed on the foundation for a greenhouse than on the foundation of a house or garage. Here, the load on the base is only due to the own weight of the frames, which is very small. Another thing is that the composition of the soil in the garden may be too porous and soft, in which case the foundation will have to be slightly strengthened.

The process of pouring the foundation includes the following steps:

Digging a trench around the perimeter of the greenhouse. Width and depth are selected depending on the characteristics of the soil, but a depth of more than half a meter is rarely required.
Formwork production. The ground part of the future foundation is lined with boards, it can also be unedged, the main thing is that there should be a flat plane on both sides
Throw stones, bricks, scrap metal and other hard materials on the bottom of the trench to save cement mortar.
Cook standard cement mortar and pour the foundation to the top of the formwork
After the cement has completely dried (1 - 2 weeks), remove the formwork and isolate the foundation surface with roofing material or other waterproofing materials

Tip: the use of reinforcement or piles in the manufacture of a foundation for a greenhouse is not rational, so do not waste money and time on excessively strengthening the foundation

Frame erection

The next stage in the construction of a greenhouse from old window frames will be the construction of a frame, to which the frames will subsequently be attached. Depending on the availability of free or readily available material, you can make the frame either from wooden beams or from metal corners or pipes.

Wooden frame

The wooden frame is made of bars measuring 40x60 mm for pillars and 30x30 for lintels. Bars are installed in 4 corners and connected to each other with the same bars, for greater structural strength, the joints can be strengthened with metal corners. The height of the pillars is selected depending on the size of the window frames used.

Through a gap equal to the width of the frame, jumpers are mounted between the lower and upper bars. Windows will then be attached to them. At this stage of construction, it is worth taking care of the future roof. After the walls are upholstered with window frames, it will be extremely inconvenient to mount truss system. Therefore, it is necessary to build a frame under roofing, in the role of which the same frames, plastic film and polycarbonate sheets can act.

Important: Use only dry bars. If they do not dry out enough, then during the operation of the greenhouse, the tree will begin to warp, which will lead to cracking of glass windows.

Metal carcass

A frame made of a metal corner or profile pipes is much more efficient than wooden bars. It will last much longer, because it does not rot under the influence of moisture, will not deform, and can withstand heavy loads.

For the production of a greenhouse frame, you can use corners measuring 32x32 mm or profile pipes 40x20 or 60x40 mm. They are connected to each other according to the same principle as wooden beams, i.e. with a step of jumpers equal to the width of the frame. The connection can be made by welding or self-tapping screws.

Preparing to install frames

Old window frames should be inspected for rotten or cracked areas. If necessary, replace low-quality elements or do not use this frame at all.

Each old greenhouse window frame must go through the following pre-treatment procedure:

All unnecessary elements are removed: latches, hooks, handles, loops, etc.
If the condition of the old coating is unsatisfactory, it is completely torn off
Carefully remove glass
Treat wood with antiseptic substances
Coat the frames with varnish or paint so that they do not rot when exposed to moisture.

wall construction

The method of erecting the walls of the greenhouse from old window frames depends on the material of the frame. common for wooden and metal version the following requirements for the installation of frames remain:

Avoid gaps between adjacent frames and frame
Strong connection with nails or self-tapping screws
Attaching frames to each other for added strength
Sealing holes and crevices

If the frame is made of wooden blocks, old window frames can be fastened with nails or wood screws. The size of the hardware is selected depending on the thickness of the frame itself, but their length must be at least twice as large.

If the frames are thick enough, you can pre-drill holes at the attachment points. After that, the frame is applied to the frame and fastened with a screwdriver or hammer.

Important: make sure that the edge of each frame goes exactly to the middle of the vertical beam.

When installing a greenhouse from old window frames to metal base it will take more skill and effort than when installing them on wooden bars. Self-tapping screws or bolts are used as fasteners. The length is selected depending on the thickness of the frame.

Important: pre-drill holes in the corners at the attachment points.

Greenhouse roof installation

The roof of the greenhouse can also be made from old window frames or covered with plastic wrap, it is also possible to install a greenhouse with polycarbonate panels. When stretching the film, it is necessary to build a sufficiently frequent crate so that the film does not sag and accumulate rain water. In this case, it is better to make a gable roof on the greenhouse with an inclination angle of more than 30 degrees. The roof frame of the greenhouse is covered with a film from above so that the junction of the strips is not along the greenhouse, but across. An overlap of about 20-40 cm is required so that water does not flow. For greater tightness, you can use glue or tape. After covering the greenhouse with a film, it is attached using thin strips nailed to the roof frame, thereby pressing the film.

For any avid summer resident or suburban resident, a greenhouse is a necessary thing. The modern market offers a huge variety of materials for its construction. But by choosing inexpensive option, you will have to collect by the next season new greenhouse because it is short lived. And high-quality raw materials, for example, polycarbonate or metal-plastic, are not always affordable. But there is a way to solve this problem. Modern lovers of garden beds build greenhouses from old double-glazed windows. It turns out cheap and reliable. Mounting a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands is not difficult at all. Minimum carpentry skills will be enough.

Pros and cons of greenhouses from window frames

The undoubted advantage of such a material is that it can be built very quickly. Almost anyone can do the job. Another advantage of a window greenhouse is that it is budget-friendly, but not inferior in quality to greenhouses made of expensive materials. It is airtight and transmits light well, the windows can be opened for ventilation.

The disadvantages are inherent in those greenhouses that are made of wooden frames with glass. Every year such a structure requires repair, due to the fact that the tree is drying out. In addition, you need to be very careful with this design. Glass is a fragile material that loses its aesthetics over time. appearance. It is necessary to constantly wash the windows so that the light easily penetrates into the room. Moreover, such a design requires the presence of concrete base.

The foundation is needed for several reasons:

wooden frames in contact with the ground can quickly rot;
the soil tends to "move", which can damage fragile glass.

In addition, the base will slightly raise the ceiling of the future greenhouse, and it will be much more convenient to be in it.

Photo gallery: homemade double-glazed greenhouses

Greenhouse from old windows looks very aesthetically pleasing
Greenhouse from plastic windows allows you to create optimal conditions for plants
Greenhouse from old windows is inexpensive
You can always further decorate the greenhouse
Greenhouse from old windows can be small and large
Installation of a greenhouse from window frames will not take much time

Step-by-step instructions for installing a greenhouse from window frames

All work on the installation of a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands consists of several stages. It is very important to follow their order.

Design

Most likely, all greenhouse frames will be of different sizes, so standard design does not apply in this case. In order for the walls to turn out to be even, you will first have to assemble a mosaic of window frames on the ground. After that, you need to measure the resulting modules and write them down. Make a diagram on paper where you mark the location of all the frames. Design the foundation, frame and roof of the greenhouse separately.

Foundation

The design itself is not at all heavy, so a strip base will be enough for it. For its installation you need:

Drive pegs around the perimeter of the greenhouse and stretch a rope between them.
Dig a trench 35–40 cm wide and deep.
Level the bottom, compact it, cover it with waterproofing, for example, roofing material.
Pour a 5-7 cm layer of sand, moisten it, level it and compact it.
Lay a layer of medium fraction gravel.
Mount the formwork so that the height of the concrete base above the ground rises at least 40 cm.
Lay a reinforcing net (with a reinforcement cross section of 8 mm or more).
Do cement-sand mixture in a ratio of 1: 3 and pour it.
In order to avoid the formation of air pockets, compact the cement with a metal rod.
Check foundation level.
Wait until the concrete hardens. In this case, the first few days it needs to be moistened and covered with polyethylene. When everything is set, you can dismantle the formwork.

Important! You can start building the foundation knowing the exact dimensions of the future greenhouse, otherwise you risk making the base too small or large.

For the construction of a greenhouse, you can also make a columnar foundation.

Preparatory work

First of all, you need to get enough frames. The windows of your apartment alone are definitely not enough. Alternatively, you can contact a window replacement company. For a symbolic price, they will sell the number of frames that you need.

Calculating the required amount of material is quite simple. By simple mathematical operations of addition and subtraction, you can find out the missing amount. Subtract the material you already have from the total perimeter of the greenhouse, and there will be an area that is missing. Future greenhouse walls need pre-treatment:

Remove all fittings from the frames (hinges, handles, etc.).
Remove a layer of old paint from them. It can be done grinder, scraper or other similar tool.
Treat the wood with an anti-rot compound and paint.
In order not to damage the glass when working with a hammer, dismantle them for a while.
Treat all holes (windows) as much as possible silicone sealant. Leave a few for ventilation.

Path between beds and fence

In greenhouses it is advisable to build good track between the beds. To create it, materials such as brick, paving slabs, paving stones are suitable. They need to be laid on a sand cushion in a small trench. You can use sand and gravel flooring as a path.

Often used as guardrails polymer tapes, in which there are plastic rods dug into the ground. They will last a long time, are easy to install, do not rot, and are easy to clean. But you can use bricks, slate or wooden boards.

Installing the frame is very easy:

To the roofing material laid on the foundation, it is necessary to attach a strapping of beams with anchors. Fasten all elements with steel corners.
Install vertical supports (corner and intermediate).
Mount temporary fixation until the top trim is made.
Make the top harness and remove the temporary elements.
Build a gable roof frame. To do this, you need to install 2 vertical racks, horse and rafter legs. Fix all elements with self-tapping screws and steel corners.
Attach the frames to the frame through the holes that were used when installing the windows in the apartment.

If the roof is made of window frames, then you need to start laying it first to avoid damage. glass walls, in case the tool is dropped.

Can be done and combined option greenhouses. For example, to drive the walls out of the window frames, and cover the roof with other material (polycarbonate, polyethylene).

Video: do-it-yourself greenhouse construction

If you correctly plan and build such a greenhouse, then you will get a durable, good, bright and spacious place for growing vegetables. Without spending a lot of money and effort, your greenhouse will look no worse than expensive finished structures.

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