DIY frame greenhouse step by step. Greenhouse covering device

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

Get old frames special labor does not amount to, especially when a small greenhouse only needs a few of them. It's good if they are preserved after disassembly old building or replacement with double-glazed windows. As a last resort, required quantity You can ask for old frames from friends and neighbors who have carried out major home renovations, or negotiate with installers plastic windows, who simply take their dismantling products to a landfill.

From the resulting material you can assemble the main parts of the greenhouse. This process is creative. You will have to delve into the nuances of constructing the foundation for the planned structure and determine the location of each window frame in it. If there are problems with fit constituent elements constructions, pieces of polycarbonate, polyurethane 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:

Cover the bottom of the frame wooden planks. This will guarantee that when watering the plants or digging up 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 complete, and the frames can be used at your discretion.
Join window frames into a single structure. If they are different sizes, you will have to get creative. To begin with, draw up a plan for placing frames in the structure so that the structure looks harmonious.

Advantages of greenhouses made from old windows

Due to the availability of the material and simple assembly, make your own greenhouse from window frames even a beginner in this matter can do it.

The advantages of such a structure are obvious:

The wood is quite durable, with good care frames made from it will last for many years. High-quality processing wooden products makes them invulnerable to the effects of precipitation and sunlight.
Window glass, in addition to good light transmittance, provides high quality protection interior space greenhouses from outside cold air.
Assembling a structure from window frames attracts many people because in such a greenhouse it is convenient to ventilate 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:

Economical and practical. They are due to the fact that at low costs for the purchase of consumables, you can end up with a ready-made product protected from external influences greenhouse Most often, old frames are covered with paint and not even just one layer.
Environmental safety. Wood like natural material fits harmoniously into the interior space of the greenhouse.
Durability. It depends on the type of wood that was used to make the frame. The hardiest species are oak and larch. A greenhouse with a wooden frame can last on average 5 years. However, this period varies depending on the maintenance of the building and climate zone its location.
Heat capacity. Window frames perfectly retain accumulated heat. Passing through them unhindered sunlight Helps warm up the greenhouse naturally.
High quality lighting. Thanks to high light transmittance window glass the greenhouse space is illuminated no worse than the beds on outdoors. Harmful to some plants ultraviolet radiation can be eliminated by gluing tinted film to the glass from the inside of the greenhouse.
High strength wood. This quality is indispensable for the stability of a greenhouse made from window frames. It can be increased by impregnating products with modern drugs.

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

Technology for installing a greenhouse from window frames

The structure of a frame greenhouse includes the support, frame and cover. Let's consider step-by-step production each of these elements.

Preparing to build a greenhouse

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

Before you make a greenhouse from window frames, you need to compose 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 selected in accordance with the planned dimensions of the beds and passages, convenient for walking and the passage of a utility cart. The width of the bed in a greenhouse is usually 1 m.

After drawing up a detailed drawing it will be easy to calculate consumables necessary for the construction of a 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 could shade it: tall trees, fence, other buildings, etc. In addition, such structures are not recommended to be located in the path of prevailing winds. IN winter period year, this will reduce the heat loss of the greenhouse. Ideally longitudinal axis greenhouses should be oriented from north to south.

The soil for a structure made from old windows should not be damp and durable, since the mass of such greenhouses is very significant, and excess moisture is detrimental to a wooden structure. Lucky for greenhouse farming the soil structure should consist of a lower sandy layer and an upper layer of fertile black soil.

If the soil on the site is clay, the place to build the greenhouse should be filled with gravel, a cushion of at least 100 mm thick made of sand should be made on top of it, compacted and enriched with fertile soil. For such a “pie”, you first need to remove top layer soil to a depth of 30-40 cm.

The level of groundwater is of great importance. For a greenhouse it should be at least one and a half meters down. Wet soil is not suitable for the construction of such structures.

Treatment of old windows

If you plan to build a greenhouse from old window frames, they should be prepared properly. The material must first be carefully examined for damage. To facilitate this and subsequent work, it is necessary to remove the glass and all fittings from the frames - latches, handles, etc. After this, 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 can be easily corrected with a special putty for wood. After it dries, problem areas need to be sanded. sandpaper. Then the prepared surface of the frames must be painted with enamel for exterior use. This paint is not afraid of moisture and frost.

The height of the walls of the future frame greenhouse 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 larger than for a polycarbonate or glass coating.

Construction of a foundation for a greenhouse using windows

A stationary frame structure, which is not dismantled for the winter and can last 3-5 seasons, has a significant weight and therefore requires a strong foundation. Another necessity for its construction is the small height of the window frames; on average it is 1.5 m. It is not enough for comfortable movement inside the greenhouse. Therefore, the two to three dozen centimeters missing to the norm can be built up with foundation walls. Another advantage of this solution is the elimination of direct contact of the wood of the bottom of the frame with 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 overall height of the frames and foundation walls should allow you to move around the greenhouse without bending over.

Concrete is considered the most reliable strip foundation. After choosing a location and laying out the construction site along its perimeter, you need to dig a trench 50-70 cm deep, depending on the level of soil freezing. The standard trench width is 15-20 cm. A large excavation depth will make the structure frost-free. This will provide an opportunity for early planting in early spring.

The bottom of the trench must be filled with crushed stone, and a sand cushion 10 cm thick must be created on top of it. Then it must be saturated with liquid concrete, the trench must be filled with stones and the remaining mixture must be poured into it, filling the excavation to the level of the ground surface.

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

You can ignore the formwork, 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 soaked with used automobile oil. The bars must be connected to each other with staples, and the end joints of the structure must be strengthened metal corners. The frame must be separated from the foundation using roofing felt waterproofing.

To construct the foundation of a miniature greenhouse, it will be enough to dig a trench 30 cm deep, fill it first with crushed stone, then sand, and then immediately mount a supporting frame made of timber on top. The disadvantage 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 trims - upper and lower. For strapping, you can use metal corners or timber and boards. Horizontal bottom piping from steel angles should be performed when pouring the upper part of the foundation to firmly connect the metal parts to the support. In this case, the side posts of the structure must be made from the same corners, then welded or fixed with bolted connections on the lower trim. The height of the top trim must be determined with special care. It is important that the wooden frames do not suddenly appear beyond its line - above or below.

For making wooden frame The greenhouse will require timber with a cross section of 100x100 mm, eight boards 40 mm thick, four side posts 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 in width, you will need three racks on each of its sides and one on the end.

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

The frame should be assembled in the following order:

Attach 100x100 mm timber to the foundation with anchor bolts. It will serve as the basis for further installation of the frame.
Install the side posts, checking their verticality with a building level.
When making half-wood cuts at the joints, use nails to secure the boards that form the bottom frame of the greenhouse frame.
Install intermediate posts. The distance between them should correspond to the width of the window.
Make the top frame with boards along the racks.
To protect against rot and insect invasion, the frame posts must be treated with an antiseptic.

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

Greenhouse covering device

It is recommended to make the covering of such a greenhouse from 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 attach glass to the roof slopes. Another thing is plastic or film. They can be easily removed for the winter. And glazed frames, which are difficult to disassemble, will accumulate snow caps, creating additional load and thereby shortening the service life of the wooden frame of the greenhouse.

To film a structure made from window frames, the slope of the roof slopes must be large. This is useful so that water from rain does not linger on the film when it bends and flows down well. Polycarbonate sheets have greater rigidity than film. Therefore, when using them for covering, the slope of the greenhouse roof may be less than in the previous case.

Sheets of cellular polycarbonate must be fixed to the rafters and gables using bolts with wide washers. To protect the walls of the greenhouse from rainwater, it is necessary to leave the 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, it is better to perform this operation together, easily controlling the amount of tension in the material. To attach it, thin wooden slats, which, after pressing the film, must be secured with nails to the roof frame.

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

Fastening window frames to the frame

After making the greenhouse roof, you can install window frames in its frame. These elements of the structure should be fixed from the outside using screws. Gaps between frames need to be filled polyurethane foam, and then cover it with thin strips for maximum tightness.

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

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

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 the doorway, is covered with film.

The door frame must be made of timber. The door leaf can be hung on it using hinges removed from the window frames. After this, all that remains is to fill the greenhouse with a fertile layer of soil, make beds and start planting plants.

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

As you can see, you can build an environmentally friendly and convenient greenhouse from window frames yourself for mere pennies. Think about this opportunity when you are planning to replace the old windows in your home with new ones. modern double glazed windows. Good luck!

The market for modern greenhouses is quite diverse. Here you can find buildings of various sizes and shapes to suit every taste and budget. However, the cost of reliable, durable structures is quite high, and budget products are used for one or two seasons, after which neither the frame elements nor the coating can be restored.

An alternative is to build a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands. This way out of the situation does not require excessive financial costs. All you need is minimal carpentry skills and a little time. This article provides detailed step by step instructions how to build a greenhouse from old window frames.

Calculation of the number of frames and their preparation

Even if all the windows in the apartment were replaced, this number of window frames is not enough to build a greenhouse with your own hands from scrap materials. If you wait for an opportunity and don’t want to stock up on old windows, you can contact a company that installs metal-plastic structures. Often, when replacing, owners throw away or give away old windows. By making an agreement with expert installers, you can get hold of excellent building materials for a nominal fee.

Making a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands on video finished design and ways to insulate it:

You can find out the required number of windows from a simple calculation by summing up the width of all available window frames and subtracting them from the perimeter of the greenhouse. There are also special on-line programs that will help count the number of all building materials and fastening elements for the greenhouse according to the specified dimensions. There you can also print detailed drawings indicating key sizes. An example of such a site with free programs calculation: http://www.zhitov.ru/

Material for the greenhouse is being prepared from window frames, photos of the expected placement of different-sized elements in the wall

Before making a greenhouse from old window frames, they need to be prepared. Otherwise, the entire structure will be short-lived. Process pre-treatment boils down to this:

All fittings that will not be used are removed: hinges, latches, handles;
Scraper, sander or construction hairdryer and use a spatula to remove all the old paint;
The exposed wood is coated with antiseptic primers to prevent rot, mold, and beetle damage. To make the building more aesthetically pleasing, it can be painted;

Construction of an aesthetic greenhouse from window frames with your own hands, photo of a painted structure from the same type of elements

If the frame is assembled using nails and a hammer, they must be dismantled to preserve the glass.

Important! Even if the master is confident in his accuracy, the glass can still be damaged. In progress long-term operation microcracks appear on them, which will burst from vibration load when driving nails into the window frame or drilling screws.

All vents not used in the ventilation system must be secured with screws and filled with silicone sealant.

Foundation structure

To build a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands, several lightweight bases are suitable. Small buildings may be limited to a wooden foundation.

Wooden grillage on a strip foundation

The material can be 10x15 cm timber or ordinary railway sleepers. The use of sleepers is preferable, since they are treated with ozokerite to prevent rotting. It is recommended to treat ordinary wood with antiseptics and wrap it in roofing material.

Important! You can use folk recipe effective antiseptic coating. Used machine oil is poured into the molten resin. In proportions 1:1. The mixture is treated without allowing it to cool wooden elements grillage

A trench 15-20 cm deep is dug in the ground;
A 10-15 cm layer of crushed stone is poured onto the bottom and compacted;
Bricks are laid on the resulting sealing pad in 2-3 rows, to the top of the trench, observing the dressing rules;
It's all pouring in cement-sand mixture flush with the edges of the trench;
After hardening (1.5-2 weeks), 2 layers of roofing felt are laid on the surface and a grillage of wood is installed;
Window frames can be attached directly to the beams.

Installation of a greenhouse from frames with your own hands, photo of attaching windows to a wooden foundation

Strip foundation with embedded elements

The stages of work on installing a strip bored foundation are carried out in the following sequence:

Digging a trench 30-40 cm deep (below the soil freezing level);
Construction of a sand and gravel cushion 10-15 cm thick;
Formwork installation. Old boards laid along the edges of the trench will do.

Important! It is advisable to lay polyethylene film in two layers on top of the formwork boards. This will help you quickly remove the boards and use them for other work, since the concrete will not stick to the wood. This will also protect the foundation itself from drawing moisture from the soil.

Installation of embedded elements. Their role is played by corners or other metal profiles, which are installed along the edges of the frame.
The formwork is backfilled with rubble stone, brick fragments, etc.
Filling with cement-sand mixture.

It should be noted that this type the foundation is much stronger. It should be used for large greenhouses or for tall structures with significant windage.

Do-it-yourself homemade greenhouse from window frames, in the photo there is a structure with a gable roof and a brick base

Laying paths and organizing fences

When building a greenhouse from window frames, it is advisable to create a dense path between the beds. Suitable material:

Piece elements: paving stones, paving slabs, brick, natural stone. All of them are placed in a shallow trench 10-15 cm, with a cushion of compacted sand 5-7 cm.
Backfill materials: gravel, sand. They are poured into a shallow recess 5-10 cm level with its edges and compacted thoroughly. In this case, it is recommended to moisten the sand with water.
Wood mulch belongs to the bulk decorative materials and, although it has high aesthetic values, it is too short-lived and quickly loses its elegant appearance due to frequent use. appearance.

Do-it-yourself diagram of entrances for a greenhouse made from window frames, drawings for placing paths and beds with optimal sizes

Flat and corrugated asbestos-cement slate, embedded bricks, stones, clinker tiles, and boards are used as fencing for beds. Recently, preference has been given to special polymer tapes with plastic rods for fastening in the ground. They have a number of advantages over classic cladding materials:

Do not rot;
They are not overgrown with moss;
Do not absorb moisture;
Easy to clean;
Durable;
You can quickly change the configuration of the beds.

Important! The optimal track depth is 15 cm. It gives maximum comfort during processing low growing plants, seedlings and soil with your own hands.

Frame installation

The construction of a greenhouse body from frames can be carried out in two ways. Frameless, when the vast majority of window frames have identical dimensions. Assembling a greenhouse from frames with your own hands, the video describes in detail the process of assembling the frame:

Do-it-yourself partially assembled greenhouse from window frames using the frameless method

It is allowed only if in the region where you need to build a greenhouse from window frames there is insignificant wind load, the design itself has small sizes. The window frames themselves are the same height. Installation is carried out directly in wooden base screws or nails and between window frames exclusively with screws.

At frame construction Strip foundations with embedded elements are widely used, which are used as anchors for the main frame posts. In order to make a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands sufficiently resistant, installation in three levels of horizontal piping is practiced. The first goes along the grillage of the strip foundation, the second at a height of 1.5-1.7 m. This is due to the height of the window frames used. The third level of horizontal piping is mounted at a height of 2-2.2 m.

Three levels of frame strapping, used if windows have unequal sizes

The window frames can be fastened to the frame directly into the timber or using overhead parts. This will make it possible to quickly replace the window if it breaks.

Method for fixing a homemade greenhouse from old window frames

There are different types of greenhouse frames. The main load-bearing elements can be not only wooden or metal, but also made of brick (stone) or concrete pillars. The strength they impart to the spatial structure of the greenhouse is clearly unnecessary, so they are more of a decorative character.

The supporting frame of a homemade greenhouse is made of brick columns with built-in wooden windows between them

Conclusions

With proper planning and the use of various available materials, the cost of a greenhouse made from old windows will be simply meager. And the benefits it brings, as well as the appearance of the structure, will be no worse than those of elite factory models. Making a greenhouse with your own hands from scrap materials, the video will demonstrate some installation features:

We are building a greenhouse with our own hands from old window frames: which frames to choose - wooden or plastic?

Window frames have undoubted advantages compared to other materials. First of all, this strength of window frames.

A wooden frame will have to be built in any case, but the frames fastened together will take part of the mechanical load on themselves, and the resulting structure will be stronger than wire arches or pine poles, from which greenhouse frames are most often made ( but no stronger than factory galvanized steel frames).

Additional advantage appears at such a greenhouse, if the windows can open. In this way it is very easy to regulate the temperature inside in late spring and summer, when on a sunny day in a closed greenhouse the temperature can reach a disastrous 60 degrees.

Opening and closing required windows,you can adjust the temperature even in separate parts greenhouse, if it is large enough.

Double glass provides good thermal insulation in conditions where there are no cracks through which heat could escape and cold wind could blow.

Another plus - durability. Glass does not decompose in the sun like plastic film, and if for some reason it breaks, it is easy to replace, especially for wooden frames.

Finally, price. If you change the windows yourself, then you get the material for the greenhouse for free, if your friend changes them, he can sell the material he doesn’t need for next to nothing.

Disadvantage is less strength compared to metal frames, vulnerability to the effects of putrefactive fungi that decompose wood and various insect pests. This makes a greenhouse out of wooden frames short-lived.

A greenhouse made from window frames has its advantages and disadvantages, but if building a greenhouse is necessary, try it, do it yourself.

Plastic windows for greenhouses

As a rule, plastic windows have double-glazed windows, which allows them to provide more reliable thermal insulation than wooden frames with single panes of glass.

Positive aspects double glazing is strength(and structural rigidity), as well as resistance to negative environmental factors. They do not swell or dry out due to changes in humidity, like wood, and do not rot. Therefore, they do not need to be treated with antiseptics or painted.

Disadvantages of plastic windows are their heavy weight, inaccessibility and difficulty in repair(glass in wooden frame you can replace or simply fill the frame with film if the glass breaks and the double-glazed window has to be completely replaced).

Preparatory work

How to build a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands, how to choose a location, what kind of foundation to make? Let's try to answer these questions.

Selecting a location

When choosing a location for a greenhouse, a summer resident usually has little choice. The main thing is that the place was not shaded from the south, southeast and southwest. Particularly harmful for greenhouse plants proximity to walnut, because this tree not only casts a shadow, but also releases phytoncides that inhibit the growth of all other plants.

Trees can be dangerous also because during a storm heavy dry branches break off from them, which can damage or destroy the greenhouse.

It is also desirable that the building was protected from the wind, which can destroy it.

The soil under the structure must be level, motionless and dry.. It is desirable that this be sandy soil. If the soil is clayey, you should fill it with gravel, pour sand on top and apply a fertile layer.

Preparation of the project and drawing

When designing a greenhouse, it is important to consider the following points:

ratio of window frame sizes to the height you need(it is desirable that the height of the walls is not lower than 180 cm), if it is not possible to stack the frames one on top of the other, you will have to build up the walls from below using other materials;
roof: most likely, you will have to use timber or metal frame for the roof, because winter time may accumulate on the roof up to several tons of snow;
the roof ridge needs to be oriented along the north-south axis to provide correct lighting greenhouses.

If according to calculations it turns out that there are not enough window frames, You can use polycarbonate sheets instead appropriate size.

If the greenhouse will be heated by a stove, immediately think about where the smoke will come out. Chimney can come out both through the wall and through the roof, but if it is made of metal, it will become very hot, and therefore should not come into contact with either polyethylene or polycarbonate.

It is advisable to provide a special window for it (you can also use an existing window), and the space between round pipe and cover the square window frame, for example, with tin or plywood.

Foundation

Unlike conventional greenhouses made of wooden or steel frames and plastic film, greenhouses made of window frames foundation is needed. This is due to the fact that the frames are too heavy, and the soil under them will sag unevenly if you build a greenhouse without a foundation.

What materials can be used to create such a frame? It turns out there are quite a lot of options:

In areas where there are severe frosts, the foundation should reach maximum depth ground freezing. Also use thermal insulation, for example, foam.

Step by step: building a greenhouse

How to prepare frames?

Before you start building walls, frames should be prepared. First of all, you should remove everything metal parts such as hinges, awnings, latches and protruding nails. Then the frames are cleaned of old paint using metal brushes.

After this the tree is necessary etch with an antiseptic so that bacteria and fungi do not destroy it too quickly. Fortunately, the choice of antiseptics today is quite wide. After this you can additionally paint the frames, but the antiseptic itself provides sufficient protection against fungi, insects, rodents and moisture.

If you decide to nail the frames, glass must be removed during installation, if with screws, then you don’t have to do this.

Frame

How to build a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands: photos and drawings will help us see this more clearly and build our own version of a greenhouse from wooden or plastic windows. To build the frame use timber 50X50 mm or a board 40 mm thick. The frame consists of racks, upper and lower frames. The latter should be made of identical boards and increase the height of the walls of the greenhouse. The racks should be spaced at such a distance from each other that the window frame fits strictly between them, and they, in turn, cover the gaps between two adjacent frames.

For real The roof frame must be strong. It is best for the roof to be gable, with additional supports under the ridge, otherwise it may collapse under the weight of the snow. Therefore, complete the roof frame best made from timber.

Rice. 4. Diagram of the structure of the frame and the placement of window frames on it.

Assembly

Installation can be done with both nails and screws. Screws hold more firmly, but are more expensive. Each frame is secured both outside and inside, on each of its four sides. Then the gaps between the frames are sealed with polyurethane foam.

Installation of a greenhouse from plastic windows will have to be done using bolts and nuts, drilling holes for them.

Roof

It is not advisable to use windows for the roof. Instead, you can stretch plastic film or use polycarbonate. Fully transparent roof means it will be too hot inside in warm months, therefore it needs to be sprinkled with a chalk suspension (as for whitewash) to create a slight shadow. The light that penetrates through the walls is enough for photosynthesis. The film is attached using slats.

Doors

It is advisable to do them two at the ends of the greenhouse so that if ventilation is necessary, a draft can be created. The easiest way is to put together their frames from boards and tighten them plastic film, nailing it to the tree using thin slats.

Rice. 5. The role of the door is played by the opening window.

Conclusion

Thus, window frames are cheap and comfortable material For self-construction greenhouses. The advantages of such a greenhouse are the availability of materials, ease of installation and operation, and the disadvantages are the need for a foundation and lower strength compared to steel frame.

Useful video

Some more information about homemade greenhouses from the window frames, can be seen in the video.

A greenhouse is a great option for organizing healthy eating the whole family. And who will take care of him, if not her head? Using a greenhouse on the site makes it possible to grow fresh vegetables and greenery almost all year round, it creates the microclimate necessary for plants, which promotes their growth.

Greenhouses made from window frames: what are they good for?

Greenhouses made from window frames, which are easy to construct with your own hands, have become popular quite a long time ago. The material is very accessible, so it is enough profitable option get a greenhouse.

Wood - durable and durable material, which at proper care can last quite a long time. High-quality processing and care makes the tree not vulnerable to the effects of precipitation and sun rays. In addition, natural wood is a breathable material, which is important in the construction of a greenhouse. Glass transmits light well and effectively protects the greenhouse space from the penetration of cold air.

A greenhouse made from window frames is good because it can accommodate any kind of ventilation (if the frames have working windows), regardless of the front door.

Advantages of greenhouses made from window frames

Several positive aspects of using a greenhouse made from window frames:

Economical. It is justified by the fact that the purchase of building materials requires significantly less financial costs than other types of greenhouses.
Practicality. Window frames are practical in that, as a rule, they are already covered with all the necessary protective layers paints and other mixtures, so they are reliably protected from natural influences.
Environmentally friendly. Wood - natural material, which is most harmonious for the greenhouse.
Durability depends on the type of wood from which the frames are made. On average, the service life of a greenhouse made from window frames is no more than 5 years, although this also depends on the climate zone, as well as on maintenance.
Heat capacity. No matter how long ago window designs, they retain heat perfectly. Thanks to the unhindered penetration of sunlight into the greenhouse from the window frames, it warms up naturally.
Good lighting. Glass has high light transmittance, which allows the sun to illuminate the greenhouse space as well as open-air beds.

If the crops being grown are very capricious in relation to ultraviolet radiation, it is better to stick them on the greenhouse windows with inside tinted film.

Strength. Natural wood in itself - very durable material. And processing of raw materials before use only increases this property.

If you received window frames without glass, you can use cellular polycarbonate instead - there will be practically no difference in characteristics. You can also use polyethylene.

Construction of a greenhouse from window frames: preparatory work

Before you build a greenhouse from window frames on your site with your own hands, you need to prepare:

Choosing a location. in the sunniest place on the site, not covered by trees and buildings.
Selection of soil. There should be no clay layer in the soil on which crops are grown. If there is no such soil on your site, prepare it yourself for the greenhouse. A pit is dug across the entire area of the greenhouse, the depth of a spade bayonet or a little more. The soil “pie” consists of gravel, sand and soil cleared of roots, stones and weeds.
. His detailed compilation taking into account all the parameters makes it possible to accurately calculate the amount of materials needed for construction and avoid mistakes during its construction. If you have window frames of different sizes, thanks to the drawing you can draw up a preliminary diagram of their placement, which will greatly facilitate the assembly of the structure.
Preparing window frames. If you plan to use old frames (most often, greenhouses are built from them), then before installation they should be carefully inspected for damage. From old frames you need to remove all fittings, glass (for safety) and old paint, rotted elements should be replaced with new ones. Then the wood is treated with antiseptics, the opening elements of the frames that are not planned to be used are secured with self-tapping screws or sealed with sealant, and the frames are painted.

Walling

When the foundation is ready, you can begin building the walls.

Frame. Before installing window frames, it is necessary to build a frame, the volume of which is formed vertical racks. For the frame, boards are used, the thickness of which is equal to the thickness of the frames; they should be fastened according to the drawing. Such docks will still be needed to install the harnesses.
Installation of frames. The frames are attached to the posts with the long side using self-tapping screws. The resulting cracks can be foamed, but polyurethane foam tends to collapse under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, so it is better to use silicone or another substance for this purpose. On the inside, supports made of fine-section timber can be attached to the frames for greater stability.

Roofing device

The type of roof is selected at the planning and drawing stage. If the frames are not enough for gable roof, you can make a single slope. Frames are attached in a standard way, just like on the walls. For the ridge of a gable roof, you can use wood or plastic.

Greenhouse glazing

At the last stage of constructing a greenhouse from window frames, the previously removed glass is secured using glazing beads.

And what and how he will tell .

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Old wooden windows that have served their purpose and given way to plastic ones are usually sent for recycling. But for summer residents, such material may be suitable for creating a temporary or permanent greenhouse. There is not always enough money for factory-made polycarbonate structures, but here we have a free, high-quality material that is very beneficial for plants. Glass transmits light well and is highly durable. So your greenhouse made from window frames will withstand any precipitation and let most of it through ultraviolet rays essential for plant growth.

From window frames you can create either a temporary collapsible version of a mini-greenhouse for growing seedlings or a large one. stationary structure. It all depends on the crops that are planned to be grown there and the local climate. If the weather is warm in summer and most plants survive well in open ground, that is, it makes sense to limit ourselves to a few greenhouses, which, after transplanting the seedlings, will go to the barn until next spring. But in a cold climate, you will have to build a greenhouse “for centuries” so that neither wind nor snow spoil it in winter, and floods do not wash it away in spring.

Regardless of which greenhouse construction you choose, the window frames need to be prepared for the new function. The entire metal arsenal - latches, hooks, handles, etc. will not be needed in the greenhouse, so they are dismantled.

To make it more convenient to fix the frames to the frame, it is better to remove the glass and fold it aside, marking it with a marker (so that it can then be accurately inserted into the same frame). This will make it easier for you to manage the installation, and the glass will not crack during operation. If necessary, replace cracked slats and rusty beads.

Since the windows were in use, the paint on them naturally peeled off. All layers of varnish and paint must be cleaned off, because wood needs protection from moisture. The greenhouse climate is unfavorable for wood, and to prevent it from rotting within a year, the frames must be treated with an antiseptic.

It's a good idea to paint over the top with a layer of white paint. The sun will heat the frame less and shorten its service life. However, this is not necessary for a greenhouse.

While the frames are drying, work on the structure itself. To begin with, you can practice creating a mini-greenhouse, and only then decide on a large, non-dismountable one.

Marking and preparing material

In greenhouses, window frames usually serve as a roof, which is attached to a wooden base. During the day, the roof is opened slightly, allowing the seedlings to ventilate. Therefore, estimate the size of the mini-greenhouse so that its width matches the width of the frame. The length is calculated based on the number of windows that will cover the roof. Most often there are 2-3 of them.

For the frame you will need boards and 4 beams. The beams are dug into the corners of the future greenhouse, and the boards are knocked down into shields. Since the greenhouse must have sloping roof to roll off precipitation and maximize the passage of sunlight, the front shield is made of 3 boards, the back shield is made of 4, and the side panels also use 4, but the top board is cut at an angle along the length so as to create the desired transition in height from the front shield to the rear one. The prepared panels are fixed to the beams using self-tapping screws.

They usually don’t make a foundation for a greenhouse, but if the soil is swampy, then you can put a row of single bricks underneath

Creating a roof from window frames

Since the greenhouse is easy to assemble, the glass is usually not removed from the frames. Therefore, we begin installation immediately.

The frames are laid across the length of the greenhouse and fixed to the rear (highest) wall of the frame. Window hinges are used for this.
It is best to leave all the windows mobile, without fastening them together, but only tightly joining them. Then, for ventilation and care of seedlings, it will be possible to open any part of the roof.
For reliability, each frame is fixed on the short side of the frame using a door hook, and handles are screwed on top to make it easier to lift the windows.
Stuff a bar on the inside of the front shield, lowering it 2-3 cm below the edge of the top board. It will support a stick or block that is used to lift the roof for ventilation.

The handles are secured to the edge of each frame with self-tapping screws to make it easier to open one part of the roof to ventilate the seedlings

Installation technology for a stationary greenhouse

If the greenhouse is not enough either climatic conditions do not allow you to grow plants in open ground, you can create a more durable structure that will not be disassembled for the winter and will last 3-5 seasons. But a stationary greenhouse made from old window frames is the heaviest of all options for such structures. Therefore, it requires a well-fortified foundation.

Foundation work: options and pouring technology

The need for a foundation for a greenhouse is also due to the fact that the height of the window frames does not exceed 1.5 meters. This is an inconvenient size for normal movement inside. It is ideal if the height of the walls is 1.7-1.8 m, because it is mainly women who care for the plants. Therefore, the missing centimeters need to be “built up” using the foundation. Another plus is that the tree will get rid of direct contact with the ground, which means there will be less rot.

The height of the above-ground part of the foundation is calculated based on total height structures so that the frames together with the concrete create walls within which you can move without bending

The most profitable is considered to be a strip foundation made of concrete. It is made as follows:

The site is laid out so that the greenhouse faces from north to south (with this arrangement, the plants will be exposed to the sun all day long). Drive pegs into the corners and pull the twine.
Dig a trench 15-20 cm wide and up to half a meter deep. If the level of freezing in your area is deeper, then dig up to 70 cm. This will make the greenhouse frost-free and will allow you to plant plants very early, in early spring.
To strengthen the base, add a layer of gravel and 10 cm of sand.
Sand is poured over a layer of concrete, stones are thrown in and the space remaining to the surface of the ground is filled with concrete.
The next day, formwork is installed to raise the foundation above the ground. The height of the formwork depends on the final height of the greenhouse you want to achieve. Usually 15-25 cm are poured.
Fill with concrete, strengthening it with stones or reinforcement, and leave until completely dry.

Some owners do without formwork, laying out the above-ground part of the foundation with 15x15 cm timber. To obtain a height of 30 cm, the timbers are laid in pairs, on top of each other. Thus you will need 8 wooden beams, which are pre-lubricated with an antiseptic or used machine oil. They are tied together with staples, and the edges are reinforced with metal corners. Between the timber and the concrete part of the foundation it is necessary to lay waterproofing made of roofing felt.

For a small greenhouse, it is enough to dig a trench 30 cm, fill it with gravel, and then with sand and immediately lay the timber on it. True, such a design can freeze.

Frame installation technology

At least 2 weeks must pass between pouring the foundation and installing the frame so that the concrete completely hardens and settles into the ground. Therefore, calculate the time frame for constructing a greenhouse from window frames in advance in order to have time to install it before planting the seedlings.

The frame consists of racks, as well as upper and lower trim. They can be made in two ways: either from boards and beams, or from metal corners.

If you use metal corners, then the lower trim is created at the stage of pouring the above-ground part of the foundation in order to adhere the metal to the base. The side posts from the same corners are welded or connected to the bottom with bolts. Upper harness It is necessary to very accurately calculate the height so that the window frames do not end up above or below the frame line.

If you use wood, then you will need a 10X10 cm beam, which is placed on the foundation, 8 boards for strapping (thickness - 4 cm), 4 side posts made of timber (5X5 cm) and intermediate ones, the number of which is calculated based on the number of frames that will be installed . For example, if 4 frames are installed in length and 2 in width, then you will need 3 racks on one side, 3 on the other, and one on the side. A door will be installed at the second end, which we will talk about later.

When installing the frame, metal corners and screws are used.

The beams are connected to each other with metal corners, holes for bolts are pre-drilled, and all metal parts are treated with an anti-corrosion compound

Work progress:

We attach the ten beam to the foundation using anchor bolts.
We install the side racks, controlling the vertical level.
Nailing the boards bottom trim using a half-timber cut and nails. You can also fasten with furniture corners taken with self-tapping screws.
We install intermediate posts into the frame in increments equal to the width of one window.
We nail the boards of the top trim.

It is advisable to install side racks made of timber using building level and for better preservation of the wood, coat it with an antiseptic composition

It is better to knock down the frame for a gable roof on the ground and then install it on the structure. It is also knocked down from timber. For the central risers, thicker wood is taken, and the rafters, ridge and intermediate rafter legs can be made from 5x5 cm timber.

It is more convenient to assemble the roof frame on the ground, since there is support and screwing screws into the ridge and rafters is much easier

What is the best way to cover the roof?

When building greenhouses from window frames the roof is usually covered with film or polycarbonate. Window frames are used less often because the weight of the structure is too large, and it is difficult to fix the glass in an inclined position. In addition, the film or plastic can be removed for the winter. Nobody dismantles the windows, and in winter they will collect snow caps, shortening the service life of the greenhouse.

Intermediate rafter legs can be made not from timber, but from a narrow thick board. Their pitch is usually equal to the width of the window frames

It is better to stretch the film together, from different sides. This makes it easier to control the tension level. Fix the polyethylene to the roof frame using wooden planks and small carnations.

If the roof gables are covered not with film, but with a breathable material, such as building mesh, then you can use window frames without vents

Fastening the frames to the frame

After the frame and roof have been made, they begin to install the window frames.

They are fixed with self-tapping screws on the outside of the frame.
The gaps between the windows are foamed with polyurethane foam, and the top is covered with thin strips for complete tightness.
The glass is inserted, securing not only with glazing beads, but also lubricating the edges with sealant to prevent air movement.
Check to see if the windows are sagging.
They nail the hooks that will hold the windows closed, and think through the fixing elements so that they do not dangle when open.

Each window must be equipped not only with a hook that will keep it closed, but also thought out so that it does not dangle when open.

Door installation

The last step will be to install the doors at the end of the greenhouse. If the structure is narrow, then it is generally not recommended to cover this end with frames, because they simply will not fit. The easiest way is to cover the entire space between the door frame and the frame with film.

Done door frame from timber. For hanging door leaf You can use fittings removed from windows. All that remains is to fill the floor of the greenhouse with fertile soil, lay out the beds - and you can start planting plants.