Metal Buildings

So, you’re looking to build your first greenhouse! Building a greenhouse can be daunting, especially when it’s your first time- fortunately, we’re here to simplify the process for you as best as we can. A greenhouse can be a fun and healthy hobby, or a business model. Because there are endless options to choose from, you can do just about anything with your greenhouse.

Before you get started, you need to understand a few of the primary steps. Don’t worry, we’ve outlined them for you!

Sizing Your Greenhouse

One of the most important steps is picking the size of your greenhouse. To size it, consider what you plan to use it for. Will it be for commercial purposes? Do you plan to use it to grow for your local farmer’s market? Or, are you a hobby gardener? Heck, you can even turn it into an outdoor sunroom! Whether you want to put flowers in it, benches, work stables, or set up a hydroponics system, make sure your greenhouse can accommodate everything.

Think about the things you plan to put in it, and from there, you can determine how much space you need. Ensure that your space, if you plan to monetize it, provides you with enough room to make a good profit. Greenhouses come in various sizes and can be customized to fit your needs. Generally speaking, small structures are around 8 ft whereas larger structures are 28 ft or more.

Choosing the Location

Where you decide to build your greenhouse is essential. The location should be on level ground and located in a spot that is convenient for you. Equally important, is that you build your greenhouse in a spot that is secure and easy to get to. Thieves and vandalizers can be a real problem, especially for urban farmers or anyone located in a well-populated area.

Picking Your Foundation

The type of foundation you choose matters. There are three popular types of foundational structures to choose from: concrete foundations, wood foundations and post and beam foundations.

Wood foundations are common and cheaper than their counterparts. They provide greenhouses with wood flooring and posts around the perimeter. However, they can rot or become infested with pests if they aren’t treated.

Beam and post foundations ensure the floor isn't directly touching the ground. This type of foundation is built using wood or concrete posts down the center and around the greenhouse perimeter. The floor is created by attaching beams on top of the posts and the structure is anchored down permanently.

Cement foundations are great for large or commercial-scale greenhouses. Although they are more expensive, they’re great because they don’t rot and they require minimal upkeep. Of the three types, we recommend concrete the most because they are longer-lasting and easy to deal with.

Deciding on Your Structure

Choosing your structure is the next important step. At VersaTube, we offer the best framing kits on the market! Ours are easy to build and a less expensive option than building from scratch. Pre-engineered steel buildings are also long-lasting and durable, so they make wonderful options for anyone living in a harsh environment. What’s more, VersaTube engineering teams can work to customize your steel greenhouse frame to fit your specifications.

Selecting Ceiling & Walls

The next step in building your greenhouse involves deciding on the materials used for your ceiling and walls. For the ceiling and walls, you have two primary options: glass or polyethylene. Polyethylene is popular because they are less costly and produce more heat. However, they minimize light exposure and have higher levels of humidity. Glass walls allow optimum levels of light in and tend to last longer. One downside associated with glass walls is that they are expensive when compared with polyethylene. On the other hand, polyethylene requires more set up and upkeep, so glass may cost less in the long-run.

Settling on Features

The final step in building your greenhouse is, of course, deciding on what features to include. With a VersaTube steel-frame, you can customize your greenhouse to perfectly fit your needs as long as you have the budget for it. After customizing your frame, you can add anything you want!

Remember to research the finer details before embarking on your greenhouse journey. Whether you plan to use it for hobby farming or a commercial project, we’re happy to assist you! Call us today at 888-816-8543 and we’ll help you begin this exciting project!