Labor of love? Robert(Stressbaby) was an inspiration and big help to me when I began my project. He was one of the very first people I contacted early in the design and thought phases and was kind and patient enough to put up with all of my questions. So, again...thanks!
I researched greenhouses and sunrooms for a great while before finally choosing a sunroom design. I wanted a beefy frame that could hold up against our harsh Ohio winters. I went with double paned, insulated glass and it does a wonderful job. I love the clear view and all the light that comes thru with glass. Even though it was more expensive, I would definitely go glass again. I would choose a different company for the actual frame that would provide better window, door systems, and a host of other issues I've come across in the last 6-7 years.
Robert chose a stand alone GH whereas I opted to attach it to my home. Lot of positive reasons for this such as thermal gains, one less footer, one less kneewall, and one less GH wall. The negative that trumps anything positive is moisture. Most of you know this story so I will not go thru that again here. If I did things over again...a stand alone is the way to go.
I heat with two natural gas heaters. Oscar, I believe it may cost me an extra $150 or so per month over my normal home heating. It was actually lower than we normally believed it would be. I have two manual skylights. A greenhouse controller monitors temperature and humidity. If the temperature starts to rise inside and hits the first set point, it will open a window...only one is motorized. The next set point will open up the first of two vents in the top of the GH, then the second if needed. In the extreme, my fogger will kick on which will lower the temperature as well. Humidity is also controlled and kicks on my fogger if the humidity falls below the set point. I do not have this operational during the winter since the windows are mostly closed and the heaters produce enough humidity. There are newer, low pressure foggers now that produce a dry fog which would be beneficial. But these are incredibly expensive for now.
Like Robert...I built this myself. I had a buddy do the foundation/footer, block kneewall, and patio. My wife, dad, and brother pitched in at various times to help on the structure. A very long, stressful summer.
My structure is 22' x 26'. If I could have gone bigger, I certainly would have. The ceiling height in back is approximately 13' while 9' in front. I have since put several plants directly into the ground...jackfruit, mango, bananas, achachairu, madronos. Everything else are in containers which get moved from one location to another on my whim.
This is my buddy Randy who is a stone mason by trade. He did my footer, kneewall, and patio. I was gofer. Gofer block, gofer mortar, gofer beer.
Started raining and got cold as hell when we poured the patio. We had to add color and stamp a pattern during all of this as well. One of the most miserable days I can recall. Driving the concrete buggy hauling the mix from truck to patio was fun for a little while. Being cold and wet quickly sucked the fun right out of that.
What a miserable looking pair we made! The job was finished. Wet, cold, and bone tired. I really hate concrete. Randy did all the work on that and my back still ached!
Here I am studying the blueprints and instructions like I knew what the hell I was doing, what the hell I have done, and what the hell I yet had to do. I knew enough to be dangerous to myself and others. I believe the realization was hammering home that I had a very long summer ahead of me. At least I wasn't curled up in a ball crying...yet.
This is my buddy Harold that I goat-roped into helping out for the day. His knowledge and building talent falls even below mine yet he jumped in with both feet. We both have college degrees, yet even after measuring something a half dozen times, we'd stand back, look, and say "WTF?!" So much for that computer education!
My brother helping me install the roof glass. My wife wasn't strong enough to lift up the panels by herself. They were heavy. Hot as hell and the sun reflecting off the glass damn near cooked and blinded us at once.
That's me putting some finish trim on top. I was a hammering fool that day...emphasis on "fool".
Structure itself is complete. The tree on the far end was cut down soon after the pic.
Would I do it again? Probably easier, cheaper, and much less stress to just move to Thailand!!!