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Fastening window frames to the metal frame of the greenhouse. How to make a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands. Which is better - foundation or foundation

As a result of the wholesale installation of metal plastic windows with double-glazed windows, old wooden ones are massively disposed of or burned in stoves. Meanwhile, somewhere in the country or in the rural yard, they could turn into an unusual building material.

The reader is invited to see how a do-it-yourself greenhouse is built from window frames, which allows you to grow seedlings and vegetables in cold weather.

They start by choosing the location of the greenhouse, the criteria are:

• good illumination;
• distance from or;
• protection from the wind, no draft;
• close proximity to water sources;
• accessibility of the greenhouse location along the east-west line;
• the possibility of supplying electricity for lighting: in order for plants to produce crops earlier, with the help of artificial lamps they create the illusion of an increase and decrease in the duration of daylight hours.

If there are no areas illuminated throughout the day, choose one where the sun shines in the morning. To save building materials, you can attach a greenhouse to the house.

At the selected site, garbage is removed, stumps and shrubs are uprooted. If there are irregularities, they are smoothed out: the bumps are cut off and the soil is transferred to the depressions. At the same time, it is important to avoid mixing the fertile layer with the underlying one, if it is planned to use the “native” soil for growing plants.

To do this, with significant differences in relief upper layer Soils are cut and stacked with heaps along the construction site, and leveling is carried out along the underlying layer. Then fertile soil are returned to the place.

The maximum shelf life of fertile soil in heaps is 4 weeks. Further, bacteria that play an important role in gas exchange die in it.

Preparation of building material

If their own window frames are not enough, they are obtained from friends or they turn to the installation company for this. plastic windows.

1. remove hinges, latches and other fittings;
2. dismantle the glazing beads, take out the glass;
3. peel off the paint. This requires warming up with a building hair dryer. From high temperature the paint bubbles and is easily removed with a spatula or scraper. This method is not suitable for removing paint from plastered surfaces. In this case, a significant difference in the temperature coefficient of expansion of the base and paintwork is needed;
4. frames cleaned of paint are sanded and treated with an antiseptic;
5. then dyed;
6. install the glass in place, after lubricating them around the perimeter on both sides silicone sealant. The latter will exclude wind from blowing into the cracks and will contribute to the preservation of heat. If the frames are supposed to be fastened to the frame with a nail fight, and not with self-tapping screws, the glass is installed last.

The discrepancy in the size of the frames should not be frightening: cracks and inconsistencies are tightly sealed mounting foam.

In addition to frames, you will need:

• boards 50 mm thick for the construction of the frame: also treated with an antiseptic;
• or polyethylene film;
• foundation materials: cement, sand, crushed stone, but (large fragments of stone), brick.

Greenhouse drawing

To draw a sketch of the greenhouse, you need to determine its dimensions:

1. height: taking into account the owner's height, but not less than 1.8 m;
2. width. Accepted depending on the estimated number of beds. A strip of 100 cm wide is assigned to each, and 50 cm to the aisles between them. The distance between the beds should be such that a garden wheelbarrow can drive there;
3. length. Accepted at the discretion of the owner.

Amateur greenhouses are most often built with dimensions in terms of 6x3 m.

Foundation for the greenhouse

The greenhouse is a fairly massive and permanent structure, so it is built on a stable foundation. This cannot be said about the surface of the soil, soaking in the spring, because a foundation is required.

As for any frame building, you can get by columnar foundation, but it's better to build a tape one, because it:

• contributes to the preservation of heat inside;
• prevents the penetration of weeds from the outside.

Shallow strip foundation

The depth of the foundation is chosen taking into account the dimensions of the structure:

1. small greenhouse. A shallow foundation is sufficient: the heaving forces of the frozen soil, acting on the structure from below, will not cause deformations;
2. large greenhouse. Requires deepening to the extent of soil freezing. The foundation can also be made not so dimensional: but then the earth is selected to a non-freezing layer and replaced with backfill with high drainage properties - sand or gravel-sand mixture.

The procedure for the construction of a shallow strip foundation:

1. along the perimeter of the future building, they dig a trench 20 cm wide and 40 cm deep;
2. at the bottom, sand 10 cm thick is laid and rammed with moisture, then the same layer of crushed stone is rammed into it. This pillow will evenly distribute the load from the building to the ground, and besides, unlike ordinary soil, water does not linger in it;
3. formwork is assembled from boards or plywood - a form for the foundation. The weight of concrete is large, so the formwork is fixed more firmly. So that the boards do not deteriorate from contact with the concrete solution, it is better to wrap them plastic wrap;
4. a reinforcing cage is formed in the formwork: the upper and lower chords are two threads each, connected by vertical crossbars. Welding is not allowed - the steel in the weld zone is embrittled. The rods are connected with annealed knitting wire. The dimensions of the frame are taken such that the rods are protected by a layer of concrete 3 cm thick. To ensure the presence of such a layer from below, the spatial structure of the rods is installed on special plastic bosses. If there are none, they manage with fragments of brick;
5. cooked in a concrete mixer concrete mix. Enough cement brand M200 or M300;
6. concrete is poured into the formwork. To prevent the formation air pockets, use a vibrolayer. In the absence of such, concrete after pouring is often pierced with a steel bar;
7. so that the moisture from the fresh pour does not evaporate too quickly (it is needed to react with cement), the foundation is covered with plastic wrap. In hot weather, it must be periodically watered;
8. a week after pouring, the formwork is removed. Concrete gains maximum hardness in 28 days;
9. the matured foundation is pasted over with rolled waterproofing. According to the new standards, it is recommended to insulate it. If you choose to do so, instead of roll waterproofing on the outside, sheets of extruded polystyrene foam are fixed with glue and dowels. Ordinary foam plastic cannot be used for this purpose - it will not withstand the load from the frozen ground.

Dowels for fastening polystyrene foam are used dish-shaped, with large-diameter caps (also called "umbrellas"): they do not push through the material.

flooring

For ease of movement in the greenhouse, paths are arranged between the beds, they act as follows:

1. in place of the future track, they dig a trench 15 cm deep;
2. a layer of gravel or crushed stone 10 cm thick is laid at the bottom, it is well rammed;
3. a layer of sand 5 cm thick is poured on top. They are rammed, pouring water.

A top coat is laid on top of the sand. Sawdust can play its role.

Pros:

• low cost;
• the material is hygroscopic (no puddles remain on the track);
• softly walk on it.

Minuses:

• hard to roll a garden wheelbarrow;
• sticking to the soles, sawdust spreads throughout the greenhouse.

Boards too inexpensive material, but devoid of the disadvantages of sawdust. Treatment with non-toxic antiseptics is required (for baths and saunas). The floors can be made in the form of a concrete screed, laid out of brick. Porcelain stoneware looks very attractive. But for a greenhouse, it is expensive and more suitable for winter garden in an elite home.

So that the soil from the beds does not pollute the paths, they are fenced with low plastic borders.

Frame erection

Since the greenhouse is being built from window frames, it makes no sense to overpay and build a metal frame. Use wood - boards 50 mm thick. The structure is assembled from racks installed at the corners and along the walls at intervals of 1.5-2 m, and lower and upper trims covering them.

Procedure:

1. frames are knocked together on the ground from several racks and strapping beams. Frame elements are fastened with corners, self-tapping screws or a nail fight;
2. frames are installed in vertical position(controlled by a plumb line) and fasten them with the remaining strapping beams. The height of the window frames is limited and, so that the greenhouse does not turn out to be squat, the lower trim is made two-row;
3. window frames are attached to the racks with self-tapping screws. You can use nails, but then you must first remove the glass from the frames, otherwise they are likely to be damaged. Frames with vents are installed against each other: with this arrangement, ventilation will be most effective;
4. from the inside, the frames are reinforced with supports made of boards of smaller thickness;
5. all gaps between frames and racks are sealed with mounting foam.

Mounting foam (polyurethane foam) is destroyed under ultraviolet radiation, therefore the foamed slots must be closed with an opaque material. For example, adhesive tape or plastic sheathing.

Roof

The roof is not made of glazed frames - it will be hot in the greenhouse and the glass can be destroyed by hail. Polyethylene film is used as a cover for the greenhouse.

The roof is built in one of two versions:

1. : the simplest option;
2. gable: looks more attractive, but more difficult to install.

For device pitched roof walls along the long side lead to different heights. Grooves are cut out in the beams of the upper trim and rafters are laid in them.

When constructing a gable roof, hanging rafters are used: unlike layered ones, they do not need a ridge beam. They are recruited from triangular trusses: two rafter legs converging at an angle are fastened in the middle with a horizontal puff. It is convenient to knock together structures on the ground.

After installation, they are fastened with bars or boards. The rafter system is covered with the selected coating. The plastic film is fixed along the edges with slats, which are screwed to the frame or window frames with self-tapping screws. When installing cellular polycarbonate, it is important to remember its high coefficient of thermal expansion.

Follow the recommendations:

1. sheets are laid in internal channels along the slope so that water flows out of them;
2. the joint of the sheets should fall on the rafter or crate;
3. the joining of the sheets is carried out by means of a special profile of two parts: one is screwed to the rafter leg, the second, after laying the sheets, is fastened from above. Between the profile jumper and the edge of the sheet, leave a gap for the free expansion of the latter;
4. mounting holes, again in order to ensure freedom of expansion, are drilled with a diameter 2 mm larger than the body of the self-tapping screw. Special hardware with large caps and soft washers are used;
5. the ends of the sheets are sealed with special tapes and closed with end caps: the upper one is solid, the lower one is perforated (they release water).

For the arrangement of a polycarbonate roof, it is better to buy profiles with gaskets. Although they are more expensive, the connection is more reliable in terms of tightness.

Related videos

How to make a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands:

Wooden window frames are an excellent building material for a greenhouse, and, moreover, practically free of charge. For a gardener-gardener, this is a great opportunity with minimal cost provide yourself and your family with an early harvest of tasty and healthy vegetables.

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. In extreme cases, the required number of old frames can be asked from friends and neighbors who carried out a major home renovation, or you can negotiate with plastic window installers who simply take their dismantling 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 constituent elements structures, 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:

• Sheathe the bottom of the frame with wooden boards. 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 novice in this business can make a greenhouse out of window frames with his own hands.

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

1. Wood is strong enough good care frames made from it will last more than one year. Quality processing wooden products makes them invulnerable to the influence of precipitation and sunlight.
2. 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.
3. 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 greenhouse protected from external influences as a result of your work. 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 the climatic zone of its location.
• Heat capacity. Window frames perfectly retain the accumulated heat. The sunlight passing freely through them contributes to the heating of the greenhouse in a natural way.
• Quality lighting. Due to the high light transmission of window glass, the space of the greenhouse is illuminated no worse than the beds on 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, glass can be successfully used instead. cellular polycarbonate or in the worst case - plastic wrap.

Technology for mounting a greenhouse from window frames

The structure of the greenhouse from frames includes a support, a frame and a cover. Consider phased production 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 drawing up a detailed drawing, it will not be difficult to calculate the consumables needed 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. Near the greenhouse there should not be objects that can shade it: tall trees, fence, other buildings, etc. In addition, such structures are not recommended to be located in the path of the prevailing winds. In winter, this 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, compact it and ennoble fertile soil. For such a “pie”, you first need to remove the top layer of soil from the entire building area to a depth of 30-40 cm.

The level of groundwater occurrence is of great importance. 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 need to be sanded. 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 vertical dimension 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 soaked 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. Horizontal bottom trim of steel angles should be performed when pouring the upper part of the foundation for a 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 wooden frames suddenly were not behind her line - above or below.

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. Steel parts it is desirable to protect against rust with anti-corrosion enamel.

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

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

gable roof frame it is convenient to shoot down 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 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 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. The door leaf can be hung on it 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!

How pleasing to the eye is a greenhouse built with your own hands, and built from old window frames, it will tell about the frugality, prudence and common sense of its owner.

It would seem that nobody needs discarded old window frames. But a practical and savvy person, whose hands grow from where they need to, will always find use for seemingly unnecessary things.

In addition, the construction of such a building will cost quite cheaply, which will save money.

But here the question arises: where to get these very old window frames? Maybe you still have them after replacing windows or making repairs. And they can also be obtained from neighbors who are replacing their old wooden windows with new double-glazed windows.

Few frames are required to build our structure. Balcony blanks are also suitable for these purposes.

If you can’t get the materials in such ways, then you can contact a company that replaces plastic windows. In the end, you can hang an advertisement for their purchase. Getting old wooden frames is not a problem, there would be a desire.

Where to place and how to dig? You can study the details in our material.

If you decide to build a gazebo with a barbecue, you will probably be interested in studying the material on this topic. you will find step by step instructions, photo and video materials and much more.

Features of greenhouses from frames

Greenhouses made of window blocks, like everything in the world, have their pros and cons.

The advantages of such structures are:

1. Low construction cost.
2. Quick build. Construction will go on for a couple of days, no more.
3. No need for an expensive tool. Can be dispensed with with a simple hammer and a screwdriver.

The disadvantages include:

1. Permanent care wooden products. After all, the tree dries out and cracks over time. Because of this, the microclimate in the greenhouse deteriorates. To restore it, it needs repair and restoration.
2. fragility. The service life of such a structure is limited, but with constant care, such a greenhouse will stand for 5-7 years.

Choice of location and design

When building a greenhouse, it is necessary to take into account that it must have an appropriate microclimate for planted plants, that is, tightness is necessary.

In addition, it must have the appropriate light transmission.

And for this, before building a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands, you should pay attention to such nuances as:

1. The place where the construction will be carried out must be adequately lit.. If there are any obstacles on the site that will interfere with the penetration of light into the future greenhouse, then they must either be removed or the construction should be carried out elsewhere. After all, plants without sunlight will not grow;
2. On the site where the future greenhouse will stand should not be "wind blower". The greenhouse itself, of course, will protect the plantings, but it is a weak structure and a strong wind will still penetrate inside and disrupt the favorable microclimate. The structure will also be subjected to heavy load, which is undesirable for him;
3. The soil at the construction site must be dense and dry.. If it is swampy and wet, the structure will simply sag and deform.

The place was chosen in compliance with all the conditions? If yes, then you can start building.

But before starting it, it is necessary to clean the old frames from dirt and paint, remove all metal or plastic fittings from them. If there are glasses, then be sure to remove them.

The gaps that are present in the frame must be sealed. For this, mounting foam is suitable.

foundation or foundation

You can make a greenhouse from window frames and without a base or foundation.

But both wooden frames, and covering, and consumables have some amount of weight, which will certainly load the structure and it will simply sag.

Therefore, the construction of the foundation when building a greenhouse is mandatory. This will prevent sagging and increase the life of this structure. A greenhouse built on a foundation will have such qualities as reliability, stability and durability.

If during construction you are guided by building rules and regulations, then it will not be difficult to build such a structure.

Foundations are different:

1. from brick. The strongest and most durable foundation, has stability and reliability. It can easily carry a greenhouse built on it. The disadvantages of this material include poor moisture resistance and sensitivity to temperature extremes;
2. From stone. Expensive but high strength characteristics material. It can be installed on it and weighing much more metal constructions. It will support their weight. Very reliable and durable. Not subject to atmospheric influences. The disadvantage of such material is its price, which, however, can be reduced by taking raw material;
3. from wood. It has high strength, but is short-lived. Pretty stable. Service life is about 8 years. But we must keep in mind that the old window frames themselves will not last longer, so this will be a suitable foundation for them.
4. Concrete. Inexpensive and strong foundation. Can last for a long time. Reliable and resistant to atmospheric and physical influences. This is one of the most suitable bases for a greenhouse, in our opinion, as it has all the necessary characteristics and qualities.

In the photo, a variant of the foundation of the greenhouse from window frames

All these types of foundations can be considered during the construction of this structure. If needed a budget option, then preference should be given to a foundation made of wood.

For the construction of a greenhouse, this will be optimal. Wood has long been famous for its strength and ease of processing.

Frame construction

The frame must first of all be stable. This will ensure its reliable and long-term use. The greenhouse itself is already a frame.

It only needs to be placed on the foundation, fixed and made a light crate in order to cover the building.

Window blocks are installed on the foundation or foundation. After their installation, they are fastened using wooden beams, self-tapping screws, corners, clamps, wire and nails. Mounting methods can be determined independently, based on their capabilities and abilities.

If you have collected few window frames, then you should not despair. Instead of window blocks, you can install wooden boards that provide the building with reliability and strength. They are placed at the junction of the base with the base, at the bottom of the structure.

To attach our structure to the base, it is preferable to use metal corners. They are inexpensive and at the same time give the building strength.

It should be noted that making a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands is quite simple task. Any owner of a personal plot can handle it.

But during construction, carelessness and negligence should not be allowed. First you need to make a plan for your work and step by step to implement it. The frames must be fastened carefully, slowly, so that it doesn’t turn out like in that old saying - hurry up - you make people laugh.

By following these simple rules, you can build a beautiful and durable greenhouse that will delight its owner for a long time.

Greenhouse cover

When choosing a coating for our building, preference should be given to a polyethylene film. It is attached to the crate with clamps and clamps. You can just make holes and stretch the polyethylene.

The crate is made from:

• mounting profile;
• steel wire;
• wooden slats.

The choice of material for the crate depends only on the preferences of a novice or experienced builder.

Making ventilation

Sufficient ventilation of the greenhouse will be provided by the vents already existing at the window blocks. But it is worth paying attention to the fact that with their high location, heat will be lost.

Therefore, they must be installed at a height of 50 cm from the floor level, which will prevent the penetration of insects and therefore there will be no need to destroy them.

The video clearly shows how to build a greenhouse with an oval roof from window frames.

Above, the construction of a greenhouse from old window frames and the construction of a foundation for it were considered. You can mount such a structure without a foundation (stand-alone ones simply dig into the ground). But this is possible only if a small greenhouse is built for 1-2 seasons.

Finally, let's say that having built a greenhouse, you do not need to relax, because it requires constant care. That is, it must be constantly ventilated, washed, cleaned, painted frames and monitored for the foundation.

Only with such caring care it will serve the maximum amount of time and will please its owner, who was not too lazy to build it.

And even metal-plastic - from which greenhouses are not built! Did you know that inexpensive, simple in its arrangement, but very reliable and in general good design can be built from old window frames left, for example, after replacing wooden windows?

Next detailed instructions will help to carry out the construction without any problems.

We make the foundation for the greenhouse

The finished greenhouse from the frames will weigh quite a lot, so it is necessary to make a separate foundation for it. We will build a full-fledged column-type support.

First step. Clearing the construction site. We remove garbage, uproot stumps and shrubs, weeds, etc.

Second step. For convenience, we mark the site according to the size of the future greenhouse. We drive pegs into the ground along the perimeter and in the corners and pull the rope between them.

Third step. In the corners and with a three-meter step on each side of the greenhouse, we dig holes with a depth of half a meter. In a good way, the depth of each such pit should exceed the level of soil freezing.

Fourth step. We fill the bottom of the pits with about a 10-centimeter layer of gravel and carefully tamp.

Fifth step. We make formwork. It is needed if the columns will be poured with concrete. The easiest option is to install a hollow pipe with a diameter of 10-15 cm in each pit (asbestos-cement pipes are suitable), level them, insert reinforcement, fix the structure (can be overlaid with bricks) and pour concrete.

Also, support pillars can be built from bricks or stones, using an ordinary cement-sand mortar to fasten the elements.

Sixth step. We lay a beam on top of the supports. In the corners we fasten the bars with iron plates. We directly attach the beam to the supports in a suitable way such as anchors.

Brick column foundation

Building a greenhouse: a step-by-step guide

The structure under consideration can be built in different ways. First, we will describe how to build a structure with a roof made of polyethylene, and at the end we will give guidance on building a more durable frame. It can be covered with polycarbonate or other material.

The first stage - we prepare the building material

Preparing window frames for work. We remove handles, hinges and other available accessories.

Cleaning off old paint and process "bare" wood. At the same stage, it is recommended to temporarily remove the glasses so as not to damage them during the fastening of the frame elements.

Vents that will not be used in the future in the greenhouse are carefully corked. You can generally dismantle parts of the frames with vents, if you like.

The presence of several opening windows is a big advantage - you do not have to bother with the arrangement of the ventilation system.

The second stage - we lay the floor

The frames are temporarily set aside and we are engaged in arranging the floor. Our base is columnar, so there will be no difficulties with creating the floor.

First we provide drainage. If the water stagnates, wooden elements structures begin to rot.

To equip the drainage system, we dig a trench with a depth of about 150 mm and fill it with fine gravel or gravel by about 5-7 cm. We fill up another 3-5 cm of the trench height with sand and carefully tamp it down.

Important! Filling should be done in such a way that finished surface had a slight slope in the direction of a pre-equipped drain hole.

To decorate the interior of the greenhouse, we install plastic or wood borders on the sides of the aisles. Such a decorative element will simultaneously perform a functional task, preventing the earth from falling onto the path.

If desired, you can decorate the floor using other materials. There are several options.

Find out a few interesting ways how to do, from our new article.

The third stage - we build walls

First, we build a frame for attaching frames. We use quality wooden planks about 50 mm thick, approximately corresponding to the thickness of the window frames. From such boards we make the lower and upper trims. When arranging the lower perimeter, we launch boards in 2 rows. Thanks to this, the finished greenhouse will be slightly higher.

We make vertical racks from a bar. The best option- elements with a section of 150x150 mm. Such bars are guaranteed to withstand the weight of frames and related materials.

We attach the vertical posts to the supporting posts in a suitable way. We lay boards between the racks bottom strapping. We fasten the boards with racks with self-tapping screws. We attach frames with long sides to the racks and boards of the lower trim. We use self-tapping screws.

On the upper faces of the frames and racks we lay the boards of the upper trim. We also fasten using self-tapping screws.

We fill the gaps between the frames and frame elements with mounting foam. For greater stability, we nail to inside frame support bars.

Advice! To make the whole structure more stable, we include vertical supports in its composition. It is better to make them even when forming the frame. To do this, we dig holes, install supports in them (we pre-wrap the piece of wood that will be in the ground with roofing material or tar it) and pour cement or concrete. We fasten the supports to the vertical support posts using nails.

Once again, check the design for cracks. If any are found, blow them out with mounting foam. Free you can leave only the vents for ventilation.

Reinsert the removed glass. Instead of glasses, you can use another material, for example, polyethylene or cellular polycarbonate.

Important! If you plan to make a polycarbonate roof, it is better to insert the glass after the roofing is completed.

The fourth stage - we make the roof

Most often, summer residents cover greenhouses from frames with plastic wrap. In such a situation, the load on the frame and base will not exceed allowable norms, and the greenhouse will last as long as possible.

We build a light crate along the upper perimeter of the greenhouse. It can be made from wooden slats, metal profile and even wire.

Having installed the crate, we stretch the film. For its fastening, it is most convenient to use special clamps and clamps.

Prices for various types of fasteners for rafters

Fasteners for rafters

As an option: a greenhouse with a polycarbonate roof

If the budget allows you to purchase cellular polycarbonate for the roof, you can do it. Keep in mind that such a design will require a sufficiently strong frame. For its manufacture, it is best to use profiled pipes, because. a wooden beam is unlikely to withstand such a load.

For more convenience, from pipes, you can immediately make support pillars and a greenhouse frame. To do this, we do the following.

In this case, it is also better to make a door from polycarbonate, having previously made a metal or wooden frame for its installation.

Helpful advice! To make the greenhouse look more attractive, you can paint its outer surface in the desired color. Interior painting is optional.

Greenhouse made of window frames and polycarbonate

Arrange to your liking. You can equip it with water supply and drainage systems, conduct light and install all kinds of racks, racks and other supports for beds, etc. At this point, all decisions are yours, because. only you can know what your greenhouse from old window frames should be like.

Successful work!

Video - Greenhouse from old window frames

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, you need to estimate the amount of 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 neither 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:

1. Polyethylene film
2. Cement, sand, water
3. Self-tapping screws, nails
4. sealant
5. wooden planks

From tool:

1. Hammer, pliers, wire cutters
2. Shovel, shuffle, trowel
3. Drill, screwdriver
4. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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
3. Throw stones, bricks, scrap metal and other hard materials on the bottom of the trench to save cement mortar.
4. Prepare a standard cement mortar and pour the foundation to the top of the formwork
5. 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

Frame from metal corner or profile pipes are 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:

1. All unnecessary elements are removed: latches, hooks, handles, loops, etc.
2. If the condition of the old coating is unsatisfactory, it is completely torn off
3. Carefully remove glass
4. Treat wood with antiseptic substances
5. 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 a metal base, more skills and effort will be required than when installing them on wooden beams. 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 does not accumulate rainwater. In this case, in a greenhouse it is better to do gable roof with an angle greater 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.