A greenhouse from windows is an interesting solution for a summer cottage. Greenhouse from window frames in the country - the implementation of the idea of Greenhouses from window frames with your own hands

Any gardener who wants to get a high-quality crop builds a greenhouse on his site. The simplest and most reliable option is greenhouse built from old window frames. It can be built with your own hands at no special cost. The first question that arises is where to get window frames? The answer is simple: the people who make repairs. Old windows can be purchased for symbolic money or for free. Thanks to this approach, you will save a lot of money and build a structure that fits perfectly into your exterior.

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How to build a greenhouse with your own hands from window frames?

Foundation creation and foundation options

Before laying the foundation, the site must be cleared. Mark the design plan, having previously leveled the ground. Be sure to take into account the degree of shrinkage of the soil. The foundation is the foundation of the structure. The choice of foundation will depend on how long the structure will last, as well as what material is required from which it is constructed. If you plan a solid durable construction of metal-plastic windows, then it would be advisable to lay a foundation of brick or pour cement. But if the design is planned for one or two seasons, then it is enough to use bars. So that the wooden foundation does not rot, it can be wrapped with roofing material.

Frame erection

The frame of the greenhouse will serve as window frames. There are several options for attaching them:

Corner fixing. A very reliable method, but it requires some skill and expense. The corners are fastened between the frames from the inside and bolted, connecting the two frames together.
Self-tapping fastening. A fairly simple method in which self-tapping screws are screwed into the base of the frame, thereby fastening its individual parts together.
Fastening with bars and slats. Along the perimeter of the greenhouse, thin bars or slats are attached from the inside, which are nailed. Such a design will be quite strong.
Clamps and wire. This assembly method is the easiest. The frames are fastened by simply twisting the wire together. This type is suitable for a structure that is built for one season.

Installing the greenhouse on the foundation

Installing the greenhouse on the base is the most important point. The frame can be attached to the foundation by installing a corner and welding the parts together. If the base is made of timber, then it will be enough to attach the structure with bolts. The most important thing is to develop an action plan that will help to properly install the structure. It is necessary not only to correctly fix the greenhouse to the base, but also carefully connect the frame with each subsequent one, ensuring its stability.

Roof covering

Covering is the final stage in the construction of the greenhouse. There are several ways:

Glass roof covering. This will be a durable coating, but it significantly makes the structure heavier.
Covering the greenhouse with plastic wrap. The method is very economical and simple, while lightening the weight of the structure. To cover the roof with a film, you will need to nail the slats around the perimeter of the roof and make a crate. Polyethylene is easy to fasten with clamps or clips.

After the frame is erected and the roof is stretched, the structure must be checked for strength. It is also very important that the greenhouse has a ventilation mode. In such a structure, the vents of old window frames will do this function. If there are gaps in the structure, they must be repaired. For this, building foam is suitable. The last important point is light transmission. The greenhouse should let in light from all sides. After checking the functionality, you can start planting plants.

Pros and cons of window frames as a material for a greenhouse

Window frames used as raw materials for the construction of a mini-greenhouse are evaluated positively because:

ultraviolet rays pass through the glass, as a result of which the plants grow quickly and bear fruit;
glass construction retains the necessary amount of heat inside;
glass coating is much easier to clean from dirt than film material;
Cracked glass can be easily replaced, but torn film cannot.

The disadvantages of such a greenhouse are:

the need to put it on the foundation;
high risk of glass damage by hail or other bad weather;
the creation of an overly hot microclimate inside the structure (if the greenhouse is not ventilated by opening the window), due to which the leaves of the plants may turn yellow.

Photo gallery: options for greenhouses from window frames

Each window frame can be lifted freely to ventilate the greenhouse
Two long window frames were used to create a greenhouse. In a greenhouse of small height it is better to plant seedlings of cabbage Plants in a greenhouse are planted on a layer of manure and fertilized soil A greenhouse can be created easily and with a minimum amount of materials.

Drawings and dimensions

If a gardener decides to make a greenhouse out of window frames, then he usually considers two design options. The first can be imagined as a small and low house with a shed roof, and the second as a small building with a two-slope roof.

Greenhouses are designed so that water does not linger on their roof.

These greenhouses have the same length and height. Only the width distinguishes them from each other. The second greenhouse, the top of which is covered with not one, but two window frames, is more spacious. But its construction will require more materials and building skills.

Therefore, the owners of gardens prefer to build a greenhouse in the form of a house with a pitched roof. If you plan to plant tall plants, such as tomatoes, in a mini-greenhouse, then the height of the lower side wall should be increased to 40 cm.

The frame of the greenhouse is made up of vertically installed boards.

If desired, you can make an in-depth greenhouse covered with a glass frame. Such a mini-greenhouse will allow you to quickly grow vegetables in early spring.

An in-depth greenhouse is suitable for those gardeners who want to get large fruits of vegetables.

To create an in-depth greenhouse in the ground, a hole is dug 75 cm deep. Manure and fertilized soil are placed in it. On top of the created ridge, a window frame measuring 160 × 106 cm is placed, installed on the couples.

Southern and northern couple - materials for the manufacture of an in-depth greenhouse

A glass greenhouse can be built from one long or several window frames. A rectangular frame with large glass is considered the best option, as it will give the plants more light. Although there are no special criteria for choosing this building material. The main thing is that the glass is intact, and the frame wood is not rotten.

To create a greenhouse, it is preferable to take large window frames.

To create a mini-greenhouse, windows remaining after repair are suitable. You can find used windows through an ad in a newspaper or at a company that dismantles old wooden frames and puts plastic double-glazed windows in their place.

All frames taken as building materials for the construction of a greenhouse must be exactly the same. When using different wooden windows, it will not be possible to make the greenhouse airtight, since the frames will not fit snugly together.

It is advisable to find window frames with vents. They will allow you to ventilate the greenhouse without raising its glass roof.

The vent of the window frame used to build the greenhouse will become an air vent

Window frames are recommended to be prepared for further use as a greenhouse material. This includes the replacement of broken and rotten parts, as well as the dismantling of handles, latches and unnecessary fittings. Wooden elements of window frames need to be sprinkled with an antiseptic that slows down the process of wood damage under the influence of precipitation.

Materials and tools

To realize the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a greenhouse from window frames, you need to find the following materials:

concrete mortar;
bricks;
3 thick boards;
2 thick boards;
6 scraps of boards;
2 thick boards in the shape of a right triangle;
one long window frame.

When building a greenhouse, you will need materials for the foundation, frame and roof

It is necessary to assemble a mini-greenhouse from these parts using:

loops;
nails;
self-tapping screws;
screwdriver;
door handle.

We build a greenhouse from window frames with our own hands - a step-by-step guide to making

The greenhouse is created in several steps:

Video: glass frame greenhouse assembly features

A greenhouse in the country is a necessary building. It is built from a small amount of materials and is cheap for the gardener. You can save even more on the manufacture of a greenhouse if you use window frames instead of film and arcs. From them it will be possible to build a mini-greenhouse, which is easy to open and has a good microclimate.

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

The short summer season is sometimes accompanied by cool weather and prolonged rains. However, the desire to get a good harvest, regardless of climatic conditions, remains with all summer residents. . A properly organized greenhouse is able to accumulate heat and maintain the desired microclimate inside the space.

Some people turn to specialists in this matter to create a greenhouse, the rest boldly get down to business and build a structure with their own hands. When performing work independently, other technologies are also used. However, such a greenhouse from old frames is considered the simplest option, it is quite simple to build it. Glass, by its properties, is better suited than film for a greenhouse with vegetable crops. It not only allows the rays of the sun to penetrate better into the greenhouse, but also keeps it inside longer.

Important points during construction

Let's dwell on some details that are important to know in order to build a greenhouse from old wooden beams correctly:

In addition to a suitable place for construction in a summer cottage, the dimensions of the greenhouse also determine the dimensions of the existing old window frames;
If you need a reliable design that is designed for long-term operation, it is better to make the frame of the greenhouse capital. An excellent option for creating a solid foundation is brickwork. The roof for the greenhouse can be made a separate removable element, which is dismantled for the period of winter and snow loads. If the brick version for the frame does not suit you, you can build a base using boards;
When building a greenhouse from unnecessary old windows, the upper part of the frame can be made with one or two slopes. To tilt the roof in both directions, you must first lay a ridge beam in the middle. If a shed greenhouse is planned, its location should contribute to maximum sun exposure during the day. Such a condition will favorably affect the condition of the plants;
If there are a lot of old windows, it is better to make the entire frame completely from them, because such greenhouses from frames let in much more light, contributing to the active development of vegetable crops during the growth period. However, you need to be careful not to damage the integrity of the mounted glass in the side part;
Do not forget that your building must be airtight. In addition to the fact that the assembly of the greenhouse requires accuracy and precision, care must also be taken to eliminate gaps between the elements. Do-it-yourself filling of seams can be done with the help of sealants and special putties. The better the space is isolated from the inside, the better for the plants;
Provide a few props that can support the window frames at a time when you need to work in the greenhouse, caring for vegetables;
Choose a place for a greenhouse from old window elements as calm as possible. It is desirable that a water supply to the building be provided for convenient irrigation. A great option is to build a greenhouse by connecting it to another existing capital structure;
If the frame is made of wood, take care to protect the structure from the rotting process. Before you mount the frame, you must first distribute the roofing material around the perimeter, and impregnate the lower part of the supporting structure from the boards with resin. Subject to these measures, the base of the greenhouse made of window elements will last a long time;
In order for the service life of a greenhouse made of old wooden beams to be obviously impressive, it is better to build a brick base to support the frame.

Sequential steps in the construction of the structure

Preparatory stage:

Measure all window frames you have. Most often, the elements of old frames differ from each other in size;
Knowing the dimensions, you can understand which option for the distribution of elements along the frame is the most optimal. If all the elements for the greenhouse are the same, the difficulties in their distribution will be minimal;
Fix your solution after the calculations on the drawing, at least schematically. Thus, you do not have to do the same work several times, remembering the final version. On the drawing, fix the front door and the places reserved for the beds, mark the distances between them. Don't forget to make handles later. .

Determine the optimal location

The choice of location must be approached very carefully, since the competent placement of a greenhouse on the site is one of the main components of a successful harvest. In order for the sun to warm up the soil of the greenhouse from the window frames for as long as possible, choose a site next to which there will be no tall shrubs and trees. It is also desirable to move away from the buildings on the site, which cast an impressive shadow. The area under the greenhouse must be protected from drafts caused by the wind.

The plot of land under the greenhouse should be flat. The orientation for the placement of the structure is from north to south. Choose loose soil for greenhouse installation. Avoid the proximity of groundwater when placing the structure, it is better that the soil is moderately dry.

We mount the base with our own hands

It is quite simple to build a foundation for a greenhouse from old frames, since this structure does not create much pressure on the base. The foundation can be tape, for this, a recess in the ground is arranged along the perimeter of the greenhouse and poured with a concrete mixture. Also, the base is made of brick and wood. Brick and concrete options are more durable.

There is a base made of metal, it is also used for the greenhouse frame of window elements. Such a foundation is mounted strictly under the supporting pillars.

is the level match. Control this parameter with a special device.

Preparing window frames

This stage implies the dismantling of unnecessary parts from frame elements: fasteners, hinges, window handles, etc. Next, sand the surface of the frames, removing the old layer of paint. Under these conditions, the new paint will be distributed evenly and forms a reliable protective layer that prevents the process of decay. Additional processing of wood from rodents will not be a superfluous event.

We mount the frame with our own hands

Before installing window frames made of wood, it is necessary to build a frame for the future greenhouse. Its construction is not particularly difficult, it is necessary to be guided by the dimensions of the drawing, when preparing bars of the desired size. The assembly of elements among themselves is carried out by means of special screws and nails.

Fastening elements to the frame structure

In order for the structure to turn out to be stable and last for many years, it is better to mount the frames with the help of screws and self-tapping screws. These fasteners are not more reliable than nails, however, they can reduce the likelihood of glass damage. The space between the elements is sealed with sealants or mounting foam, depending on the size of the gaps. Thus, the necessary conditions for the tightness of the space will be met in the greenhouse.

roof structure

The best option is a gable roof with a ridge beam arranged along the greenhouse. . It is better not to use the material for the greenhouse roof, choose a lighter material. An excellent solution would be a polycarbonate roof, its cost per footage of the upper part of the greenhouse structure is quite acceptable.

The greenhouse is a great option for organizing a healthy diet for the whole family. And who will take care of him, no matter how her head? The use of a greenhouse on the site makes it possible to grow fresh vegetables and herbs almost all year round, it creates the necessary microclimate for plants, which contributes to their growth.

Greenhouses from window frames: what are they good for

For a long time, greenhouses from window frames have become popular, which are easy to construct with your own hands. The material is very affordable, so this is a fairly profitable option to acquire a greenhouse.

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

A greenhouse made of window frames is good because any ventilation can be performed in it (if the frames are with working windows), regardless of the front door.

Advantages of window frame greenhouses

A few positive aspects of using a greenhouse from window frames:

Profitability. 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 because, as a rule, they are already covered with all the necessary protective layers of paint and other mixtures, so they are reliably protected from natural influences.
Environmental friendliness. Wood is a natural material that is most harmonious for a greenhouse.
Durability depends on the type of wood from which the frames are made. On average, the service life of a greenhouse made of window frames is no more than 5 years, although this also depends on the climatic zone, as well as on care.
Heat capacity. No matter how old window structures are, they perfectly retain heat. Thanks to the unhindered penetration of sunlight into the greenhouse from the window frames, it warms up naturally.
Good lighting. Glasses have high light transmission, which allows the sun to illuminate the space of the greenhouse as well as the beds in the open air.

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

Strength. Natural wood itself is a very durable material. And the processing of raw materials before use only increases this property.

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

Construction of a greenhouse from window frames: preparatory work

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

Choice of location. in the sunniest place of the site, not covered by trees and buildings.
Soil selection. The soil on which crops are grown should not have a clay layer. If there is no such soil on your site, it is prepared for the greenhouse yourself. A pit is dug over the entire area of the greenhouse with a depth of a spade bayonet or a little more. The soil "pie" consists of gravel, sand and soil cleared of roots, stones and weeds.
. Its detailed compilation, taking into account all the parameters, makes it possible to accurately calculate the amount of materials needed for the 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 layout of their placement, which will greatly facilitate the assembly of the structure.
Preparation of window frames. If you plan to use old frames (most often it is from them that greenhouses are built), then before installation they should be carefully inspected for damage. All fittings, glass (for safety) and old paint should be removed from old frames, rotten elements should be replaced with new ones. Then the wood is treated with antiseptics, the opening elements of the frames that are not planned for use are fixed with self-tapping screws or sealed with sealant, the frames are painted.

Walling

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

Frame. Before installing window frames, it is necessary to build a frame, the volume of which is formed by vertical racks. For the frame, boards are used, the thickness of which is equal to the thickness of the frames, they should be fixed according to the drawn up drawing. Such docks will still be needed to install harnesses.
Frame installation. The frames are attached to the racks with a long side using self-tapping screws. The resulting gaps can be foamed, but the mounting foam tends to collapse under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, therefore it is better to use silicone or another substance for these purposes. From the inside, small-section timber supports can be attached to the frames for greater stability.

Roof device

The type of roof is selected at the planning and drawing stage. If the frames are not enough for a gable roof, you can make a shed. Frames are attached in the 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 the construction of the greenhouse from window frames, the glass removed early is fastened with glazing beads.

And what and how will tell .

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Even in a temperate climate, it will cost the owner a lot. However, enterprising summer residents have learned to save money and use all available means at hand to achieve their goal. It is for this reason that you should not throw away old window frames. After all, a do-it-yourself greenhouse made from old window frames is a great and inexpensive alternative.

By the way - even “empty”, i.e., without glasses, the frames are quite usable - they can later be covered with plastic wrap or glass trimmings, polycarbonate, etc. can be inserted into them.

But here it is worth understanding that wood is a very capricious material and without appropriate preparation it will simply rot in the ground in a couple of years.

In order for the future greenhouse from old window frames to last for more than one year, it is important to “prepare” wood frames, that is, treat them with special compounds to increase their service life. This does not require spending a lot of time, and money too. You just need to do a few simple manipulations.

1. First of all, the future building material should be cleaned - free the frames from fittings: all small and large carnations, hooks, loops, latches and the like are removed from the tree. In addition, if glass remains in the frames, they must also be removed for a while - for better processing of the material.
When choosing frames, it is important to remember that the construction of a greenhouse from old window frames implies the presence of several (at least two) vents - for ventilation.

2. Cleaning wood from old paint and other facing material (self-adhesive paper, wallpaper, etc.) is the most important stage in preparing frames. After this event, the resulting bare tree should be mainly covered in several layers with antiseptic compounds, and then with paint or varnish - which is at hand.

By the way - in order to achieve the maximum service life of the greenhouse from window frames, it is best to use light colors of paint (the best option would be white) - this will reduce the heating of the structure.

What size greenhouse from window frames to choose?

First of all, the owner must determine what size he wants to build a greenhouse from window frames with his own hands. Maybe it will be quite enough for him to organize a small portable greenhouse for growing seedlings, or he needs a capital building. A lot will depend on this choice: the choice of a place for future construction, the preparation and compaction of the soil, the organization of the foundation, and all in the same vein. But here it is worth understanding that the dimensions of such a structure will directly depend on the number of ready-made frames available.

Advice: with a limited amount of material, but the desire to have a fairly large greenhouse, it can easily be made as an extension to the building - a barn, a house, and so on.

Do-it-yourself greenhouse from old window frames: preparation

Choice of location.

Before starting the construction of a greenhouse from window frames or other improvised raw materials, you should carefully select a place - it should be on the illuminated plot of land for the longest possible time. That is, a garden with trees, an area near relatively tall buildings, other shady areas should not be considered.

The density and uniformity of the soil must also be considered. For example, if the soil is bulk, then it should be thoroughly compacted beforehand, otherwise the greenhouse from window frames may subsequently roll, squint.

Construction site preparation.

To build a greenhouse from window frames with your own hands, designed for several years of service, you need to thoroughly clear the site - remove bushes, trees and their roots, clear the soil of other litter.

It is also important to take into account that the place of future work should not be at a too low level - this is how moisture will constantly get into the greenhouse from window frames, storm water will flow in, thereby heating, albeit a light, simple foundation, spoiling already quite old wood frames.

Do-it-yourself greenhouse from old window frames: step by step

So, if the owner wishes and has the opportunity (availability of the necessary building materials) to make a greenhouse from window frames, it is worth remembering that a height of 2.45-2.60 meters (the most acceptable height) will require the organization of the foundation.

Foundation.

When organizing a reliable foundation, you get a very durable structure that can last about 7-11 years - it all depends on the literacy of the preparatory work, woodworking, etc.

To increase the service life of the entire structure, as well as compaction of the lower layers of the soil, it is better to think about additional soil insulation. For these purposes, dense polyethylene is used, laid along the perimeter of the greenhouse from window frames below the freezing level of the soil.

As for the foundation itself, then it “works” well here, both the tape version of a concrete or similar mixture, and the columnar version.

Concrete tape option.

The tape variation implies early marking followed by digging small trenches, the height of which should be at least 75 cm, and the width, in turn, 16, better than 20 centimeters.

Sealing "cushion" (16-22 cm) is made of sequentially laid layers of sand mixture and fine gravel - crushed stone.

Wooden formwork is installed by means of reinforcement with a concrete mass above ground level (reinforcing with reinforcement is preferred).

It should be understood that the thoroughness of concrete drying depends directly on the surrounding conditions - from 2-4 days in hot, stable weather and up to 20 days in changeable wet.

The basis from a dense bar.

However, a wooden base made of solid timber or dense boards is also suitable. However, it will last a little less - up to 6 years with reasonable preparation of the timber (wood deteriorates and rots in the soil very quickly).

The beam must be selected with a size of at least 10:10 cm. It is covered with antiseptic agents and painted with varnish-varnish in several layers.

The finished wood is laid in a trench dug in advance - shallow and with a width of about 16 cm. Moreover, it is preferable to lay the tree on the same "cushion" of sand-gravel.

If you want to achieve the maximum service life, the timber should be wrapped in polyethylene, roofing material and other similar canvases that do not allow moisture to pass through.

Each individual bar is connected to the next through the use of corners.

Column option.

The simplest and most cost-effective is precisely the columnar base: it will require a little time to organize, plus everything - the minimum cost of building material.

Initially, it is necessary to dig narrow holes with a minimum depth of half a meter - in the corners and in steps of 3 meters.

A wooden formwork is installed in each cell obtained, sand is poured on top of which crushed stone or crushed stone is laid, tamped, periodically poured with water (a small amount) - to achieve the most dense fastening.

When the formwork is centered and securely fixed, it is poured with concrete mix.

Frame organization.

To simplify the construction process, as well as the minimum amount of construction waste, a plan should be drawn in advance, guided by the number of frames available and the size of the foundation. On this drawing, it is necessary to indicate the places of fixation of the intermediate and main (corner) beams, the location of doors, vents / windows, as well as the height of fixation of the upper part of the frames for the greenhouse.

Given the fact that the greenhouse will be built from old unnecessary frames - wood, then the frame should be preferred to wood. However, metal corners in this case "work" well.

Need to know: the binding of the lower part of such a structure is carried out even at the stage of laying the upper sections of the foundation, it is poured with concrete or a similar mixture - for the most effective adhesion to the base. As for the upper and central horizontal strapping, they are fixed to the “skeleton” of the structure using self-tapping bolts of appropriate sizes (galvanized steel elements are most preferred).

Roof.

The most ergonomic roof configurations are considered to be triangular "houses" and, of course, arched hemispherical counterparts. Both of these types perfectly tolerate winter drifts - the snow simply rolls off the sloping sloping canvases.

Arched cover.

Those who wish to have exactly an arched type of roof on a personal greenhouse made of window frames will have to fork out a little and order arched hollow pipes from the corresponding manufacturer. If the owner has a special pipe bender in his personal use, then you should still use it - if you have experience working on this tool, of course.
Curved rods in this situation are fixed to transverse straight lines perpendicularly in increments of about 45-55 centimeters by using self-tapping bolts.

Triangle roofs.

As for the triangular variation of the roof, it is assembled, like the previous one - on the ground and from separate durable boards, better - durable glued beams of the same diameter as the frames. The tops of the "triangles" are fixed to ridge boards or metal plates.

In order for the roof to turn out to be light enough, it should be covered with either a very dense film or honeycomb (cellular) polycarbonate sheets.

Installation of frames directly.

Prepared in advance - painted and impregnated with antiseptic compounds, the frames are fixed to the racks to the frame by using corners, self-tapping bolts and quality metal plates. It is worth fixing vents, windows and doors on special hinges.

Advice: it is better to install moving parts in opposite sides of the greenhouse from window frames, for better ventilation of the interior of the greenhouse.

All leaks formed during the installation process must first be treated with a sealant - blown out with mounting foam and wood planks are clogged on top. Glasses are inserted into the frames with subsequent sealing - special compositions of gels, silica gels and so on.

If the owner wishes to use film covering materials such as a dense film, it is worth thinking about an assistant - it will be difficult to carry out such activities personally. Here it is necessary to understand that not just cloves or self-tapping screws should be used as fasteners - this is how the film at the attachment points will let cold air flows through, but pre-prepared wood slats.

In conclusion, it must be added that the service life of a greenhouse built from old window frames with your own hands will directly depend on the quality of preparatory and construction work, as well as proper ergonomic care - washing, antiseptic measures and other things.