Greenhouse greenhouses from window frames. Greenhouse from window frames: do-it-yourself construction

Do not puzzle over where to dispose of old wooden or plastic windows after repair. Using this guide and helpful tips from summer residents, build a greenhouse or a full-fledged greenhouse from window frames with your own hands - and treat yourself to early vegetables, and among the neighbors you will be known as a master. Thoroughly study how to make the structure reliable and airtight so that it solves the assigned tasks, withstands bad weather and stands on the site for several seasons.

Neat greenhouse from window frames

Pros and cons of greenhouses from old window frames

Does the prospect of getting a practically free greenhouse warm your soul? Do not rush to rub your hands in anticipation of future profits from greenhouse farming - a cheap greenhouse has both advantages and disadvantages. For example, you cannot make such a greenhouse yourself in a jiffy, and even live, and in the photo the buildings are significantly inferior in terms of appearance polycarbonate. Whether such a solution suits you, you will understand when you study other nuances.

Mini greenhouse from an old window

Features of frame greenhouses

A greenhouse made of window frames, in addition to cost, has other advantages:

windows, if they have retained their integrity, keep heat well;
in the presence of glasses, it is not necessary to spend money on covering material;
the design is quite light, and the soil warms up quickly;
there are already vents in the window frames, which means that the ventilation issue has been resolved;
a leaky element can always be replaced with a similar one.

Greenhouse from window second-hand

On the other hand, a do-it-yourself greenhouse made of window frames, even in the photo, looks, to put it mildly, unpresentable. If you approach the matter responsibly, then its installation will take at least a week. Therefore, those who value their own time are worth their weight in gold or worry about landscape design of their site, they do not undertake the construction of a frame greenhouse.

The disadvantages should also include a large number of joints and connections between often different-sized frames. They all need to be sealed with sealant so that precious heat does not leak into the cracks. It will be necessary to grease, tint, repair such a greenhouse during the entire period of operation. Besides:

a greenhouse assembled from “pieces” is difficult to dismantle and move to another place;
glass breaks easily and, working near the walls of the greenhouse, care must be taken;
the greenhouse turns out to be heavy - you can’t do without a foundation.

Window frames shade the greenhouse by 30%

We must not forget that under glass, which retains UV B and C spectrum useful for plants, crops grow more slowly than under a light-transmitting film. Is it worth abandoning the idea altogether because of these features? Of course not, they just need to be taken into account in the design of a home-made greenhouse and responsibly approach the choice of a place for it.

Choice of location and design

Before you make a greenhouse out of window frames, decide where it will be located. The question is far from being idle: not only its size and shape, but also the internal microclimate and productivity directly depend on the location of the structure. Of course, these recommendations are not feasible for every site, but if possible, try to comply with them at least partially:

so that the greenhouse is well lit and protected from the north winds, install it in front of tall structures or plantings;
build a structure on the southeast, southwest or south side of the site;
it’s good if there is a hill in this place, otherwise you will have to equip the drainage layer;
analyze the condition of the soil in the selected plot - if the soil is clayey, cover it with gravel and fill it with black soil;
place the greenhouse for tomatoes as far as possible from the plantation with potatoes - this is important for preventing the spread of late blight;
keep in mind that the south-north is considered the most successful direction of the roof ridge - this is how the cultivated crops receive maximum amount sun rays from the east and south.

The location of the greenhouse on the site

If you want to extend the growing season, consider also the communications system - you will need to provide heating, lighting and watering. To make it all easier to do it yourself, it is important that the window frame greenhouse is located as close as possible to the energy source.

As for the shape of the greenhouse, then choose it based on your goals:

For a hotbed greenhouse, a box-shaped structure inclined to one side is suitable. It is also convenient to organize temporary storage of root crops in it in the fall.
It is convenient to grow greens and grown seedlings in a gable mini-greenhouse.
To get a crop of cucumbers or tomatoes, you need a greenhouse-house with a height of at least 1.8 m with doors and vents.

The simplest greenhouse

Do-it-yourself construction stages

To figure out how to build a small but functional greenhouse from old window frames, check out step by step master class, provided by an experienced vegetable grower, and a video describing the process. First, determine the dimensions by the number of frames, and then draw a sketch of the greenhouse on a scale and decide on the type of foundation.

Which is better - foundation or foundation

For the sake of maximum simplification and reduction in the cost of construction, another summer resident plans to do without a foundation and install the greenhouse simply on the ground. In professional construction, there is the concept of a base - an array of soil that can perceive the load from the structure without deformation. But for this it is strengthened different ways:

pneumatic rammer;
silicification (introduction into the soil layer of a solution liquid glass);
cementation (injection of liquid cement mortar).

It is unrealistic and unprofitable to create a base strong enough for a heavy greenhouse on your own and without equipment. Therefore, based on your own considerations and financial capabilities, you need to choose the material for the foundation. Usually consider the following options:

wooden beam;
bricks or blocks;
reinforced concrete.

Shell block construction

The beam is quickly installed, but it also rots quickly. It can and should be impregnated with resin or wrapped in roofing felt, but these activities only slow down the process for a short time. A plinth made of silicate or hollow brick will not last long, and well-fired clinker is expensive. The purchase of foundation blocks will not be much cheaper, since according to the technology they need to be insulated and insulated with high quality, and this will also cost a pretty penny.

The bar is enough for 3-4 years

Some craftsmen manage to adapt railway sleepers for greenhouses, car tires, iron pipes. But the most predictable and relatively cheap is a shallow concrete strip support - the service life with the right approach exceeds tens of years. To understand how justified such a structure is for a homemade greenhouse from old frames, study the installation technology.

Tire base

How to pour a concrete foundation

Determine the width of the foundation tape according to the type of soil: 20 cm (for loams) or 25 cm (for sandy soils). At the previously selected place, remove the site and mark up:

Select the location of the first corner and in its place, using a plumb line, vertically install a peg or piece of reinforcement.
Pull the string from it at a right angle and determine the second and third corners at the required distance - also mark them with pegs.
From the second and third corners towards the fourth, stretch the twine and, setting the corner, set the last mark.
Check the resulting rectangle diagonally: they should be equal.
In a similar way, mark the inner contour of the foundation.

Finished trench

Calculate the required height of the foundation from the ground as the difference between the height of the window frames and the height of the greenhouse under construction along the floor beams. Mark the calculated size on the pegs and stretch the string horizontally.

Now comes the turn earthworks. According to the marking, dig a trench 30 cm deep. The walls should be vertical; when the soil is shedding, install temporary supports. Check the bottom with a level and, at the slightest slope, level it to the horizontal. Pour sand into the finished trench in layers, spilling and tamping each layer. The thickness of the pillow is 15 cm.

From edged board and timber, assemble the formwork.
From the outside, install supports to prevent its deformation.
Attach reinforcing bars with a diameter of 8–12 mm to the formwork walls and tie them together with wire.
Mix cement grade 200 with sifted river sand in a ratio of 1:2 or 1:2.5 and dilute with water to a state of liquid sour cream.
Pour crushed stone with the resulting solution - its amount is the same as sand.
Mix the concrete and pour it into the formwork, in the process compacting it with improvised means, a perforator or construction mixer.
Align upper layer a rule or a trowel and sprinkle it with concrete sifted through a sieve.

Pouring concrete

The resulting foundation can be used subsequently for more than one greenhouse.

Finished base

Installation of windows and frames

Dismantled windows should be prepared before reuse. Check their condition - dried wood cannot be restored and is not suitable for a greenhouse. Carefully remove old hinges, nails, latches from the frames - everything that is outdated or may interfere with installation. To avoid damaging the glass, temporarily remove:

Remove the glazing beads from the window frame, pull out all the glass, marking them in accordance with each opening.
Wash the glass sheets with warm soapy water.
Replace cracked glass and add new ones to replace missing ones.
Blowtorch or paint stripper, remove the layer of the old coating.
Fill in any irregularities if necessary.
Apply several layers of antiseptic, let the surface dry.
Color the frames exterior paint light color.

Repaired window frame

The most time-consuming operation in the construction of a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands is the construction of a frame. It is optimal if, after replacing the windows with metal-plastic double-glazed windows, frames of the same size remain. In this case, lay a sheet of roofing material on a concrete foundation, on it - a beam of the lower trim. Then, one by one, use dowels to screw the frames to the foundation and tie them with racks and jumpers for rigidity.

Scheme of the frame from the boards

When installing oversized frames with frame structure will have to tinker a little more:

At the corners of the foundation, place vertical posts of the same height, equal to the height of the largest frame and the width of the lower trim beam.
Firmly install the top trim around the entire perimeter.
Attach the first frame to it with three dowels, and leave its lower edge free.
Install the second frame in the same way, but on the other side.
Bring the lower beam into the gap between the frames and the foundation and attach it to the foundation and pillars.
Lay the remaining open space with a board according to its size - due to the location at the bottom, such inserts will not obscure the greenhouse.

Holes covered with plastic wrap

Alternatively, the playing height of the frames can be compensated with polycarbonate inserts, installing them in any place.

Wooden and plastic frames - pros and cons

The nuances of building a greenhouse from wooden windows, positive and not so, discussed above. But more and more often it happens that pioneer homeowners, once the first to replace wooden frames on metal-plastic double-glazed windows, they already have to be changed. This means that such material can also fall into the hands. Upon closer examination, metal-plastic has its advantages and disadvantages in the new "role".

At first glance, a metal-plastic greenhouse is impeccable:

the design looks modern;
keeps heat superbly;
equipped with ready-made vents;
resistant to wind and snow;
durable and environmentally friendly.

Factory greenhouse made of metal-plastic

After looking at the new windows of the house, someone will even want to invest a sum of money in a capital greenhouse from metal-plastic frames. However, not everything is so rosy - the windows are still intended for other purposes and have not been tested in greenhouse conditions. Especially many questions arise regarding restoration:

depressurized frames (one of common causes replacements) are also unsuitable for greenhouses;
during installation, it is impossible to pull the glass out of the frames - there is a high risk of damage;
if the upper trim and the roof of the greenhouse are incorrectly installed, an uneven load acts on the window frame, and the double-glazed window bursts;
it is impossible to replace broken glass "on the knee" - specialists and equipment are needed.

Drawing of a homemade greenhouse

The greenhouse itself turns out to be non-separable and heavy - it will be extremely problematic to move it to a new place with your own hands. If you have free plastic windows, then why not build a greenhouse out of them. But do not be tempted to buy specifically for this purpose: for the money you can find better specialized solutions.

If you still decide to use double-glazed windows, remember: their installation is carried out on the lower trim simultaneously with the installation of frame racks made of wooden beams or steel profile(the latter option is more reliable). In the process, plastic frames can be drilled with self-tapping screws or screws, the main thing is to know where to do it so as not to damage the valuable material.

Video: where you can drill window plastic

Greenhouse made of frames with a polycarbonate roof

So, the task of how to make a greenhouse with your own hands from old window frames is almost solved. It remains to cover the structure and thereby protect the plantings from precipitation. There are three ways to do this:

Using the same frames as for walls is only acceptable for box greenhouses, since placing a heavy structure with glass over someone's head is unsafe.
Covering with a film or spunbond is a simple and affordable solution. True, you will have to build a roof frame, and remove the material for the winter.
Install polycarbonate sheets - if there are no stocks. This option requires material costs, but no hail is terrible for the greenhouse, and it will be possible to operate it indefinitely.

Arched greenhouse under polycarbonate

Decide on the shape of the roof - will it be arched or gable. Arched lets in more sunlight, covering it with film or polycarbonate is a pleasure, but you need to stock up metal profile bent on a pipe bender. If you or someone you know doesn't have this device, switch to gable roof, especially since it almost never needs to remove snow from it.

To build a load-bearing roofing system with your own hands, you will need:

ridge beam 5x5 cm of the same length as the built greenhouse;
timber 15x5 for rafters;
fasteners and Consumables;
from tools - a hammer, a saw, an electric drill, a tape measure, an ax, a plumb line.

Gable greenhouse

The algorithm of work looks like this:

Treat lumber for roofing with impregnation. Dry.
Based on the dimensions of the greenhouse and the step between the rafters (60–80 cm), calculate the required amount roof trusses. The angle of inclination of the roof is 25–30 degrees.
According to the dimensions, make the first truss of two rafter legs and bottom strap. Make all the other farms according to the template.
Install the trusses in turn on the upper trim of the frame and firmly fix them on both sides with corners and self-tapping screws.

wooden farm

Now cut the polycarbonate and, having correctly oriented the canvases (with stiffening ribs vertically and the UV-protected side up), fix them on the rafter system.

Rafter fastening

Video: do-it-yourself greenhouse construction

In conclusion, ensure the tightness of the greenhouse built by yourself:

Install window panes and secure them with glazing beads (if the old ones do not work, you can buy new ones or replace them with a colorless sealant).
Hang doors - use balcony doors, just pre-cut them in height.
Seal large holes with the remains of polycarbonate, and small gaps - mounting foam.
Check how the windows open and close, install loops and hooks to fix them.

Perhaps some points remained unclear - look in the selection of videos on how homemade summer residents get out of various situations. If you make a greenhouse out of window frames, as shown in the instructions, it will serve faithfully for many years.

Video 1: Building a greenhouse from different frames

Video 2: Homemade greenhouse on a brick base

Video 3: Greenhouse under polycarbonate

September 17, 2016
Specialization: professional approach to architecture, design and construction of private houses and cottages, novelties in the building materials and decoration market. Hobby: growing fruit trees and roses. Cultivation of rabbits of meat and decorative breeds.

Everyone is familiar with the problem with used building materials. What to do with old wooden window frames, if metal-plastic was installed in the whole house or apartment? If there country cottage area, then a mini greenhouse from windows is an excellent use of this material.

On average, a new polycarbonate greenhouse with an area of 20 square meters will cost from 15 to 25 thousand rubles. A greenhouse from old windows will cost a maximum of five thousand, taking into account the costs of building a foundation and acquiring new boards for the frame.

It is not necessary to build a monumental structure, you can limit yourself to a mini greenhouse. How to build such a greenhouse with your own hands? I offer two alternative methods.

Choosing a place to build a greenhouse

Even shallow strip foundation under the greenhouse must be built in a place where there is no close occurrence ground water. In my area, in two places at a depth of one and a half meta, the earth is already wet, and there used to house stood. So in this old house it was constantly damp. When wet, the foundation gradually collapses.

We choose a dry area, preferably with soil from black soil, under which there is a layer of sand. It is clear that not all of us are happy owners of fertile lands. Therefore, if the soil is clayey, then for the greenhouse it will be necessary to prepare the soil before building the foundation.

Under the greenhouse, a certain composition of the soil is required:

The bottom layer - gravel or gravel - is drainage that will allow excess water to pass through and allow the plant roots to breathe and prevent rotting.
Next, a layer of sand is needed - all plants love light soils at the root lobes, which allow a thin growing root to form and grow unhindered.
Only the last, top layer should be fertile. This is a layer of chernozem enriched with humus, pre-prepared leaf compost or a complex mineral fertilizers(nitroammophoska).

Greenhouse size

A small do-it-yourself greenhouse from old window frames does not need a foundation. A frame made of boards or timber can be laid directly on the ground.

So that the boards do not rot, the lower frame must be treated with a protective primer on wood or tarred. Roofing material is also suitable, which wraps the lower square of the frame and rack, about 50 centimeters above the ground.

the most comfortable beds- one meter wide, they are easy to handle on both sides;
we make the path between the beds of such a width that it is convenient to move around. If you do not plan to use a garden wheelbarrow, then the optimal width of the track is half a meter;
the optimal width of the greenhouse is four meters. There are three beds and two paths here. The length is arbitrary.

You can plan a future greenhouse in advance on paper. It takes a couple of minutes to make a drawing, but it will help you navigate the right number of frames and boards, and optimally break down the right number of beds and paths.

Foundation device

The foundation is needed for large greenhouse, since the mass of frames with glasses is rather big. A do-it-yourself greenhouse made of window frames is installed on a shallow (50 - 60 centimeters) strip foundation, since the frame under the weight of the frames can shrink and the structure is deformed.

for a footage of 10 square meters, a foundation on pillars is also suitable. The calculation of the number of pillars is based on the number of window frames. Ideally, each frame should be supported by two posts;
you can make a foundation of concrete, brick, or use a ready-made welded metal frame;
It is important to remember that brickwork without a foundation, it “rides” over time, and it is impossible to bury it in the ground. Therefore, under the brick columns, you still need to pour a concrete base.
in regions with severe frosts, it is worth using the natural heat of the soil. Therefore, the greenhouse is buried in the ground by about half a meter or a meter, depending on the depth of freezing of the earth in winter;
we fill a simple strip foundation in the usual way: a trench, formwork from boards, concrete pouring, solidification, formwork removal.

The foundation must be covered with roofing material before installing the frame. This will help further protect wooden details frame from moisture.

A welded frame is much more convenient. Why? For the reason that, if desired, the greenhouse can be moved to another place. If we fill the foundation, then this is already a stationary building.

I think you will be interested, there is information regarding the assessment suburban area. So - when evaluating real estate on a site, all covered buildings on the foundation are included in the total economic area, for which you have to pay tax. Therefore, it is cheaper to cook frame foundation under the greenhouse, which is easy to disassemble before the arrival of the evaluation commission.

Mounting the frame for frames

Before making a greenhouse out of window frames, all wooden parts must be treated with a deep penetration primer, and the wood must also be painted. This will keep it from rotting. Carefully clean all old frames from paint and fit the parts so that there are no gaps.

Vents and hinges do not need to be removed, they are useful for installation and subsequent ventilation of the greenhouse in the summer. If the frames are different in size, then we group them in such a way that the lower ones fall on the ends of the greenhouse, and the higher ones cover its long part.

Doors will be installed on the sides and the missing height can be hemmed with boards, but along the length it is better to be solid.

For the base of the frame, a 50x50 timber or an unedged board, a thickness of 40 - 50 mm, is quite suitable, it is no longer needed, as the weight of the entire structure increases. The board for the skeleton is preferable, since its width allows you to securely fasten the frames to the screws, and will give our base additional rigidity.

Frame elements:

Lower trim - dimensions along the perimeter of the foundation. The bars can be fastened together with metal corners on self-tapping screws, and not with nails, this is more reliable. If the strapping is made from a board, then one or two more boards can be installed to stiffen the length.
Racks are attached vertically to bottom harness. They are mounted at the corners, along the length and on the sides with a step equal to the width of the window frames chosen for the greenhouse. Racks in one row should be lower than in another - for a slope of 40 degrees. The difference in the height of the racks is 30 centimeters.
The top trim is the basis for the roof. A window greenhouse made of frames must have a slope angle of at least 40 degrees so that water flows calmly and accumulates in the film.
It is not advisable to mount a gable roof on such a structure. Suitable and a roof in one slope. In order for the film to be securely fastened, the step between the roof rails should be no more than 60 cm. Drywall guides can be used for the roof. They are lightweight and very easy to attach to wood with self-tapping screws.

All fasteners are carried out only on wood screws. Fastening with nails during operation does not stand up to criticism, in a year the whole structure will stagger in the wind.

Fastening frames to the frame

There are a few important nuances, which must be taken into account when fastening frames to the finished frame:

Fastening step with self-tapping screws 25 - 30 centimeters, not less.
Joints between frames must be sealed. Mounting foam or regular window putty will do. Additionally, you can lay a thermal tape or a rubber seal.
For reliability, the outside of the frame must also be attached with self-tapping screws, here the step can be more than 40 - 50 cm.
For reliability from the inside, the frame can be fixed with a board along the bottom. We also fasten to wood screws.

If there are few old frames, then the north side of the greenhouse can be sewn up with a board or thick

Gable roof

The roofing material is a dense polyethylene film for greenhouses or polycarbonate. Roof glazing is a thankless task. Hail, heavy rain or a squall and you have to change the glazing, and the price of glass is rather high now.

The minus of the film is that this canopy will have to be removed for the winter, and the reliability leaves much to be desired. Advantage - a shed roof is suitable, less work and consumption of building materials. The step of the crate under the film is not more than 40 m, as it sags and rainwater accumulates in it.
Polycarbonate is more expensive than a film, but it is a more reliable option, and it also allows you to install an arched roof.

It is better to cover a home-made greenhouse of small sizes with a film; it is easy to remove it for the winter.

Installation of a gable roof frame

The order of work is as follows:

We mount two load-bearing beams along the length, we will mount the roof rafters on them.
We attach rafters to the upper harness, depending on the length of the greenhouse, from three to six pieces.
It is important to determine the angle of inclination of the rafters, it must be the same.
We mount the rafters to the bearing beam using vertical posts (trusses).
Next, along the rafters, we apply a crate of slats for fixing the roof covering. For polycarbonate, the spacing of the rails is 60 - 80 centimeters, for the film 40 - 50 cm.
We fix the roof on the crate. It is desirable to fix the film to the rafters with thin slats, for reliability.

That's all, our greenhouse is ready, you can supply water and install electrics and lighting.

Do not rush to throw old window frames into the landfill - this is a wonderful material for building a greenhouse!

In the video presented in this article, you can see the whole process of building a greenhouse from old window frames. If readers have any interesting suggestions and innovations, I invite you to discuss them in the comments.

September 17, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thanks!

Having set a goal to assemble a greenhouse from old window frames with your own hands, it is reasonable to install a hard standard windows regarding size, wood condition. Otherwise, an interesting and exciting job will turn into an almost insoluble problem, and the country barn will turn into a junk warehouse.

Frames with cracked or broken glass will not be accepted at all. spend money on glazing old frame we will not, on principle - there is a whole.

Glass or film?

But still, let's consider the option of using window frames, lost glazing. After all, whatever you say, but they are much more common.

Installation of new glass will require additional costs:

We remove the old glazing bead (a thin wooden profile that secures the glass in the frame). As a rule, the old glazing bead cannot be saved, you will have to buy a new one.
We clean the grooves from fragments of broken glass, nails, influxes of paint. Let's take the exact size with a negative allowance of 1-2 mm. An error of a couple of millimeters will lead to the need to expand the grooves with a chisel.
We order glass in the workshop, we take it to the dacha. Transportation of glass will require secure packaging of the fragile sheet.
We coat the grooves with a primer (you can use red lead) for sealing, lay the glass, fix it with a precisely cut glazing bead. To do this, you need special thin nails, which you also have to buy.

Much easier to replace lost glass cheap transparent PVC film.

In order to stretch the film well under the glazing bead in the grooves, considerable skill is required. Stretching will go easier if you install the film on the outer surface frames.

If the film sags, it will soon tear up. Her main enemies are the sun, wind, snow and birds.

Anyway film won't last long. only one or two seasons. Will have to start in the spring holiday season from repair. Heavy snow cover will inevitably break through the film in winter, or greatly stretch it.

Under the influence of solar ultraviolet the film loses transparency becomes brittle and vulnerable to stress.

To all of these shortcomings add the most important - film does not retain heat well, and in the greenhouse the temperature will not differ much from the street.

We design a greenhouse

For a greenhouse you will need ten frames. We will conditionally accept their size as 160x60 cm.

Four frames mounted on their side will make up sides of a rectangular greenhouse(two on each side), of the two we will make its ends. Four more, laid flat, will turn into opening access hatches.

The result is a rectangular glazed box 320x160 cm

Before installing the frame clean from flaky old paint, remove the hinges and other unnecessary fittings, cover with red lead, and then paint in the desired color.

Zero cycle

Greenhouse needs the sun. Surely you have long gone over in your mind all the options for its location on the site, and have chosen a well-lit place.

Here in this very place along the east-west axis with pegs and a cord, we mark and dig a trench 1.5x3.0 m, about waist deep.

in the corners we drive trenches into the bottom one and a half meters pointed slats 6x6 cm, leaving everything that remains in length above the ground level - then we will cut it off according to the strapping.

On rails on nails row by row raise the skin trench walls. Old boards and slabs will go here.

Sheathing task- to strengthen the walls from soil creep and serve as thermal insulation for biofuels.

Base

We will make a wooden base for a greenhouse from a bar 12x12 cm.

Four timbers pre-measured to fit window frames treated with a powerful antiseptic according to a proven folk recipe:

Attention: Working with boiling oil is very dangerous. We use tight clothing, gloves, goggles.

Biofuels and land

We begin loading our country "reactor" with fuel. After installing glazed frames, this will be difficult to do.

We fill the trench by two-thirds with cuttings of branches, mowed grass and weeds (without roots), manure, leaves. We thoroughly trample down the dressing and pour water over it.

Land for a greenhouse use the one dug from the trench, but it needs to be prepared- sift from the roots of weeds, add fertilizer. If the soil is heavy, mix it with sand and peat.

We pour the prepared earth on biofuel. Raise the level so that 15-20 cm remained to the upper cut of the base. We put the rest of the prepared land in bags - it will soon be needed for backfilling, because the biofuel will noticeably sag. We will pour it through the access hatches.

Glazing elements

We install glass elements. We attach wooden frames to each other and to the base with metal corners and a steel strip with holes prepared for self-tapping screws.

Central stiffener a horizontal wooden beam will serve, connecting the end frames along the top. On this beam, we precisely mark and install hinges for folding frames, and then the frames themselves - access hatches. We supply frame hatches with handles and folding stops.

Getting rid of cracks

The gaps between the frames will nullify all efforts to create an insulated environment in the greenhouse. Eat reliable way to get rid of them.

Spray can with construction foam shake vigorously. We attach a flexible plastic tube to the spray head (it is attached to the wall with adhesive tape, like on a juice package). We introduce the tube into the slot, slightly press the spray head, blow out the opening with foam.

Quickly move on to the next gap, repeat the operation, not forgetting to shake the can. It must be used for several minutes continuously, otherwise the hole and tube will be hopelessly clogged.

The foam increases many times in volume and dries quickly. The next day, with a sharp knife, cut off the excess of hardened foam, paint over the joints.

Finishing touch

We install a thermometer in a conspicuous place in the greenhouse. The temperature can be adjusted by opening and closing the vents.

Photo

Next, a photo of greenhouses from old window frames with your own hands:

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 to future greenhouse from old window frames has served for more than one year, it is important to “prepare” wood frames, that is, treat them with special compounds to increase their service life. It doesn't take a lot of time to do this, and Money Same. You just need to do a few simple manipulations.

1. Future first construction material it is worth cleaning - freeing 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 things facing material(self-adhesive paper, wallpaper, etc.) is milestone frame preparation. After this event, the resulting bare tree should mainly be 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 will White color) - 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 structure. 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, etc.

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

Choice of location.

Before you start building a greenhouse from window frames or other improvised raw materials, you should carefully choose a place - it should be as large as possible. long time be on a well-lit piece of land. 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 the window frames, storm water will flow in, thereby heating, albeit easy simple foundation, spoiling the already fairly old wood of the 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 literacy preparatory work, wood processing, etc.

To increase the service life of the entire structure, as well as compact the lower layers of the soil, it is better to think about additional insulation soil. 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, 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 stacked layers sand mixture and small 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 environmental 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 thick boards will fit too. 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 take a little time to organize, plus everything - minimal cost 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 minimum quantity construction waste, you should draw a plan 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 strapping 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 plates of high-quality metal. On special hinges it is worth fixing the vents, windows and doors.

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 frames with subsequent sealing - with 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 the preparatory and construction works, as well as correct ergonomic care - washing, antiseptic measures and other things.

Do-it-yourself greenhouse from window frames video

The list of materials that can be used to make a greenhouse is not limited polyethylene film and polycarbonate. Mini-greenhouses are assembled even from window frames, which are cheap and last for more than one year. Any gardener who has built a small greenhouse at least once with his own hands can safely start making a glass greenhouse.

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 keeps inside required amount heat;
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 pitched roof, and the second - as a small building with a roof in two slopes.

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. by the most the best option a rectangular frame with large glass is considered because 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 window frames need to be sprinkled with an antiseptic that inhibits 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.