| Glass, Fiberglas, or plastic such as polyethylene, are | | | | greenhouse, which you count on to provide an |
| materials used for greenhouse light; 20- to 30-inch | | | | artificial climate. Heater, ventilators, humidifiers, and |
| panes are preferable. One of the most popular | | | | perhaps a cooling system, must be considered in |
| prefabs comes with 24- by 30-inch lights. If using | | | | almost all greenhouse operations. Requirements will |
| glass, you need not buy Grade A quality. | | | | vary with each house, depending on location and |
| Double-thickness Grade B will suffice. Many old | | | | nature of the crop or crops to be grown. |
| greenhouse books caution against using anything but | | | | The foundation of the house must be strong enough |
| Grade A, but Grade B has proved entirely practical. | | | | to carry the whole weight and give support against |
| Today a prefabricated unit somewhat over 8 feet | | | | wind and ice. You can use concrete, poured cement, |
| wide and 14 feet long, constructed of first-grade | | | | cinder blocks, or Transite. All of these materials have |
| redwood, aluminum, and double-strength glass, costs | | | | good insulating qualities and will give protection against |
| a little less than $1450.00, and this does not include | | | | loss of heat. |
| the foundation. | | | | The framework may be of aluminum, redwood, or |
| An 8- by 10-foot lean-to, 11 feet high, costs about | | | | cypress. Aluminum is originally more expensive than |
| $300.00. | | | | wood but involves little or no upkeep. You can |
| If you plan to assemble the material yourself, ask for | | | | purchase either aluminum or wood already cut and |
| prices on glass in box lots. Purchased this way, it | | | | grooved for easy installation. |
| costs much less, and you will have extra lights on | | | | Before you build, get estimates for a number of |
| hand in case of breakage. One of the large | | | | greenhouse makes and sizes. Manufacturers are glad |
| companies in my area sells glass in box lots for | | | | to send you their "literature." Builders in your own |
| approximately 50 cents per light. | | | | area, and elsewhere, will furnish a price list for partial |
| Glazing compound (putty) costs a few cents per | | | | or complete building. Even your lumber company will |
| pound. | | | | help you compute costs of a suitable structure. At |
| By assembling your own materials, you can save 10 | | | | the same time, ask for estimates from plumbers for |
| to 20 per cent of the cost of a prefabricated | | | | heating and cooling each of the greenhouse sizes |
| structure. | | | | under consideration. Before you settle for a slightly |
| Upkeep and depreciation will depend on the original | | | | smaller size than you want, because of costs, |
| construction and the materials used. Greenhouses | | | | remember that a greenhouse is an operating unit, and |
| made of aluminum stand for years without seasonal | | | | in the long run the cheapest to build is not always |
| replacement or repairs. Cypress and redwood, though | | | | the most economical to run. Get plenty of advice. |
| the strongest types of wood for greenhouse use, | | | | (Check garden publication advertisements and, for |
| still will show loosened screws and bolts as well as | | | | local firms, refer to your classified telephone |
| weather damage with the passage of time. | | | | directory.) Look at other greenhouses, note the |
| Basic Requirements | | | | complaints of the owners as well as their satisfaction. |
| All greenhouses should offer plenty of light and good | | | | Here is a general rule to guide you: Labor and material |
| ventilation, and those planned for year-round | | | | for the small greenhouse usually run higher than for a |
| operation also require efficient heating systems. | | | | large one. Hence, the smaller the greenhouse, the |
| The glass and frame are actually only part of your | | | | higher the cost per square foot. |