DIY Greenhouse

Difficulty

Intermediate

DIY Greenhouse plans - build your own DIY greenhouse, free step by step plans by ANA-WHITE.com

Building your own greenhouse is something you can tackle and save a ton. We built this greenhouse about six years ago, and it still looks brand new and is as sturdy as ever. We are happy to share our plans with you - see below.

Here's some photos of the build -

Near completion of the framing stage. We used 12' long pieces of corrugated metal roofing for the side walls.

We ran the corrugated roofing horizontal. This was very easy to install and we have had zero issues with this design.

We also trimmed the corners out with metal flashing to make everything look nice and finished.

The greenhouse plastic wrapped right over the corrugated metal - like it was meant to be!

The only part that was slightly tricky was the ends - but really no big deal to add the greenhouse plastic panels.

Our DIY greenhouse turned out great and we are so excited to share the plans with you.

Please post a pic or share if you build!

Dimensions

Dimensions are shown above for the DIY Greenhouse. It's a good size for a standard family of 4 or 5

Preparation

Shopping List

3 - 2x4 @ 10 feet long - use on back wall
5 - 2x4 @ 12 feet long - use on sides/ridgepole DO NOT CUT
32 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long
11 - 12 foot x 26" standard corrugated plastic greenhouse panels
1 - 8 foot long x 26" wide standard corrugated plastic greenhouse panel (use on door side)
3 - 12 foot long tin panels (use on sides and back)
1 - 8 foot long tin panel (use on front)
Tin screws
28 - 4' long ribbing strips
L flashing (optional for the corners)
You'll need either metal gussets for the trusses or to cut plywood ones from 1/2" plywood

Common Materials

3 inch screws

Elmer's Wood Glue

Cut List

Cut list is in plan at each step

Tools

Instructions

Step 1

Back wall framing. Cut 2x4s as listed below. Screw together with 3" screws or nail together.

2 – 2x4 @ 118 3/8”
6 – 2X4 @ 32”

Step 2

Side Wall Framing - Build TWO

4 – 2X4 @ 144”
14 – 2X4 @ 32”

Step 3

Front Wall Framing

4 – 2X4 @ 32”
4 – 2X4 @ 42 ½”
2 – 2X4 @ 81 ½”
1 – 2X4 @ 33 3/8”

Build the front walls as shown.

Step 4

Attach the four walls together with 3" screws at corners.

Step 5

Step 6

4 – 2X4 @ 48” (BOTH ENDS CUT AT 22 ½ DEGREES, ENDS NOT PARALLEL)
1 – 2X4 @ 117 7/8” (BOTH ENDS CUT AT 22 1/2" DEGREES, ENDS NOT PARALLEL)
1 – 2X4 @ 55 3/8 (TOP CUT TO DOGEARED POINT, 22 ½ DEGREES)
2 – 2X4 @ 55 ¼” (TOP CUT TO DOGREARED POINT, BOTTOM CUT 45 DEGREES OFF SQUARE, END CLIPPED)

The back truss is built same as front. See next step for close up of the center cuts

Step 7

This board was a little tricky to cut - practice first!

Step 8

1 – 2X4 @ 141”

NOTE: If you use gussets - we used 1/2" plywood - this will affect your ridgepole length.

Step 9

10 2X4 @ 48” (BOTH ENDS CUT AT 22 ½ DEGREES ENDS NOT PARALLEL)
10 2X4 @ 47 1/4” (BOTH ENDS CUT AT 22 ½ DEGREES ENDS NOT PARALLEL) - shorter rafters go up to meet the ridgepole. I marked all shorter rafters to avoid confusion.

For the common rafters of this barn style greenhouse, we ended up using plywood gussets to save money. After cutting quite a few, I figured out how to cut gussets the super quick and easy way - got gusset cutting down to less than a minute each.

We put gussets on both sides of each rafter joint with glue and screws. We made all of the small trusses first on the ground, then it was just a matter of stacking them on the ridgepole and attaching to the studs. We used 8 screws per gusset. Common rafters are installed flush to top of ridgepole and flush to outside of side walls. We had to "toenail" the screws in - meaning they are screwed in at an angle. We used glue and 3" screws from both sides.

Step 10

The plan will get you through the framing.

At this point, you could use plastic paper, lexan glass panels, you name it to seal the frame in.

We used the corrugated plastic panels detailed earlier for installation. IMPORTANT: If you do not use panels you will need some sort of lateral support to keep the greenhouse from swaying side to side. Try 12 foot long 2x4s.

Finishing Instructions

Preparation Instructions

Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth.

It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.

Project Type

Buildings

Room

Outdoor

Style

Primitive or Early American Style Furniture Plans

Comments

Ana White

Thu, 08/06/2015 - 15:00

That would vary per location,

That would vary per location, you'll need to check your local building
codes.

big dreamer 2

Sat, 08/29/2015 - 17:13

Gratitude

Hi Ana, Thank you so much for sharing your gift of creating. I'm especially impressed with all the hard work you put into sharing these gifts! The best compliment I can give you is "you are like a breath of fresh air"! I truly mean that with all my heart! Not only do you GIVE (a rarity) but you accept some tuff criticism with such absolute grace that I feel blessed to have stumbled upon your site. Thank you for being a wonderful role model :)

Numbers 6:24-26

Fern McDawg

Sat, 09/19/2015 - 08:19

corrugated polycarbonate panel info source

Hi everyone,

Great plans for the framing, however this link may be of assistance when installing the corrugated polycarbonate panels. Folks you need to read this.

http://www.hobby-greenhouse.com/lexan.htm

windchaser

Tue, 06/14/2016 - 18:12

Great Greenhouse

How difficult would it be to modify the plans to make the greenhouse 8 fee wide instead of 10 fee wide?

redbroyer

Tue, 09/13/2016 - 16:05

Winter Growing

I understand the need for venting in order to not burn up the plants. I am wondering how viable this is though to grow year round? I live in Colorado and would like to use the greenhouse to grow leafy green, cukes, and herbs during the winter. does this greenhouse need to be insulated for the long cold nights or will the residual heat keep the plants from freezing?

rgrea

Sat, 01/27/2018 - 06:15

Love the greenhouse

I am going to the big box store and price out the greenhouse. I've been with this idea for 12 years and seeing the plans and not haveing to pay to get a kit got the action side of me moving.

Thanks

Crookedeyed

Fri, 03/02/2018 - 18:29

Trying to scale down to differnt size greenhouse

Was wondering what program u used to make the design for the green house. I would like to make a smaller one but cant figure out to get the right length rafters to fit my size, example 5x8. Or is there a simple equation to scale down the size. Im lost please help. Enjoy thw designs. Thank you

Jon Endonino

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 13:26

Greenhouse

I am building this for my wife and ran across a discrepancy between the cut list and diagram. The back and side wall diagram shows vertical 2x4's at 33" but the cut list shows 32". Which is correct?

sassnak

Wed, 05/29/2019 - 09:53

I was looking through the…

I was looking through the comments hoping to find an answer to the same question! In Step 8 it sort of looks like "32" is written on the pieces in the picture, but if you add up the known pieces to get overall vertical length from the back center (from Step 6) it works out to 33". 55 3/8 + 3.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 + ~4 (for top cut angle) = ~66", and the total height is given previously as 99" making the vertical 2x4s in the wall 33".