Building a frame greenhouse with a gable roof with your own hands

Step-by-step construction of a greenhouse frame

Next, we will examine step-by-step how to build a greenhouse based on the following diagram: as you can see, this is a standard trapezoidal greenhouse in the shape of a house (with a gable roof). There will be a door at one of the gable ends (the back of the drawing).

Many experienced greenhouse growers recommend placing a fine-mesh chain-link fence under the greenhouse before installation to protect it from rodents.

We start by installing the load-bearing timber. As a rule, it is chosen to be slightly wider than the one used for the frame. We treat it with an antiseptic. This timber is attached to the foundation using metal anchor bolts or rebar.

Most importantly, remember that the base of the greenhouse must consist of solid timber, not fastened segments. The stability of the greenhouse depends on this.

So, once the base is attached to the foundation, we proceed to the frame itself, starting with the walls.

Below in the drawing, a diagram of a finished wall measuring 5.4 x 1.5 m is presented. There are two such walls, and two gable ends. In this diagram, the timber is fastened using grooves. For fastening other elements of the frame, you will need screws, metal profiles, corner braces, and clamps.

Installation of the rafter system and covering

Next, we move on to installing the rafters. Their number can be anything, but the more there are, the better the strength and reliability of the roof, and the easier it is to attach the covering material. We also make grooves in the rafters.

There is a concept known as a rafter leg. The size of this leg depends on a person's height:

In general, the length of the rafter leg is directly related to the width of the covering material: the width of a polyethylene film sleeve is 3 m, and when unfolded it is 6 m. Based on this, the sum of the lengths of two rafter legs and two posts should be about 5.8 m. As a result, using polyethylene film with a size of 6 x 6 m, you will avoid extra pieces that go to waste.

The number of rafters usually corresponds to the number of posts.

After the rafters have been attached to the side wall posts, we proceed to the installation of the roof ridge (attached to the top groove of the rafters) and wind boards (attached to the side grooves of the rafters). In the general greenhouse diagram (the first drawing), these boards are highlighted in dark color. These three elements of the greenhouse must be made only from solid material.

And finally, when everything is ready, we install the door at one of the gable ends, and a vent here or in the opposite gable end.

Well, that's about it regarding the installation of the greenhouse. Now it can be covered with the covering material. Previously, polyethylene served mainly as a covering material, sometimes glass. Now, polycarbonate is used.