YOUR HOME GREEN HOUSE - FREESTANDING

The die is cast. You’ve made up your mind. You’re going to build a home green house. Ah, but just a moment. Before running off to the hardware store, ask yourself this basic structural question: what kind of home green house do I want? They break down into two basic types: freestanding, where the green house is a completely separate structure from your home; and lean-to, where the green house shares at least part of a wall of your home.

There are significant functional differences between the two, and arguments for and against each. Researching your needs and the downsides of each type of home green house will save you plenty of headaches in the future, and turn your home green house project into something you’ll enjoy for years, not something you’ll become frustrated with.





Lean On Me…
A home green house that’s built as a lean-to against an existing building is cost effective and requires less space. Water and electricity are usually at close disposal and access is easier, but other downfalls are considerable. There may be less interior space, ventilation could be difficult to provide and exposure to sunlight is limited. Because sunlight is such an important factor, the side of the house you’d like to build your home green house might not be the best choice at all, if it’s facing west or north. There may be windows and doors in the existing wall you’re planning to build against, and keep in mind that if you’re planning a home green house that’s fairly wide, the supporting wall needs to have the height to accommodate the structure.





Stand Up For Yourself…
Freestanding structures are the ones that are the most flexible to your needs. A home green house of this type can be as large or small as you want it, and you can place it where the sunlight will be most efficient for heating the inside. If you choose a freestanding structure, you'll also have to consider how to relay electricity to the building, and how you'll provide water and extra heating. Temperatures should be fairly easy to maintain at a level that doesn't fluctuate very much, and growing space is more than an equivalent lean-to.

The definite downside of a freestanding home green house is cost, while the greatest con of a lean-to style building is location and light. Either choice is good, if you've done your homework, planned carefully and have informed yourself about the possible issues you might run into - and know ahead of time how you'll handle them.