Hi All,
I hope everyone is staying safe, and enjoying their Bonsai.
I like many others, have been working throughout these crazy times.
Fortunately, I've been able to spend some time on the greenhouse build.
For those still interested, here's an update along with a few progress photos.
The Hearthstone Brown siding is basically finished, with the exception of a couple small final touches.
I installed drip molding at the very bottom of the siding, as I installed the siding.
I will be trimming the roof shingles a bit.
I installed 300' of 3/4" PEX tubing, in hope of heating the GH with a Solar powered water heater.
Might not even use the PEX, but at least it'll be there, IF I DO want to utilize it.
Still unsure about using phase change material. I received the samples and they leave a lot to be desired, but it ain't over YET. LOL...
I rented a small excavator for 1 day and I dug as close as I could to the greenhouse, to install the vertical rigid insulation. I still had to do a bunch of hand digging with a shovel though, as you can only get so close with an excavator. I also dug a 120’ trench from my work-shop to the GH, for the electrical run.
The 4” thick x 24” wide x 8’ long rigid insulation is buried vertically around the perimeter of the GH. The buried insulation is encased in pea gravel, to create somewhat of an air-gap between the insulation and dirt, as well as aid in drainage.
Next will be horizontally burying the 4” x 48” x 8’, as a Swedish Skirt, also to be surrounded by pea gravel (and possibly covered with heavy plastic). It’ll be perpendicular to the vertical 4” insulation, with a slight pitch away from the Greenhouse.
I glazed approximately 1/2 of the East & West walls and all of the South wall with 5MM Solexx. I overlapped the glazing by about 5” on the South wall, to aid in rain/snow run-off and sealing it. I’ll most likely be adding 2 x 4 cross-beams at the overlaps, and securing the glazing to them as well.
As per the manufacturer’s instructions, I sealed the ends of the Solexx with 100% silicone caulking.
I still have to cut-out and complete the South wall vents that will be powered with UniVents that work on temperature and bee's-wax filled cylinders. Before I cut them, I’m looking at ways of sealing the vents.
I'll also have a temperature controlled electric powered exhaust fan high up on the East wall, as well as TWO intake vents LOW on the West wall. The intakes vents will be connected directly to the exhaust vent.
I initially placed pavers inside... Then I purchased 2700 pounds of large natural stepping-stones (only .10/lb.), that I'll probably be using instead of the pavers.
Thank you for following my greenhouse build.
Until next time…
Ben