1. Greenhouse Design and Construction
Greenhouse structure and parts
Factors to be considered when designing
Legal and building regulations when building
This presentation is from Virginia Tech and has not been edited by the Georgia Curriculum Office.

2. Laying the Foundation: Structural Parts of a Greenhouse
4/28/2017
Laying the Foundation: Structural Parts of a Greenhouse
Sidewall: supports the entire weight of the greenhouse. Consists of the following parts -
side ventilators
side posts
curtain wall
Concrete footer: foundation for the side posts
Eave: area where the sidewall joints connect
Sash bar: bar made of metal or wood that runs from eave to the ridge, holding glass in place

3. Laying the Foundation: cont..
Roof: provides cover. Consists of:
sash bars
purlins
roof ventilators
ridge
Purlin: bar running length of roof that supports the sash bars, holds bows and trusses upright
roof and side ventilators: allow ventilation during light rain
ridge: peak of greenhouse
shutters: operate like windows to allow air flow

4. 4/28/2017
Greenhouse Shapes
Even-span greenhouse: self supporting with distance from ridge to eave equal in distance
Ridge & Furrow: two or more even-span greenhouses connected at the eaves.
Quonset: arch-shaped bows placed in a row. Appears tube shaped - most common shape
Sawtooth: greenhouse with a vent near the eave of the lowest side wall that allows for natural ventilation.
Most common where snow loads are light.

5. Greenhouse Shapes cont.
Lean-to: a greenhouse already attached to a existing structure.
Gothic: Slightly pointed greenhouse covered with corrugated fiberglass

6. What if we put the door here and the window here….
4/28/2017
What if we put the door here and the window here….
There are many factors to consider before you build a permanent structure. It is a lot of money and time to throw away if you don’t obtain as many facts as possible before you build.
Factor 1: Accessibility
Factor 2: Expandability
Factor 3: Markets
Factor 4: Orientation
Accessibility: best to locate the greenhouse near a major highway so supplies can be easily reached and crops shipped out. Also helps make it visible to the public
Expandability: an operator should plan for the future of the greenhouse range, as well as expansion for supplies.
Market: Before investing, one should determine if there is a market
Orientation: A free standing greenhouse located above 40 degrees North latitude should be built so the greenhouse runs east to west. A greenhouse built below 40 degrees North latitude should run north to south. The 40 degrees North latitude is roughly a line from Philadelphia to Denver to Sacramento. It is recommended that gutter connected ranges run in a north-south orientation regardless of the latitude.
Personnel: a dependable or undependable source of labor is needed to operate a successful business
Topography: The location of a greenhouse should be reasonably level with sufficient surface and subsurface drainage. Labor and material movement are easier on a more level site. There should also be few building and trees that would created shadows.
Utilities/water: a reliable source of quality water is needed. Also other utilities such as fuel, electricity, waste disposal cost should be taken in consideration.

7. Factors to consider: cont.
Factor 5: Personnel
Factor 6: Topography
Factor 7: Utilities/water

8. What does this mean for greenhouse management?
It is not as easy as just going outside and building a greenhouse. There are things to considered just as in any situation. So remember, depending on your location and climate, you will have to consider the
shape of design
location
utilities
market
personnel