Greenhouses from aluminum: description, design and specifications

Gardeners and summer residents increasingly arrange greenhouses on their plots. You can make them yourself, but it's easier to buy a finished model. Aluminum greenhouses lined with polycarbonate or glass became popular. Designs made of these materials will result in high-quality, so you can safely grow any plants in them.

This article discusses the characteristics of an aluminum greenhouse and describes the main varieties of this useful structure.

general description

Thanks to modern technology in the market you can find greenhouses, the frame of which is made of various materials. Most often, manufacturers make these structures from galvanized steel, pipes or aluminum profiles. It is the latter option that is optimal for creating a modern greenhouse structure, which will have high technical properties and good performance. In addition, this structure has an aesthetic appearance, so it will decorate the summer cottage.

To complement the description of the aluminum greenhouse, the distinctive advantages of this functional design must be mentioned:

• can be made independently (you will need a minimum set of tools and building materials);
• easy installation due to the light weight of the aluminum profile;
• ability to withstand heavy loads, high temperature, high humidity and frost;
• sheathe the frame is allowed polycarbonate, ordinary glass and plastic wrap;
• the structure retains heat well and quickly heats up, as it perfectly transmits sunlight;
• does not give in to corrosion.

Greenhouse made of aluminum - a design that can withstand heavy loads. In addition, she is not afraid of bad weather conditions (for example, strong winds).

Varieties

Greenhouses made of aluminum are classified by shape into the following models:

1. Arched - constructions, the advantage of which is that the snow will not accumulate on their roof due to arched walls. However, in the greenhouses of this species, tall plants will have to be grown only in the center, since there will not be enough space near the walls for this. In this case, it is desirable to sheathe the frame with a film or polycarbonate.
2. Slow-moving - greenhouses that must be installed right next to the wall of a residential building. This is an economical option, as you will have to purchase less materials than with other methods. Such a structure is recommended to be built from the south side.
3. English - luxury aluminum greenhouses with a high base.
4. Gable - classic varieties, characterized by high strength. The dimensions of such structures are determined by an individual project. The gable greenhouse frame is made of aluminum profile.
5. Pyramidal - small structures for growing seedlings.
6. Domes are greenhouses that, thanks to their unusual shape, let in a large amount of sunlight. But to make such designs on their own is difficult.

Gardeners recommend building warm greenhouses made of aluminum, the frame of which will be sheathed with sheet polycarbonate or glass.

Layout and seat selection

To build a greenhouse, you must first develop its drawing. This document displays the dimensions of the structure: the length, width and height of the structure, as well as the distance between the slats of the frame. In addition, the diagram shows the places where the door and window openings will be installed, the parameters of the roof and other technical data.

When choosing a site you need to consider the following important requirements:

1. The place should be well lit from all sides. If there are tall trees or buildings nearby, look for a less shaded area.
2. The distance from the outbuildings is an important condition, since the structure must be placed in an open place. This indicator should be at least 1.8 m, but this requirement is irrelevant if a single-pitch greenhouse is built, attached to the wall of the house.
3. The design is recommended to be installed in the direction from north to south: so the object will be provided with uniform heating.

The project also indicates the number and size of future beds. For example, for a standard aluminum greenhouse with dimensions of 6 × 3 m, it is recommended to choose the following parameters:

• number of beds - 2 pcs.;
• width - 1.2 m;
• longitudinal passage - 0.5-0.6 m.

Foundation

For an aluminum greenhouse, a strong base must be erected. You can use such materials to organize the foundation:

• screw piles (if clay soils prevail on the site);
• reinforced concrete;
• glued beam.

The base will make the structure more reliable and protect the aluminum frame from environmental influences. If you ignore this requirement, white rust may form on the surface of the so-called skeleton of the greenhouse.

Masters recommend erecting a concrete concrete strip foundation with a depth of about half a meter. This is a reliable and strong foundation, for the device of which they dig a trench 30-40 cm wide, fill it with a layer of sand, mount the formwork from the boards and fill the solution. In addition, at this stage, you can make inside the design of the fence for future beds.

Aluminum frame assembly

First you need to prepare parts according to the dimensions given in the drawing. As a rule, for the structure of the aluminum greenhouse frame, a profile pipe with dimensions of 20 × 20 × 1.5 mm is used. It is a well-processed material that can be bent, sawn and welded. The bent profile is used for the construction of elite multi-functional greenhouses and arched aluminum models.

You can fix the frame in the following ways:

1. Welding is a method that requires an inverter and special electrodes.
2. Anchor bolts are the best option if you have to transfer the greenhouse to another site.
3. With aluminum rivets - one-piece connection.

Initially, you need to attach the profile to the foundation with anchors. As a result, we get the base of the frame itself, on which it is necessary using any of the described methods to fix the profile pipes taking into account the design documentation. Entrance doors and windows are arranged in the end parts of the structure.

To get a high-quality aluminum structure, its "skeleton" should be sheathed with polycarbonate or glass. Both options will be discussed in detail below.

Polycarbonate for an aluminum greenhouse: benefits and installation

This is a durable building material, the advantages of which include not only high technical parameters, but also a decorative look. Polycarbonate sheets are solid and cellular. It is the latter option that is considered suitable for cladding the frame of the greenhouse. The advantages of cellular polycarbonate include the following properties:

• high strength;
• durability;
• lightness and plasticity;
• withstands temperatures from -35 to +60 ° C;
• high thermal insulation qualities due to multi-layer;
• the top layer is protected from dust accumulation;
• high light transmission;
• when burning does not emit toxic substances.

To sheathe the finished frame of the aluminum greenhouse with polycarbonate, you must first fasten the sheets to the "skeleton" of the design with thermal washers. These works must begin with the roof and walls, and then sheathe doors and windows. It is necessary to lay polycarbonate butt with the help of special connecting profiles.

Glazing aluminum greenhouse

If the frame is sheathed with double-glazed windows, the result is a structure with high thermal insulation qualities. But the device and repair of such a greenhouse will have to spend a lot of money. A cheaper option is to use ordinary glass.

The roof must be sheathed from the ridge, and the walls from the bottom. To attach glass to an aluminum frame, for these purposes it is necessary to use a polyurethane sealant. To avoid gaps between the parts, they should be overlapped. In the photo, the greenhouses made of aluminum, the frame of which is sheathed with glass, look very presentable (the picture is shown below). You can’t even say right away that the main drawback of this design is fragility.

Additional items

The path inside the small building is recommended to lay out of brick chips. Do not forget: in the winter the greenhouse needs to be heated. For these purposes, you can use stove, gas, water or electric heating. The latter option is considered optimal, since many types of powerful heaters powered by electricity are sold on the market. But such devices will unevenly heat the structure, so they will have to be installed in different places.

Greenhouses made of aluminum must also be provided with high-quality ventilation. Window vents and fans are elements with which you can solve this problem. It is better to place them in the roof, because in this way they will not create a draft.

Conclusion

Aluminum greenhouse - a solid and useful design in which you can grow vegetables and other plants. But it is equally important to provide the construction with constant care. The beds need to be periodically treated with disinfectants.

If you need to build a beautiful and original structure, the article tells how to do it. in conclusion, we add that the aluminum greenhouse is considered a classic model, time-tested.