Tips on saving money when building a homemade greenhouse. Materials can be expensive but they don’t have to be.

1. For your frame whether wood or PVC pipe go to a big do it yourself retailer. They are going to have some of the lowest prices around for a PVC or wood framed greenhouse. Don’t expect to find anyone knowledgable about greenhouses at these places though. If you have done your research you will know exactly what you need and how much. Doesn’t hurt to get a couple extra pieces just in case of a mistake. Find out how to start building your own homemade greenhouse.

2. Your covering or glazing material is also going to be found cheaply at a do it yourself retailer. The cheap way to go is heavy plastic wrapping around 8 mil transparent. It’s very inexpensive but easy to work with holds heat well. If you are in the market for a bit more sturdy material you can get fiberglass panels at these retailers. Glass is the top level but is expensive and can break.

3. To get the door you want on the cheap you might have some luck online with Craigslist. Sometimes people are getting rid of old stuff like this for pennies. Another place is the junkyard. A little bit of looking around can save you a hundred dollars.

Is it really possible to save money on a homemade greenhouse and still get good performance? It’s not true that you have to build a super expensive greenhouse to get the benefits. Some people see the kits at those retailers or on the web adn they are indeed very expensive. Also contracting it out is even more expensive than a kit because the work is all custom and usually pricy by the hour. You really don’t have to lay down tons of cash for ultra modern materials to get a good homemade greenhouse. They have been built like this for a long time.

The truth is that a good design and plan for your greenhouse is going to go a lot farther than money will. You can be super successful on a shoestring budget because you have more information than someone who just buys a big kit on a whim. You can have the most expensive materials available and it won’t perform as nice as a $100 greenhouse built in the best winter sun location. It’s all about knowledge of how greenhouses work and laying them out properly.

Don’t be discouraged because the amount of info you really need to know is small and is worth the research. You need to be willing to spend a little time with some good plans that are accompanied by solid greenhouse growing information and you will be growing on the cheap year round.