Building An "Even Bigger" Greenhouse!

My hubby is going to be building me
a bigger green house out of several
windows from our old ranch house.
We will be using the windows as walls.
I want to be able to have a clear roof,
but I do not want to use glass due to
hail storms. Does anyone have any
good ideas that will allow filtered
light to pass through that is el-
cheapo?
And, any ideas on how I can erect
a snake proof floor (besides con-
crete)?
-------<--<@ Thanks: Jewel

Hi;
I can't tell you the name but there is a panel made of ployomer compound. Their are made eith two layers sandwich together, with tunnels connecting them. This makes them stronger and more insulation factor. They are expensive but I want to replace my ugly fiberglass panels with em. If I can find a site I will come back with it.
Tom

My glass has lasted thru several hail storms, and at one time had 40" of snow on it.

Byron

Are you thinking of polycarbonate glazing, Tom? It comes in different thicknesses.

Texas_Jewel, polyethylene is the cheapest. Ohiorganic, one of our members here at DG has a polyethylene greenhouse. She would know about those for sure. :)

Did you say SNAKES???? Yikes!!! If your greenhouse has base vents and ridge vents, you should be able to shut the door to your greenhouse and prevent the snakes from entering. :)

Here's some helpful greenhouse glazing facts. It even mentions the best kind of flooring to retain heat. The book that's mentioned "Greenhouse Gardener's Companion" by Shane Smith is excellent and I highly recommend it!:
http://www.greenhousegarden.com/Material%20properties.htm

Terri

Terri,
Yupo' Texas sized Rattlers and Cotton
Mouth, we have a creek (a large gorgeous creek)
that runs right near the house. They really
come up from there a lot. Last year the creek
rose 12 feet in 1 hour (I KID YOU NOT) the
hubby couldn't even get onto the ranch and had
to spend the night in the town hotel. It also
hailed and rained in our (then) not completely
finished home's roof. WOW that was a HOOT...
I had to duck into the bedroom to escape the
wrath of the garden god. Oh well, at least the
twisters didn't get us.
I will tell my hubby all your ideas and you can
keep em comin.
Your Friend:~~~><>~~~~Jewel

Unfortunately I'm familiar with rattlesnakes and cotton mouths. I've found a few in my backyard but thank goodness, not many! The very thought of a snake gives me goosebumps!

The creek rose 12 feet in an hour? Yikes! I'll bet that scared you to death!!!

Terri

Terri,
Well right now we are under a flash flood
watch, and yes it can get scarey. Our elderly
neighbor's back deck is 20 ft. above creek level
and when it rose like that so suddenly, it was
all the way up to their decking. I told them if
it came into their house they could come stay
with us. BUT the silly thigs said, Ah that's
okay, it's happened before, we just go upstairs.
The funniest part is not only do we both have
enough kinds and amounts of animals to fill a
good sized Ark. But their home is HUGE and I
jokingly one time told them, ya if the creek
floods too bad we can just put a boat bottom
on your house, herd all of the animals in
and have us an Ark like Noa.
But I love it here, the Peace & Quiet, and
the shushing of the creek, and the dark
open sky where I can watch the meteor showers
without lights intruding the view. We have a
huge cedar post deck too now and we sit out
there all the time, and we hardly ever get
someone at our door. It has really been good
for us and we never want to leave.
The bad parts like snakes, scorpions and such
are far outweighed by the sweetness of God's
magnificent creations of nature. We feel very
blessed.
Your Pal: Jewel

Your place sounds sooooooo beautiful, Jewel! It seems, as with most things in this life, that the bad things only serve to make us appreciate the good things...don't ya think?

Terri

Ya PETE,
You are right about that. If we
didn't have the bad then the good would
not be so sweet. I agree.
I believe that we should even be
thankful for the bad, cause without it,
what would we learn? There are advantages
even. Like we have bats here and in some
ways they are bad. However, without them
we'd not have avacados or oranges, and
so forth.
I feel sad for folks who can't
find the good in life. I myself suck the
marrow from it. Some say I am a dreamer,
some say I do too much. But I say, today
is the day we have, tomorrow is never
promised and I will enjoy every ounce of
life God allows me.

JEWEL
(mygarden@moment.net)