Enclose a Porch in Glass? Why not! The evolution.

Over the years we have slowly evolved into Tropical growers.
Like most of you it was houseplants that got out of control.
Then we found figs, Musa and Aroids and were domed.lol

We started w/ a screened in (w/ a green fiberglass roof) back porch that got covered in plastic to house the overflow.
This was in 2002/03.
Worked well enough but no great shakes.
Though we did raise Negronne figs indoors and had a crop in January.

The following year we ripped off the fiberglass and replaced it w/ a real plywood and shingle roof.
As we already had a 30'' knee wall we put in a storm door and double layered plastic.
We added shelving and halogen lights.
Then a neighbor gave us real windows for the place.
The Plantroom was born.

Tons of EE's, Cactus and Philos.
WAY too crowded though.

More later.

Ric

The door side.

Ric - Pic Has almost as many Cacti as I have given my mother (for mothers day) in the last few years. It has become a tradition & family joke.

They have their own place now.
I'll put that shot up in the next 'evolution' shot tomorrow.

Two winters ago we took our bananas, Cardamom, palms, etc. into the shop to winter them.
They were in the 3-5' range in 15" pots and I needed to leave space for the other plants.
I figured a nice cool warehouse, they go dormant, end of problem.
Well they didn't go dormant.
So we ended up caring for them while at work.

In March of 04, having over 300 Caladium to start, we finally decided to go w/ all the advice we gotten and do a Hoop House.
I know how to work PVC and plastic so no big deal.
Problem was we had NO place to put it.
We only have 1/8 acre here and it's pretty well all planted.

We had put some plants on the roof top of the Plantroom the previous Summer so after some convincing the S/O and I decided.........................

Ric

Cover the Futon w/ plastic for the Zone 7 plants and..........
Hoop the roof..........

Ric

We ended up w/ a 9x9 by 6' high GH that worked absolutely great.
It's anchored to two porch columns our neighbor was throwing out.
Attached to the house you enter (and it's heated) thru the window.
OK not the best door arrangement but it does the job.

Ric

The Caladiums REALLY seemed to like it.

Ric

Last Fall I'd had it w/ hauling huge Musa and Aroid pots around.
At around 60 pounds a pot..........
We had pulled them up on the porch for a heavy frost warning.
(This is the first step before we load them into the van to warehouse.)
I looked around and said forget the truck they are staying here.

We had 20 or more 2x4x8's, a 100'x20' roll of 6mm plastic and some screen doors in the garage.
Out came the chop saw and cordless drill.
Within 2 hours we had a frame ready.
Next day and 4 hours of work later we had it ready to go.
The plants never moved from the original spot.
We built around them.

Ric

We ended up w/ a 7' x 7' GH w/ a 9' ceiling.
We heated w/ a ceramic heater and a fan blowing out of the house thru a window.

Ric

Christmas Eve we got blasted w/ 16" of snow.
For the first time in 18 years we were snowed in.

Ric

The Bamboo's held up magnificently!

And on the porch the Aroids didn't do badly either! lol

Then there was the Musa 'Bordelon'......

It worked SO well we decided to enclose the whole porch this Summer.
Wellllll it's turned into a Fall project but..........

We had over 200 14" x14" tempered glass panes we inherited.
Add a couple dozen 2 x 4's some screws, silicon caulk and paint.............

And here's where we are as of today.

Ric

We still have to finish the knee wall and add the door but the frame is completed and the first set of panes on the double paned glass are in.

Even the 'Forewoman' is impressed!

For the full story (so far) in pictures.

http://www-us.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/sets/1023602/

http://www-us.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/sets/1067818/

Sorry this is sooooo long............
Ric

Kudos to you. What a clever way to use the glass panes.

Shirley

That's beautiful! Enjoy it for many years to come. Dotti.

Ric
I just love the rustic look it has,,,, And for a GH it looks cozy also. You did a wonderful job.
vicki

Thanks all.
I was going for a kind of 50's Contemporary look.
The size is 7'6" x 11' w/ a ceiling height of right at 8'6".

The door will be another Pella just like the one our dog is looking out.
The half of both the end sides are removable.
This allows us to get out to the garage and side yard in Summer.
Also will provide ventilation.

Ric

Amazing. Gave me some ideas also. But I need a new husband to carry them thru to deeds. LOL. We have a long front porch ...............hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Holy Cow, Ric! You're amazing!!! Now I know who to call in about 3 or 5 years to help hubby build mine...lol! So brush up on your greenhouse skills for an even colder climate.
:) Donna

I've gotten all the vapor barrier and framing done.

Also the 'new door' is in.
Well we decided not to get a new door.
A neighbor gave us a door a few months ago.
It's metal over wood and poly.
Double pane glass.
Weighs around 60 pounds!!
Saved us about 250 dollars. LOL!

All we have left to do is the second glaze.
Caulk, insulate and skin.
It's pretty air tight now.
Of course we've had nothing but clouds for three days....errrrrrrr........

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/sets/1067818/

Ric

Looks great! You sure have been busy.
:) Donna

Well we're insulated and just about done w/ the 'skin'.

It's 54 outside and 66 inside.
That after just finishing the skin around 5PM.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/sets/1067818/

Ric

That looks wonderful.

The way the panes are siliconed ( ? ) together it looks lik a very expensive custom window ;-)

Thanks to Badseed for dropping off our Plywood!
It's a bit tough hauling it in an Escort! lol

Thanks scooterbug!

They are indeed siliconed together.
It's like all glass aquarium construction.
I'm going to start the second set of glass today.
There is a BIG learning curve joining the glass.
Kind of a Goldilocks thing.
You have to get the amount of silicon 'juuusstt right'. lol

Ric

I am so impressed. It looks just great. You are so good, Ric. I think I will show this to my DH but it won't help even if I do. LOL

We've got everything caulked now.
The temps are holding in the low 60's at night (40's outside)
This w/ just a small oil radiator heater set on low.
We still have to get the second layer of glass up.

We bought beadboard ply to finish off the inside and cedar shakes for the outside.
Funny that was our biggest expense.
Makin' it purdy! lol

Ric

Hi, I have been following your progress and I really love this idea. It looks great. I cannot wait to see it finished (I'll bet you can't either hehe)

Thanks for sharing this process with us, Rachel

Thanks Rachel

It's been a long project but satisfying and fun.
The cold rains we've been having haven't helped.
We're due for frost by next weekend so had to get it tight this weekend.

Tomorrow we have to get plastic up on the Hoop House where we store our Succulents and large plants.
Then it's a scramble to get all the plants in.
We have about 100 pots to move every Fall.
About 50 of the smaller ones and 8 large are already in.

We still have about 40 small pots and 10 large plants to get in.

Ric

Well we had a productive two days.
The bead board walls are up inside the GH AND.....
the second glaze is done.
The addition of the second layer of glass is pretty neat.
The temps are holding very much better.
Condensation is gone.
There is also an added benefit.
It's much quieter out there.
The sound deadening affect is really nice.
No road noise at all now.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/57371817/in/set-1067818/

All that's left to do is cosmetic.
Trim, paint and cedar shingles to install, then we're finished.
Total cost under 200 dollars.

Ric

That looks great. I just love beadboard, it has such a nice, homey feel to it. You have certainly been busy!

Rachel

Thanks Rachel.
It's just Beaded Plywood but painted looks almost like Tongue and Groove.
I like the look best compared to many other options we had.
It's an easy and cheap wall cover too.
We had it cut at HD, for transporting in our car.
When I told the guy to cut each sheet to 32" he immediately said "Wainscoting eh?".
12' of wall for under 20 dollars. What a deal.

The only problem is the SO likes it SO much........
I get to do the stariway now! errr...lol

Ric

That's rough, don't you have to cut it special to go up the stairs, at an angle? That is my dh's excuse for why I don't have it.

You saying wainscoting reminded me of a house ad in last week's paper, touting 'Wayne's Coating'. I was trying to figure out who Wayne was and what exactly his special coating was when I said it out loud to ask dh and immediately fell over laughing.

That is a great deal for $20. All of our ceilings and the kitchen and back hallway are done in the beaded plywood, but we didn't do it. I had no idea it was inexpensive, one area of the kitchen has the lines going in a different direction that the rest. That is pretty darn pathetic to do a patch job on something that would have been less than $20!

Well, I'm rambling as usual, so I'll go hijack someone else's thread now LOL

Rachel

Yeah the angle cuts will be fun!
At least it's going to be big cuts.
It would be a royal pain w/ tongue and groove.

Actually it's fairly easy just takes a bit of geometry know how.
Well a Laser Level helps too! lol

Ric

Ric - Congrats on the completeion, sorru I missed it last trip, will try again next trip if it's ok.

Again Congrats - Regards - Dyson

Ric, you've done a wonderful job enclosing your porch and for such a reasonable price, of course being able to do it yourself is a great help.

Sent back to Oct. 15 to look at your photo gallery. Great photos, really enjoyed the show.

DonnaS