Expansion II
<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="1fcfd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>BIT Company</B></FONT><B> </B><B> </B><A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greenhouses"><U><B>Greenhouse </B></U></A><A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greenhouses"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Expansion II</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="20d2ca30.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="163" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> This Fall I decided to take a pair of old prototype greenhouses and combine them to be mounted on the roof of my earth shelter house. They were about 5 years old and it would be a good test of the properties of the materials after this length of time exposed to the Florida sun.</div> <bR> <div> The first part was to dismantle the units,</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="20f2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 13' x 8' unit</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2112ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> and combine the base sections.</div> <bR> <div> As all the framing is "dry-fit" and secured with guy wire and turnbuckles, this job was quite easy. The hard part followed: leveling the foundation site. As the roof of the earth shelter slopes an average of 15" over the 13' depth of the site and the grade needed to be preserved to provide rain drainage, the new greenhouse would be "split-level" with the upper bench 12" higher than the one over the 12' drop-off.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2132ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Long way down!</div> <bR> <div> It took quite a while to cut and de-root the dense bahia sod then re-compact it to form a stable foundation, longer than the actual assembly of the greenhouse itself. After laying out the site with string and stakes, the outline was cut with a very sharp spade, then all the roots were filtered out by hand and trust me, after more than 20 years, there were roots from everything in the swamp under that sod! Leveling was done with a string level and a 20 pound hand compactor which gained a lot of weight as the day progressed. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2152ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <bR> <div> As the original greenhouses dismantled for this project had different roof framing, it was necessary to make 7 new ribs. These ribs needed to be 13.5" longer to maintain the same centering and curve with the split-level configuration and additionally, the lower gable end sections had to be extended as well.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="21b2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Partially covered. </div> <bR> <div> Pick a calm day for this job. It's amazing what a small breeze will do with a 500 square foot sail, especially if you are teetering on the edge of an abyss!</div> <bR> <div> The roll of poly was folded from the factory so it was set up to be unrolled from the back (closest point in view) over the first 2 rib sections. It <I>really</I> helps to have an assistant at this time but if the wind isn't too bad and you don't mind going up and down a ladder a few dozen times, it can be done solo.</div> <bR> <div> After the first 4' are stretched across the ridge and down to the base, allow another foot or so to lap beyond the lower frame in the front or 2' if you want to use the material to keep weeds down under the benches.. Begin taping the poly to the frame from the bottom being careful to keep a uniform line. When you get to the ridge, it's time to spread the poly across the rest of the greenhouse. This part is easy and only requires you to move and mount the ladder a dozen times or so!</div> <bR> <div> Next step is to complete taping the first edge to the frame (more ladder time), then stretch the poly at the far end and begin taping at the front base as done in the beginning. Finally, lift the edge of the frame section by section and pull the lap you left in the beginning underneath. It's advisable to trim and tape this material to the base tubing or optionally, to bury it.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2192ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> Evening time. Job finished.</div> <bR> <div> The ends are quite easy. Cut the material to the maximum height from the ridge to the lowest point plus a couple of inches and begin taping just as in the beginning but stop at the beginning of the roof curve. It is advisable to re-enforce the upper stopping point now with a generous strap of duct tape in case the wind comes up (it will!). Next is to get the trusty ladder set up and tape the poly to the ridge keeping as many wrinkles out as possible. Next, go back the the front and, with a sharp knife, begin trimming along the roof curve taping as you go. Finally, cut the poly around the door and window frames leaving in place the hinged side, trim, tape, and it's finished!</div> <bR> <div> I've found that garage door wiper gasketing ideal for sealing around the doors and windows, easily attached with sheet metal screws.</div> <bR> <div> Obviously this is an unusual installation. Setting up this type of greenhouse on a level site with access on all four sides is a breeze. The many "loving" comments about the ladder were mostly due to working on a sloping surface and having to chock the thing each time it was moved. Having a little accident a few steps up a ladder usually isn't too bad unless there is a lot of air below the thing! </div> <bR> <div> Mentioned at the beginning of this page was the properties of the material after 5 years in the sun - there was no noticable difference in plasticity between the old material and the new purchased to complete this unit, <I>i.e.</I>, no embrittlement.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Expansion"><U><U>Back</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greenhouse Price List"><U><U>Ordering</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greenhouses"><U><U>Greenhouse </U></U></A><A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greenhouses"><U><U>Home</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greenhouses"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIT Company"><U><U>Bogdaddy Home </U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/fortenbras/id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/fortenbra"><U><U>Studio</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr></table></body>