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Author Topic: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe  (Read 9340 times)

GrannieAnnie

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Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« on: October 23, 2008, 22:31:11 »
Have a few pics to download. This has an interior of 6x11 ft. all of used lumber, insulation, and used windows. I did have to purchase plywood, roof shingles, pavers and bolts. I'm doing all the work myself except hubby had to help raise the main beam and corner posts. It has been beautiful weather for hammering, drilling and sawing outside- I could not have asked for better (we've been in a drought here) but now the frost has come so I'm eager to get some lettuce under glass.
http://[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/nonrancher/greenhouseframeup.jpg[/img]http://[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/nonrancher/studsrafters.jpg[/img]
« Last Edit: October 23, 2008, 22:41:01 by GrannieAnnie »
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GrannieAnnie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2008, 22:38:27 »
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manicscousers

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2008, 10:03:02 »
that looks really good, grannieannie, it'll be interesting watching it as it fills up with plants  :)
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star

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2008, 19:31:42 »
That looks fabulous GA, oh winter lettuce and other winter salads......yummy ;D ;D ;D


Well done you ;)
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Lauren S

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2008, 19:37:55 »
Cannot wait to see the stages of this project.
Good Luck  :)
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Hyacinth

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2008, 17:50:54 »
I'm well impressed! 8)

Hope you've been able to crack on this weekend - and hope to see more pix too?

Regards.
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GrannieAnnie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2008, 15:29:41 »


I'm shingling in the rain
Just shingling in the rain.
What a glorious feeling
I'm happy again....
« Last Edit: October 26, 2008, 15:32:33 by GrannieAnnie »
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Hyacinth

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2008, 18:22:57 »
hey Annie! Seriously impressed now 8)  It has to be asked, tho...how tall are you - or what sort of monster lettuces are you planning? ;)

Is all the shingling done now - I'm presuming that the other side of the roof will be glass?

Thanks for the updated pix..you're really cracking on 8)
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davee52uk

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2008, 17:11:32 »
I have something similar with a greenhouse missing all the glass and metal frames on  one side. In my case the "empty" side is attached the brick of my allotment shed.


Are you going to paint the back, wooden wall. It could be painted white or covered with cooking foil to reflect heat and light back, or perhaps matt black to act as a heat sink. I'm wondering whether to do something like this for my 'house.
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GrannieAnnie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2008, 21:28:39 »
Quote from: davee52uk on October 28, 2008, 17:11:32
I have something similar with a greenhouse missing all the glass and metal frames on  one side. In my case the "empty" side is attached the brick of my allotment shed.


Are you going to paint the back, wooden wall. It could be painted white or covered with cooking foil to reflect heat and light back, or perhaps matt black to act as a heat sink. I'm wondering whether to do something like this for my 'house.

Yesterday I fell off the ladder. Or the ladder fell off me. So, no, the shingling isn't finished yet- it has been pouring. Today I elected to stay on terra ferma- dug a 16 inch deep trench  along the front of the house and inserted insulation to keep the heat loss down. Slippery clay with blue rocks- messy job but want to do all the sides before a freeze if possible. If not, there is always next season... Yesterday I also broke the table saw. Not a good day come to think of it. I was trying to shave down some window frames so they interlock better.

The ceiling I'll do In foil I think. Also have an old mirror and thinking of mounting it on the ceiling if it fits.  It should reflect the light back down on the plants, not out the window. The back will have lots of black jugs/tubs of  water piled up. I have some tar paper left so might cover the insulation with it along the back wall to absorb heat.  My carpentry skills are limited so there are many gaps- will be blocking leaks all winter me thinks ::)

I do love this project though. Just so it doesn't kill me! ;D

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davyw1

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2008, 19:30:10 »
Hope you were not to high and also you did not hurt yourself no doubt the bruises will come out in the morning.

Grannie can i put some some pictures on your thread of the greenhouse i am building at the moment.
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GrannieAnnie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2008, 20:36:59 »
Sure, put all you want on. I doubt any will be confused with my questionable attempt!
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GrannieAnnie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2008, 22:42:03 »


o   door up today- ned to find a catch still, but it swings- a real miracle!

o   windows in- a bit scary up the ladder but didn't fall in.  One mistake I made
     was shingling the roof ridge before putting the windows in- had to disconnect   
     the shingles which they didn't take kindly.
« Last Edit: November 01, 2008, 22:43:34 by GrannieAnnie »
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cambourne7

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2008, 22:54:00 »
looks amazing !!!

Is that just normal glass???
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GrannieAnnie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2008, 01:46:33 »
Quote from: cambourne7 on November 01, 2008, 22:54:00
looks amazing !!!

Is that just normal glass???
Normal window glass; most are double. I'm missing one and one hasn't been put up yet.
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cambourne7

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #15 on: November 02, 2008, 02:19:02 »
ok probably missing something but how is it solar?
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GrannieAnnie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #16 on: November 02, 2008, 13:08:05 »
Quote from: cambourne7 on November 02, 2008, 02:19:02
ok probably missing something but how is it solar?
It has a long way to go before it can be called solar. Still to do:

o  finish sides which are totally open and install automatic air vent which does not require electricity
o  weather strip the door and insulate the glass
o  dig insulation down to frost line on 3 more sides and mound up dirt- have to get this done before hard frost!!!
o  clad exterior with used redwood
o  insulate interior between studs with builder's leftover scraps and foam insulation
o  put foil  on ceiling to reflect light back down to plants
o  fill back wall completely with containers of water- if I can keep this cold frame about 40 degrees F.  min. I'll be pleased. The water is supposed to prevent wild swings in temp. including not too hot in the day. The goal is not to grow tropicals- just to keep cold weather greens going

o  cover inside of windows with clear insulator plastic- going to try some that people put on top of swimming pool water to keep the heat in
o  red brick pavers
o  raised soil high in humus
o  lettuce seedlings!

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Hyacinth

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #17 on: November 03, 2008, 17:37:01 »
Annie! Respec!!! 8)

Questions...it all looks SO professional, it surely can't be your 1st attempt at construction?

Are the glass panes surplus to requirements from another project in your house?

What clips/bonding matter are you using?

What's your time-frame before your Big Freeze sets in?

Oh, and please....keep the pix coming - and be careful on the ladder, OK?
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katynewbie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #18 on: November 03, 2008, 17:42:13 »
 ???

Cambourne...the clue is in the word. Sun=Solar!

 ;)
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GrannieAnnie

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Re: Pictures- began building a walk-in solar coldframe
« Reply #19 on: November 04, 2008, 02:12:23 »
Quote from: Hyacinth on November 03, 2008, 17:37:01
Annie! Respec!!! 8)

Questions...it all looks SO professional, it surely can't be your 1st attempt at construction?

Are the glass panes surplus to requirements from another project in your house?

What clips/bonding matter are you using?

What's your time-frame before your Big Freeze sets in?

Oh, and please....keep the pix coming - and be careful on the ladder, OK?
Don't get too enthralled. This looks irregular and homemade, definitely a project from scraps. For example the only place I could put the door- you won't believe this ;D- has an upright running through the doorway! As long as I don't gain any weight I can squeeze through! There were only materials for a shallow house which presents major difficulties.

 I put up studs and finished a room once while hubby was away- this isn't so different from that except dealing with all the angles and the height of the project.
 
The windows came from different friends and some from our house. There are clips holding on the storm windows and I built frames around two windows, one is on the side now  and took me most of this morning trying to figure out how to do it. ::)
Could have some freezing up in Nov but probably not til Dec.  Thank you for your encouraging words.
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