How to Construct a Lean-To Greenhouse

This article will be your introductory guide to constructing your own lean-to greenhouse. Using a greenhouse is a great way to grow a variety of plants, and building your own greenhouse does not have to be difficult. Making the structure a lean-to allows you to

utilize the stability of your house to easily and efficiently construct a greenhouse. It will also be easier to heat, water, and electricity than a traditional greenhouse.

Choose a Location

The first thing you need to do is determine where your greenhouse should go. The best choice is the side of your house that receives the most sun throughout the day. This will increase the efficiency of your greenhouse once it is constructed. Now you must establish a foundation for the greenhouse. Measure out from the structure the greenhouse will be leaning against and mark the dimensions on the ground.

Trench the Perimeter

From here you’ll want to trench the perimeter of the foundation. Use eight-by-eight timbers to mark the edges of the foundation. Make sure to use a level when making the perimeter to ensure that your foundation is level. Also be certain that your timbers meet at a 90-degree angle and are flush against one another. This is important for your greenhouse, as having an unleveled foundation or faulty perimeter can spell trouble for your lean-to.

Frame Your Walls

The next step is to frame your walls. You’ll want to use two-by-two planks to border the walls. Take a two-by-two board and cut it as long as your greenhouse is wide. Screw it into the frame at the back at a height of eight feet. Then cut another board like this and screw it in on the front wall at six feet tall. This gap in height will allow your greenhouse to have a slanted roof that will let water drip down.

Cut the Side Boards

Now you will be cutting the boards for the sides of the greenhouse.  Because the roof of the greenhouse is pitched, each vertical board will be cut at a different length. Measure the height from the foundation to the roof at each point you plan on putting a vertical board and cut your two by twos appropriately. Once you have put up the vertical boards, put up some horizontal support boards across the roof.

Final Touches

Now that you have your greenhouse completely framed, we will be adding on the final touches. Use ½ inch-by-½ inch meshed wire and attach it to the roof. Next, take some 6 Mil polyethylene plastic and staple it to the roof of the greenhouse. The mesh you installed provides a good amount of support for the plastic and will prevent it from drooping into the greenhouse.

Next, you’ll want to mount a zipper door in the available space at the front of your lean to. Installation for zipper doors is highly dependent on the type of zipper door and the manufacturer, so refer to the instructions for specific installation procedure.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully built yourself a lean-to greenhouse.

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