Sources for 3 or 4 wall panels

[utah]

Okay, I've completely lost my mind now.

I have gone from about 6 or 8 orchid plants to just over a dozen, to now having about 3 or 4 dozen plants. Needless to say, they aren't going to fit back into the house when the weather cools down. (Neither will the plumeria I have going too). (the thumbnail is only a small portion of the 'chids)

So I've decided to convert my patio, which is off the East wall of my garage, into a greenhouse.

I've drawn up the plans and will be taking apart an old (~1940) covered patio then using the concrete patio floor as the base for the greenhouse. That being said, there is no standard greenhouse kit that will fit my needs so I'm going to have to build it myself.

I have about everything figured out and am trying to source the materials. My biggest cost (of course) is the panels. Since I live in Utah I'm going to need 3 or 4 wall panels (8mm) and I'm going to need quite a few of them (probably 13 8'x4' panels). That means I'm looking at a big chunk of change (not including the freight carrier charges).

I've found Charley's Greenhouses online. That would be freight from Washington State which is only a few states away. *Shipping charges are important too!*

Okay - here's the question: anyone have any other sources for 3 or 4 wall panels (NOT greenhouse kits - just the panels)????

I'm going to have to sell a kidney to afford this but the little guys are growing so well and I can't bring myself to think of how they will shrivel up and die in the house this winter - even with my best intentions.

Help please!

[Gin]

Hi check out Farmtek they have twin wall and triple wall panels also lean to greenhouses ..
Agricultural Supplies, Fencing, Equine Buildings, Grain, Manure Livestock & Kennel Buildings from FarmTek

[utah]

Wow! They have great prices and thicker panels. I'm going to have to give them a call!

Thank you!

[Gin]

You are welcome, if u call ask for the catalog lots of good stuff in it Gin

[jamesgang]

Me too Utah, I am boosting the economy this week end buying treated lumber to start the frame in on a 16 x 14 orchid residence--- thought I 'd throw in my dos centos at this point as I have an idea (borrowed concept being correct) that I can make my east and west walls into passive solar heaters to generate some solar heat in the winter -- granted Okie winters are not Utah winters but it is free heat and for a bit of work now I think I can cut some of the heating cost out --I hope to construct a active solar heat sink by the time I need to start heating for winter and I will document both projects --the passive wall idea I found from a goggle seach as I was researching design ideas --there is a guy in Michigan building a unit that attaches to the outside of a home and is plumbed into the house and all it does is suck in the cold as the hotter air rises and "vents" into the house-passive but it will heat air to temps up over 100 degrees! Once I have some of the wall up and can take pics I will get back at you on this concept james

[utah]

Fab idea!

My greenhouse is going to be attached to the unheated, detached garage. The garage will make up the West wall of my greenhouse which is good for summer here 'cause it gets HOT (it's been 100 degrees all week). I'm going to be looking into solar panels and maybe even a small wind turbine when I have the greenhouse up. I'd like to run the heater/evaporative cooler and a fan off of solar power. I'm also going to utilize very passive cooling for the summer by planting deciduous plants on the south side of the greenhouse to shade the intense all-day sun.

Keep me posted on your project - that sounds great! Pics would be great too.

I appreciate your feedback!

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi Utah,
I've been following this thread and wanted to jump in to let you know that I admire the thought and planning you are putting into your project. So many of us just jump into something like this (me included) but you are taking the time to "do it right".
Looking forward to future posts and pictures when you get to that point.
Al

[jamesgang]

I have not gotten far enough into the project to look at photvolectics as a power source for the cooling system--I will provide regular power to start but I do know I can power the solar wall with photo cell power and so that fairly inexpensively--last winter we had so many cloudy days in a row makes for concern to the point I may have to learn something about wind energy--one thing about Oklahoma weather--if it isn't windy watch out! that means it is about to get VERY windy and in a hurry! I'd appreciate any sources you have on wind energy technology for GH applications James