99 in. long. First, use a circular or
table saw to rip the 1x10 down to 8 in.
wide. Then bevel-rip a 10-degree
bevel into one edge of the 1x8. Screw
the two boards together and set the
ridge cap over the peak of the green-
house roof. Secure it in place by
driving 15⁄8-in. decking screws down
into the rafters [ 25 ].
ADD BATTENS
To help create a weathertight roof,
apply a continuous bead of silicone
sealant to the seams between the poly-
carbonate panels. Then cover each
seam with a 1x2 batten [ 26 ]. Fasten
the battens with 15⁄8-in. trim-head
screws, spaced 16 in. apart. Repeat
the process to apply battens to the ver-
tical seams in the greenhouse walls.
FINISH THE DOOR AND VENT
Add 1x4 exterior casing around the
doorway opening, and then hang the
door with two self-closing hinges [ 27 ].
Mount the hinges 6 in. from the top
and bottom of the door. Then install
the automatic vent opener by screw-
ing it to the air vent frame and the 2x4
collar tie [ 28 ].
BUILD THE POTTING BENCH
For the potting bench’s three mount-
ing brackets, cut two horizontal
21¼-in.-long 1x4 bench supports,
and one 25¾-in.-long 2x4 diagonal
brace. Trim one end of the six 1x4s to
45 degrees, and both ends of the three
2x4s to 45 degrees. Glue and screw one
1x4 to each side of the 2x4 to create a
45-degree diagonal brace. (You’ll use
15⁄8-in. decking screws for the potting
bench.) Slip each mounting bracket
onto a stud in one sidewall. Position
the brackets 35¼ in. above the timber
frame foundation, and fasten them by
screwing through the horizontal 1x4s
and into the side of the wall stud [ 29 ].
Then drive a single screw through the
lower mitered end of the brace and into
the edge of the wall stud.
Since there’s no way to attach a
mounting bracket to the studs at each
end of the sidewall, screw a 1x4 cleat
across two studs in the front wall and
rear wall. Place each cleat at the same
height as the mounting brackets: 35¼
in. above the foundation. These sup-
port the 1x4 potting bench slats.
Make the surface of the potting
bench from four 96-in.-long 1x4
slats. Set the slats across the mount-
ing brackets and cleats, spaced ½ in.
apart, then fasten them with 1¼-in.
decking screws [ 30 ].ADD THE OVERHEAD
PLANT HANGER
Complete the interior of the green-
house by installing an overhead bar
for hanging plants and baskets. Cut a
length of ½-in.-diameter metal con-
duit to 94 in. Drill a ½-in.-diameter x
1-in.-deep hole in the 2x4 collar tie in
the front and rear gable-end trusses.
Position the holes 12 in. from the end
of the collar ties. Slip the conduit into
the holes, and then secure it to the
underside of each 1x4 collar tie with a
single conduit strap [ 31 ].BUILD AND INSTALL
THE PRESSURE-TREATED DECK
For the deck frame, cut two 2x4 x
72-in. band joists, and five 2x4 x
20½-in. f loor joists. Screw the f loor
joists between the two band joists
with 3-in. galvanized decking screws,
spaced 161⁄8 in. apart, to create the
deck frame. Set the frame in front of
the doorway and fasten it to the tim-
ber frame foundation with four 3½-in.
structural screws. Support the outer
two corners of the deck frame with
concrete blocks or pressure-treated
posts to hold the deck level.
Cut four pieces of 5⁄4-in. x 6-in.
pressure-treated decking to 72 in.
long. Lay the decking across the f loor
frame, spaced ½ in. apart [ 32 ]. Fasten
the decking to the deck frame with
2-in. decking screws. Now, with your
greenhouse complete, bring in the
plants and watch them grow!26 272829303132PHOTOGRAPH/ILLUSTRATION BY TEEKAY NAME