How to Build an Inexpensive Hoop-Style Greenhouse
One of the most valuable assets in my garden is my greenhouse. It has allowed me to grow plants that I normally would not be able to grow, produce crops that the season is not usually long enough to produce, and protect my plants from frosts, hail, or other severe weather that normally would have destroyed my garden.
But I don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on a greenhouse. I just priced out an 8’x12’ greenhouse for $3,500. I would love to have a large, professional greenhouse, but that simply isn’t financially feasible for me. So, instead I’ve found a way to make a large greenhouse that is functional, easy to build, and inexpensive. This article will explain to you exactly how to build a 12’x32’ hoop-style greenhouse for under $400.
Required Materials List
Note: All wood should be green, treated wood to resist rot. (Or you can spend more money and buy a rot resistant type of lumber such as cedar.)
- (4) 2×6 – 16’
- (2) 2×6 – 12’
- (14) 2×4 – 12’
- (19) ¾” x 20’white pvc pipe
- (9) 10mm x 10’ rebar
- (1) 20’x50’ roll of 6mm plastic
- (1) Bundle of 50 4’ wood lathe (or optional staples)
- Zip ties
- Nails or screws
- Metal banding
- Door hinges and handles
Step 1 – Laying Out the Frame
Using the 2x6s, lay out and put together your 12’x32’ frame. (You can join the two 16’ pieces with a 2’ piece of 2×4.)
Ensure that the frame is square by measuring diagonally across it. You can temporarily keep the frame in place by pounding a 30” piece of rebar in each corner. (You can pull these out to use them in the next step.)
Step 2 – Adding the Hoops
Cut each 10’ piece of rebar into four 30” pieces of rebar. This will give you thirty-four pieces. Pound the rebar into the ground about 15” deep on the outside of your frame at two foot intervals. This will leave 15” sticking up out of the ground.
Now slide both ends of your pvc pipe over the rebar to make a hoop across the width of your greenhouse.
Attach the pvc pipe to the 2x6s by screwing short pieces of metal banding around the pipe.
Step 3 – Building the Ends
Cut the following pieces out of your 12’ 2x4s:
- (2) 11’8¾”
- (4) 1’6″
- (4) 4’7″
- (4) 5’7″
- (8) 1’11¼”
- (2) 4′¼”
For each end, assemble the wall according to the following diagram.
Place this wall within the 2×6 frame and nail/screw in place.
Cut (4) 28” 2×4 pieces. Cut one end at a 45º angle. Use these pieces to brace the wall.
Once all of the hoops and the two ends are in place, connect two pvc pipes together and cut them to measure 32′ long. This will be the rib that will go along the top of your hoops. You can attach this rib with plastic zip ties.
Step 4 – Covering the Greenhouse with Plastic
If you are going to use wood lathe, cut 32 pieces of 20” lathe. These will secure the plastic to the sides of the 2×6 frame in between each hoop. Or optionally, you can use staples, though they may have a tendency to pull through the plastic.
Drape the plastic over the length of the greenhouse. Be sure to have enough overlap at the ends to cover the end walls. Pull the plastic snug and attach to the 2x6s at one end using the wood lathe or staples. Go to the other end, pull snug, and attach in a similar manner. Do this at the center, and then along the rest of the length of the greenhouse.
Note: If you can do this in warm weather, there will be less sagging later. Make it as snug as you can without causing damage to the plastic.
To attach the plastic to the ends, pull the plastic straight down, and attach with lathe. Then pull the plastic out to the sides. This will give you extra plastic along the outside edge. Fold the plastic back towards the center and attach. For the end with the door, cut out the plastic leaving a few inches of over hang to wrap inside and attach.
Step 5 – Adding the Door
Before you cut your pieces, check the actual measurements for the space you have. Your wall may sit a little different than mine. It’s always better to go a little small or your door may not fit. But if the measurements are the same, cut the following pieces out of your 12’ 2x4s:
- (2) 4’11″
- (2) 3’9″
Nail these together to make your door frame. Lay a 2×4 diagonally across the frame and nail in place. Trim off anything that hangs over the frame of the door. This will be on the inside of your door. Too much wood hanging over will jam your door. Attach the hinges to the door frame.
Cover the outside of the door with remaining plastic or you can use plywood if you would rather. You can attach the plastic with the wood lathe or staples. There should be about 4” of overhang of plastic on all sides.
Attach the door handles to the door. Mount the door to the frame.
And there you go! You can have a beautiful 12’x32’ hoop-style greenhouse that can be built in a weekend and all for less than $400.
——
Update: July 11th, 2008
To see just how well this greenhouse works, see my July Greenhouse Update.
Update August 5, 2009
For an new and improved version, see An Inexpensive, Hail Proof, PVC Pipe Greenhouse.
Update November 29, 2010
Improved design. Changed material list from half inch PVC to three-quarter inch PVC.
Howdy! We are in the process of building our pvc hoop house, but one thing is not addressed in anything that I read and that is the fact that the the 6ml 4yr poly everyone refers to cannot be in contact with pvc as it will degrade rapidly. What have you done, if anything, to address this? I’m thinking just painting with primer as a block between the two plastics and their chemical reactions. Have you noticed any degradation? I’m looking at purchasing Tufflite IV 6ml film. Let me know. Frame is up but as it is so hot right now we are putting up shade vs. plastic so won’t add plastic until late September.
Francesca: The poly that I’m currently using (11ml woven poly) has shown no signs of degradation where it contacts the pvc. But your idea is a good one – a white primer would be effective.
I have read to use tape. I don’t know what type but suppose it should be waterproof.
How does this greenhouse hold up over the winter? What is winter like there?
Snow load is the only problem I’ve had. Most of our snows are pretty dry – but when we get wet, heavy snow, the pvc pipes begin to sag under the weight.
I live on Toronto Ontario. I have been growing tropical fruit trees for few years in a sunroom, on the south side of the house. This year since I have too many trees I am building a 20ftx36ft green house. I wonder ifany one have poured a concreat floor ? is it insulated? is any one heating up the floor ? any information will be more than appriciated. Thank you
Do you use it during the winter.
Nick: I do not.
What do you do about ventilation? That’s the only flaw I can see with this greenhouse, it would get very hot in the height of summer and the plants would literally cook. Without being able to lift the sides, how do you get good air flow to control summer temps?
Thanks.
Robin
Robin: I leave both of the end doors open throughout the summer – this provides plenty of ventilation.
Nice greenhouse!
Where can I buy 20′ pvc pipe and 11mm poly cover?
I would need one greenhouse in my backyard, good benchmarking.
Cheers!!
You can buy PVC pipe / poly at any big box DIY store
Thanks for information. I will try to construct the same hothouse of the house.
Like design and princaples, however we have a wind and sun temperatures of approx.40degrees in the summer. How does the p.v.c. pipe stand up to the ultra violet rays? i.e becomes brittle in our climate,also I would like to use shade cloth.
Laurene: Yes, the PVC will become brittle over time.
Here this tipe of green house is not guaranty,-4celcius and all frozen,I build one insulated north and west it is the wall of my house and the heat of my house go thru the wall and lift much more the freezing degre.This year it freeze inside on november 6.
just wanted to say THANK YOU! i had already started my green house — and was in huge debate on how to finish off the ends – oh happy day i found your link on PINTEREST – THANK YOU for your tutorial — loved the piece down center top to brace it using the zip ties. no cutting no 4 way joints to order — hawgsnkisses from farmer sue!
I just want to say thankyou for the idea I am going to start build my Green house for a aquaponics in puerto rico this is a real inexpensive Green house thankyou again when I finished i am goin to send you Photos
We live in the Grande Prairie area and very often have to deal with extreme winds and severe thunderstorms.
Have you had to deal with any of these issues and how does your design hold up?
Barb: The only weather related problem I’ve had with this design is heavy snow load. Wind, rain, and even hail have never been a problem – even the most severe weather!
Thanks for giving me the inspiration to build a hoop-style greenhouse myself. I have taken you overall design at added a few alternatives. It’s only 4 x 4 m in size so a 4×6 m white reinforced tarp fits as covering. The sides are raised about 0,5 m from the ground so plants can grow tall even close to the sides. The frame rest on 6 small cyndrical concrete pipes as fundation that was trash to others but building material to me. The wood frame has a extra framing to make it more stabil to wind pressure. Ends are made of plywood and with a door in each end for maximum ventilation on hot days. Total costs about 400 US$. In Denmark using plastic in stead of glas as greenhouse covering makes the temperature inside good for tomato, cucumber etc. but not hot enough for pebers. PVC pipes and tarp are removed for the winter making the remaining frame a bad winter resting place for pests and bugs. I can only hope others will enjoy an inexpensive greenhouse as well. Our family do!
I built a similar greenhouse 30yrs ago only I added wooden bracing lengthwise from door to door. Instead of poly I then pop riveted sheets of corrugated fiberglass to the frame and base. slightly more expensive but it lasted for over twenty years and would still be there if we had not sold to a developer. Cost effective in the long run.
You can use I bolts around the entire greenhouse and run rope over the top of the plastic to help strap it to the pvc for areas that have a lot of wind. It will help the plastic during winter months
hi i live 2 hours east of toronto and i like to build this but what big box store sells that kinda of plastic film? as Homedepot and Lowes does not carry it can you send a link for where i can buy it near Peterborough Ontario
Mike: The big box stores will only carry the thinner 6mil stuff – you want to order online from NorthernGreenhouse.com!
[...] 12′ wide. Chris took most of his construction design inspiration from the polytunnel on this Alberta Home Gardening website. As for cost, we were able to build it pretty inexpensively. We bought the pvc piping (the [...]
Bookmarked your page a couple of years ago. I built a 12×24′ wood frame and installed the PVC pipe last year. It sat in one garden until yesterday when I deconstructed it and my family helped carry it to my BIG garden. I reconstructed it and have finished half of 1 end wall. I’ll finish the rest and we’ll put the plastic on tomorrow.
I just wanted to thank you for posting the plans for this super easy, inexpensive, and practical greenhouse. My seedlings will be happy to go from my germination chamber to the greenhouse and then into my high tunnels.
Cheers!
Michael Lobby
Great simple greenhouse design. Thank you for sharing this cost effective way for anyone to have their own greenhouse.
I like your website and will be checking out your other articles.
We’re gonna give this hoop house a go over the weekend. Thanks for putting this together and including an organizer material list, sure save us other folks the time. This seemed to be the most affordable and practical solution for us. Thanks!
Will the pVC bend correctly if a attach 2 10 footers together with a PVC union?
Kyle: That will work – however, I find that the top joint then becomes your weakest point and I’ve had a few snap on mine after a season. I would caution against that…
The only 3/4″ pipe I could find is called super pax. I tried it today, (20 ft. length)and it is not rigid enough, barely holding up its own weight! Anyone else having this problem? I did find pieces of PVC pipe in the Home Depot catalogue, but nothing over 10 ft. Any suggestions?
Brian: The pvc you want is quite rigid. You may want to try at your local plumbing supply store. I’ve had success at UFA and Co-op…
What may help keep the 3/4 inch tubing from getting brittle from the sun would be if you covered it with 3/4 inch insulation. But it will still get brittle over time.