How to Build a High-Tunnel Greenhouse | Ask This Old House

Roger Cook helps a homeowner build a simple, affordable backyard greenhouse. (See the shopping list and tools below.)

Roger visits Biloxi, Mississippi where he builds a high tunnel greenhouse with a homeowner.

Shopping List for How to Build a High-Tunnel Greenhouse:

Tools List for How to Build a High-Tunnel Greenhouse:

All of the materials for this project, including 20-foot lengths of 1" PVC pipe, Pressure-treated 2x4s, and 4 mil plastic sheeting, are available at home centers.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Build a High-Tunnel Greenhouse | Ask This Old House

[annnonomys]

Used this approach for many years. suggestions. 1) The plastic will need to be removed in advance of the summer heat. Tie the plastic down instead of stapling it so that the plastic can be reused in fall or spring. 2) Critters are persistent. Use the same frame for bird netting. After draping the bird net, wrap the perimeter with wire fence. (bird net keeps birds out, but critters such as rabbits and chipmunks chew through.)

[rustybones]

Why didn’t they show them driving back from Home Depot with the 20 ft pvc strapped to the roof of his Honda Accord? He and Roger with their hands out the window holding it steady.

[FishOnIsMyHandle]

You can put pieces of lath over the staple rows to help hold it down, the staples alone don't hold it for very long. Trust me on this one

[iguesi]

Additional materials must have magically appeared after they left the box store. Beams, anchors, more PVC, PVC cement, doors, hinges, screws and staples... plus the tools. Awesome.

[anotherdave]

Love the way the wood had pre-drilled holes where it was going to be screwed together! Kudos to HD for knowing ahead of time what it was to be used for.

[koucho]

When stapling the plastic to 2x4 you should have support for the staples or it will tear and blow. Use 1/8 or 1/4 inch strips of wood and staple through it.

[jeremyhenderson]

As one who used this video a few years ago, there is a lot of other things that should be (common sense) included. FOR INSTANCE: 1) With not much wind-blow those staples are not going to hold and pull loose (leaving holes in the plastic), one should consider using ferring strips to better secure the plastic to the skeleton. 2) When cutting the plastic for any doors/windows/etc. don't cut it even with the edges, instead cut so that the plastic covers the door/window/etc at least the with of the lumber used to frame the door/window/etc. so that the excess plastic can be (better) secured to the framing lumber (this will help to keep the edges of plastic from giving under wind forces.). and MOST IMPORTANTLY 3) make sure your hoophouse is positioned to collect the most WINTER SUN, as the winter will be the time you'll need the most solar heat.

[xdadd]

Flash forward to 2021 and that was a $10, 000 Hone Depot run...

[leonardodalongisland]

A little shopping advice: always load your cart with the longest items-last. This way you don't have to navigate the isles, turns and other shoppers with long pipes/boards, etc sticking out and hitting merchandise and people.

[TheRfmodulator]

And the best part, you're going to be an expert at erecting this greenhouse design, because you get to do it again every year, maybe two. Also, if plan to hang pots on a 12 ft span of 2x4, put a brace in the middle.

[pique-nique]

PVC pipe and plastic next to each other cause a chemical reaction that will create weak points in the plastic. The plastic will then tear and even disintegrate where it is touching the PVC. To avoid this, the PVC pipes must be wrapped with strips of cloth or foam insulation for pipes. I found that a better solution is to use 5’ x 16’ or 20’ cattle panels, 2, 3, or 4 of those with 6 ml plastic or even a reinforced clear tarp. It’s more expensive but lasts year after year. The cattle panels last what seems like forever and the plastic lasts 3 or 4 years. And the structure doesn’t budge in the wind. PVC will sway in the wind, especially if the hoops aren’t fastened together with crossbar pipes, and this will add to the breakdown of the plastic.

[johnleden]

Nice looking lumber at HD - they must have known the cameras were on the way.

[Smokeybandit]

Growing up I used to watch these guys on cable with my dad every night. Now I’m 23 with a wife, kid and house and now it’s come full circle. I watch these guys on youtube except now I’m the one doing the projects haha

[notarivsanonymvs]

My elderly neighbor built this and it blew away when we got strong winds. She asked me to help her rebuild it and showed me this video. 🤦🏻‍♂️ We rebuilt the darn thing like a shed and anchored it down. She ordered greenhouse grade plastic and has worked great.

[ccjohncc]

Joe since I wasn't paying attention at Lowe's we have added end pieces so the PVC will fit over the galvanized pipe that we bought that is too big.

[TimmyTechTV]

This Old House is now charging via their website if you want to watch the full episodes.
Thumbs up if you think this is a horrible change and want the full episodes back here on YouTube!

[npcwill]

May be wise to find a mesh screen to install on the lower 2/3 of the hoop house they get hot in the summer even with a fan inside and the sides rolled up 2/3 of the way !

[OldCemeteryWalks]

I've made a few of these before, but your addition of the doors and the beams up top make it so much nicer. I can't wait to make a few of your version this spring. Thanks for the easy to follow video.

[scottjones]

You could find an old AMC Pacer, gut the interior, put it up on blocks, shoot a few holes in the floor for drainage and vola, instant greenhouse...

[timwebber]

Homeowner: "I just planted it! What do you think?"
Roger: "Well, I lahv da raze gahden. Habba de bamma den dah bah? Wenna can in da ma simma tahn."