How to Build a Cold Frame | This Old House

Senior Technical Editor, Mark Powers uses rot-resistant planks and a salvaged window to build a protective box that extends the growing season. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)

Not all gardeners have the luck to live in temperate climes. Instead of battling frost, install a cold frame to protect your plants like a mini greenhouse. Its natural warmth lets you foster seedlings in early spring and keep veggies going through fall and even into winter. This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers shows how to build the box from rot-resistant wood and a salvaged window. Once it's finished, choose a south-facing spot in your yard where water won't pool, and enjoy all that extra gardening time.

Shopping List for How to Build a Cold Frame:
- Salvaged window sash
- Pavers. Get enough to set beneath each side of the frame.
- Construction adhesive
- 1 5/8-inch deck screws
- 2 1/2-inch deck screws
- Brass sash pull
- 4-inch galvanized strap hinges. Get two to attach the window to the frame
- 4-inch removable-pin hinges. Get one for the inside of each corner to make the frame collapsible.
- 1/2-inch dowel. Get at least 6 feet to make venting poles of various lengths.

Tools for How to Build a Cold Frame:
- Miter saw
- Jigsaw
- Drill/driver
- Straightedge
- Clamps
- Caulk gun
- Garden rake
- Garden spade

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How to Build a Cold Frame | This Old House

[Zincink]

I’ve always watched This Old House with my Dad when I was a child in the 80s. This video is in fast forward. Can you make a new video?

[dwaynesbadchemicals]

This feels like getting directions from the IT department.

[jayteaman]

Hello, I'm Troy McClure. Over the next 6 hours I'll be taking you through the "do's" and "do-not-do's" of cold frame construction.

[MikeOfKorea]

I feel like I just listened to someone explaining the pitch and roll equations of a weather satellite... however, I'll give it a try!

[Chuckish]

Nice idea for places where the frost doesn't go 4 feet into the ground in the winter.

[WakandaBabe]

Why are all This Old House videos so technical and confusing? I have seen other videos explain this a lot simpler.

[san]

HAHA..HE PUT THE WINDOWS ON DIFFERENT.. ONE HAS THE PUTTY UP.. THE OTHER HAS THE PUTTY DOWN..LOL

[casperwallace]

That looks really good, but the information is way too fast in comparison to what you're doing.

[SincerelySharee]

Neat greener idea, but I would consider that the paint on the window has a lead based paint.

[pennysweets]

Admirable craftsman but way over my head...

[thpt]

I would really like to see this video without the Very Exciting Shaky Camerawork With Extra Wow Jumpy Zoom which does not add excitement or wow, but did reduce clarity, please.

[melissahahn]

How did you determine what height it needed to be? I assume there needs to be some clearance between the plant and the “lid” when it’s closed?

[hygrometer]

show us how to keep ice cream outside all winter

[liberta]

I thought the video was well done. Thank you.

[MrBartoriginal]

This can all be built with 2x material with the angled pieces fastened to one complete 2x frame with mastic then all the frames stacked one on top of the other with the glass frame last. To keep it from getting to hot just slide the glass frame down a bit. This isn't an hard project I built two of these cold frames several years ago in about an hour with no planes & just the window frame measurements. The directions here are quite simple they even have more work put into them than necessary.

[dukeman]

How to make something simple into a complicated and confusing process.

[Nicole-pveg]

That window pane is going to rot out in a season or two... what a waste

[itsjustrenee]

YOU LOST ME AT HELLO, I would've been better off if you had resorted to geometry though I don't understand that either.

[moonmagic]

How much was the cost of building these?

[DonDonadio]

That was way too difficult. There must be an easier way