Buying Tips

Things to consider

Do I need a building permit?  Requiring a permit depends on your municipality but generally speaking, a structure less than 107 square feet that is not considered permanent does not require a permit in Ontario. We at Rogers are able to provide engineered stamped drawings to secure the required permits, when necessary. 

Location The closer to the house or garden your greenhouse is located, the more you are likely to use it. Location is a key factor in creating the ideal growing environment and helping to ease heating costs. Locate your greenhouse so that it receives a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day is during winter months. Anything less and you may have to supplement with grow lights. If possible, align the longest side of your greenhouse to face south. This allows the roof to attract the most amount of sunlight during the day.

Foundation What’s the best foundation for my greenhouse? The most common foundations for hobby greenhouses are interlocking brick, 24” patio stones or concrete.  Rogers hobby greenhouses come with a 6″ aluminum base frame and therefore do not require a foundation. However some customers may wish to increase the height of their structure by installing a  frame around the perimeter of the greenhouse.

• Wood frames are selected for their ease of preparation and allow for long term flexibility in case the greenhouse is ever to be moved or extended. Wood frames are simple and less expensive but will need to be replaced at some point.
• Interlocking brick and patio stones offer good drainage and are aesthetically pleasing
• Concrete can be chosen for a more permanent location, are easy to clean and will last for generations. For greenhouses over 10×20 a concrete foundation is recommended.
• The freestanding hobby greenhouse has the ability to be free floating, installed directly on the grass/soil allowing the gardener to grow right in the ground.

  All foundations must be level and square for easy installation.  

How do I heat my greenhouse? While the sun will heat up the greenhouse during the day, an uninsulated greenhouse will cool off quickly at night. In a moderate climate, the best choice for keeping a small greenhouse above freezing is a small electric heater. For larger greenhouses a propane or Natural gas heater is a more economical solution. The capacity needed is dictated by the square footage of the greenhouse and the glazing components used. For Orchid Growers – backup generators are common or gas heating in the event of power outages. Portable camping heaters are also used in the event of power outages.  For customers seeking to regulate the temperature within their greenhouse, the use of double glazing is a highly recommended solution.

TIPs

1. Use a thermostat – Save money and energy by only heating greenhouses when necessary. Most electric heaters come with a built in thermostat so you can set your greenhouse heater to only come on when the temperatures drop below a certain point.
2.  Invest in a good thermometer and check it daily. By keeping an eye on the air temperature you will be able to use your greenhouse heater more efficiently and adjust it when necessary.
3.  Place rocks or black barrels filled with water inside your greenhouse to capture the suns heat and keep plants warm during cool evenings.

All Rogers’s structures offer the ability to double glaze using 8mm Twin wall Macrolux panels which help to insulate the greenhouse and reduce heating costs.

Ventilation   Overheating is the principal cause of plant failure in a greenhouse. The size of greenhouse will determine the amount of ventilation required. A successful greenhouse should allow for air to enter and exit the structure. Rogers smaller hobby greenhouses have heat activated roof vents to provide proper air circulation.  This allows you to be away from the greenhouse during the hottest parts of the day without having to worry about your plants being overheated. An oscillating fan installed in the greenhouse helps with air movement protecting plants from heat exhaustion.

For larger greenhouses or hotter climates, a forced ventilation system may be necessary to ensure the greenhouse does not overheat. This will usually includes a combination of continuous top roof vents, exhaust fans, motorized intake shutters and thermostat, providing a more controlled environment. Rogers’s larger greenhouse offer continuous automatic or manual roof vents with Thermostat control.

Air Circulation It is more important than most people realize. Every greenhouse needs to have a circulating fan moving air at all times. Although the idea is basic, the principle is critical. Plants need fresh air for a healthy root system and a constant flow of air prevents pockets of warm or cool air staying in corners. Proper air circulation will regulate temperatures and increase efficiency in the greenhouse. This will also prevent mold from forming on walls or plant containers as condensation is less likely to occur. Small oscillating fans are sufficient for hobby sized greenhouses.

Shading the Greenhouse All Rogers’s greenhouses come with energy and shade curtains as they are an  integral part of greenhouse growing, blocking out 57% of the sun’s harmful rays, minimizing heat build-up in the warmer months and retaining 47% energy in the winter helping to reduce your operating cost.