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.)
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse
Roger visits Biloxi, Mississippi where he builds a high tunnel greenhouse with a homeowner.
Shopping List for How to Build a High-Tunnel Greenhouse:
- 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe [amzn.to/31pKO4k], to create frame of high tunnel
- 1 1/4-inch-diameter PVC pipe and reducer coupling [amzn.to/2IBbsyn], to make sleeve that fits over galvanized pipe
- Pressure-treated 2x4s [amzn.to/2WynL3s], for building end walls and base
- Pressure-treated 2x2s [amzn.to/2WvmZEf], for framing two doors
- 4-mil clear plastic sheeting [amzn.to/2X5QnFy], to cover the PVC frame
- 3-inch screws [amzn.to/2WvnX3l], for attaching 2x4s
- Galvanized pipe [amzn.to/2F4we8N], to secure the PVC pipe to the ground
- PVC primer and cement [amzn.to/2X6MeBh], for gluing together PVC pipe and fittings
- Metal pipe brackets [amzn.to/2WZqLKD] with 1 1/4-inch screws and washers [amzn.to/2Wz567y], used to secure PVC pipe to 2x4 base
- Six 3-inch butt hinges [amzn.to/31rKemj], for hanging two doors
- 1/4-inch staples [amzn.to/2WZrDyT], to secure the plastic sheeting
Tools List for How to Build a High-Tunnel Greenhouse:
- Cordless drill [amzn.to/2KaQUQt], to drill holes
- Impact driver [amzn.to/31tcEwj], for driving screws
- Circular saw [amzn.to/2Ka2paZ], to cut 2x4s
- Auger [amzn.to/2KduJt5], to drill holes in soil
- Small sledgehammer [amzn.to/2XE1x1t], for pounding in galvanized pipe
- PVC saw [amzn.to/2Kd59V4], to cut plastic pipe
- Staple gun [amzn.to/2wLBYzt], for attaching the plastic sheeting
- Utility knife [amzn.to/31tkuX4], to cut plastic sheeting
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.
Expert assistance with this project was provided by the Mississippi State University Coastal Research & Extension Center [coastal.msstate.edu/].
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.
Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: bit.ly/2GPiYbH
Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app
Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
bit.ly/AskTOHIG
For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite
How to Build a High-Tunnel Greenhouse | Ask This Old House
kzbin.info

[@ccjohncc1]

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.

[@gccarnovale]

He used a thinner pipe so it would bend. A larger diameter pipe would not bend as easily.

[@karimzoufir1832]

As an amateur with woodworker, i typically feel overpowered with the entire arrangement kzbin.infoUgkxrYREG3-7f1Aqk9ams3ZESRNzGnfdUtyQ . Be that as it may, this arrangements drove me through with much clarity and effortlessness woodplans. Works i now work like a genius. That is great!

[@Room_for_1_more_fruit_tree]

Use the uv stabilizer greenhouse covering. That plastic is such a mess when it gets crispy from all the sun. Then it's never coming out of the soil.

[@jerrycroft2865]

Use electrical pvc pipe, however when I made a small version of the the greenhouse it held up, just became stiff in its arced form. And worthless for its intended use

[@elizabethshort6347]

Left out some steps and purchases

[@rustybones99]

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.

[@Tufarock]

Was thinking the same thing

[@riverunner9978]

😂 lol

[@rhancesk]

😆😆😆

[@erickort1987]

did they have a red flag at the end of the pcv pipe? its the law

[@Logic1972]

Seriously though. I have a Honda Accord and that would have been really helpful. Now I've gotta brainstorm.

[@annnonomys3132]

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.)

[@jrstf]

I haven't wrapped my netting with wire fence yet, you are so very right.

[@johnleden1909]

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

[@martinflores4345]

🤣😂🤣😂 100% agree👍👍

[@mrs.garcia6978]

Oh my 😂

[@karpetcabin]

Lols

[@shallnotbeinfringedupon202]

🤣🤣😂🤣well stated mate

[@kanaancell3304]

@@martinflores4345 ههههه

[@michaelmichael3126]

Man i believed in u man , but the moment u stapled that plastic wrap i died & so did most of plant's.

[@bucsboy78]

Michael Michael. What do u recommend doing?

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Ronnie Chandler the sturdiest way to secure plastic is with a C-channel and wiggle wire but if using board you need some kind of stripping. But that plastic isn’t going to hold up very long, the sun and/or wind will destroy it in no time :(

[@dailyd8123]

@@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123 absolutely right.. Maybe pinch the plastic with another board.. But staples?

[@joedasilva38]

I threw-up a little when he said “staple the plastic”

[@gatewaysolo104]

@@bucsboy78 when I used to build green houses we would roll the end of the plastic around lathe strips and drive pole barn screws threw the lathe and plastic into the bottom frame.

[@timwebber8630]

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."

[@quoaitran1135]

Lol. I can see the accent flowing with every word

[@mm-nk3qe]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ryancurtis4692]

Homeowner: "That's great!" (seriously, he says it like 10X)

[@timwebber8630]

@@ryancurtis4692 🤣

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

LOL that’s what I heard too

[@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

[@美国生活-p3j]

FISH ON i

[@manielouw1085]

Thats all thats needed.

[@soupsandwich8940]

Thank you!

[@sewme7861]

was shocked they didnt do or show that

[@cathyrowe594]

Why bother putting in tack strips with cheap plastic that won't last 1 winter?

[@jeremyhenderson163]

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.

[@dakotaavila2439]

How do you connect the ferring strips to the skeleton

[@EricRedbear]

​@@dakotaavila2439I've used upholstery tacks and roofing nails. 1 5/8" deck screws work great if you intend to replace the plastic 3-5 years down the line.

[@David-fv7zg]

"Tom Silva eat your heart out." LOL.

[@lifeiswhatyoumakeit5505]

I bet tom silva is laughin his arse off, night and day.

[@RoundaboutTRVL]

What ever happened to that guy?

[@fabitsok]

I can across an awesome collection of videos that may help on Fast track grower

[@gabvas3621]

Haha

[@josil239]

What size is the 4 ml plastic use for 10x12 ?? Thanks

[@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 KZbin!

[@goldenages7089]

Considering they used the wrong pipe in the ground and wrong wood in contact with the ground as well, if I was you I'd look elsewhere for advice

[@whatnowok]

That monthly subscription greed

[@sunnyseacat9232]

@@goldenages7089 What pipe should have been used? What wood? Chemicalized pressure treated? How about bamboo or would that swell too much? Thank you from a non-tech viewer preparing ideas for the GRAND SOLAR MINIMUM challenges coming full speed ahead.

[@StridingLuna]

Sunny SeaCat id use this advice ngl

[@fuupdaass275]

@@sunnyseacat9232 should use pressure treated wood if it's on the ground or getting wet.can use rebar in place of galvanized pipe it will fit inside the pvc no adaptor needed or just use the brackets they used also maybe 2x6 for the base but 2x4 works

[@impc2505]

I liked this video because the comments are hilarious.

[@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.

[@netballqueens9137]

Totally agree. Needs to include a parts list in the discription.

[@rudy_2299]

I give that plastic sheeting a year and it will fall apart in the sun

[@d3s1r3dpk]

best part is during the summer when they'll have to remove the stapled tarp lol@@rudy_2299

[@roythompson6137]

​​@@rudy_2299less than a year if it's windy, the staples will tear right out of the plastic...

[@OffGridInvestor]

True. This channel seems to think it knows everything but gives you a guide without the whole list, to make something that'll be destroyed in the first storm.

[@EnligUlv]

...and then one of his busy-body neighbors files a complaint with the HOA for violating the CC&Rs.

[@vermontjeff2535]

Jay Nielsen I was thinking the same

[@jameslyons158]

I usually just ignore the neighbors and the HoA has work great for me

[@businessgoose6057]

If you live in an HOA you get what you deserve my friends. Imagine paying actual money for your neighbors to spy on you!?

[@yaima0901]

@@businessgoose6057 SAME! For me a house loses all the value if it has an HOA.... I have a couple of friends that can’t even put the fence they want or park their boats or rv’s...

[@koucho1]

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.

[@mikebolton3816]

Your better off using wiggle wire.

[@davidpepin6443]

Yard sticks or shim work great too break them off onton1 or 2 inch sections

[@roythompson6137]

​@@mikebolton3816then you would need the aluminium channels to fit it into...

[@mikebolton3816]

@@roythompson6137 yup. I did my 40ft long greenhouse with them, in 2 layers. Top rail stays on all the time, lower, I remove during summer, to roll up bottom 3ft for venting. Later, it makes replacing entire plastic very easy.

[@MrWhatnext]

Never ever pull the plastic tight ..... In the winter time it will shrink and split ... Just get the wrinkles out .... I learned the hard way.

[@ryanaltman4466]

how tight works best then?

[@ricardopadilla4711]

I heard painter's plastic will last at the most 2 seasons and that greenhouse cover is the way to go.

[@bootgrip6]

This looks to be in Biloxi,MS... this won't last 2 years with the hurricanes anyways. Good input on the tensioning though.

[@richardgates7479]

It's been 2 years, is your plastic in little pieces now? The UV will harden it. You need clear or diffuse canvas.

[@jaycampbell6402]

I have never had the plastic last more than one season before it splits along the seam. I have tried different ways of anchoring it but at some point I realized it is not worth buying new plastic every year just to have some kale, chard and radishes over the winter. I don't live in a super windy area but even where I live that staple job would not cut it.

[@SimpleTek]

One wind and that's toast. It's held by staples only. Lol

[@tngoat1402]

They should have used tape batting for greenhouses. That way you are stapling in the tape, not the plastic which will rip around the staple in high wind.

[@Ericbmoulton77]

I don’t think it’s windy in south east US, the tornados only happen north of there they avoid Mississippi

[@rossatron2050]

Eric Moulton we have hurricanes.

[@Ericbmoulton77]

Ross Treloar r/woooosh

[@rossatron2050]

Eric Moulton I’m from Florida, we don’t really get tornados 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@2xdadd509]

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

[@JackieLew13]

Once the wind gets in there that plastic will rip away from those staples and be useless.

[@kzukiodenthechad7205]

Jackie Lewis so then what's a better alternative

[@mandiegarrett1706]

Exactly, I have been searching high and low of ways for DIY small(big enough to fit 2 of my metal shelves...about 3ft by 5ft) greenhouse that will connect to the back porch of my house BUT the trick is in TX we get a very strong wind coming thru and will blow just about anything in it's sight...so back to the drawing board. Any idea is greatly appreciated.

[@sceplecture2382]

@@mandiegarrett1706 bigger staples with hold

[@greeneracre1151]

Wrap the plastic around a 1x2 a couple times and then nail or screw it to the base.

[@Locke19901]

Dig a small trench and bury the plastic

[@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.

[@monasheegradens3707]

augers into buried gas line... OOOPS!

[@dlb41880]

Always call before you dig. You can call 811 anywhere in the US or use their website Call811.com.

[@Overfl00d]

@@dlb41880 Don't think they would mark for a backyard, out front yard, I believe.

[@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.

[@npcwill283]

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 !

[@robt3547]

"Tom Silva Eat your heart out" Hope those were galvanized staples :D

[@Smokeybandit09674]

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

[@anotherdave5107]

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.

[@rupe53]

Another Dave ... Camera crew... take two, we didn't catch the details on that corner because your head was in the way of the shot! (takes screw out to do over)

[@notarivsanonymvs2561]

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.

[@joshharper1906]

I was going to ask about storm proofing/resistance. This may not be for me unless i shore up the design.

[@billybristol6013]

When they framed it in I thought they should have just expanded the framing out, cover IT with the plastic, and just not even bother with the pvc.

[@shindanu]

I guess the metal poles they hammered in didn't work as an anchor.

[@jessstuart7495]

I would... 1. Drive rebar stakes into the ground 2. Slip the PVC pipe over the stakes 3. Place edge-wise 2x4s on the inside and outside of the PVC. 4. Use bolts to clamp the PVC between the 2x4s. 5. Weight the edge down with bricks every few feet.

[@soby123]

😀

[@DanielCruz-kr8st]

Should have used Greenhouse grade plastic . At least 6mil. Plus the plastic coming in contact with the PVC will make it degrade over time.

[@anumuttapally]

Ok

[@willdwyer6782]

Neither the 4 mil plastic nor the PVC pipe that they used in this video are UV resistant. I'll be amazed if that greenhouse lasts more than two years.

[@gandalfstormcloud7514]

Woohoo! I said the same thing!

[@sewme7861]

thanks for the tip, another good one!

[@goldenages7089]

Didn't use PT wood either, and the galvanised conduit they drove for stakes will rust. This was a piss poor 'how to' video

[@mm-nk3qe]

Looks like the bought these little plants and shoved them in the raised bed to make a video

[@richardcabrera1583]

Best part was: “Tom Silva, eat ya haht out!”

[@kingofepicvlogs4666]

Richard Cabrera - HAHAHA! Tom Silva’s home cryin in his beeya!

[@videofudge]

I liked "what if i told you"

[@quoaitran1135]

With the accent of course. Lol

[@ashb.c4509]

Stapling direct over plastic is not a good idea. It should be stapled with a rubber material. Also how durable is it holding up against strong winds?

[@jeremymetcalf2502]

No warning saying call before you drill/dig?

[@OhBuRn123]

Clearly not the original idea. "We are going to need 4 10 footers and 4 12 footers". That was clearly way more than 8 2x4's later on.

[@lakechamp529]

The host pulls galvanized pipe magically out of his butt.

[@jackjones961]

Lots more wood and hardware required, the doors by them selves is a whole other project.

[@vermontjeff2535]

He kept driving back and forth and forgot to add that part because it was a booze cruise

[@mtlanda]

The trip to Home Depot was quick. They bought PVC pipe, some 2x4 and some plastic. But then literally the first thing needed to start building the greenhouse was a galvanized pipe (cut to size), brackets to keep PVC in place, an augur, and corners for framing......geez. There is a bunch of stuff that was used to build the greenhouse that was not purchased at Home Depot LMAO

[@thomasguarneri9808]

How many screws are they going to strip? LOL

[@RoundaboutTRVL]

Only if you make it rain, lol.

[@kevinmckinnon6034]

That is actually the impact driver

[@joannakillingsworth9524]

​pre- drill the holes...

[@theboatman360]

Push harder and angle correctly = no striped screws. Duh.

[@benfake1119]

This is the comment i was looking for.

[@scottjones3966]

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...

[@ICU2B4UDO]

Scott Jones ...Nice idea but wouldn't the rust kill the soil in a couple of years??

[@grantmyers7593]

Or fish tank.

[@greeneracre1151]

The iron would make the plants dark green.😄

[@vermontjeff2535]

Scott Jones awesome idea

[@JK-ht7qp]

That's how the Magliozzi brothers would have done it!

[@sinnahsaint7869]

I was hating the dialogue but shrugged it off because "it's for tv"... but when he said "just line it up and I'll screw these together" without even mentioning the obvious predrilled pilot holes...... I came down to the comments and found out that was the least of his crimes.

[@Twotom1]

They skipped over the construction of the doors. Might they have covered that elsewhere?

[@rickatyahoo]

I don't feel like This Old House has the same credibility that it used to. Either they dont care as much and just pump out content, or they have worn out or unresearched hosts

[@1Ascanius]

The pvc pipe will react with the plastic film, to solve this you simply need to paint your pvc with a base coat.

[@AloeMCMLXIV]

You go to the store for the materials but there are things that were not mentioned like the pipes, clamps, adapters, screws, staples.

[@patrickbaker2802]

does this guy have some bias against offering useful, actual, solid-built, durable structures?

[@lucada8538]

Nothing wrong with having a small greenhouse Patrick

[@donhill1825]

Cost. *Thank you TOH KZbin Comment Section Expert #6,213,256*

[@VegetaIsBetterThanGoku]

Your missing the point of TOH. The actual show, shows off their skill. These projects going to peoples houses are meant to show a home owner how easy these projects are to save you a ton of money. You just need basic tools and with zero experience you can pull this off. This is for the everyday home owner on a budget trying to save a few bucks any way they can.

[@EasyOutlawskateshop]

you think staples will hold the plastic down in the wind...…..no way

[@martymagz6272]

Not a mission. I cover a 1" lath in duct tape. Sandwich the PVC sheet between the frame and lath and bolt together. Has survived many, many coastal storms.

[@andrewfree5580]

Question, why did you not center the frame over the bed? He has to have really long arms to reach 4 ft into the garden especially when they grow.

[@kingofepicvlogs4666]

andrew Free -he’s just going to climb right in and sit inside it like a sandbox

[@johnleslie3880]

The plastic will be failed after one year damaged by the UV.

[@williamjenkinsiii70]

The plastic you get at big box stores will not work because it is not UV treated it will not last more than 1 year ! You have to use greenhouse plastic at least 6 mill and if put on correctly it will last 5 or 6 seasons .

[@clayepiphany6326]

Fantastic craftsmanship, a fantastic idea, thank you, would love to make one like that!

[@FixItYerself]

stapling plastic? putting it on pvc? how many hours did it last?

[@Teutonic-Twit]

Much easier if you were to use rebar instead of steel pipe for the support base.

[@Subangelis]

Never heard of a string trimmer?

[@albertleppo8139]

rebar rusts

[@gustavobedia4206]

Cv

[@tommyb7344]

@@albertleppo8139 it will outlast the wood that's sitting on the ground.

[@tedscott]

I use the rebar also, I've had some in the ground for 2 decades, haven't had an issue yet. Also, the doors seemed like an awful lot of time , effort and cash, when just using plastic over the whole thing works just as well. I attach a 1x3 to the edge of the plastic, and then pull it up or down when it gets to hot in the summer. In Massachusetts or Maine (I have places in both) even the summer gets to hot for permanent hoop house. better to be able to use it spring and fall, then take off for July and August.

[@volador2828]

Love the design.... Except on my property your going to need a jack hammer and dynamite to put poles in! That and maybe a tad sturdier stuff then PVC to hold up to the 55mph wind conditions! Other wise you just build a kite! 😆

[@JENIA5157]

This video about How to waste a money,time and make yourself looks smart with these things

[@GMZee559]

To secure the plastic from heavy winds and rain simply Gorilla Tape plastic where you place staples so plastic won't rip right off

[@JacobRichardson]

Anyone ever see those videos of Porta John's flying through the air?

[@carolyn9547]

Very informative, thank you! Tip: Never use pressure treated wood for a food garden, it's toxic.

[@dperreno]

This was true up until 2003 when CCA was banned as a wood preservative. Today's pressure treated lumber uses ACQ which is non-toxic and safe to use for raised bed gardens, according to the EPA. But I get it if you (or anyone) would prefer to use untreated lumber - they just have to recognize that eventually the wood will rot and will need to be replaced.

[@radolfkalis4041]

For framing it should be fine. It is not touching the garden soil.

[@AneShiroo]

This would NOT work in Kansas....kind of flimsy made, don’t cha think?

[@Housebarons]

That was cool. It can be very windy here. If I built that I would use at least twice the amount of PVC supports.

[@argentumtaibhsear621]

Get some robert's screws and they won't slip and skip so much.

[@macsloan58]

That looks like pressure treated lumber which the raised bed is made from. Many sources say that is a huge no-no when growing edible plants. Anybody know for sure??

[@Chuck59ish]

But how well does it fly when the tornados hit?

[@carlosa8639]

Charles Damery Funny! :-)

[@davidknute3479]

perfectly

[@barbaraedwards3715]

Charles Damery last spotted flying over Kansas

[@trublgrl]

@4:03 I'm glad they didn't show that screw go right into the other guy's knee. Good edit!

[@SunnyInCaali]

I love this, better than watching a novela.

[@edicius2945]

I'm a plumber and would recommend painting the pvc or using some other material, because it degrades in the sunlight

[@tectorama]

Modern PVC or as it's now called, UPVC, doesn't degrade in the sun (retired plumber :) )

[@rabbit_holed]

I bret I could adapt this to make a solar kiln to dry lumber that I milled with an Alaskan Mill..

[@SashaXXY]

You need to order plastic designed specifically for greenhouses. If you just put up generic store-bought stuff, the sun will destroy it in a matter of months. The worst thing is that the areas that get really sunburned will become more brittle than eggshells and start chipping right into that good soil that you've also spent your time and money on. Lessons learned the hard way.

[@Kube_Dog]

Staples will rip the plastic. The plastic should be greenhouse grade. The ends are not sturdy. The 2x4's are directly on the ground. The PVC not fitting the stakes is crap; use rebar. Tom Silva is not eating his heart out. He's laughing or maybe crying. This was a terrible instructional video. Wrong every step. Even the project. All the "customer" needed was a hoophouse over the raised bed.

[@peterk8909]

Kube Dog Had to laugh, this coming from "This Old House".

[@PattyViviendo]

Kube Dog You answered all my questions with your comment, thank you!

[@thomasmacias6816]

Kube Dog what do you recommend instead of staples?

[@foshoucitron4595]

@@thomasmacias6816 lathes and screws

[@tywebbgolfenthusiast8950]

foshou citron do you use a metal lathe or a wood lathe?

[@Dawt_Calm]

Looks good, but you shouldn't staple the plastic to the 2x4, it'll rip in light wind. Instead of using 2x4s use two 1x4s, sandwich the plastic in between them and screw them together. Also, he used pressure treated wood on that raised bed. The chemicals from the treated wood is going to leach into the soil and contaminate his vegetables. Better to use some kind of stone or cinder block. I mean, they have the right idea if the wood is going to be in contact with the ground. But pressure treated shouldn't be used on a raised bed that grows things you're going to eat. Otherwise it's okay. '

[@forestrebock3545]

Take a look at the new method of creating pressure treated wood after 2003, you may be delightfully surprised.

[@Dawt_Calm]

​@@forestrebock3545 For decades it was argued that the arsenic in pressure treated wood was harmless. So now there are alternatives to arsenic and again it's claimed they're harmless. The question is, do you trust those in the industry or is a little skepticism warranted? As for myself I prefer to use stone. To each their own.

[@haroldtrujillo]

Wish you had included directions on how to build the doors!

[@Tonystarkes888]

LOL, how about Australians we get something called weather

[@user-dn6qy1ou1f]

Come here to Michigan if you wanna see weather. You have heat and rain, big woop. Try having heat, rain, and snow and ice all in one day!

[@willdwyer6782]

If you do this don't follow these instructions. Use UV resistant plastics when building a high tunnel greenhouse. The greenhouse they're building in this video will only last about two years.

[@rrw1250]

Great video! Just what I need for my daughter's garden.

[@vvillem9]

Bare wood in constant contact with moist ground. I wonder how long it will hold against rot, even if impregnated.

[@DrDoktor60]

Just elevate the wood an inch or so from the ground.

[@tophercIaus]

+Anders Spælling and defeat the entire purpose of the greenhouse which is to keep the air inside and hot.

[@DrDoktor60]

Chris Searle a few milimeters Will not make a difference

[@jackfrost326]

Chris Searle its pressure treated wood. It'll hold up for quite sometime

[@Kube_Dog]

Like the guy said, elevate an inch on some bricks. If you want to do the extra work, put some concrete block all around the perimeter, then screw the 2x4 base into that. Or screw some 2 foot lengths of 2x4 under the 2x4 base every few feet. Then replace those every 3-5 years. The plastic will be torn by then anyway, and you'll give up on the whole thing.

[@MCOult]

"That would be great." "Okay." "Got it." "Okay, sounds good." "How're we gonna do that, Roger?" "That's great." "My wife's gonna love that." "Whoo! It feels hot in here!" The homeowner is probably an intelligent and articulate man, but whoever wrote the script dialogue for this episode seems to have wanted the man to come across as Lennie Small in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men." It would have been better for Roger to simply speak to the viewing audience after introducing the homeowner... and save "That's great" for the end as the gentleman's only line: he's not an actor and clearly cannot deliver artificial lines in a "natural" manner; he was obviously uncomfortable. As for the greenhouse itself: It possibly could use some beefing-up, but overall it seems like a good design and should do well... except for the staples, that is.

[@quyphinguyen8831]

Lol

[@Growyourheirlooms]

I'll bet he didn't have vegetables all winter long. In fact, I'd be surprised if that greenhouse lasted 1 week

[@BC-vp7yx]

Any concern about the pressure treated wood chemicals seeping into the ground and then into the vegetables?

[@johnparker4302]

Depends on which chemical your wood is treated with. The wood you buy today at the store is perfectly safe for your raised garden even touching the soil but old wood is best kept away from the soil touching your plants but for the greenhouse frame is okay. That is because of the chemical they used to treat wood with called copper arsenic.

[@Chuckbobuck201]

Clearly not a gardener, either one of them. There were way too many plants in that raised bed. Mature plants take up a lot of space. Also, the whole point have a raised bed like that is to be able to reach into it from all sides without having to step on the soil so as not to compact it. The way they set up the greenhouse makes it almost impossible to reach the plants at the edge.

[@mariedempster692]

Let's get this done in the back yaaad!

[@glenntribe8614]

Does this bloke actually know what he’s doing?

[@rebeccagrimke4818]

No

[@lucada8538]

Yea it would seem so...

[@Gnefitisis]

I like this. It's a simple but practical polytunnel.

[@blackwolfprepper1128]

I guess this old house does not know what the think they do. Lumber good. white pvc bad as the sun will break it down. Home dep[ot plastic really bad. They needed green house plastic which lasts 4 to 6 years.

[@rcrepps3949]

It must take the sun many many year to break down white PVC. My sewer pipes are whites PVC laying right on the ground in southern Mississippi been that way for over 25 years.

[@nickkk420]

Driving Phillips screws hurts my heart

[@jasonbrussmn]

Where do you get 20 ft lengths of PVC? I'm only seeing 10

[@kqdwills]

HD carries 1"x 10 ft for $5 and 1"x 20ft for $16 plus taxes. These kinds of YT clips don't mention the pipe's lengths, or they only show the links for Amazon with short lenght pipes ( Amazon ships mostly small size goods), or some irrelevant links. That's annoying. From the look of some pipe greenhouses like this, the pipes length looked like longer than 10ft, about 15ft I think.

[@AlanBarrettVideos]

How did that plastic work out? LOL

[@cristianculetu5081]

Alan Barrett II the heat of the sun will penetrate through the plastic and will continue to make plants grow. Due to the heat of sun .if is cold out still inside keeps warm.

[@gandalfstormcloud7514]

@@cristianculetu5081 heat doesn't cause plants to grow, uv light does. Very little will penetrate opaque plastic (which is what you'll get because sunlight causes plastic to turn opaque

[@seanbush5313]

@@gandalfstormcloud7514 you don't need uv light

[@danzdoinz8000]

Why overcomplicate the design by having to adapt the pipe ends to fit over the galvenized pipe? Makes no sense! Why not just buy a 20' pipe with an o.d. that's the same as the i.d. of the galvenized pipe in the ground? 3/4" od pvc into a 3/4" id galvenized pipe.... Instead of having to buy adapter parts...

[@alanmccormick6911]

the thinner pipe is more flexible to bend the arch, he said that in the video.

[@danzdoinz8000]

@@alanmccormick6911 ?? Um... We're not even on the same page.

[@Nikkorqwerty]

in Russian it is called teplitsa. search in google it 'пвх теплица' This is a very popular thing in Russian villages. Our summer can be cold И да. Интересный канал, иногда смотрю)))

[@sherylnapier6020]

Thanks…I did look it up. Very good instructions. Thanks from Maine, USA

[@DuchesnesCorner]

You can clearly see they just buried the pot and all with the plants. LOL! Not to mention, using an auger bit to put hollow pipe into the ground? The hole was so big you can see the pipe resdy to pop ouf! lol

[@dahutful]

"Affordable" is relative I guess.

[@ralphchristianson]

Small detail of no ventilation...maybe next time

[@johnking1978]

PVC will destroy the plastic real fast.

[@loufarrocco7023]

So what do you need to do to prevent destruction of plastic. I'm using 6 mil UV rated and 1" PVC. I've seen suggestions about sanding the coating off the PVC and painting it with Acrylic.....??? I'll definitely use more than just staples to fasten the plastic; I live in a fairly windy area. Lou F.

[@paulstone7655]

That'd last 2 weeks here in Scotland lol...I mean seriously - staples for the plastic?

[@lLowkeymedia]

“That’s great” “Okay”

[@lawrencerutkowski8716]

**Makes video about building something, can't even use a drill properly..

[@stopandlisten6070]

All winter wong?!

[@philcrandlemire]

Why would you use construction grade plastic which will deteriorate in only a few months when you know you should have used greenhouse plastic? Also, PVC electrical conduit works better than plumbing PVC.

[@karpetcabin]

Had such a good laugh reading these comments.

[@davidg813]

No video of all the materials for the doors etc. That was not a cheap project. For those north of the Mason Dixon, what is the snow load of clear plastic? T 50 staples to fasten it to a frame .. yeah sure.. no battens over the plastic before fastening it? Bad idea.

[@salvatoresaccoccio2379]

Is the pressure treated wood safe seeing that it makes contact with the food that is grown and consumed?

[@marcelomardirossian3085]

Salvatore Saccoccio well, it has arsenic, so, figure out.

[@scott1lori282]

It's fine. research. Better than the poisoned stuff at the store for sure.

[@schomestead2591]

Those plants are going to burn up in Mississippi . Even in the winter our greenhouse gets over 100 degrees, 90 with the doors open. He'll need shade cloth for the sun side.