Harbor Freight greenhouses

svalli · November 21, 2007

Has anyone here bought a greenhouse from Harbor Freight? Local store's mailer has a 6x8 for $299 and 10x12 for $599. In Finland I will definately need a GH and I am tempted to buy one or two of these. The 6x8 seems too small and 10x12 may be too large for the lot of the house we are going to buy. I was thinking about getting two of the 6x8 and put them back to back.

dokutaaguriin · November 21, 2007

From what I remember, there were not too many happy customers who bought from harbour freight at the other place. A few people posted pictures on their own work-arounds etc. because they were so frustrated with the service However, things may have changed since then.
Jeff

dcarch · November 21, 2007

I don't have one, but I have heard they are good for the price and people have put together two 6'x8's together successfully.

I think they use 4mm Twinwall polycarbonate panels, which has limited insulating property. I don't know how cold it gets in your area, and how you are going to use the GH, it may or may not be good enough.

Also, you may need to reinforce the structure a little and anchore more securely if you are in a very high wind area.

dcarch

svalli · November 22, 2007

4mm twinwall polycarbonate insulates better than glass, and my MIL has been growing tomatoes in a glass GH, so these greenhouses should be fine for the purpose.

I spent last night reading the other forum (and was really annoyed by the adds covering my screen, before seeing messages). There is a lot of info about these greenhouses and how to modify them. My DH is better than average handyman (top reason to keep him around

), so he could strengthen the frame.

Dollar is so low at the moment that it makes buying these greenhouses really tempting. At the moment we should buy everything we will need in near future here in U.S. and move the stuff with us, because it does not make sense to exchange our USDs to Euros. Similar greenhouses in Finland are now at least 4-5 times pricier than these. We have saying that "poor people should not buy cheap stuff", but this may be too good deal to pass.

dcarch · November 22, 2007

Most of the people who had problem with HF GH was because they were not handy.

If your husband is good with his hands, then you should have no problem at all.

I don't know the kind of poly panel HF is giving you, some poly panels you have to be careful with which side is UV protected.

dcarch

amideutch · November 23, 2007

svalli, if the cost of shipping isn't going to be that much by all means buy american. In fact, if you buying this for the long term I would shop around and look more for quality as anything you buy in Europe will cost 2-3 times more than its american made equivalent. Here's one company in germany that makes and sells greenhouses if you want to compare. Ami
http://www.beckmann-kg.de/

Rena · November 24, 2007

I would also look at overstock . com they have a bunch of greenhouses that appear nice. type in Garden and you will find 2.

JerryL · November 24, 2007

You can find quite a bit of information over at the other web site.

Type in HFGH and the threads are endless.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/strucs/

dcarch · November 24, 2007

For solar panel operation, you may want to consider a brushless DC fan (computer "muffin" type cooling fan). They are very efficient, ball bearing construction, extremely quiet and lasts a long time. You can get them cheap on eBay. I think because they are brushless, they most likely generate very little RFI. They are not reversible, unlike PM DC motors.

dcarch

svalli · November 24, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarch

You can get them cheap on eBay.

Luckily I live with a packrat, who collects all sorts of electrical parts. I could make a lot of money selling cooling fans from his stockpile on eBay.

svalli · November 26, 2007

Now we have a 10x12 GH kit in a box on garage floor.

I got my toy, so now DH is dreaming that he can buy himself an other ATV or a snowmobile. Why do I always get the least expensive toys in our family? I think my DH does not realize how good he has; I'm low maintenance, not a big spender and earn same as he does.

Rena · November 27, 2007

You are going to love having your own greenhouse. My dh loves expensive toys too.

dcarch · November 27, 2007

Congratulations! You will truly enjoy it for many years to come.

I have found a good cordless, variable speed, reversable drill to be absolutely essential to make the assembly go much faster.

dcarch

Miss_Mudcat · November 28, 2007

svalli, Congratulations to you on your HFGH! We purchased the 10x12 in Spring of this year and haven't been disappointed. We did the modifications as described on the other web site (GW) and built shelving with conduit which added a great deal of stability.

The HF vent openers are not reliable, but they can be tweaked and made to work. I do recommend, however, that you purchase at least one reliable (expensive) vent opener. We also purchased a louvered shutter with a solar opener from FarmTek.

Best wishes!

Lisa

bigbubbacain · November 30, 2007

Congratulations on your greenhouse! Unfortunately, I had already ordered a Janssen thru Sam's by the time I had discovered Harbor Freight's website. I was told that I might need glass vs. poly panels because of my climate. If you want to be sure your greenhouse is insulated well, you might consider having a concrete base poured to serve as your foundation. It also will give additional head room. My concrete form will be dry in 2 more days and then begins the long arduous task of putting this booger together.

November 21, 2007	#1
svalli Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vaasa, Finland, latitude N 63° Posts: 838	Harbor Freight greenhouses Has anyone here bought a greenhouse from Harbor Freight? Local store's mailer has a 6x8 for $299 and 10x12 for $599. In Finland I will definately need a GH and I am tempted to buy one or two of these. The 6x8 seems too small and 10x12 may be too large for the lot of the house we are going to buy. I was thinking about getting two of the 6x8 and put them back to back. __________________ "I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream." - Moomin-troll by Tove Jansson

November 21, 2007	#3
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	I don't have one, but I have heard they are good for the price and people have put together two 6'x8's together successfully. I think they use 4mm Twinwall polycarbonate panels, which has limited insulating property. I don't know how cold it gets in your area, and how you are going to use the GH, it may or may not be good enough. Also, you may need to reinforce the structure a little and anchore more securely if you are in a very high wind area. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

November 22, 2007	#4
svalli Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vaasa, Finland, latitude N 63° Posts: 838	4mm twinwall polycarbonate insulates better than glass, and my MIL has been growing tomatoes in a glass GH, so these greenhouses should be fine for the purpose. I spent last night reading the other forum (and was really annoyed by the adds covering my screen, before seeing messages). There is a lot of info about these greenhouses and how to modify them. My DH is better than average handyman (top reason to keep him around ), so he could strengthen the frame. Dollar is so low at the moment that it makes buying these greenhouses really tempting. At the moment we should buy everything we will need in near future here in U.S. and move the stuff with us, because it does not make sense to exchange our USDs to Euros. Similar greenhouses in Finland are now at least 4-5 times pricier than these. We have saying that "poor people should not buy cheap stuff", but this may be too good deal to pass. __________________ "I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream." - Moomin-troll by Tove Jansson

November 22, 2007	#5
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	Most of the people who had problem with HF GH was because they were not handy. If your husband is good with his hands, then you should have no problem at all. I don't know the kind of poly panel HF is giving you, some poly panels you have to be careful with which side is UV protected. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

November 23, 2007	#6
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	svalli, if the cost of shipping isn't going to be that much by all means buy american. In fact, if you buying this for the long term I would shop around and look more for quality as anything you buy in Europe will cost 2-3 times more than its american made equivalent. Here's one company in germany that makes and sells greenhouses if you want to compare. Ami http://www.beckmann-kg.de/ __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

November 21, 2007	#2
dokutaaguriin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Z3a Posts: 905	From what I remember, there were not too many happy customers who bought from harbour freight at the other place. A few people posted pictures on their own work-arounds etc. because they were so frustrated with the service However, things may have changed since then. Jeff

November 24, 2007	#7
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	I would also look at overstock . com they have a bunch of greenhouses that appear nice. type in Garden and you will find 2.

November 24, 2007	#8
JerryL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.W. Ohio z6a Posts: 735	You can find quite a bit of information over at the other web site. Type in HFGH and the threads are endless. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/strucs/ __________________ Jerry

November 26, 2007	#11
svalli Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vaasa, Finland, latitude N 63° Posts: 838	Now we have a 10x12 GH kit in a box on garage floor. I got my toy, so now DH is dreaming that he can buy himself an other ATV or a snowmobile. Why do I always get the least expensive toys in our family? I think my DH does not realize how good he has; I'm low maintenance, not a big spender and earn same as he does. __________________ "I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream." - Moomin-troll by Tove Jansson

November 27, 2007	#12
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	You are going to love having your own greenhouse. My dh loves expensive toys too.

November 28, 2007	#14
Miss_Mudcat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central Georgia Posts: 366	svalli, Congratulations to you on your HFGH! We purchased the 10x12 in Spring of this year and haven't been disappointed. We did the modifications as described on the other web site (GW) and built shelving with conduit which added a great deal of stability. The HF vent openers are not reliable, but they can be tweaked and made to work. I do recommend, however, that you purchase at least one reliable (expensive) vent opener. We also purchased a louvered shutter with a solar opener from FarmTek. Best wishes! Lisa __________________ Farmers don't wear watches; they work until the job is done!

November 30, 2007	#15
bigbubbacain Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zone 9 Texas, Fort Bend County Posts: 436	Congratulations on your greenhouse! Unfortunately, I had already ordered a Janssen thru Sam's by the time I had discovered Harbor Freight's website. I was told that I might need glass vs. poly panels because of my climate. If you want to be sure your greenhouse is insulated well, you might consider having a concrete base poured to serve as your foundation. It also will give additional head room. My concrete form will be dry in 2 more days and then begins the long arduous task of putting this booger together.