This is being written in mid-July, which is just about the right time for designing and ordering your greenhouse! Lucky you, General Shelters offers two models of greenhouses: portable, wood framed greenhouses, and metal-framed greenhouses. Each offer unique features and benefits.

Portable Wood-Framed

The portable greenhouses are designed to be (relatively) easy to relocate as needed. Designed in classic General Shelters fashion, they are manufactured to withstand the rigors of being moved, with an emphasis on long-lasting durability.

Before going any further, visit the General Shelters Design Room, then go to syle, specialty buildings. Scroll down to choose size and other options. Once you have a design you want a quote on, fill out contact information and we will be in touch. We will not harangue or aggressively try to “sell you” on the product, we believe the quality and value sells itself!

As we have mentioned elsewhere, the greenhouses come with fifty years of experience informing their construction. Remember, the senior leadership at General Shelters have over thirty years experience apiece; they are not some start-up trying to figure things out.

That is all to say the portable wood-framed greenhouses have a maximum size of 12’x24′. While finished portable cabins have a maximum size of 18’x68′, the use of polycarbonate panels versus high-gauge steel means the buildings will shift around often enough that this as a maximum size was most predictable and durable. All wood is pressure treated for durability.

Here is a floorless 12×20 as it is being loaded.

With optional workbenches and hanging rods, you have plenty of storage and work space. Windows, doors, vents, exhaust fans, interior/exterior electrical outlets, and more can be customized for your greenhouse. It is important to note that the buildings have very little insulation value, so at night or during very cold temperatures, supplemental heating is necessary

The default panelling is smoked coloured polycarbonate. The darkened shade actually emphasizes red light, which stimulates plant growth without affecting the sunlight’s heating effect. Steel panels can be added as a wainscotting or in place of any of the plastic panels.

In the model pictured below, the customer chose colony green for the trim and wainscotting. Pictured are the skids the building is moved with, which are treated interlaced 2×4’s. Solid concrete blocks are placed underneath to level the greenhouse.

Metal-Framed Greenhouses

The wood-framed portable buildings are spacious enough for the hobbyist gardener, but for more production oriented gardening, the metal-framed greenhouses provide more space. These are industrial strength, heavy duty framed structures – not flimsy hoop houses.

At fifteen feet wide, the metal greenhouses are built with four inch 14 gauge galvanized steel framing, with each post anchored into concrete eighteen to twenty four inches deep. If the greenhouse is on a slab, the posts are bolted down. While the 29 gauge wainscoting is optional on the wooden buildings, the metal structures feature a thirty inch high metal wainscot, with trim and panel color also customizable.

The length of the structure is infinite. With a set width of fifteen feet, adding length is just a matter of choice. With an interior leg height of seven feet, custom locations for doors, windows, vents and exhaust fans can chosen.

Also featuring the smoked panelling, the structure can be bolted onto a concrete pad or set into the ground as mentioned. A galvanized steel beam runs along the bottom. Below, our demo building was extremely useful in keeping our citrus warm. Note that for the demo, clear panelling was used for the roof. We installed on native soil, laying down ground cover and adding several inches of smooth stone.

The panelling is Smoke Poly Carb Skylight 8mm AG profile on 9″ centers. The steel is galavanized cee purlin 14 gauge. Wainscotting is 29 gauge AG also on 9″ centers.

Installation does not include the option of built-in counters or work benchs, though those are easy enough to install. The perlins running above are stout enough to handle thousands of pounds.

The Design Room builder for the metal buildings is not optimized for greenhouses design, but by designing a 15ft wide garage with 7ft leg height (wall height), on length increments of 15ft, and adding 8% to the total, you will get a fairly close estimate. You will see options for doors (which will be storm doors), 36×36″ windows, and exhaust fans. If one wants rollup-doors, set the leg height to 9ft and there will be an option to place one on either end.

To receive a quote, email your design idea to cabins @ treesofcentraltexa.com, or call 979-551-0400. Typical lead time for metal buildings is between four and six weeks after site inspection and deposit. Portable greenhouses are typically two months out.