Converting shed into greenhouse Advice needed

[KingThistle14]

I have an old well pump house I’m considering converting into a greenhouse. It has solid 8 ft brick walls on 3 sides with no interior wood or insulation. I would remove the roof and put up transparent greenhouse panel style roofing. It sits in a slightly shaded area in the afternoon but gets plenty of overhead sun during mid-day.

Would this work? Would the solid walls hinder its use?

I wouldn’t be opposed to supplementing with grow lights if needed. The building has power available.

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome @KingThistle14 from a neighbor in Texas.

I have one of those old pump houses as does most folks with well water.

No reason I can see what you are planning won't work, especially if you are willing and able to augment the light with artificial grow lights. The walls will block light as will the shade you mentioned so adding lighting will likely be required to be successful.

Show us a picture of the completed project if you can.

 

[redback]

It has solid 8 ft brick walls on 3 sides

I understand the walls are 8'0" high (not thick -just checking). If the fourth side is the south side, you are in luck... but I guess not.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I would be thinking 'What a useful shed, with power in it.' and looking at the price of a greenhouse, unless you are very short on space.

 

[KingThistle14]

So, I have a large shop with power already. We had initially thought about converting the building to some sort of playhouse for my daughter but she wasn’t keen on that idea. But I overwinter my plants in my current shop, and it’s a pain to try and keep warm enough to not flat kill some of my plants. Then my neighbor mentioned wanting a greenhouse. The building is between us so two birds/one stone kind of deal. The only greenhouses I'm familiar with are all green plastic so wasn’t sure it would be worth the effort.

The 4th “wall” is west facing, so no luck it facing south. Walls are just normal house brick thick. 8 ft tall with shingles roof (currently). lol, I’m laughing at the picture of 8 foot thick walls! I’d make that into a tornado shelter for sure! Or a place to practice drums.

I plan to put some lights (grow and seeing lights). Maybe some space heat for more tropical plants. I’ll definitely take pics if I end up going this route. I appreciate all the advice

 

[Anniekay]

I would kmock the walls down to 2-3' and then frame it and fix recycled windows up. That would make it much more like a greenhouse, provide plenty of light and since you need ventilationin a greenhouse, windows that open will be necessary.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I would kmock the walls down to 2-3' and then frame it and fix recycled windows up. That would make it much more like a greenhouse, provide plenty of light and since you need ventilationin a greenhouse, windows that open will be necessary.

Giving yourself a solid base like that is a good idea, and 8' walls really are going to take out so much light. If you wanted a quick and easy solution for what came above Tetters once suggested a wooden frame with horticultural poly sheet stretched over it and staples into place. I would say you need something to stop the staple pulling through. I used it on my old greenhouse where the frame has distorted too much for glass. Initially i cut up plastic bottles from the kitchen, then moved on to 'modelling sticks', thin imitation lolly sticks that I was given to use as labels, they rot off in the earth they are so thin, but a staple goes through them easily, one each end is a solid fix.

 

[redback]

I would kmock the walls down to 2-3' and then frame it and fix recycled windows up. That would make it much more like a greenhouse, provide plenty of light and since you need ventilationin a greenhouse, windows that open will be necessary.

...or knock the south wall down and use the bricks to build up the west wall. A door on the west side and through ventilation plus shade cloth over the roof for summer coolth and a potbellied wood stove for winter warmth. Perhaps include a bar for winter parties LOL.

 

[Anniekay]

...or knock the south wall down and use the bricks to build up the west wall. A door on the west side and through ventilation plus shade cloth over the roof for summer coolth and a potbellied wood stove for winter warmth. Perhaps include a bar for winter parties LOL.

You need much more ventilation than you realize.

 

[redback]

You need much more ventilation than you realize.

I was just preserving as much of the old building as possible. The western and southern sides could be brick to three feet and then ventilated openings.

 

[redback]

Doesn't a wall of single leaf brickwork leak?
Here in the antipodes, we have to have cavity brickwork to stay dry inside. Just wondering.
Everyone seems to know the size of the pumphouse except me.
I'll be quiet now and just drop in occasionally.