Conference 7.286::home_work

    You can purchase them from any lumber store or home center. There
    are stock sizes and you can have custom made.
    
    	-Steve-
    

    There are quite a few different brands on the market.  If ventilation
    is important I suggest you buy one that opens on the top and sides.
    We bought one for our kitchen (which fortunately has good cross-
    ventilation) and it only opens on the top.  Ones that open on the
    sides would probably give better air flow.
    
    Evelyn 

    I am planning on building a modest greenhouse and am looking
    for ideas and sources of semi-transparent material.
    
    I need a material that will let most of the light in but
    be able to carry a New England snow load if I choose not
    to heat it in the coldest months. The roof will have only
    a modest pitch, about 1 foot over an eight  foot span.
    
    Any ideas on material, sources and cost (low as possible)?
    
    If there is already such a note, please point me to it, I
    couldn't find it.
    
    - gerry

                             Solar Component Corp.
                                121 Valley St.
                                Manchester, NH
                                (603) 625-9677

    They (at least used to) have a 50 - 70 page mail-order catalog listing
hundreds of products related to energy, and not just solar.  Lots of
green-houses, active solar stuff, good how-to books, insulation materials, etc.
    Specifically, I remember seeing various kinds of glazing that they use
in their green-houses, with various transparencies?.  I think you (.0) are
looking for this stuff.  Not in your neighborhood, but the catalog potential
may interest you.

    I've mentioned these guys in a couple other notes - I am NOT on their
payroll!

    Gerry,
    
    	I had used the glass from fogged-up sliders that people throw
    	away.  You could go to glass shops and ask them if they have
    	these fogged-up slider doors, and one could get it very
    	economical at $3.00 to $5.00 per unit.
    
    	Take these sliders, seperate the two glasses, and clean it.
    	The foggy-side should be kept up because the acid-rain will
    	keep it cleaning it too.
    
    	This solution was economical for me.  For a better solution,
    	I have seen Grossman carrying insulated glass based green houses,
    	I believe that it should not be that expensive.
    
    	Good luck.  Yogesh

    How about the white wavy fiberglass sheets?  The come in 2' x 8'
    sheets.  You've probably seen awnings made of this stuff.
    
    -al

>    How about the white wavy fiberglass sheets?  The come in 2' x 8'

They work, but they're tough to make weather-tight. Flat fiberglass sheets might
be better, but not as rigid. They do let in more than enough sunshine - had to
provide some shade in the small greenhouse that I built. Also had to have a roof
vent to prevent heat build-up.
   -Tom R.
   

    Gerry 
    
    	I have just read your note and have some good info for you if
    your still interested. I have built a 32' x 15'x 15' greenhouse
    from scratch and if you still interested I can give it to you are
    you at MLO 291-9065 give me a call I am at 242-2895.
    

    	I am looking for any info on building an indoor waterfall in
    my greenhouse, I start my veg's and want to grow year round but
    need the moisture level up. I was reading the gardening notes and
    it referred me to this file but couldn't locate anything on waterfalls.
    Any info would help tks in advance
    Roger

    Check out water gardening catalogs (places that sell water lilies and pond
    accessories).   Addresses are in the GARDENING notesfile.
    
    __Rich

    I'd like a waterfall or fountain in the living room...
    
    suggestions?
    

    
    
    	..there is an aquarium store in Salem NH that sells a water
    fall sort of thing. It's very comtemporary looking. It's quite nice,
    I'll get the name of the place for you and see if I wrote the price
    down somewhere.
    
    Gary
    

    Wouldn't this high humidity environment promote rot and warpage to the
    house structure and furniture.  Having seen the damage done by indoor
    swimming pools I would be careful to isolate the humidity producing
    waterfall to a well designed sun room that would protect the remainder
    of the house from unwanted moisture.  Sorry, I don't have any idea how
    to accomplish this easily.

    -JFK- 

    There's a NH artist/craftsman who makes very contemporary
    indoor/outdoor waterfalls from stoneware.  Can't think of his name
    -- might be Don Williams.  He's in the League of NH Craftsmen and
    exhibits at the annual Sunupee Crafts Fair in August.  Any manager
    of a League Shop (Manchester, Concord, etc...) could probably identify
    him and direct you to his studio.
    
    If you want a "natural" looking waterfall, which is basically
    contradictory if it's in the house (yes?) you could check libraries
    and bookstores for books on water gardens and such things.  I've
    seen directions for setting up recycling pumps to create them.
    Landscapers might also have resources.  
    
    For the person who wants a waterfall in the living room, consider
    your flooring.  If the drain clogs up as they often will (I'm told)
    so the water builds up and overflows, what will it soak?  If it's
    a concrete or quarry tile floor it's one thing, if it's carpeting
    or hardwood it's something else again.  I wouldn't recommend putting
    something like a waterfall or fountain in a setting too inappropriate
    for it.  They properly belong (in MY humble opinion) in courtyards
    and gardens or rooms that closely resemble courtyards and gardens.
    
    Sherry

    
    
    	...cont. from re. 3
    
    	The company is called Aquatic Concepts and the item is called
    	"The Water Panel". It runs on ten gallons of water, stands
    	80" tall and 26.5" wide. The place in Salem NH that sells them
    	is call Aquarium Showcase. A friend of mine knows more about
    	them so if you have specific questions, send mail to
    	JABBA::Plourde. He said he wouldn't mind answering them.
    
    	Gary
    

    re: 3
    	That sounds good but I will also look in some books to maybe
    find some plans on building one and maybe plourde and help there.
    My plan is to build one around 8-10 feet tall with three levels
    with plants on both sides. My greenhouse is the whole front of my
    house and is 15' deep 32' long and 15' high the temp gets to 125
    in summer if I dont put up the shading tarp and in the winter without
    the tarp it gets around 85 during the day.
    
    re: humidity
    
    	Good point didn't think of that but I think the temp of the
    greenhouse will be high enough where it will keep it humidity down
    to where it won't bother the house.
    
    You guys have bee a great help tks
    Roger

    Re .2 
    
    	"I'd like a waterfall or fountain in the living room..."
    
    Sinple, just hire the roofing contractor that I had, you get a free
    waterfall with the job.
    
    Lee

Does anybody have any experience with "garden windows"?

I have a double hung window over the kitchen sink, which I would
like to replace because it doesn't allow us to see enough of the yard
(where the kids play).  It faces south, and would seem to make a
good window for plants.  Also, being the only window in the kitchen
I want to retain a means of ventilation.  However, the only models of
garden windows I've seen don't have screens.  Instead they have some
kind of baffle for ventilation, which won't allow much of a breeze to
come through.  Does anyone know of a garden window which has screens
either on the sides or the front?

Are these garden windows a big waste of heat? 
Can one person install a garden window?

Should I consider a mini bow or bay window instead?

For whatever type of window, To solve the visibility problem, I'll
be extending the rough opening downward.  Right now, there is about
9 1/2" of splash block between the window and the sink.  What do you
think the minimum amount of splash protection should be?  If I go with
small splash protection, will any wood parts of the trim or window
suffer badly from water damage from the sink?  Right now, I can't see
that there is that much water splashing up from the sink anyhow.

Thanks for opinions


Bob

    I remembered some discussion in this conference on greenhouse windows
    and checked the window topics in 1111....unfortunately the only note
    I could find was 1391 and it doesn't address much other than
    ventilation.  
    
    I have one over my kitchen sink and....I hate it.  Ventilation is good
    in my house but if I had it to do over again I'd get one that also had
    screens in the sides (the top of mine cranks up and is screened).
    Heat loss is not a problem since it's triple-glazed.
    
    The reason I really hate the thing is it's difficult to keep clean...
    try standing in front of your sink and reaching upward and forward
    1-1/2 feet or so beyond an imaginary vertical line rising from the
    backsplash.  I'm reasonably tall and I have a problem.   Given all 
    the steam from cooking, washing dishes, etc. the glass needs frequent
    cleaning and I don't relish having to stand precariously on a chair
    or perching on the counter.  Also, mine has open mesh-like shelves
    and cleaning up the usual mess from plants (spilled dirt, leaves,
    etc.) is a pain.  Another thing....watering the plants, given the
    long reach, is also a pain.  
    
    Also, if you are accustomed to closing all the drapes/shades/etc. at
    night you may not like the greenhouse window since it can result in
    less privacy.
    
    I'll leave the installation details to someone else (we had ours
    installed by a contractor when we remodeled our kitchen).
    
    Hope this helps....
    
    Evelyn

    I just redid my kitchen & added a 2nd floor. In my kitchen I
    put in a 4' wide Andersen 90 degree box bay window, it has 
    4 casement windows with screens, I love it. If you live in the
    Nashua area, you're more than welcome to come take a look at it.
    
    
    
    Royce

        I put one in a house I owned in Worcester. It was one of the best 
    selling points when we sold the house. We had a lemon tree in it and
    with two big juicey lemons on it plus christmas cactus and african
    violets in full bloom.
    
        Organic Gardening had plans for building your own out of redwood
    and plexi-glass. I can try to find that issue if you think you'd like
    photo-copies of the plans. I may eventually build one. That way I can
    keep the double-hung window in place.
    
        Bob

    I would recommend putting in a bow or mini-bow if you can afford it. 
    You will get ventilation, a view, light, and you can always hang plants
    from the top edge.  Plant care in a garden window over a sink must be
    very awkward.  I'd avoid that.  
    
    In my kitchen we're putting in a large bay window, but this is not over
    a sink area, so the requirements are different.
    
    Good luck with your choice.

Thanks for the input.

We are not tall people so going overboard on the plants with a garden window
might be a mistake...now I'm leaning toward a bay or a bow, which I think
will look much better anyhow...

re: .5?  Why a box bay as opposed to an angle bay?  I suppose the box gives
a little more room for plants, but I think the angle would be better for 
catching the breeze...  any other reasons...?


Bob

    Well, I don't know if you could get an angled bay window that is
    4ft wide and even if you could, I think an angled bay window that
    small would look funny, Plus with the box bay window, I think I
    can see more of my back yard than I probably could with an angled
    bay window.
    
    
    
    
    
    Royce

The 2 double hungs I have now measure 62" wide by 42" high.  That is measuring
from the outside of the trim.  Anybody know how to figure the actual rough
opening without taking the trim off?  I'd like to know if I can get a standard
width window.  If so, I could then extend the rough opening down to a standard
size on the length.  I have 9 1/2" between the bottom of the bottom piece of
trim and the kitchen counter, so I may end up with a window 62" x 50", although
that bottom piece of trim could pose a problem.  I'd like to keep a little bit
of splash protection so I don't end up with lots of water from the sink
damaging the bottom of the box or bay.

Bob

    I am thinking about building a portable greenhouse has anyone here 
    attempted this?  If so what were the results?
    
    
    
    -jim-
    
    
    

    We are building a shed w/attached greenhouse.  The current plan is 
    to make them one entity.  A perimeter wall will be constructed around 
    the entire building, with footings under the support wall between the 
    greenhouse and the shed.  This current plan includes having a concrete
    floor in the greenhouse.  I've looked at other greenhouses in the area,
    and most have soil and/or gravel floors.  I understand the importance 
    of drainage (floor on a slight incline, or drain filled w/gravel).  I 
    was wondering if there are other problems with concrete that I am not
    recognizing.  (Water absorbtion-dryness, cracking, etc.)
    
     

    I don't know anything about greenhouses or the tax situations of such
    things in your town, but I'd make them "detached" so they'd be under
    100 sq ft and therefore non-taxable "temporary" structures.  But then
    tax avoidance is an old-yankee pastime.
    
    ed

    
    RE: .0
    
    Hi Paula!  We meet again.... ;-)
    
    My parents own and operate a greenhouse as part of a business so I can
    tell you what they have and how it works out.  Then you can decide.
    
    They have white marble stone with patio brick as walkways between
    tables.  I suppose you could use p-stone instead of the white marble.
    This offers a low maintainance floor.  Typically you'll have dirt and
    water falling all over the place in a greenhouse.  If you have concrete
    you'll end up with a cleanup job.  With stone it all just disappears. 
    The patio block provides a stable, level walking surface. 
    Occassionally you'll have to pull up a few weeds that may pop up but
    other than that, there really is no maintenance involved.
    
    One thing about concrete I'd think abount is it's capacity to store
    both heat and cold.  Will this be a year-round greenhouse?  IMO,
    concrete is overkill that provides no benefit.  Save your money for
    more important items.  Concrete is also tough on the feet and legs.  If
    you have a work area/bench in this greenhouse, I suggest you build a
    raised platform off of whatever you use as a floor.
    
    Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
    
    Phil

To close the book on this, I went with a 30 deg. angle bay. casement.  The3
casements open out to give us more breeze than we ever had before.  There's
about a 10 inch overhang, enough for some plants, not too far for us to reach
the cranks.  The grills make it look nice.  Its stained early american to match
the woodwork and looks great.  Makes the kitchen more open and lighted.  And
we can now easilyy see into the yard where we've put a swingset and sandbox
for the kids.  THere is only about an inch of splash protection, but this has
not been a problem as I feared.  I put 3 coats of poly on it, so water from
plants and sink splash hasn';t hurt anything so far.  This is one of the better
home improvements I've ever (had) done.  See 2000 for the contrractor I had
do the installation.  I finished it (stain and paint).

Glad I didn't go with the garden window.

Bob