Adding a greenhouse to a home has become very popular among gardening enthusiasts. It not only serves as a space for homeowners’ beloved plants, but also provides extra living space that increases property value.
A greenhouse attached to the house can create a seamless connection between outdoor and indoor living, making it a valuable addition to any property. This article explores various nuances of attaching a greenhouse to a home.
What is an Attached Greenhouse?
An attached greenhouse is a structure that extends directly from the home and serves as a connecting point between indoor living and outdoor cultivation. Greenhouses are often standalone structures that are detached from the building, but attached greenhouses integrate with the main building.
The concept of attached greenhouses can be historically traced back to the Victorian era, when wealthy families built orangeries to grow oranges and other citrus plants. This was a marker of wealth and gardening expertise. As time passed, joining a greenhouse with a living space became more popular.
They are no longer a marker of status, but a practical and environmentally conscious addition for plant lovers. These structures use various materials like polycarbonate, glass, and other materials to serve various needs. The purpose can vary from cultivating sensitive tropical plants to maintaining a home-grown herb garden.
Advantages of an Attached Greenhouse
More Cost-effective
Building a greenhouse attached to the home usually costs less than constructing a standalone structure. This is mostly because the attached greenhouses share a wall with the existing house, which helps homeowners save money on labour, materials, and supplies that are required to build the structure.
Another added advantage of an attached greenhouse is that the expenses can be reduced by connecting it to the home’s existing utility systems. This eliminates the need to establish a separate water or heating system.
Easy Access and Convenience
In addition to being cost-effective, it also provides easy access and convenience. Accessing the growing space now only requires walking through a door, regardless of weather conditions outside.
Even in rain, snow, or other extreme temperatures, gardeners can care for their plants without having to go outside. This leads to consistent plant care, resulting in healthier plant growth.
An attached greenhouse also removes seasonal limitations. Gardeners can grow summer vegetables like tomatoes while nurturing winter herbs. This will all be taken care of in the same controlled space, making cultivation possible throughout the year. This offers gardeners and homeowners a chance to experiment with a variety of plants without having to wait for specific seasons.
Space Efficiency
For properties with limited yard space, an attached greenhouse provides a more practical and efficient solution. Standalone greenhouses need extra space around them for utilities and entry space, which can create challenges in case of a smaller property with limited yard space.
Reusable Energy
A major advantage of connecting a greenhouse to the house is the ability to use solar heating to heat the rest of the living space. Greenhouses collect sunlight to support plant growth, and this solar energy can also be used to keep the home warm.
By installing screens in the connecting windows and doors, homeowners can open the solid barriers during colder months. This allows the greenhouse’s heat to flow into the living space.
Helps Keep the House Warm
For many homeowners, the major benefit of an attached greenhouse has little to do with growing plants. The warmth it generates stands out as the primary advantage. Even during the coldest winter days, sunshine can cause the greenhouse to heat up significantly.
This often results in greenhouses reaching sauna-like temperatures despite freezing outdoors. Setting up a connecting door to the kitchen and three full-height windows can help heat flow inside the house.
How to Manage Heat in an Attached Greenhouse?
Greenhouses are built to capture heat, which works well during winter months but can be a disadvantage during summer. One of the possible solutions would be to set up manual ventilation with full-length vents on both the roof and the lower walls.
This can be operated and controlled by antique crank systems. Keeping the doors open throughout the summer months also helps maintain proper airflow. A manual ventilation system offers advantages for those seeking solutions that do not depend on electricity.
However, this approach requires careful planning. For instance, if sunny weather arrives unexpectedly and no one is home to open the vents, the temperature inside can increase quickly. Many greenhouse owners consider automated venting systems with temperature sensors as ideal upgrades, while maintaining manual controls as a backup option.
How to Ensure Attached Greenhouses Are Adaptable to Existing Homes?
To make sure your plans for the attached greenhouse are adaptable to the existing home, start by assessing the solar exposure of the chosen site. It is best to orient the greenhouse in a way that helps maximise natural light. It is important to use materials that work well with the home’s existing structure. It is best to use materials such as cedar or aluminium frames.
The greenhouse design should align smoothly with the existing roofline and foundation. Plan access and utility connections around the home’s layout to ensure that the greenhouse feels like a natural extension of the living space.
Conclusion
A greenhouse attached to a home offers numerous benefits for gardeners and homeowners. It brings the outdoors into the living space, seamlessly blending nature with the home. After careful consideration, homeowners can decide if they want a standalone or attached greenhouse structure. The latter requires careful planning and maintenance to function well.
