Greenhouse Design & Material Specifications

Classic Greenhouse Design

Structure: Our greenhouse design features all aluminum 6063-T6 extruded aluminum alloy. A hot-dipped galvanized steel sub-structure will support the aluminum exterior frame. The steel members use a truss style framing system. Steel sidewall columns anchors to a perimeter foundation with expansion bolts or concrete anchor bolts. Hardware and other fasteners in the greenhouse will be galvanized, stainless, plated or aluminum as per manufacturer.

Design Load: We can tailor the American Classic greenhouse design to meet any current building codes for seismic, wind and snow loads. Most metropolitan areas will require engineering calculations in order to obtain a building permit.

Ventilation: The two full length ridge vents allow excessive heat to escape. The vents utilize a ball and socket style hinge at the ridge. Each ridge vent works independent with its own thermostat and direct drive motor(s). This allows it to integrate into the overall climate control system. Side vents are also available for natural ventilation (manual or automated). Manual ridge vent operators are available but are not standard.

Material Specs

Sill Plate: The sill plate will be an aluminum shape approximately 2 1/2″ x 2″. The sill sits on a U-channel which allows for lateral security and sufficient adjustment to accommodate minor foundation irregularities.

Steel Frame: The steel frame will be 3″ x 4.1# channel for columns and roof chords on all greenhouses up to the 2000 series. The 2500 and 3000 series greenhouse will use a combination of 3″ x 4.1# and 4″ x 5.4# channel for their frames. These standards can change if you need engineering calculations. An I-beam sub-structure is also a option for a clear span interior design(fee applies). Columns attache to the foundation with two expansion anchor bolts.

Purlin: The Purlin will be an aluminum “C” shape design for greenhouse use. The purlin spans from steel frame to steel frame, and attache to the steel using a 5/16″ grade 8 bolt and hex nut. Weight of extrusion 0.912# per foot.

Ridge: The ridge will be an aluminum shape design to incorporate the ball and socket hinge for the roof vents. Weight of extrusion is 1.636# per foot.

Glazing Bars: The glazing bars will be a “T” shape aluminum design. It is on the roof, side and end walls. This allows for the glazing of the glass or polycarbonate to embed into the Butyl tape via stainless steel glazing clips.

Glazing: Standard glazing for the greenhouse is 1/8″ clear safety glass on the roof. The roof glass will be shingled with a 1/2″-3/4″ overlap. The sides and end walls use 1/8″ double strength annealed glass. We use a special vinyl extrusion spacer between each vertical pane of glass. Each pane of glass will have no less than 4 stainless steel glazing clips. Clear twinwall Polycarbonate panels are also available.

Doors: Our standard door(s) is 1-3/8″ thick, all aluminum exterior, half screened and full view with safety glass panels. The door(s) will attach to the 1-3/4″ x 3″ aluminum door tubing using stainless steel self tap screws along the door frame. We proudly offer a very high quality commercial entry door(s) manufactured by US Aluminum as an upgrade.