Upcycler Transforms Old Windows Into A Greenhouse With An Impressive DIY

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A greenhouse is an addition that most avid gardeners eventually consider. The protective structure extends a plant's growing season, and, to some, can be a charming and decorative backyard building. Gardeners can buy greenhouse kits or build their own greenhouse for a fun DIY. Sizes, designs, and materials can vary widely, from shorter-term PVC covers on metal frames to more substantial wood structures. However, if you're searching for an upcycled, distinctive material for a DIY greenhouse, look to old windows.

Using recycled windows for a greenhouse is an idea you might have seen floating around on social media (particularly if you've looked at ideas on sites like Pinterest). TikToker growing.casually, Court Ryan, shows an example of an upcycled window-based greenhouse project. Ryan found windows on Facebook marketplace, but you can browse any secondhand website or see if anyone in your community is getting rid of materials from a renovation. For this project, Ryan uses 4-, 6-, and 12-pane windows, though you can use all sorts of square and rectangular sizes.

There's a lot of planning involved in building a DIY greenhouse. After sorting out if you need permits and any zoning rules, one of the first steps is figuring out the best layout with the windows you found. Then, you need to build a wood frame to create the greenhouse structure and mount the windows onto. You also need to design and build a suitable roof, an important step to ensure rain can run off the structure. When planning, also account for ventilation, which is necessary in a greenhouse. One way to do so is to incorporate some windows that can open into the design.

In the TikTok, Ryan builds a 6-foot-by-10-foot greenhouse, but mentions that a roomier, square option might be better. This can also be made of old windows, but is larger, measuring 10 by 10 feet. Ryan doesn't share step-by-step build instructions, but does mention that the entire project is DIY, making it accessible. Rather than following a specific plan, you'll have to fashion your own frame according to your windows and ideal greenhouse size. With the planning process in mind, this project is ideal for those who have some building experience under their belt.

@growing.casually

Consider this your sign to start hoarding old windows! Fall is the perfect time to stalk Facebook Marketplace, collect those cheap/free window panes & start plotting your DIY greenhouse... so when spring rolls around, you've got somewhere to start all those seedlings and have your morning coffee! Mine was built entirely from secondhand windows, and I learned A LOT along the way. She's still not finished but I've been working on her all summer! 🤎 For more glasshouse + garden content, go watch my other behind the scenes reels about the DIY build, pros/cons, what I'd do differently, what it cost & the materials I wish I'd planned for from the start. 👉🏼 Send this to your partner so they know what project you're about to start & like this if I just convinced you to become a window hoarder 👀 PS- pro tip here... buy windows that don't need a lot of repair, paint them before you build not after, and find ones that are all the same size for the easiest build. Dont spend more than $10/each either, because to be honest, mine were CHEAP! I'm talking like under $5/each no matter the size #greenhouse #glasshouse #diygarden #fbmarketplace #diyproject

♬ original sound – Golden Homes

For those who need more guidance, Southern Living has a more in-depth video about building a greenhouse from windows. These project ideas involve using pavers for a foundation, sturdy wood framing, a door for better temperature control, and corrugated plastic roofing. In another video, Ryan totals the (almost) finished greenhouse at a little over $1,500.

Store-bought, wood greenhouse kits can range in price from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. For example, on the less-pricey end, the Veikous 6x10 Cedar Greenhouse at Home Depot costs $750 for the 7-by-6-by-10-foot model. If you're after the most affordable greenhouse option, making one from old windows isn't always the most cost-effective. However, it does let you upcycle a material that's otherwise destined for the landfill. Most appealing for DIYers, you get to personalize it to your liking, create a unique structure, and get your hands dirty. The upcycled windows also give this greenhouse a particularly whimsical look that new materials can't match: It's lovely for a romantic cottage garden. If this project feels a bit too daunting, upcycled windows can also be used to build smaller types of greenhouse structures, like a lean-to or cold frame structure. Don't forget to pick your favorite paint color and cute decorations!