Last Updated on April 15, 2024 by Real Men Sow
A greenhouse is almost essential for gardening in colder areas. It can extend the growing season and give plants more heat. A greenhouse also allows us to grow plants and pick tomatoes that are ripe. You can build your own geodome greenhouse for your garden. A GeoDome greenhouse is a very unique, lightweight structure. But what’s important is its stability under snow and in wind. It can also provide you with maximum light absorption.
You won’t need permits because the GeoDome greenhouse doesn’t require a foundation. It can also be transported or used temporarily.
Materials Needed To Build The Geodome Greenhouse
- Wood – Untreated spruce wood was used. It was stained before being assembled. Douglas Fir is also an option, which is stronger and more long-lasting.
- Screws – about a pound
- Covering – The greenhouse plastic was donated by a commercial greenhouse. Because there isn’t as much pressure on the plastic, it can be reused easily on domes. It can also last for another 3-5 years. The dome can be covered with greenhouse films, shrink films or polycarbonate sheets.
- Automated window openers and hinges – to open the doors and windows.
Tools Needed
- Measuring Tape
- Square
- Pencil
- Level
- Utility Knife
- Safety Glasses
- Hearing Protection
- Drill
- Dual Bevel Miter Saw Or Radial Arm Saw
Geodome Greenhouse Plans
Acidome was one of the most useful GeoDome calculators online. A Dome’s Geodesic frequency can be either 2V, 3V or 4V. A smaller dome may have a lower frequency. Our 18-foot dome chose the 3V frequency. Any dome larger than 18 feet should have a frequency of 4V. Remember that no matter how wide the dome, it will only be half its height. Our 18′ dome measures 9′ high and the pony wall is 1′.
A 3V Dome presents a challenge because the red struts at its bottom, as shown in the above image, are 3.6 percent longer than other red struts. Many plans found online don’t make this adjustment, and the bottom ends up uneven. It is possible to level out the foundation. However, it is much easier to adjust how long the 10 red struts at the bottom are, which are always located between the pentagons.
Cutting The Struts
Rip the 2×6 boards to 2” in width. This can be done by your lumber store. A radial arm saw can be used to cut the joints. It is precise and reliable. Precision is important when cutting angles. We chose the metric system because we value precision.
- Alphabetic index for the struts
- This type of struts has a lot of them
- This end is the numeric size vertex that this edge rests upon.
- A flat angle is equal to the plane of an outer edge.
- The dihedral angle that lies between the outer edge and the cut plane.
Assembling The Geodome Greenhouse
Build a pony wall that was 1 foot high (0.30 m). A pony wall will give you some height, which is especially important for small domes. A pony wall can be as high as 3 feet (0.91m) for some users.
Assemble the dome and make sure you’re following the plan. As shown in the graphic, all the struts are joined together using a miter joint. They are then held in place with screws. Pre-drilling all holes is recommended to ensure that the wood doesn’t split.
The dome’s top was assembled separately and then it was put together as one unit. It was quite heavy and difficult.
Covering The Geodome Greenhouse
Because of its shape, covering a dome can be difficult. The best way to cut the plastic was to make 3 rows of facets. Acidome calculates the dimensions of the facets very well, which is particularly important when covering valuable items. Simply place the struts onto the plastic, and then cut the 2-3 facets. Staple the plastic to struts, then use the 1 cm planks for support.
Door And Windows For The Geodome Greenhouse
The door was built into a pentagon and it doesn’t alter the dome’s shape, which is great in winter when all the snow just slides off. It allows you to access the dome even when snow is still on the ground. In the summer, it will also give you an extra opening at the bottom, even if the door has to be closed due to severe weather.
