How to build a greenhouse or house quickly and for pennies

We are so accustomed to straight lines and corners that it is difficult to imagine something else in our summer cottage. We have square or rectangular houses and the same greenhouses. Meanwhile, there are more advantageous forms of buildings, for example, one of the oldest forms used by nomadic peoples - domed buildings. Such buildings have excellent aerodynamic qualities, they retain heat better, and it is quite easy to build such greenhouses and even houses.

Tents can be called one of the first self-made dwellings built by man. Wigwams and yurts were light, simple and mobile shelters for nomadic peoples. But this design has not become obsolete - modern architects and designers use such designs to build huge stadiums and observatories. It turns out cool and at a minimum cost.

Dome structure in the park of La Villette, Paris

Materials for the frame and cladding

Dome structures assembled from straight parts are called geodesics. They gather in triangles, and the more triangles you make, the smoother the structure will be. The material for the frame can be wooden slats, metal D20 pipes or PVC pipes.

There is a special calculator that calculates the length of the tents at different frequencies.

For example, you select a dome with a radius of 10 feet (about three meters) and a frequency of triangles of 2. The calculator calculates the length and number of parts and fittings for you.

Calculation on the website desertdomes.com

Using metal pipes as a material, you can easily squeeze the ends and drill holes in them for fastening with hand tools. Of course, with a vise and a drilling machine, everything will go easier and faster, but, in principle, you can do this with a hammer and a drill.

The more accurate the holes in the parts of the frame, the easier it will then be to connect them with bolts.

If you are using wood for the frame, you can connect the parts with metal fasteners and screws.

Top cover

When the frame is ready, it's time to cover the greenhouse. You can use plastic wrap, it is the cheapest, but it will last no more than a season. You can also use a more durable reinforced foil or PVC foil that can last up to three years.

Another option is to cover the greenhouse with sheets of cellular polycarbonate from 4 to 10 mm. The sheets can be simply cut with a knife and mounted on the frame.

Shape provides strength

The aerodynamic shape of the canopy ensures the structure is strong even in strong winds. In addition, this shape allows you to maintain the temperature inside and distribute heat evenly.

For example, on a sunny day at -15 ° C outside, the air in the greenhouse can heat up to +26 ° C. And for a particularly cold winter, you can make an additional greenhouse inside the tent made of wire and plastic wrap.

Dome house in two months

So, with minimal costs, you can make a solid geodesic greenhouse on your site. But that's not all the dome shape can be used for. For example, you can even build a country house, and, moreover, handle it in just a couple of months.

Of course, a house needs a foundation. For example, some builders in the Tyumen region used a pile-screw, which can be easily installed without the help of specialists. Of course, heavier structures require a solid foundation.

The frame of the house is built of wood with metal fasteners and sheathed on top with sheets of moisture-resistant plywood. Various insulation materials and materials are used for the exterior decoration of the house.

There are even kits for self-assembly of the domed house on sale.

As a result, beautiful round houses are obtained, which, with their cheapness and speed of construction, are durable and keep the temperature well, which means they can save on heating.