Greenhouse Buying Guide: What to Know Before You Order
A greenhouse is a ten-year purchase that arrives on a freight truck. Twenty minutes with this checklist prevents every expensive surprise we know of.
1. Size: width first, then one length up
Width decides how you work inside; length decides how much you grow; and undersizing is the one regret owners repeat. Decide whether you will work inside the greenhouse (8 feet wide or more) or reach into it, pick the length that covers your plans, then go one length up if the budget allows.
The full method, with floor-area ranges and a comparison of all four models, is in the greenhouse sizing guide.
2. Location: sun in winter, not just in July
The greenhouse needs its light most from October to March, when the sun is low and shadows are long. Check the spot in the morning and afternoon, picture where the shadow of the house, fences and evergreens will fall in winter, and keep the long side facing the sun where you can.
Also think about the walk: water access, power if you ever want it, and a path you will still use in the rain. The details, including a printable checklist, are in where should you place a greenhouse.
3. Materials: what the frame and panels are made of
Two components decide how long a greenhouse lasts: the frame and the glazing. Our frames are galvanized steel Omega profiles with 0.039 in steel thickness on a 4 inch steel base; the glazing is 6 mm twin-wall polycarbonate, with about 85% light transmission and UV blocked.
If you are still comparing technologies, two honest reads: polycarbonate vs glass and galvanized steel vs aluminum frames. And if you already know you want polycarbonate, every Greenlyhouse model is glazed in 6 mm twin-wall polycarbonate as standard.
4. Wind and snow: know your exposure
Ask yourself two questions. Does this spot get real wind (open field, coast, hilltop, a gap between buildings)? And does your region get wet, heavy snow that sits? Our greenhouses are rated for winds up to 112 mph and snow loads up to 49 psf, but ratings assume the structure is anchored and maintained.
For exposed sites, plan the frame reinforcement kit from day one and read what makes a greenhouse survive wind and snow before you order.
5. Foundation and anchoring: decide before it ships
The greenhouse needs a flat, level base: compacted gravel, a concrete slab or a timber perimeter. The base is a weekend project in itself, so decide now, and have it ready before the pallet arrives, not after.
Anchoring is the part people skip and regret. A greenhouse is a big, light box; wind lifts it if it is not fixed down. Anchor at every base connection point, into slab or ground, the day you build. The options and depths are in the foundation and anchoring guide.
6. Ventilation: plan it with the purchase
A closed greenhouse overheats on any sunny day, in any month. Ventilation is not an upgrade, it is part of the machine: roof windows to let hot air out at the top, the door for cross-flow, and automatic openers so it happens while you are at work.
How much you need and which options do what is covered in the greenhouse ventilation guide.
7. Access and delivery: the freight truck test
Your greenhouse arrives flat-packed on a pallet by freight carrier, free anywhere in the lower 48. The carrier calls ahead, schedules a window, and drops the pallet at the curb. So run the test now: can a truck pull up near your place, and can you (plus a helper) carry long boxes from the curb to the site? A hand truck and a clear path make this a non-event.
When the pallet lands, check it with the driver before signing. If anything shipped damaged, a photo by email gets the replacement part shipped at no charge.
8. Assembly: a weekend, two people, no special tools
Everything bolts together: no welding, no cutting, parts labeled and pre-drilled, instructions step by step. Plan a calm weekend with a second pair of hands, and do the base work beforehand so assembly starts on a level surface. If you are mid-build and something is unclear, email support and a person answers the same business day.
9. Useful equipment: what to add now vs later
Two accessories are worth ordering with the greenhouse, because you will want them the first hot week: a roof window and an automatic vent opener. Shelving, irrigation, raised beds and tying kits are easy to add later, once you see how you actually use the space.
The final pre-order checklist
- Spot chosen, sunny in winter, 3 feet of clearance on every side
- Width decided by how you will work; length one size up
- 6 mm twin-wall polycarbonate as standard, on every model and length
- Base planned (gravel, slab or timber) and ready before delivery
- Anchoring hardware on the shopping list, installed on build day
- Roof window and auto opener in the order if summers are hot
- Freight truck can reach the curb; helper booked for the weekend
- Local rules checked with your building department or HOA if applicable
Eight boxes ticked? Then you are ready to pick your greenhouse.
Your questions, in short
The delivery estimate for your order is shown directly on each product page, under the Add to Cart button, and updates with the current date. The carrier calls ahead to schedule the drop.
It depends on your city, county and sometimes your HOA. Many backyard greenhouses under a certain footprint need nothing, but rules vary, so call your local building department before pouring a slab.
Basic hand tools: a drill or screwdriver, wrenches, a ladder, a level and a tape measure. There is no welding, cutting or drilling of parts; everything arrives pre-drilled and labeled.
Defects under normal use, starting the day of delivery. Individual components can carry different terms; the full conditions are linked from every product page.
