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How to Build a Hothouse

How to Build a Small Hothouse - Roof

All rebates should be painted before applying putty, and the putty itself should be soft and pliable, yet not so saturated with oil as to stick to the hands in use. It should be pressed down in the rebates starting from the bottom and working upward, then the bottom sheet is pressed into place, supported by turning up the previously nailed iron clip, and bedded down by running the thumbs along the rebates.

To prevent slipping down in the soft putty or blowing off in a storm, the sheets are secured with tacks (above) which may be either bought or made from snipping small triangular pieces from waste galvanised iron. Afterward all putty will be neatly trimmed off inside. Along the collar ties, which are fixed about 7ft, from the floor and to alternate pairs of rafters, a shelf may be nailed to take "hanging" plants. This shelf should have a strip along each edge to prevent pots being accidentally brushed off, and a similar strip should be nailed along the front edges of benches.

There is, of course, a wide choice in the matter of doors, but the one shown just fits into the opening left when two sheets of glass are omitted. It is wide enough to take wheelbarrow, and opens outward to save space. The final word so far as woodwork is concerned is "PAINT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BEFORE ERECTION."

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How to Build a Hothouse