Lean to greenhouse plans | MyOutdoorPlans (2024)

This step by step woodworking project is about lean to greenhouse plans. Building a greenhouse attached to your house is a convenient way to store your plants during the winter, or to grow fresh vegetables all the time. After making sure your project complies with the local building codes, you should get all the tools required and buy the materials for the job (miter saw, drill machinery and screwdriver).

Check if the lumber is in a good condition and the slats are perfectly straight, before buying them from the local diy store. Make sure you pre-drill pilot holes in the lumber before inserting the wood screws, to prevent the wood from splitting. Align all the components at both ends, plumb them if necessary and insert the wood screws into place. Work with good judgement and attention, as to get a professional result. See all my Premium Plans HERE.

Projects made from these plans

Cut & Shopping Lists

• A– 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber 200”, 12 pieces of 2×4 lumber 60”SMALL WALL
• B– 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber 200” – top end cut at 30º, 12 piece of 2×4 lumber 99 1/4”TALL WALL
• C– 12 pieces of 2×4 lumber 87” long – one end cut at 30º, the other end cut at 60ºRAFTERS
• D–2 pieces of 2×4 93” – cut at 30º, 2 piece of 74 1/4” – cut at 30º, 2 pieces of 27 1/2”FRONT AND BACK
• D –3 pieces of 2×4 lumber 24”, 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber 64 1/4, 4 pieces of 10 1/4”FRONT AND BACK
• E– 2 pieces of 2×4 – 69 1/2”, 2 pieces of 2×4 – 24 1/2”, 1 pieces of 2×4 – 17 1/2”DOOR
• F – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber, 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber VENT

• 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 20′
• 32 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 8′
• 12 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 10′
• 1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 8′
• 2 hinges, 1 latch
• vent opener
• 500 pieces of 2 1/2″ screws
• greenhouse film

Tools

Hammer, Tape measure, Framing square

Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander

Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses

Time

One weekend

Attached greenhouse plans

Building a small greenhouse, attached to your house is a straight-forward job, if you plan everything from the very beginning. Nevertheless, even it is an appealing idea, we do not recommend you to attach the greenhouse to a timber-built house, as it might damage it over time.

Top Tip: Make sure you study the local building codes, before designing the greenhouse. Buy quality materials, checking if the lumber is perfectly straight and in a good condition.

Lean to greenhouse plans

First, you need to build the small wall of the greenhouse. In order to get the job done accurately, you need install the 2×4 studs between the bottom and the top plates. Drill pilot holes trough the plates before inserting the 3” screws.

Top Tip: Use a carpentry square to make sure the corners of the walls are right-angled. Fit the 2×4 filing blocks between the wooden studs, in order to enhance the rigidity of the structure.

The next step of the project is to build the tall side wall of the lean to greenhouse, using the same techniques described above. As you can see in the image, you should cut the top of the studs at 30º, in order to get a proper slope for the roof.

Make sure the suds are perfectly equal otherwise the greenhouse won’t have a symmetrical look. Fit the top plate on top of the studs and secure them into place with screws. Install 2×4 blockings between the studs, to increase the rigidity of the frame.

Afterwards, you need to build the wooden rafters and to fit them into place, making sure they are equally spaced. As you should easily notice in the plans, you have to cut one end of the rafters at 30º and the other end at 60º.

Top Tip: In order to give support to the light construction, you need to cut several blockings and to secure them between the rafters with 3” screws, as in the image.

Continue the project by building the front and the back faces of the greenhouse, using the free plans. Make sure you leave enough room for a door. In addition, you should reinforce the whole structure with a brace, as to get the job done as a professional.

Drill pilot holes trough the components and lock them into place with 3” galvanized screws. Using regular screws is a mistake, as they will rust quickly.

Building a door for the attached greenhouse is a straight forward job, if use the right plans and tools. Build the frame from 2×4 lumber and secure the components together with 3” screws. Use a carpentry square to make sure the corners are right-angled.

Top Tip: Place the door inside the opening and lock it into place with several hinges. Check if the door is plumb, using a spirit level.

In order to ventilate the lean to greenhouse properly, you need to install several windows, placed between the rafters. In order to get the job done quickly, build the frame of the windows from 2×2 lumber and lock them into place with hinges.

Top Tip: Moreover, you can automate the process, by installing an opener, that will lift the vent if the temperature exceeds a certain level. Make sure the vent opens properly, before continuing the project.

Install the polyethylene foil on the studs and secure it into place fit fitting 1×2 wooden strips to the frame.

Last but not least, you should take care of the finishing touches. Therefore, fill the head of the screws with a good filler and let it dry out for at least several hours. Afterwards, sand the surface with 120-grit sandpaper, along the wood grain and vacuum the residues.

This article was aboutsmall greenhouse plans.If you want to see more plans for your garden, we recommend you to check out the rest of our step by step projects.

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Ovidiu

I've been a designer and a woodworker since I first developed consciousness.