Wooden Greenhouses in Kenya
Wooden Greenhouses are made of wooden timber structures.
Timber materials are strong and resistant to heat, expansion, and corrosion though they decay easily unlike metallic greenhouses.
Suitability of Wooden Greenhouses
Wooden Greenhouses are cheap to construct though they are less durable than metallic greenhouses. It is good for a low starting budget and can be highly productive just like metallic greenhouses. The environment inside is hot and convenient for greenhouse crop propagation.
The ventilation in the wooden greenhouse is constructed on the side walls using agricultural nets to enhance the aeration and prevent suffocation of plants.
Requirements for a Wooden Greenhouse
Wooden Greenhouse structure
Wooden Greenhouses takes a V shaped structure. The roof is V-shaped to enhance proper water flow and drainage. The room is rectangular with a door on one side of the walls.
Place suitable for Wooden Greenhouse
A wooden greenhouse is less stiff and needs a good place for construction. The place should have the following features.
- Good drainage – The soil should have good water draining capacity. Waterlogging soil is not suitable.
- Flat terrain – The area should be flat for a strong structure.
- Less windy – The rate of wind flow must be low. High strong winds damage wooden greenhouses. The nail joints may not be strong enough to hold wooden frames together against strong winds.
- Low Humidity – High humidity causes the decay of wooden poles.
Type of Timber for Greenhouse
Greenhouses require strong and heavy timber to enhance the strength and upright structure of a greenhouse. The wall materials need strong wooden poles to be laid onto the ground and dry timber to be attached to the roof.
Greenhouse roofing poles and polythene paper are heavy hence need thick and strong poles to be used.
Timber is cheap and readily available for use. Therefore, the cost of greenhouse construction can be lowered since timber is cheaper.
Most used Timber Species
Cedar
Cedar is a hardwood indigenous tree which provides hard and strong timber for building and construction of houses, fences, furniture, and beds. It can normally last for up to 5 years before they start rotting or weakening.
It has a strong smell that is resistant to termites and ants that normally destroy wooden poles.
Red Wood
Red wood as well is a hardwood which takes a long time to decay when left or used in wet or moist conditions. The use of red wood provides a strong and better alternative for building poles in construction of wooden greenhouses.
How to make wooden poles Last Long
Absence of hardwood timber makes the choice of wooden poles limited to other softwood trees such as Blue Gum, eucalyptus, or Cyprus. However, there are methods of making poles resistant to termites and decay.
Painting
Wood poles and frames can be painted using oil or paint. Oil prevents absorption of water and termite attack to posts.
Treating Poles Using Wood preservatives (Pentachlorophenol)
Poles can be treated using chemicals and wood preservatives such as Pentachlorophenol which hardens poles and prevents ease of decay and water absorption.
Cost of Wooden Greenhouses
The
cost of a Greenhouse depends on the size of the greenhouse to build, quality of the polythene paper and design of the greenhouse. Our greenhouse building costs are available in the table below.
Size in Square meters
|
Cost (KES.) |
| 8mx15m |
KES. 165,000 |
| 8mx24m |
KES. 180,000 |
| 8mx30m |
KES. 240,000 |
| 16mx30m |
KES. 360,000 |
Wooden Greenhouse Profitability
Wooden greenhouses are relatively profitable considering the low cost of starting unlike metallic greenhouses. The Production levels are extremely high and
Greenhouse construction and Supply Company in Kenya
Aqua Hub Kenya is a popular
greenhouse materials supplier and greenhouse construction service provider in Kenya. We have the knowledge to be environment suitable wooden and metallic greenhouses for clients in Kenya and East Africa.
Call us via
0790719020 or email;
info@aquahubkenya.co.ke.
