Insulationg Concrete Floor Greenhouse

A concrete slab may be the easiest type of greenhouse footing to keep clean.

Insulationg concrete floor greenhouse.

Most of the footprint will be used as a planting area which may or may not need a level finished surface. Build a frame against the back wall of the structure to stack those 55 gallon drums three high and keep the front row low so the most surface area is hit by the sun. Apart from providing good drainage the best greenhouse floor should insulate the structure when it is cold outside. The best material for a solar greenhouse heat sink floor is some kind of stone or concrete.

The thicker the better of course. The thermal mass of the stone will absorb and then release the solar energy stored during the day. You will add spray foam insulation either polystyrene or polyurethane under the greenhouse floor in the next step. Even an insulated year round greenhouse doesn t need a finished floor as a house does.

Your flooring option usually depends on how you want to grow in the greenhouse whether growing directly in the soil raised beds or in an aquaponic or hydroponic system. One recommended option whether you use a slab or wall is to fasten a 2 x 4 sill on the top of the foundation. If poured properly it has sufficient slope to drain away the excess water. There are several options for greenhouse flooring materials.

The sill acts as a insulated buffer between the concrete and the greenhouse frame reducing heat loss. Concrete especially if it is insulated provides an excellent floor easy to clean and to walk on. You want heat exchange to occur between the greenhouse environment and the thermal mass of the soil. Install a drain in the center of the floor that leads to a gravel pile underneath the greenhouse or to a pipe to carry.

Insert the greenhouse insulation and the exterior sheets. That is why pea gravel is a good option. Concrete will also reflect light and retain heat throughout the day. Install the perimeter and area piers and the solid plastic foundation beams.

If you poured a concrete slab for your greenhouse foundation you have a perfect floor as a bonus. Neither do we insulate the floor this should be left un insulated so the greenhouse so it can absorb heat from the greenhouse. It absorbs heat from the sun and releases it into the surrounding environment during the day and night. The most ideal is a poured concrete floor especially if it s insulated.

What to use for greenhouse floors. Leave a 1 inch trench 12 inches deep around the external edge of the foundation. A concrete floor is easy to clean and walk on and if poured correctly should drain away any excess water. At ceres we go one step further and actively heat the soil using a ground to air heat transfer gaht system.