Choosing a floor type for Solexx Greenhouse?

11 years ago

Hi guys,

I am about to get a Solexx Harvester model 8X16 ft greenhouse ( which is a lean-to model, although it does have all 4 sides covered).

With the Solexx, they say there is no need to put down a foundation, and to use theie suggested anchoring tie down equipment. Try me, at first, I was very skeptical about this, but after many hours of reading and reviews from others, it seems that they really do hold up and stay anchored. Even read stories or tornadoes and hurricanes they came through ok.

So, in a way, I am relieved that I do not have to make a fancy foundation for this. Also,although not needed, but for extra support, I will be attaching the one side of the greenhouse to my house too.

So, I am now wondering what to use as a floor base to the GH. And yes, I have done a ton of research of posts here about flooring choices already.However, I did not see many post of the Solexx.

Since one side of the GH will be my house, I am sure will help with warmth a little since I have a whole basement wall under the ground down that one side. So I assume it would not be needed to ground insulate on that side if I choose to do so?

Should I try to insulate around the gh with foam board or such?

If one was more important than the other, I would say keeping heat in the winter would be more important than keeping cooler than in the summer since I will have all plants out for summer anyway. SO holding heat in for the night would be my main goal. So I would like to consider this while choosing a floor.

Most of my yard is already landscaped with white rock. So I could very easily just keep the white rock as the flooring. I know the white would help reflect light. However, not sure if it would help hold in heat for the nighttime.

So I was thinking of maybe using black mulch on the inside? I know just from opening mulch bags that they retain a lot of heat, so I thought this might be one of the best ways to help hold heat in for the winter. I can also make a walkway of concrete pavers if I do not want the whole thing to be mulch.

If mulch (or even keeping the white rock)is a good idea, should I line foamboard underneath it first?

The other thing is that my land has a slight slope to it. I plan to level this a bit before putting the GH down, however, I did read that it is good to have a slight slope to help with draining. So do I still need to make it an exact level ground or would it be good to let it slope down just a bit?

Should I put anything under the base of the GH at all or just do what is suggested by Solexx?

I have read that this Solexx really does keep heat in more so than a lot of other panel choices, so I am hoping that will help a lot with heat retention to begin with. I plan on using an oil radiator type heater as I have seen suggested in other posts here.

If you have any opinions or suggestions, please let me know. I have enclosed the link of what GH I am getting if curious,.

Thanks a bunch!!!! Christy

Here is a link that might be useful: Solexx Harvester Greenhouse

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Comments (2)

cole_robbie
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Most of your heat loss to the ground will occur on the sides. You can bury foam board panels vertically along the sides. I don't remember the exact best depth, 1-2' or so.

As for floor covering, mass holds heat. Rock would work a little better than mulch. But using mass as your sole heating is hard, because most of it is lost at night before sunrise. A poured concrete slab would give you the most mass, and if you want to heat it, you can run pex floor heating cable through it before you pour the concrete. The you run hot water through the cable. You can heat that water in any way - even if you have to pay for the energy, it is still very efficient.
kudzu9
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I went with a 2" layer of gravel, a 2" layer of sand, leveled it with a board, laid 1-1/2" thick pavers, and then locked them in place by sweeping sand into the spaces between the pavers. It looks good, it has mass, and water that falls on it immediately drains away; it has no slope:

{{gwi:289353}}

I decided against a concrete floor because of the potential for it being slippery when wet. However, if you decide to go with a concrete floor, slope it slightly to the center and have a drain there rather than having it slope to the side.

Greenhouse floors get dirty and you want to be able to clean/sweep it easily. I am always dropping things like potting soil and plant parts on the floor. If you have a floor that is loose, like rock or gravel, it will be impossible to clean up: you will have dirt building up over time in the crevices and you may also get stuff you don't want growing there.

The subject of greenhouse flooring choices has been covered a lot in this forum. Take a look at the threads below and you will get all the opinions you need.

Here is a link that might be useful: GH flooring
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