Outbuilding/Greenhouse Advice Needed

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My husband and I are in the process of planning for an outbuilding which will primarily be used as a garden storage/potting shed. The dimensions we are considering are approximately 16x24. We are considering having an attached greenhouse on the southern side which would be the long side of our building. One of our thoughts would be to use a longer truss that could serve as an overhang and be built in as a greenhouse. For example, instead of using a 16' truss, we would use a 24' truss which would give us approximately 8' of greenhouse. Is this too narrow? Does anyone have any experience with this and/or any thoughts pro/con to doing something like this? Another thought would be to just put up a 16x24 building and then a seperate greenhouse. Thank you very much! Julie & Vince

-- Julie (julie@aacintervention.com), December 15, 2001

Answers

Hi Julie, I see two problems with wider trusses. They must be supported by their ends, thus cannot just hang out. Two, they cannot be cut to accept roof glazing that is wider than their spacing, should you come across a good deal down the road. I would build the shed, then add the shed roof to fit the exspensive glazings dimentions. Good luck and check into the "solar window" effect. The path the sun makes across the sky to avoid summer overheating.

-- Virgil Wright (VIRGNMARI@dragonbbs.com), December 17, 2001.

I don't have a greenhouse but I have friends who do and the one thing they always say is I thought this would be enough room for everything I wanted in here LOL. Good luck.

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), December 17, 2001.

All I can say about size is that every outbuilding I've ever put up was too small within 2 years.

-- Paul (Treewizard@buffalo.com), December 17, 2001.

You CAN have a truss that "overhangs". But the design is, as I remember, a "queenpost". There is a vertical above where the wall beneath will be. Check with your lumber dealer. Once you see the concept, it's much cheaper to build them yourself. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), December 17, 2001.

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