People with the endurance to build their own thriving ecosystem in their back yard just have to be applauded. The skill, aptitude and not to mention, patience required are incredible but even with all these fine qualities the one challenge that cannot be avoided is cost.

First time handyman? It’s not a problem if this is your first project, if you cannot build a lean to greenhouse (or lean to conservatory) on a limited budget then you are probably doing something wrong or trying to complicate matters. Lean To’s are easy to construct especially the stand alone type. It can get costly if you don’t take care when buying all your materials though.

It is very cheap to build a mini lean to greenhouse. These are small enough to fit in the most cramped living areas or those which only have a small area for plants such as a flat. If you are able to build something such as a small dogs kennel or a post box then you have what it takes to build a mini lean to.

Bear your surroundings in mind. If you live in a country with a lot of hard rain you should choose a sturdy wooden frame with a glass cover. Although glass isn’t cheap, the correct size of fiberglass will save you a bit of cash as well. Wood, as versatile as it is, is not that expensive either and if you go to any lumber yard you will find the ideal wood to build your greenhouse.

Talking about wood, a wooden lean to greenhouse is probably the most cost effective that you can build if you are doing it yourself. Using wood will keep you to a reasonable budget whether you decide on the free standing or the attached type of greenhouse. Some polyethylene, glass or fiberglass covering, some nails and a hammer (which you probably already have) is all that you should need.

Polyethylene is cheap and effective in areas with good weather. Wood, however, will need some kind of treatment if it needs to withstand excessive sun or a cold, rainy environment. A simple coat of varnish every now and then should suffice.

Aluminum is probably the most expensive material to use even though it is commonly available. It is not as flexible as wood and it is definitely harder to work with. Aluminum greenhouses are meant to be attached to a solid wall (house or garage) so if you are trying to cut costs, this is one route you definitely don’t want to follow.

One option to consider when you decide to build yourself is a pre-fabricated uPVC lean to conservatory installation although it’s not quite the same as making your own with raw materials. They are not difficult to install (the manufacturer’s instructions are normally very easy to follow), they withstand any weather conditions, you will never have trouble cleaning them or repainting them and they are not expensive to buy. Admittedly they are not as cheap as a wooden one but the little extra expense will ensure that it stands, maintenance free, forever.

Imperial Windows specialise in windows, doors and Conservatories. The lean to greenhouse (or lean to conservatory) is only one of the ranges that we supply. Visit us at http://www.imperialwindows.co.uk