Greenhouse Structure & Construction

Construction of Greenhouse: covering your valuable crops

Our expertise in greenhouse construction ensures that your valuable crops are well-protected. The primary function of a greenhouse is to protect valuable crops from outside conditions, extending the growing season while maintaining transparency to allow crucial sunlight to reach the plants. The greenhouse structure protects crops from the weather and benefits from the well-known 'greenhouse-effect,' even in the winter months. Proper greenhouse sizing ensures that your facility can maintain optimal growing conditions year-round.

From their humble beginnings as a protection against external factors, Dutch greenhouses have developed into high-tech cultivation facilities. Technological advancements have made it possible to cultivate out-of-season and provide food and flowers to markets around the world, every day of the year. With improvements in temperature control, climate-, cultivation-, irrigation- and automation systems, the construction of green house itself has also improved greatly to facilitate them, protect them, and make these systems even more efficient. This means you get better plant growth in our controlled growing environment. Advancements in green house construction have greatly improved climate control systems, especially in large greenhouse setups designed to capture maximum light. These improvements are a crucial part of our greenhouse projects, which cater to a range of needs, from sized greenhouses for small-scale growers to more extensive facilities. Whether starting from an existing structure or building new, our expertise ensures top performance in every project.

A complete greenhouse construction, from the foundation!

Similar to most buildings, the green house structure design consists of five high-level components: foundations, structural frames, cladding, ventilation windows and drainage systems. The greenhouse structure consists of concrete, steel and aluminium and is covered with glass, sandwichpanels or polycarbonate.

Our high quality greenhouses are designed to be as cost-effective as possible, the Dutch greenhouse construction has numerous multi-function elements. The best example for the structures' multi-purpose function, is the way the roof is designed. It is typical V-shape directly serves as a rainwater discharge system and is therefore completely integrated into the greenhouse structure. Cladding, whether it is glass, polycarbonate or sandwich panels, therefore also serves its function as part of a gutter.

Greenhouse Construction Company

Seen from below, The greenhouse structure desgin consists of five high-level components, all with numerous options and variations to get the best greenhouse environment:

Foundation/frame materials (Concrete, reinforcement steel)
Sub- & Superstructure (respectively steel & aluminium frame)
Roof & side cladding (glass greenhouse, polycarbonate, dibond or sandwich)
Ventilation (glass panels that can open, with or without insect netting)
Rainwater discharge (through the steel structure or with downpipes)

The greenhouse building process is intricate, involving various materials and design considerations.

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Steps for the Construction of Greenhouse Components:

With so many greenhouse components, what comes first and how is it built? We have made an overview of the green house construction sequence of the greenhouse structure.

Step 1: Greenhouse Foundation

Every greenhouse structure starts with a foundation. In some cases, piling is required, but in most cases a lightweight foundation is sufficient. A typical foundation consists of boreholes and a perimeter wall (non-structural tie-beam), filled with concrete and pre-fabricated steel foundation posts.

Step 2: Steel Structure + Aluminium Gutter + Ventilation Mechanism

Before erecting the steel structure, the ventilation mechanism and other future provisions are mounted to the trusses. The aluminium gutter between the trusses is a critical structural element and is erected together with the steel structure.

Step 3: Rainwater collection

During construction, weather must anticipated on. Ensuring rainwater is managed properly before installation of the roof can prevent a lot of construction problems.

Step 4: Service Building

At DutchGreenhouses® we always start with the construction of the sandwich-panel covered service building. This allows for proper material storage and allows third-parties to start on-time with placement of specific installations or equipment.

Step 5: Glass covering + Ventilation windows

After the service-area is covered with sandwich panels, glass roof-covering works commence and ventilation windows are installed simultaneously. Sidewall covering is done after the roof is finished.

Step 6: Insect Netting

The installation of insect netting is at the very end of the actual greenhouse construction. Depending on the brand and the project-based workflow, these can be installed from the roof or from inside the greenhouse. If the latter is the case, it is critical that this is finished before screening works commence.

Insect Netting Screening for greenhouses

FAQ

What is the primary function of a greenhouse structure?

The main purpose of greenhouse construction is to shield important crops from external elements, while still permitting essential sunlight to penetrate and nourish the plants. The greenhouse structure serves as a barrier, protecting crops from harsh weather conditions while maintaining an environment conducive to growth

What are Dutch greenhouses made of?

The greenhouse components in Dutch greenhouses are constructed from durable materials such as concrete, steel, and aluminum. In green house construction, these materials are essential for creating a sturdy framework, which is then enclosed with either glass, sandwich panels, or polycarbonate.

Which materials are used for the structural elements in Dutch Greenhouses?

The construction of greenhouse structural elements involves materials like concrete for the foundation, steel for the sub-structure, and aluminum for the super-structure. During greenhouse building, these materials ensure the greenhouse is both robust and functional.

How is the greenhouse structure built?

The construction of a greenhouse involves a series of well-planned steps. A greenhouse construction company (DutchGreenHouses) will start with laying the foundation, which may involve piling or alternative methods. The steel structure is then erected, including the aluminum gutter and ventilation mechanisms. Rainwater management is integrated to prevent future issues. A service building covered in sandwich panels is added for operational support. Finally, the greenhouse building project concludes with the installation of glass, ventilation windows, sidewall coverings, and insect netting, ensuring the greenhouse is fully operational.