# Greenhouse Construction > Part of: [Greenhouse Horticulture](/greenhouse-horticulture.md) · Provider: [DutchGreenhouses](/) Greenhouse construction assembles five components in a fixed order: foundation, steel and aluminium frame, ventilation mechanism, covering and drainage. European practice classes a greenhouse by whether its cladding tolerates frame movement — glass does not, which is why a glass house is engineered stiffer than a plastic one. ## Facts | Property | Value | |---|---| | EN 13031-1 cladding classes | 2 classes | | Maximum minimum design working life | 15 years | | Venlo span widths | 8, 9.6 or 12.8 m | | Bay spacing | 4–5 m | | Gutter height of a modern production greenhouse | 6–8 m | Technology · Structure # Greenhouse structure & construction. The primary function of a greenhouse is to protect valuable crops from outside conditions — extending the growing season while letting crucial sunlight through. ## Covering your valuable crops From their humble beginnings as protection against external factors, Dutch greenhouses have developed into high-tech cultivation facilities. Technological advancements make it possible to cultivate out-of-season and supply food and flowers to markets around the world, every day of the year. With improvements in climate, cultivation, irrigation and automation systems, the construction itself has improved greatly to facilitate and protect them. Advancements in construction directly improve climate control — especially in large setups designed to capture maximum light. Which structure you build depends on what it has to do. Greenhouse horticulture sets out the three types we deliver — the classic Venlo greenhouse, the glass greenhouse and the semi-closed greenhouse — and what choosing one over another means for the structure itself. ## A complete construction, from the foundation Like most buildings, the greenhouse structure consists of five high-level components: foundations, structural frames, cladding, ventilation windows and drainage systems — built from concrete, steel and aluminium, covered with glass, sandwich panels or polycarbonate. Dutch construction is packed with multi-purpose elements. The typical V-shaped roof doubles as the rainwater discharge system, fully integrated into the structure; the cladding itself serves as part of the gutter. Build sequence ## How a greenhouse is built. The construction sequence of the greenhouse structure, step by step. ### 1. Foundation Every structure starts with a foundation. In most cases a lightweight foundation suffices: boreholes and a perimeter tie-beam, filled with concrete and prefabricated steel foundation posts. Foundation → ### 2. Steel + aluminium + ventilation Before erecting the steel structure, the ventilation mechanism is mounted to the trusses. The aluminium gutter between trusses is a critical structural element, erected together with the steel. Steel structure → ### 3–4. Rainwater + service building Weather is anticipated during construction: rainwater is managed before the roof goes on. The sandwich-panel service building is built first, enabling material storage and early installation work. Service building → ### 5–6. Glass covering + insect netting Glass roof covering and ventilation windows are installed simultaneously; sidewalls follow after the roof. Insect netting closes the sequence — finished before screening works commence. Glass covering → Components ## Structural components in detail. ### Foundation Boreholes, tie-beams and steel posts ### Steel Structure The sub-structure, engineered per load zone ### Aluminium System Gutters and glazing bars as structure ### Ventilation Mechanism Opening roof panels, insect-proof ### Insect Netting Keeping pests out, air flowing ### Glass Covering Glass, polycarbonate or sandwich panels ### Service Building The operational heart of the facility ### Rainwater Collection The roof as integrated water system Frequently asked ## Greenhouse construction questions What is the primary function of a greenhouse structure? To shield crops from external elements while permitting essential sunlight to reach the plants — a barrier against harsh weather that maintains an environment conducive to growth. What are Dutch greenhouses made of? Durable materials: concrete, steel and aluminium for the framework, enclosed with glass, sandwich panels or polycarbonate. Which materials are used for the structural elements? Concrete for the foundation, steel for the sub-structure and aluminium for the super-structure — robust and functional. How is the greenhouse structure built? Foundation first, then the steel structure with aluminium gutters and ventilation mechanisms, integrated rainwater management, a sandwich-panel service building, and finally glass, ventilation windows, sidewalls and insect netting. ## Learn more about greenhouse structures? Our engineers gladly talk through your project’s structural options. Get in touch From the knowledge base ## Reads you might find interesting ceacultivationbusiness-case ### Grow Like a Pro: Starting Smart, Growing Strong How Grow Like a Pro combines smart farming, CEA technology and local partnerships for eco-friendly, profitable, pesticide-free greenhouse pr Read article education ### The Case for a College Greenhouse Why a college greenhouse belongs in the curriculum: teaching science, craftsmanship, business logic and sustainability, and preparing studen Read article education ### The Case for a High School Greenhouse Why every high school greenhouse matters: how it makes STEM tangible, builds responsibility and teamwork, and helps students discover their Read article education ### Greenhouses in Education: The Case for Schools Greenhouses in education reconnect students to reality — the full case for why every school, high school, college and trade program should h Read article historyconstruction ### The Origins of Greenhouse Horticulture: My Backyard A tour through greenhouse horticulture history: from 19th-century Westland fruit walls to the “City of Glass” and today’s international high Read article company ### DutchGreenhouses Rebranded: A New Corporate Identity Announcing our new corporate identity — a visual style reflecting our dedication to advanced, high-quality greenhouse projects and The Futur Read article ## FAQ **What is a greenhouse structure made of?** Concrete for the foundation, steel for the sub-structure and aluminium for the super-structure, enclosed with glass, sandwich panels or polycarbonate. Dutch construction packs multiple duties into single elements: the V-shaped roof is also the rainwater discharge system, and the cladding itself forms part of the gutter. **Why is a glass greenhouse engineered differently from a plastic one?** Because glass cannot tolerate frame displacement. EN 13031-1 splits greenhouses on exactly this: Class A for cladding that does not tolerate frame movement, Class B for cladding that does. A glass house must therefore be stiffer under the same wind and snow loads, which shows up directly in steel section sizes. **How long is a greenhouse designed to last?** EN 13031-1 sets a minimum design working life of 15 or 10 years for glass structures and 15, 10 or 5 for film. That is shorter than the 50 years assumed for general buildings, and it feeds back into the loads: characteristic snow and wind values are derived for the shorter return period. **In what order is a greenhouse built?** Foundation first, then the steel frame with its aluminium gutters and the ventilation mechanism already mounted to the trusses at ground level. Rainwater management and the service building follow before the roof closes. Glass and ventilation windows go on together, sidewalls after, and insect netting last, before screening work starts. ## Related [Greenhouse Horticulture](/greenhouse-horticulture.md) · [Foundation](/greenhouse-construction/foundation.md) · [Steel Structure](/greenhouse-construction/steel-structure.md) · [Aluminium System](/greenhouse-construction/aluminium-system.md) · [Ventilation Mechanism](/greenhouse-construction/ventilation-mechanism.md) · [Insect Netting](/greenhouse-construction/insect-netting.md) · [Greenhouse Glass Covering](/greenhouse-construction/greenhouse-glass-covering.md) · [Rainwater Collection](/greenhouse-construction/rainwater-collection.md) · [Service Building](/greenhouse-construction/service-building.md) · [Venlo Greenhouse](/greenhouse-horticulture/venlo-greenhouse.md) · [Venlo Greenhouse](/glossary/venlo-greenhouse.md) · [EN 13031](/glossary/en-13031.md) · [Wind and Snow Load](/glossary/wind-and-snow-load.md) · [Gutter Height](/glossary/gutter-height.md)