You’d like to build a home green house, and you’ve taken the time to plan the size of the building, where you’ll put it so that it won’t be in the way or blocking anything, and you’ve made sure your home green house will receive the right kind of light for enough hours each day. The basics are set and you’re on your way to looking at the types of actual structures you could build. But what type of green house do you want, and which type is best for you?

A home green house can be an extension to your home, or a lean-to against your house, or it could be a free-standing structure of its own. Each has its own pros and cons, and each one is very different. Researching your needs and the downsides of each type of home green house will save you headaches in the future, and turn your home green house project into something you’ll enjoy for years, not something you’ll become frustrated with.

So Which Type is Best for Me?

A home green house that’s built as a lean-to against an existing building is cost effective and takes less space. Water and electricity are usually at close disposal and access is easier, but other downfalls are considerable. There may be less interior space, ventilation could be difficult to provide and exposure to sunlight is limited. Because sunlight is such an important factor, the side of the house you’d like to build your home green house might not be the best choice at all, if it’s facing west or north. There may be windows and doors in the existing wall you’re planning to build against, and keep in mind that if you’re planning a home green house that’s fairly wide, the supporting wall needs to have the height to accommodate the structure.

Freestanding structures are the ones that are the most flexible to your needs. A home green house of this type can be as large or small as you want it, and you can place it where the sunlight will be most efficient for heating the inside. If you choose a freestanding structure, you’ll also have to consider how to relay electricity to the building, and how you’ll provide water and extra heating. Temperatures should be fairly easy to maintain at a level that doesn’t fluctuate very much, and growing space is more than lean-to.

The definite downside of a freestanding home green house is cost, while the greatest con of a lean-to style building is location and light. But either choice is good, if you’ve done your homework, planned carefully and have informed yourself about the possible issues you might run into and know ahead of time how you’ll handle them.