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Jun 11, 2012 10:50 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Michelle Lester
Yukon, Oklahoma (Zone 7b)
hemhead in zone 7
Cat Lover Cottage Gardener Daylilies Dog Lover Sempervivums
Any ideas on the best type of flooring for a permanent greenhouse? I'm thinking a layer of landscape fabric topped with sand and then cement stepping stones......better ideas appreciated.....
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Jun 11, 2012 11:02 PM CST
Name: Gordon
Brooklyn , New York
Charter ATP Member Miniature Gardening Container Gardener Region: United States of America Butterflies Garden Art
Tropicals Plumerias Roses Ponds Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader
Well.. it's cold enough where you are ... If I wasn't going below ground level with the floor.. to put it on warmer earth .. I'd definately put my floor on a layer of 2" builders foam... then you can put the sand and pavers right down on it... this would insulate the greenhouse from the frozen ground especially around the edges where the floor of the greenhouse would like to be the same temperature a the ground outside... which is below freezing in the winter.. it would keep it warmer and the pavers would actually store the daytime heat with their solar mass...for use in warming the greenhouse... rather than being a conductor of the heat trying to keep the ground above freezing..
Last edited by GordonHawk Jun 11, 2012 11:04 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for JennieinMT
Jul 7, 2012 4:34 AM CST

Keyi, keep i mind that this surface will often be wet. Look for somethign that will still give good footing when wet....
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Aug 31, 2012 1:39 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I have two greenhouses and they both have the same flooring. First I spread a 2-3 " layer of mulch. I prefer cypress mulch simply because it lasts longer, but any hardwood mulch would work fine. I then covered this with a heavy-duty, vinyl cloth that I puchased from The Greenhouse Catalog. It comes in different pre-cut sizes and is black. It is tough as nails. I just pinned the edges every few feet with fabric staples which can be purchased from this store or from a big-box store such as Lowes. That's it. You end up with a soft, comfortable, durable walking/standing surface, that is porous to water. It has been ideal. My first floor is now 3 years old and looks like new.

I hope this helps you. Also check Greenhouse Megastore to compare prices for flooring and shade cloth, which both of my greenhouses have to have.

Ken
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Jan 10, 2013 1:08 PM CST
Name: Elisabeth Black
Pittstown, New Jersey (Zone 6b)
We put the 2" builder's foam and then brick on top. It's done an okay job of insulation. The bricks aren't frozen in the winter which I count as a win.
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Apr 8, 2013 10:03 PM CST

Orchids
Crushed granite is the rage here in my town. I don't think that's a do it yourself project though as its very heavy and hard to move around in the yard.
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Feb 22, 2014 10:17 PM CST
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
We poured a concrete floor for our structure. After leveling the space by digging down a bit, we put up 8" forms. For the next step we put down recycled 3" closed cell foam and covered it with poly. We left the center open for drainage and brick so we could access the power and water if repairs are needed. The pipe next to the shovel is the hydrant.The floor tilts to center 1"/3' to keep water for freezing the walls loose from the base.
Thumb of 2014-02-23/Eric4home/3c95c9
After the concrete was poured, finished, and decorated with leaf impressions it was etched, and stained a dark color to help absorb any direct sunlight. Crushed stone and quarry waste were tamped in the center and the brick set.
Thumb of 2014-02-23/Eric4home/ff2b82
Thumb of 2014-02-23/Eric4home/fd6808
We used 1 x 6 ripped composite deck boards, Tek screwed over sill foam to the concrete to attach the base of the GH, rather than the stone channel that came with it and started assembly. The clips that bolted to the uprights were modified to be screwed to the composite, this resulted in a sturdy frame to work from.
Thumb of 2014-02-23/Eric4home/c53fe9
Thumb of 2014-02-23/Eric4home/60a0a2
We back filled against the concrete and job done.
Last winter I mulched around the GH with straw to help protect the edges from the cold and held it in place with the strips of carpet I use on the garden walks. I didn't quite get that done this year, I ran out of time before I had back surgery.
Ric of MAF @ DG
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Feb 23, 2014 11:51 AM CST
Plants Admin Emeritus
Name: Evan
Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member Aroids Irises I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Tropicals Vermiculture
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Nicely done @Eric4home. Thumbs up Thumbs up Is that plumbers foam sealant you used between the extruded polystyrene? I like your solution of using the composite deck boards as a sill plate. Tough stuff. As far as timing is concerned how long did you let the concrete cure before etching/staining? Also how did you achieve those nice rounded edges visible in the last detail photo?

P.S.
This post would make a great Idea.

P.P.S. "...strips of carpet I use on the garden walks..."?
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Feb 23, 2014 1:54 PM CST
Name: Ric Sanders
Dover, Pa. (Zone 6b)
And his children Are his flowers ..
Birds Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Ponds Region: Pennsylvania Greenhouse
Garden Art Dog Lover Cottage Gardener Butterflies Vegetable Grower Garden Ideas: Master Level
eclane, I have posted the above to ideas, per your suggestion. We did use expanding foam to fill any void in the foam. The nice smooth 1/4 round edge is achieved using a side walk edging trowel. This ad photo will give you the idea, mine is an old heavier cast magnesium one. I'll get around to the carpets later. Thanks, Ric
Thumb of 2014-02-23/Eric4home/02d4b9

OOPs forgot, we cured the concrete about a week before etching it with a mild muratic acid.
Ric of MAF @ DG
Last edited by Eric4home Feb 23, 2014 2:48 PM Icon for preview
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Jan 23, 2018 10:49 AM CST
Name: Frank Mosher
Nova Scotia, Canada (Zone 6a)
Birds Region: Canadian Clematis Lilies Peonies Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Roses Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Photo Contest Winner: 2017
Wow! All of you must be talking about greenhouses with potted only plants?? Pity. Why wouldn't you consider planting some tender perennials in the greenhouse soil, such as tender HT roses?
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Mar 22, 2018 5:19 PM CST
Name: Richard
California mountains & Nevada (Zone 7a)
My ~ this is an older post ~ but ~ I see its moving ```

I've use to good effect ~ molds ~ they're made of hard plastic ~ most of them ``` You place them on the ground ~ mix ~ enough concrete ~ scoop it in place and lift off the form or mold ~ move it ~ and repeat ~ they come in different patterns ~ works great and are stable ```

Oh ~ Richard the name ```
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Mar 22, 2018 7:27 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Richard, if no one has said it yet (but they will), welcome to NGA. Smiling
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