Passive solar greenhouse.

nibs · 05-16-11, 09:42 PM

We are building a 10'X10' passive solar greenhouse, foundation for the back wall is in, the back (north) wall is rock and mortar/with concrete behind, 2' thick and 6'high Its only 2'4" high to date, the north side of the wall looks like a wood fence, then there is 2" to 4" of styrofoam insulation, then the rock wall. The idea is that the rocks will absorb daytime heat, and release it into the greenhouse at night, the styrofoam is to keep the heat from being dissipated into the air outside. We are slip forming the rock wall through bolting the form and the wood wall on the north side. Have figured out a neat trick for the cleanup when we pull the forms off. Took an old bed sheet and fixed it to the inside of the form, then painted sugar syrup onto the bed sheet, the night before, this retards the mortar setting, when we pull the form off the mortar in contact with the sheet cleans right up, you can hose it or scrape it, much like the exposed aggregate folks do. All the articles we have read on slip forming rock walls say clean up is a bear. Well it is still work, mainly because we are still learning how to handle the retarding and rock placing, but is definitely easier.

We picked up 4 double glazed sliders from patio doors, which will be the south wall. for the side walls we have some windows and a glass door for the entry. Will likely use polycarbonate wavy sheets for the roof.

If someone will tell me how to put pictures up on the site using flickr, I will photo the progress.

05-16-11, 09:42 PM	#1
nibs Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 206 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts	Passive solar greenhouse. We are building a 10'X10' passive solar greenhouse, foundation for the back wall is in, the back (north) wall is rock and mortar/with concrete behind, 2' thick and 6'high Its only 2'4" high to date, the north side of the wall looks like a wood fence, then there is 2" to 4" of styrofoam insulation, then the rock wall. The idea is that the rocks will absorb daytime heat, and release it into the greenhouse at night, the styrofoam is to keep the heat from being dissipated into the air outside. We are slip forming the rock wall through bolting the form and the wood wall on the north side. Have figured out a neat trick for the cleanup when we pull the forms off. Took an old bed sheet and fixed it to the inside of the form, then painted sugar syrup onto the bed sheet, the night before, this retards the mortar setting, when we pull the form off the mortar in contact with the sheet cleans right up, you can hose it or scrape it, much like the exposed aggregate folks do. All the articles we have read on slip forming rock walls say clean up is a bear. Well it is still work, mainly because we are still learning how to handle the retarding and rock placing, but is definitely easier. We picked up 4 double glazed sliders from patio doors, which will be the south wall. for the side walls we have some windows and a glass door for the entry. Will likely use polycarbonate wavy sheets for the roof. If someone will tell me how to put pictures up on the site using flickr, I will photo the progress. Last edited by nibs; 05-19-11 at 11:33 PM..