If
there's one thing that can be said about greenhouses it's the fact that
there are many ways to create one. Whatever you plan to grow, whatever
your budget, whatever your experience level, there is a plan for you.
And if there's one thing that all of the good ones have in common it's
the fact that all of them have good foundations, and that's where good
formwork systems come into play. You might even say that without good
formwork systems, everything you build on top of it is for naught.
From the Ground Up
For most people, foundations get short shrift when it comes to planning. There are so many concerns to work with. How big will the greenhouse be? What about lighting? What about venting? Air treatment? Drainage?
The truth is, it all comes down to the quality of the foundation you build when it comes to the service you can ultimately expect from your greenhouse. Whether you choose to use a stone or a concrete foundation, the formwork system can help ensure that building your greenhouse will begin and end up right.
All the Support You Need
As simple as it is, formwork and the formwork systems you use can make all of the difference in the world with not only how your project ends up, but how easy it is to build as well. Thanks largely to technology, formwork can take many, well, forms. There are simple wooden forms as well as more complex reusable forms. Fortunately, the forms that are needed for most greenhouse designs are pretty simple.
Good formwork can make all of the difference in the world to guide you in building your greenhouse. It can also contribute greatly to cutting the work that would be involved in trying to do the same job without it.
One cautionary note: always make sure that your concrete has cured correctly prior to removing or stripping the formwork from your project. There are many embarrassing--not to mention costly--mistakes on record having to do with contractors and others who removed formwork before the concrete was set up.
A Word to the Wise
As mentioned above, mistakes with formwork can be expensive, and potentially very dangerous. If you decide to do the formwork yourself, familiarize yourself with the work to be done until you are comfortable with it. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to let a professional do the work. The job you save may be your own.
Formwork that is used correctly in the construction of a greenhouse can be indispensable when used correctly, but with a little knowledge and patience it can make a world of difference to the final product you create.
