When I first purchased and moved into my great aunt and uncle’s house a year ago, I was determined to get the hideous, red and falling apart gazebo out of my yard. I listed in on facebook marketplace, but after a couple people who expressed their desire to buy it resolved that it was too big to be moved, I decided that it needed to be torn down. Well, spring time rolled around and there is sat, as I began prepping the yard and thinking about my garden layout. That’s when it hit me that I needed to transform it into a greenhouse so I could get an early start to my seeds. My dad quickly was on board with the idea and helped me to bring this vision to life. As I searched online for inspiration and ideas, I did not find much on transforming a gazebo into a greenhouse. Every gazebo is different and will require custom renovations. So this is not necessarily a “how-to” post, but rather a post to inspire you as you dream up your own gazebo renovation and a few things to consider as you plan your own project. I accepted the fact that it wasn’t going to be perfect, but honestly that is what I love about it. Not to mention, the memories my dad and I made working on this together are memories that will last a lifetime. We began the renovation in the Spring of 2023 and it still has some work to be done to it. But nonetheless, it has become a special little oasis in my backyard.
What to Keep and What to Get Rid Of
This all depends on your unique gazebo. For me, I new the spindles around the sides needed to go. It would have been a pain for me to sand and paint every single one, plus some were already falling apart. We also had to support the gazebo better by adding 2x4s so that the structure would not lean any more than it already was. We tried to keep and salvage as much of what we could to save money on supplies. I also painted the wood a green color and was so glad to see the red disappear.
Repurposing Your Materials
The door and windows we used for the greenhouse were both found on Facebook marketplace. I think I only paid $10 for the screen door because the actual screen was torn. It was dark green when I purchased it and I haven’t gotten a chance to repaint it yet. My dad built a custom door frame for it and we added a latch that I purchased from my local hardware store. The windows might have been the best find for this project. I found a guy who had recently replaced the windows in his house and was selling 6 identical windows for a reasonable price. I don’t remember now what I paid for them, but I remember being very excited about the deal I found. Again, my dad had to build frames for the windows in between each section of the gazebo. But they couldn’t have filled in the space better. We added these hinges so they could be opened up during hot summer days.
Type of Plastic to Use
If you plan to use all glass/windows for your greenhouse renovation, you don’t have to worry about this one. But if you do plan to use plastic, there are some important things to consider before buying your plastic. Do you want the plastic to be able to be taken off during the summer? How often do you want to have to replace it? Or do you want to have to replace it at all? What kind of plastic does your budget allow for? We decided to go with clear polycarbonate panels from Home Depot. We had to cut them to fit each section. Unfortunately, my gazebo is a bit wonky because it’s so old, so the structure is slightly leaning and each section had its own measurements. So this took quite a while with a bit of trial and error. Since we made it so that my windows could be opened, I wasn’t worried about being able to take the plastic off in the summer. This is a more durable option that I hopefully won’t have to replace for a long time.
A Work In Progress
As I said above, there is still some work that needs to be done to fully seal the greenhouse to make it more suitable for colder months. Because everything was custom built, there are some weird gaps that I need to figure out how to fill in properly. The floor also lets in quite a bit of cold air. But overall, what was once an eye sore in my yard is now a special art project. It continues to be a work in progress and brings me so much joy in the summertime. My seed starts thrived in there until they were ready to be transferred in my garden. My houseplants also loved to be in there during the summertime. I am by no means an expert gardener, but I hope to continue learning more with each season. Having a dedicated space to keep my gardening supplies and to use as a workspace makes the learning process so much more enjoyable.
I hope that if you are considering to transform a gazebo into a greenhouse you feel inspired and encouraged to take on the challenge. Spring will be here before we know it and I cannot wait to work in my garden and greenhouse again!
