Hi All,
I am new here but have been reading your project. I too am following mud's blog to build my HFGH 10x12. We just finished the basic frame, the windows, and one door last night. Today is the day for the trip to Lowes to get the bracing supplies.
We are waffling back and forth between mud's bracing or this one:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/fo...
Both use the EMT but dragoneggs didn't have to cut channels in his. It seems simpler and more elegant.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/fo...
He built his on Whitby Island, which gets some pretty good wind gusts. Down here in Memphis, TN we get a few bad storms, but not that many. My biggest issue is that we are building this for orchids so we plan on installing an evaporative cooler and an exhaust fan. Both of these will need bracing support. The cooler is a Brisa 2800 CFM and weighs 65 lbs. The exhaust fan will be less that that. We are thinking that end-to-end braces will be necessary for that plus the extra wall bracing.
We are on a concrete base so will be sinking some concrete bolts to secure it, but we won't do that until today (after we square it). The concrete is not exactly level and will need some shimming under the GH base. We will be using shelving as additional supports and the back wall will probably be used for our hanging mounts.
A tip for those out there reading this: don't tape the window panels. Like the door panels, the window panels are an extremely tight fit. We could not get them to go in the channel even with crimping. So we had to remove the tape. We are thinking that if needed, silicone is the way to go on those. Ours will be screwed shut anyway (not to be used). We don't want birds or squirrels stealing the potting materials.
Another tip: don't start the doors at the end of the day.
They are a pain and best put together when you are fresh with a nice cup of coffee.
Here are a couple of images.
