One complaint you often hear about cold frames is “ Mine ’s not big enough . ” Well , you ca n’t say that about this one . It utilize a cast - off storm room access for the glazing and provides nearly 20 square infantry of planting room .
This design is base around a standard aluminum storm door — the case that ’s go up in a frame — but the item are easy to modify to accommodate other types of door or casement , slide - by , twofold - hung or storm windows .
Most storm door are made to fit 32 - by-80 - in or 36 - by-80 - in entry doorway . Because sizes can vary , I do n’t provide exact dimension here . assess your violent storm door figure — outside edge to outside edge in both charge — and ramp up your cold frame ground on those measurements . Your end is to have the extraneous edge of the storm door frame wealthy with the external edges of the moth-eaten frame box .
material
- All lumber should be pressure - address stuff rated for ground contact .
tread 1To make the sloped sides ( A ) of the corner , commence by mark a diagonal bank line that equal the breadth of the storm doorway frame , on a 2×10 ( see drawing particular ) . Cut the angle using a orbitual saw and straight - cutting jig .
Step 2Cut the grim side bit ( B ) to length . apply a few nails to tack parts A and B together ; you ’ll make more unafraid connexion using 2×2 cleats later on .
Step 3Set your circular saw to cut a 15 - level chamfer . Rip the edge from a 2×10 for the top card for the back of the box ( C ) . Use the straight - cutting jig or board saw for a straight , accurate cut . thin the broken back art object ( calciferol ) to length and tack it to C with a few nails . With your saw set at 15 point , rip the angle on the top of the front board ( E ) .
Step 4Use 4 - in startle screws to assemble the box as point above . Take care to ordinate the tops of slant end ( A ) with the tops of the beveled front ( E ) and back ( C ) to create a compressed plane for your storm - door frame . It ’s OK for your skeletal system to be uneven at the bottom , but not on the top where the tempest door frame rest .
Step 5Cut the 2×2 cleats ( F , G , H ) to the lengths needed for them to conjoin the boards they connect . Secure them to the corners and all side of the boxful with 3 - inch screw , as express . Space the cleat along the front and back so they ’re directly across from one another .
Step 6Cut the medium splitter ( I ) to fit snugly between the front and back of the box , using the 6 - foot 2×10 . instal the dividers by fastening them to the sides of the 2×2 cleats .
Step 7Position and level the cold - frame box . you’re able to dig it into the ground a few inch or let it baby-sit directly on the reason . mensurate the diagonals to make certain the boxwood is square , and adjust the box as needed . With the assistance of a helper , correct the violent storm door ( J ) in lieu . Make any necessary adjustments to ensure that the door opens and closes properly ; then screw the door frame to the frame of the cold frame box .
take down : The top and sides of the threshold are underpin by the door frame of reference , but the bottom is not ; screw a twosome of 2×2s ( K ) to the inhuman frame box to support it .
Safety , Safety , SafetyWhenever you expend something like a tempest doorway in a novel way , refuge becomes a concern . Storm room access were created to stand vertical , not rest horizontally , so keep the following safety issue in idea .
GlazingThe deoxyephedrine in most violent storm door is exclusive strength ( to keep the weighting down ) and unhardened ( to keep the cost down ) . If you live in an region subject to hail , if the cold frame is near trees that degenerate branch or nut case , or if it ’s in an field where there ’s lots of activity , regard replacing the glass with plexiglas . You may also want to cut a piece of styrofoam and keep it on hand to guarantee over the door in the event of an imminent hailstorm or hard freeze .
Door StabilityA gust of wind can captivate a partially open room access and sway it back with gravid force . Use limiting chains to prevent this . Make certain they ’re long enough to allow you to open up the threshold far enough to mold well and safely . And use a pair of stout 2×2s ( one on each end ) to keep the door propped open while you ’re working .
Pinched FingersThe door is clayey and the edges are precipitous . Prop the room access up solidly when working in the cold human body . you’re able to also set up a span of piston closer ( one on each ending ) and use the opening clips on the close rod to hold the door open .
funny KidsTeach your kids that a dusty framing is n’t a playhouse , doghouse or plaything . Unless they ’re working alongside you , kids should stay percipient of cold frames .
Using Your Cold FrameWhen you use your cold frame , as well as where you pose it and how long you expend it , are all based on your growing zone , what you plant and your horticulture goal . In most areas , you ’ll gain four to eight week of growing meter by using a cold frame to start plants and indurate off seedlings .
The idealistic temperature in a cold shape is 65 to 75 degrees F during the 24-hour interval and 55 to 65 degrees F in the evening . Keep a cheap thermometer in the box ( preferably out of direct sunlight ) so you’re able to monitor temperature . To unloosen warmth on a cheery solar day , prop give the door slenderly ( or spread out one of the sliding windows ) . If a freeze is forecast , underwrite the box with a comforter , foliage or hay .
For maximal Lord’s Day picture , tailor your insensate frame face south . Some masses paint the interior of the cold build clean to think over more sun and forestall seedlings from overreaching in one focus . A cold frame helps keep moisture within the confines of the box , but it also forbid rain from get down in , so supervise the wet content .
This article is excerptedThe Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects(Storey Publishing , 2014 ) , by Spike Carlsen . labor instance by Elayne Sears . architectural plan drawings by Bruce Kieffer . Used with license of Storey Publishing .
