frequently asked questions

1. Is this a greenhouse kit?
Yes, the house is all pre-cut, predrilled and ready to assemble. Assembly time is relative to a customer's ability (but the average is approximately 6 to 8 hours). Complete assembly instructions are included.

2. Does the Hideaway need a foundation?
No, it does not require a concrete foundation. The customer provides a 2" x 4" wooden frame that the greenhouse sits on. That wooden frame is then anchored to the ground with the ground anchors.

3. Can this greenhouse be moved?
Yes, it can be taken apart and moved. This house is considered portable. The house can weigh up to 700 lbs depending on which model is purchased.

4. Does the Hideaway need to be heated?
If it is to be used on a year round basis, supplemental heat is necessary to keep the temperature above freezing. This house is also excellent as a cold house.

5. How should it be heated?
To determine the BTU's, refer to the heating chart in the hideaway manual. Gas, electric or radiant heat are all possible heat sources depending on what is most accessible and economical for the customer.

6. What is included in the basic price?
All white aluminum frame, 8mm hi-clarity clear polycarbonate, all necessary hardware (excluding ground anchors), single swing door, and two manual roof vents.

7. How does Polycarbonate hold up to weathering?
The 8mm polycarbonate is manufactured and warranted by Green-Tek. The light transmission is 82% with an R-Value of 1.69. It carries a 10 year manufacturers warranty and comes standard with an Anti-Condensate coating. The surface of the polycarbonate is protected from the degradation effects of U.V. radiation by a proprietary co-extrusion process. Beneficial Infra-Red light passes through promoting an ideal growth environment. In situations where hail is present, 8mm polycarbonate is advantageous for safety purposes.

8. Is the Hideaway load rated in the warranty?
The warranty does not include wind load or snow load ratings, because the loading depends on how you will anchor the Hideaway at your home or with the local building codes.

The Hideaway Greenhouse has been professionally engineered to meet a 20 pounds per square foot snow load and an 80 mph wind load in accordance with the 1991 Uniform Building Code, if a proper foundation is engineered to take into account local code requirements. We suggest you contact your local building department before construction to determine your applicable building code. Foundation engineering is specifically excluded from the Hideaway package. A full set of dimensions for cutting the treated 2'x 4" lumber is included in the instructions.

9. Is there any other accessories I will need to operate my greenhouse? Do you have any helpful tips in locating my greenhouse?
Sun exposure will be maximum beginning with southern and decreasing in the following order: Western, Eastern and Northern. Try to locate your greenhouse near some deciduous trees that might offer some shade in the spring, summer and fall. If natural shading is not available, a shade cloth is available through a full line of accessories. The two manual vents offer a means to vent out unwanted heat in the greenhouse. The two manual vents can also be automated for convenience with our solar powered vent operators. Other ways to cool a greenhouse can be obtained by placing an automatic exhaust fan and shutter system also available in the accessory package.

10. What type of flooring should be used in my greenhouse?
The Hideaway can be placed on a concrete pad, brick patio for added heat conservation, pea gravel, garden stones, lawn or a wood deck. If using gravel inside the greenhouse, smaller stones tend to be easier to balance benches and pots. If a wood deck is chosen, be prepared to place a bug screen or insulate the flooring beforehand.

11. What makes the Hideaway so appealing over other competitor greenhouses?
With a sidewall height of 5' 8" high and a peak of 8', the Hideaway allows plenty of head room and space for hanging baskets.

Easy Assembly offers no cutting of parts and hand tools are all that is needed for construction. Polycarbonate panels are held down with gasketed bar caps to seal and prevent leaks and act as a thermal break to reduce condensate drip. (Most competitors use clips.) A "T" bolt assembly is also used allowing for easy construction. Many customers utilize this advantage for interior hanging shelves and baskets.

The 8'x 14' model has three manual roof vents.

Heating
To determine the heat loss for your area use the following formula:
Desired inside temp. - Coldest outside temp. = Temp. Difference x 200 = Heat Requirements (BTU/HR)
Example: (Atlanta, GA)
60° - 22° = 38° x 200 = 7600 BTU

If you are going to buy a gas unit heater, it will be rated in BTU output. If you purchasing an electric heater it will be rated in WATTS. To convert WATTS to BTU's, multiply WATTS x 3.3 = BTU. Thus a 1500 WATT heater = 4950 BTU. It may require two electric haters for your greenhouse. If you need two electric heaters, set the thermostat on one of them a little lower than the other, and if one of them will not maintain the desired temperature, the backup heater will pick up the additional heat required.
WARNING: If you use an electric heater, do not set it on the floor or on top of the benches. Mount it in a location that will not be subject to watering or electric shock. It is recommended that you call your licensed HVAC dealer to determine proper mounting locations and need for venting.

OUTSIDE DESIGN TEMPERATURES (Coldest outside temperature)
Birmingham, AL 21 Fairbanks, AK -47 Flagstaff, AZ 4 Phoenix, AZ 34 Ft. Smith, AR 17
Los Angles, CA 43 Sacramento, CA 32 Denver, CO 1 Waterbury, CT 2 Wilmington, DE 14
Tallahassee, FL 30 Atlanta, GA 22 Coeur d'Alene, ID -1 Chicago, IL 2 Indianapolis, IN 2
Des Moines, IA -5 Topeka, KS 4 Lexington, KY 8 Lafayette, LA 30 Lewistown, ME -2
Frederick, MD 12 Framingham, MA 6 Lansing, MI 1 Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN -12
Jackson, MS 25 Jefferson City, MO 7 Great Falls, MT -15 Lincoln, NE -2 Las Vegas, NV 28
Manchester, NH -3 Paterson, NJ 10 Albuquerque, NM 16 Ithica, NY 0 Durham, NC 20
Fargo, ND -18 Fargo, ND -18 Columbus, OH 5 Oklahoma City, OK 13
Eugene, OR 22 Harrisburg, PA 11 Newport, RI 9 Florence, SC 25 Rapid City, SD -7
Nashville, TN 14 Dallas, TX 22 Provo, UT 6 Burlington, VT -7 Roanoke, VA 16

the hideaway - features and benefits - brochure - accessories

home - privacy - security - shipping - about us