Once a greenhouse has been decided, the next question is the type of greenhouse that will be built. There are basically two types of greenhouses: the freestanding, and the attached (or lean-to) greenhouse. The following are descriptions of different types of greenhouses. One could possibly be in your garden very soon.
Freestanding Greenhouses
A freestanding (or stand alone) greenhouse is an independent structure not attached to a preexisting structure like the house or an existing wall. Freestanding Greenhouses have the distinct advantage of being positioned in a place where sunlight could be used to best advantage. It could be built to as large as the grower would want it to be. Depending on its size and gardening that it is intended for, it will require larger investment.
There are two typical freestanding greenhouse models.
The Portable Greenhouse
Portable greenhouses come in different sizes and are typically made of metal frames. This greenhouse type is ideal for hobbyists'. Being portable, this greenhouse model could be disassembled when not in use. There are portable greenhouses that are larger depending on the use that they are intended. There are portable greenhouses made to withstand weather conditions depending on the locality of the grower and could be used year round.
Permanent Greenhouses
Although they come in different sizes, permanent greenhouses are best for the avid gardener who wants a greenhouse that offers a wider range of gardening options. Permanent greenhouses usually come with kits that the gardener can put together. They are also the sturdiest of greenhouse models and could take a while to assemble aside from needing extra hands to assemble them. When choosing a permanent greenhouse, it is well to decide the kind of gardening including the variety of options that the gardener wants because an avid gardener could usually run out of greenhouse space quickly.
The Attached Greenhouse
Like the permanent greenhouse, lean-to is considered as a permanent greenhouse although it is attached to an existing wall, a garage, a fence or some other permanent structure. While an attached greenhouse is limited by the structure when it comes to best exposure to sunlight, when constructed in the right spot, it has the advantage of being accessible to plumbing and electricity. A Lean-to does the functions of a permanent greenhouse and due to its usual proximity; it is the most accessible during bad weather.