FeF Attached Greenhouse
Wall w/ Chicken Door
This document is an integral part of the Modular Greenhouse System. See MGS Index for additional information and context.
The Open Building Institute
this is a custom Module.
it differs from standard MGS modules.
This module was customized for the FeF Attached Greenhouse install. Due to constraints in the height of the building, it was necessary to reduce the height of wall and door modules from the standard 8 ft to 7 ft.
Module ID
Name: FeF Wall w/ Chicken Door
Version: 1.0 (10/15)
Status:
Design: complete; Prototype: not done; Testing: not done
Used In: FeF Attached Greenhouse
Compatible With: FeF Wall, FeF Glazed Wall w/ Vent, FeF Glazed Wall, FeF Door Assembly, FeF Fixed Window.
Requires: n/a
Dimensions: ~84” x ~48” x 6 ½”
Weight:
Cost of Materials:
Build Time:
Tools: table saw, electric hand saw, electric hand drill
CAD: FeF 3D CAD (sw3d files)
Index
Overview
this module is a plain wall with a 10.5” x 13” opening for a chicken door. this hole size is compatible with an “ador” chicken door.
for other models’ sizes, you must adjust the position and dimensions of the middle boards.
Overview
it’s made from 1/2”-thick plywood panels and 2x6 boards.
the cavity between the front and back panels is meant to filled with fiberglass insulation.
2x6
½” plywood
Dimensions
Wall w/ Chicken Door - Interior
10.5”
81”
13”
32”
39”
~24”
Dimensions
(2) 4x8’ - ½” plywood panels
(5) 2x6 - 8ft boards
(14) ft of R-19 6 ¼” x 23” fiberglass (faced or unfaced)
(x) star drive 3” screws (t20 or t25)
(x) star drive 2.5” screws (t20 or t25)
(1) roll of packing tape
Materials
(1) miter or hand saw
(1) table saw
(1) circular saw or jigsaw
(1) screw gun
(1) star drive bit (t20 or t25)
(1) mallet
(1) measuring tape
(1) pencil
(1) dust mask
(1) pair of work gloves
(1) protective eyewear
(2) saw horses
Tools
Cut (4) 8 ft 2x6 boards to:
The remaining 8 ft 2x6 board will be cut at later step.
We’ll use the plywood sheets to dictate the dimensions of the members. The dimensions of plywood sheets may vary ⅛” and this method avoids having to trim them.
Lumber Cut List
Cut the Plywood
Plywood
measure and mark exactly 84” from one end of the plywood sheets. do not measure 12” - the length of plywood sheets varies!
84”
don’t measure from here
measure from here
4x8- plywood
Plywood
using the table saw, cut both sheets of plywood to exactly 84” long
84”
84”
plywood
Plywood
measure the width of the plywood sheets. it should be 48” +/- ⅛”
measure
Plywood
find the center of the plywood sheet - it should be 24” +/- 1/16”.
mark 5.25” from the center point in both directions.
center: ~24”
5.25”
5.25”
Plywood
repeat on the other end of the plywood.
center: ~24”
5.25”
5.25”
Plywood
draw 2 lines across the sheet - between each 5.25” point.
5.25”
5.25”
5.25”
5.25”
Plywood
measure 32” from one end of the plywood. draw a line at the 32” point, between the 2 long lines.
measure 13” from the 32” point and draw another line.
32”
32”
45”
45”
13”
Plywood
cut the 10.5” x 13” opening using a circular saw or jigsaw.
cut
13”
10.5”
Plywood
repeat the previous steps to cut a hole on the second plywood sheet.
repeat
Build the Frame
Frame
cut the remaining 8 ft 2x6 into two sections - the length of these sections should match the width of the plywood sheets.
match plywood
2x6
Frame
to assemble the frame you will need to fasten the plywood from the bottom.
to facilitate this, start by placing one sheet of plywood on a pair of sawhorses and then place the members over it.
Frame
align one of the members with the edge of the plywood.
fasten the plywood to the board from underneath using (1) 2.5” screw on each end.
flush
2.5” screws
Frame
wood boards may bow in or out. if so, we’ll need to correct it. after attaching the edges of the board to the plywood, push or pull the board until it’s perfectly flush with the edge of the plywood - and fasten it from underneath using (2) 2.5” screws.
flush
2.5” screws
Frame
repeat the previous steps to attach the second member to the plywood
repeat
Frame
insert a 81” 2x6 stringer between the two members. make sure all boards are flush at the bottom - where the plywood, stringer and member meet. fasten the stringer to the member using (1) 3” screw at the bottom.
flush
3” screw
2x6 - 81”
Frame
once the bottom of the two boards is securely fastened, push or pull the top of the stringer so that it’s also flush with the top and side of the member. fasten the two boards with (2) additional 3” screws.
flush
3” screws
Frame
repeat the previous steps to fasten the other end of the stringer to the other member.
repeat
Frame
attach the stringer to the plywood by pushing and/or pulling it until its entire length is flush with the plywood edge.
fasten the stringer to the plywood, from the bottom, using (1) 3” screw every foot.
flush
3” screws every 1 ft
Frame
repeat the previous steps to fasten the second stringer to the frame.
repeat
2x6 - 81”
Frame
insert the other two stringers into the frame aligned with the hole of the plywood. verify that there is a 10.5” space between them.
these boards might fit tightly - if necessary, use a mallet to carefully punch them in.
10.5”
2x6 - 81”
Frame
verify that the top edges of the middle stringers and the top edges of the members are flush.
attach the middle stringers to the members using (3) 3” screws on each end of each board.
flush
3” screws
Frame
insert the (2) 10.5” 2x6s between the stringers on the edge of the hole. verify that there is 13” space between them.
fasten the 10.5” boards to the stringers using (3) 2.5” screws on each side.
(3) 2.5” screws
2x6 - 10.5”
13”
Frame
flip the module so the plywood is facing up.
fasten the plywood to the (2) middle stringers and (2) 10.5” pieces using (1) 2.5” screw every foot.
2.5” screws every 1 ft
Add the Insulation and Top Face
Insulation & Top Face
flip the module again. wearing gloves, mask and protective eyewear, fill the wall cavities with fiberglass insulation.
tape the fiberglass to the inside of the module using packing tape - so it doesn’t fall off when the module’s face is removed later on.
fiberglass insulation
Insulation & Top Face
place the other sheet of plywood over the frame and align them - making sure the hole lines up.
fasten the plywood to the frame using only (6) 2.5” screws on the edges - this is a temporary attachment.
2.5” screws
plywood - 84”
Installation
Installation
the face of the module will have to be removed for installation.
the hole should be closer to the ground - 32” from the bottom.
Installation
after installation, the face panel should be re-attached using 2.5” screws every foot around the perimeter of the module and along the middle stringers. after that, you’re ready to install the chicken door.
2.5” screws every 1 ft
The End!