Solar Harvest Replacement Panel Set (PC1) (2534100)
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Good Product Despite QC Issues
We bought the basic greenhouse and 1 extension. The design of this greenhouse is very good. The tubular frame is an excellent feature, and I expect it to last a long time here in Maine (snow and wind are the primary hazards). It has already stood firm through a recent windstorm. The roof vents and dutch door are great features that are hard to find together at this price point. The free shipping also helps this stand out as a top value product. The nuts, bolts, and screws are good quality, and should hold up well over time.
I should point out that we don't anticipate using it year-round, the 4mm will probably be too thin to handle long, cold winter nights we get here in southern Maine (Zone 5a).
There are a couple negatives, mostly fixable QC issues. There were a couple holes where the pins didn't quite line up. We ended up needing to widen the holes with a small file to get the pins to pop into place. Also, the gutters for the main section were missing holes for the screws. The gutters on the extension had the holes pre-drilled, and so we did it ourselves. The instructions are picture based with a decent amount of detail, but there are a handful of sections where more detail or words would be very beneficial. There was also at least one typo where the wrong type of screws were specified (on the last page).
Bottom line: It's a well designed, sturdy greenhouse that is second to none in terms of bang for your buck. Ideal for year-round use in mild climates, or as a season extender in colder climates. Just beware that the instructions aren't perfect, and you might need a few extra tools, time, and handyman intuition to put it together.
Great Greenhouse for the Money
After years of messy indoor seed starts, and shoddy cold frames...I debated building a salvage window greenhouse...vs building a hoop frame...vs just doing a kit like this 7'x7'. Against my desire to "go cheap and build it from scrap" I bought this 7x7 Solar Harvest and added the 'extension kit' making it 7'x11'. I wish I'd have just done this 3 years ago! The kit is easy to assembled (one afternoon) and at the price point, it's well made. If you want to get started with something you can stand up quickly, and has 'everything there' you need, this is a great kit. While it is still a 'chinese import' unit, its well done compared to other lower grade import units I've seen others erect. The frame/etc is structurally pretty stout, the way the unit goes together is pretty tight, and the instructions are clear. If you have been debating building a greenhouse from scrap parts, or doing this...I'd suggest just jump in and buy this unit instead and get to gardening. I added a couple auto openers for the vents (the universal ones) and everything has performed flawlessly. Again, you can certainly buy a more expensive unit (at $3500) and get a little more quality/features, but for the hobby greenhouse the unit works well, and I've been pleased with it overall. I definitely recommend the extension to make this a 7x11.
Mostly solid greenhouse
With much needed help, I put the greenhouse together last month. I was amazed at how solid it was and seemed to hold up well, more or less. There was a huge rainstorm and wind last night and today I found three panels hundreds of feet from the greenhouse. And the problem was the gutters. There were a few things that approached impossibility to install, gutters being among them. Finally got them up, had to drill holes on one to keep it up and yet, they have come down twice. This is a big problem and don't know how to fix it other than drilling and screwing it in again and hope that it holds. Also a big problem was installing the skylights. Finally they got up but none of this was simple due mainly to the obscure instructions. Better illustrations in detail and/or close up photos in the instructions would have helped tremendously. Other than the installation problems, the gutters and the flying windows, I think it's good enough for a small greenhouse and once it's tightened up I think and hope it should last for a long time.
Sweet little greenhouse
We live in Central Oregon at about 4200 ft elevation and ordered this greenhouse back in April of this year and since we had other projects going it was a while before we got to assemble it. It did take two of us to put it up and beforehand we built a 8'x10' platform to put it on. My husband built shelves and a potting bench. I added a drip system with sprayers and shade cloth on the south side of the greenhouse. I absolutely love this little greenhouse and so do my plants! So far it's weathered marble sized hail and some pretty gusty winds. I'd love to add an extension but it's not in the budget right now.