Mini greenhouse plan
Family Handyman published a weekend project to build a mini greenhouse using recycled windows — a clear blend of basic woodworking and practical spring gardening. The guide is perfect if you want a compact seed‑starting space that reuses materials and keeps build time under a weekend. (familyhandyman.com)
Byline and date: the guide is by Carmen De La Paz and was published on March 17, 2026 under Family Handyman’s editorial process. (familyhandyman.com) The specific windows used for the build measured 34 inches tall by 27‑7/8 inches wide, and those dimensions “drove many of the measurements” in the plans. (familyhandyman.com) Finishing notes: the author painted the pine components and applied spar varnish to the cedar before assembly so only fastener holes and touch‑ups were required at the end. (familyhandyman.com) Tools called out on the project include an 18‑ga. nail gun, circular saw with a plastics blade, countersink bit, drill, jigsaw, miter saw and a shop vac with a HEPA filter. (familyhandyman.com) The cutting list in the article gives exact stock sizes—for example, six long side boards at 3/4" x 5‑1/2" x 96", eight mullions at 1‑1/2" x 3‑1/2" x 33‑13/16", and two top caps at 1‑1/2" x 5‑1/2" x 103". (familyhandyman.com) Scope and estimates shown on the page list the project time as “Multiple Days,” complexity as Intermediate, and a materials cost estimate of $1,500–$2,000. (familyhandyman.com)
