Making a Greenhouse out of your Attic

The benefits of converting your loft into an extra bit of living space, whether a spare bedroom, bathroom, home office or leisure area, are well known. From increasing your home’s value to expanding your available space without the need to move house, loft conversions have proven their worth time and again.

Toronto Greenhouse Loft

But if those ideas don’t spark your interest, then how about something completely different? Those with green fingers and a bit of a creative bent could do well to take note of Toronto residents Stephen Young and Roseanne Berry, and their unique and ambitious attic conversion project.

Increasingly frustrated by the under use of their roof space, which up until this point had been a dumping ground for rarely used storage items, a makeshift guest bedroom and a generally dark and seldom visited corner of the home, the couple decided to take action.

Tying in with Young’s love of the culinary world, they took advantage of a complete extension and remodelling of the space, as well as some user-friendly gardening equipment, and created a fully operational greenhouse in their attic. Now, Young and Berry can grow tomatoes, lettuces, chillies and much more in the specially irrigated “vegetable farm”, keeping the local neighbourhood raccoon's away from the plants that used to sit exposed out on the deck.

Creating your Own

This may have been a large and ambitious project, but similar results can be obtained in your loft with a few DIY basics, if you so wish. Attics are ideal for use as a produce growing area, as they are fully exposed to natural sunlight (with the right window options), well out of the way of pests, animals and fumes from vehicles, and are often sufficiently hot and humid if insulated correctly.

There are a number of considerations you must make before you start planting your vegetables and herbs, however. First of all, you must work out a way to protect the floor from any water that may fall on it as a result of plant irrigation or condensation from the heat - plastic sheeting or properly sealed hardwood flooring provide the simple solution here.

Next, set up some standing shelving units on top of your plastic sheeting around three sides of the area you wish to use as your greenhouse. These will hold your seedlings and plants, so bear that in mind when you’re measuring size and shape.

Install specialised grow bulb lighting underneath the top of the shelving units (these can be found at most garden centres and DIY shops), and attach an automatic timer to the plug socket they’re being used in. The timer should replicate the rising and setting of the sun, so adjust it accordingly as the seasons change.

Finally, cover the whole area in plastic sheeting so as to keep it insulated, leaving an access point for you to get in and water the plants inside.

Installing and maintaining a basic greenhouse like this in the attic is simple and straightforward, but it may not be everyone’s idea of fun, and those opting for the more conventional bedroom, bathroom or office conversions should seek the assistance of professionals.