How to Build a Dome Greenhouse That Will Last

How easy is it to build a dome greenhouse in your backyard?

At Growing Spaces, we provide geodesic greenhouse kits that offer convenience and DIY satisfaction. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to build a dome greenhouse using our Growing Dome Greenhouse Kit. Learn why our kit, paired with a DIY approach, ensures longevity and cost efficiency. Hear from satisfied customers who have experienced the ease of installation firsthand.

Growing Dome Kit vs. Fully Self-built Geodesic Greenhouse

• Time and Effort Savings: Our kit saves valuable time and effort as you won’t have to source individual components. Our 26’ Growing Dome comes with over 120 unique components that we have innovated and sourced for over 30 years. This includes #1 select Douglas Fir for a sturdy framework and an appealing interior, high-quality lumber not easily found at local hardware stores.

• Superior Components at Lower Costs: As Growing Spaces has expanded, our purchasing power increased, enabling us to acquire superior components for the Growing Dome kits at lower costs. We use premium polycarbonate, which arrives regularly in full truckloads of 4′ x 24′, 5′ x 24′, and 6′ x 24′ sheets of 5-wall polycarbonate. Additionally, our kits feature customized precise vents with rain sheds and reinforced automated vent openers, features not commonly available in retail stores.

• Durability in Harsh Conditions: Our Growing Dome greenhouse kits are proven to last more than 25 years. They are designed to withstand harsh conditions, including 115+ mph winds, ensuring a sturdy and reliable structure for all your gardening needs.

Ease of Installation

Don’t just take our word for it—hear from our satisfied customers who have successfully installed their Growing Dome Greenhouse Kits. 

“Weldon worked on the Dome pretty much all day every day for two weeks. He completed it doing most of the work on his own with a little help from his father-in-law and myself. The videos were super helpful. My husband loves new challenges. He is handy and handsome.”

Daunelle Wulstein

“There was a learning curve, but it was pretty easy. Lots of wiggling and banging involved.”

Jerry Bailey

A Complete DIY Solution

Our Growing Dome Greenhouse Kits provide everything you need for a successful DIY installation. From the geodesic dome structure to the polycarbonate glazing and pre-kitted hardware, each component is carefully selected and included in the kit. This comprehensive package ensures you have all the necessary materials, eliminating guesswork and saving you time and effort.

The DIY Geodesic Dome Greenhouse Build Process

Time and Labor Requirements

Building a Geodesic Dome Greenhouse is a collaborative effort typically requiring more than one person. While the exact time and labor required depend on the size of the kit and the level of experience, it can generally be completed within 3 – 10 days with a small team.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Each Growing Dome kit is color-coded and comes with comprehensive written & video instructions, making the process accessible and straightforward. These instructions are password-protected but will become available after signing the sales agreement and providing a 50% deposit. 

The following photos came from Rodney Hoffman during his 18′ Growing Dome Self Installation in Evergreen, Colorado. Rodney’s Growing Dome was sold and built before we added snow shed entryways as a standard feature with every kit. You can read his Growing Dome story here.

Site Selection and Preparation: Choose a suitable location for your greenhouse kit. Ideally, it should be an area with ample sunlight, proper drainage, and easy access to water and electricity. Clear the site of any debris or vegetation, and level the ground if necessary. This step ensures a stable foundation for your greenhouse.

Building Permits and Regulations: Before building your Geodesic Dome Greenhouse, it’s essential to consider building permits and local regulations. While we don’t require you to obtain a permit for the Growing Dome Greenhouse Kit, it is highly recommended. The permit process may take time, so planning early is advised. By placing down a 10% deposit you will receive access to plans and instructions for site preparation to help you in obtaining your permit if you choose to do so.

Foundation: There are three standard options for the foundation: a circular ring of compacted gravel, concrete Sono tube piers at each of the vertices of the foundation (15 or 20) with landscape timbers or compacted gravel in between, the step up would be a full insulated concrete foundation. Greenhouse Foundation Layout drawings are available to committed buyers of Growing Spaces Growing Domes. We can also send you preliminary drawings to take to your building department. You can find more information here. 

Owner-Supplied Items: When it comes to the Growing Dome kit, certain items are required for construction that are bulky and expensive to ship. These items are intentionally not included to help keep the final cost of the kit affordable. Instead, sourcing them locally from a building supply store is recommended, where they are more readily available and can be obtained at a lower cost. You can find a full list of those items and their cost estimations here. 

Assembly of the Dome Structure: The kit has a complete set of pre-cut, color-coded struts and framing, and all hardware. Follow the instructions to assemble the geodesic dome structure. The struts are labeled and color-coded for convenient identification, with pre-drilled holes for attaching them together. This step might require multiple hands, but it is generally straightforward and does not require specialized skills.

Panel Installation: The Multi-wall (16mm) polycarbonate glazing panels are pre-cut and labeled for installation. They are also UV-resistant & shatter-proof with a 10-year manufacturer warranty. Great for heavy snow loads and hail. 

Ventilation and Door Installation: Depending on your chosen kit, it will include automatic passive solar vents designed for high winds, a solar-powered cooling fan (26’ kit), 16” Electric Cooling Fan(s) – 115v (33’ & 42’ kits), Solar Attic Fan(s)(33’ & 42’), and pre-hung steel door(s).

Additional Features: 

• Solar-powered Undersoil Heating & Cooling System with 4” fan(s)
• 24” insulated foundation wall with engineered siding
• Reflectix® insulation for north wall
• Select materials for the source of thermal mass aka above ground pond

Finishing Touches: Of course, no greenhouse is complete without raised beds. Upon purchase of a Growing Dome, you will be provided with a standard raised bed plan for free. You can also browse our raised bed gallery for inspiration for building custom beds. If all of those options sound like a bit too much construction for you, we recommend our partner Backyard Boxes. You can purchase their pre-fabricated 100% cedar raised bed kits designed specifically for the Growing Dome on shop.GrowingSpaces.com. They make building out the interior and/or exterior of the Growing Dome simple. 

The Benefits of our Growing Dome Greenhouse Kit

Building a Geodesic Dome Greenhouse with our Growing Dome Greenhouse Kit is a rewarding and achievable project. By opting for our kit, you benefit from the convenience, quality, and comprehensive instructions that make the installation process easy and enjoyable. Embrace the DIY spirit, create a thriving garden environment, and enjoy the bountiful rewards of year-round gardening with our Growing Dome Greenhouse Kit.

Kenzie Jackson Marketing Director

I studied marketing at Eastern Illinois University and have been working as the Marketing Director at Growing Spaces since May 2019. What I love most about my job is getting to tell the stories of our customers in our featured dome articles. It’s all about connecting through storytelling, and it’s pretty cool to see all the different ways people use our greenhouses.

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Gardening Advice Growing Dome Geodesic Greenhouse Kits