Buying a greenhouse, Where from & when? Advice needed please.

dug123

I would like to buy a greenhouse, I am an absolute novice but after reading lots of internet articles I have decided that a 6 X 8 aluminium framed greenhouse with base and preferably safety glass (but would consider horticultural glass) would be perfect.
I have been searching for bargains but I can only think of B&Q, Wickes, Homebase, Wilkinsons and Argos.
None of them seem to have any offers at the moment and I wondered if there was any time of the year when greenhouses are reduced as end of season?
If not then I will have to wait for one of these majors to have a big sale.
At the moment it is looking likely that I would have to pay about £450 for what I want but looking back on this forum and others I have seen instances when sales have been on where I could have probably got one for £250 - £300.
I am in no rush so any advice would be very appreciated.
PS before anyone kindly suggests a 2nd hand one, I am sorry to admit that I am just too old to be looking at dismantling, loading a van and then trying to reassemble. My old body is not up to much these days!
Thank you

martinthebandit

we have bought a couple of sheds from these before which, for the price, have been fine

http://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/Metal-Greenhouses

Jolaaled

I got my first greenhouse earlier this year and was lucky to get a 'managers special' at Focus.

The main issue for me tho, was deciding about a base to stand it on..whether to go for concrete slabs, breeze blocks etc...and how to ensure it wouldn't blow away in a strong winter gale.
Eventually, I paid someone to dig a trench and lay a course of driveline bricks as a base. Wooden battens were then laid on top of the bricks to provide a level cushion for the aluminum frame. The frame itself was then bolted down into the bricks. This foundation proved more of an issue than the actual greenhouse, which was quite smooth to erect.

Good luck!

dug123

I am fairly lucky in that I have just sold 1 of my sheds which was 6 X 8 and was sat on a base which I made a few years ago, it is slightly raised above the level of the garden (about 2") and is a framework of 4 X 2 wood (well creosoted) which is levelled off with concrete. It is in a nice corner of the garden which is well away from everything and gets the sun virtually all day. There is also a neat path all the way round it which gives good access. It is also out of the way of the wind I am glad to say.
I am now going to check focus. Thank you

dug123

Damn, Focus has gone bust and closed down, I must have been asleep when that happened!

marineville

very rare to get bargain greenhouses unless its in a diy store general sale but i found ebay and freecycle have stuff all the time... the goo dthing with ebay is you only pay approx 80 quid for a decent one and you get the experience of taking it apart, which is invaluable in putting together again.

persoanlly, i'd go for a separate base and i'd also build up the base too with either a small brick wall or sleepers as you'll find with 8 x 6 sheds that the angle of the roof is really sharp and when tending to plants on your shelves you'll bash your head into the glass or the frame often which only leaves the dead centre for standing upright... another four or five inches height really wouldn't go amiss...

getmore4less

This place seems to have a good range of products

http://www.norfolk-greenhouses.co.uk/shop/buy-Greenhouses-Ultimate.php

Saw some at a show and they looked good value.

Allthough not as solid as some more expensive ones.

dug123

I have checked the two sites above but both seem to only do plastic and not glass, but thank you for trying.

Bunnygirl

Sainsburys and tesco online them dont think they ever have them on offer. I got mine from focus in the end but this sites does some good ones I brought my base from them all went ok.

http://www.greenhousepeople.co.uk/

matt987106

you could build your own

I had a 6 X 4 ft shed, removed some of the T&G boarding half way down the side's, then got some twin wall polycarb roofing, i then fixed this do the walls instead of the T&G, i then fitted the polycarb instead of the roof

as strong as its ever going to be, it works really well

if you do not mind waiting, you could pop into your local conserv installers and ask if when they change a old polycarb conserv roof for glass ( fairly common these days ) can they keep you the sheets, they mightsay " yes it will cost a couple of quid "

i didnt use the floor, just put them on paving slabs

all very DIY'able

i was asked by a customer if i could get rid of his old shed they had, which i used ( the roof was rotten but that didnt matter as i didnt need it ) and then i asked around and got some old polycarb roofing of some guys who were fitting glass
so mine was completely free, i did have to buy a pack of metal washers to fix the polycarb, you can get specialist fixings

http://www.wickes.co.uk/fixing-button-pack/invt/164063/

but i just used some metal washers ( in zinc )

even if you purchased all the stuff it would

a shed for 100 - 125 quid

polycarb sheets ( this is only 4mm stuff though )

http://www.cabp.co.uk/acatalog/4mm_Polycarbonate_1220mm_610mm.html

for 10 mm stuff

http://www.cabp.co.uk/acatalog/10mm_Clear_Polycarbonate.html
2M x 696mm 10mm Polycarbonate Sheet
£15.98 (£19.18 IncVAT)

i had 6, i used 1 and 1/2 down either side and 3 for the roof , so for the 10 mm stuff it would be 120 quid

under 250 for it all, it'll last for years and you will not have the issues with smashed glass OR the poly carb coming out of the clips

worth a consideration

dug123

matt987106 wrote: »

you could build your own

I would love to but whilst the mind is willing the body is knackered!