Advice on secondhand greenhouse and shed please

Living_proof

My new garden is definitely of the blank canvas type and I need to buy both a shed and greenhouse. By chance I came across Gumtree when looking for a greenhouse and there seemed to be quite a few for sale within about 20 miles or so. I would have to hire a van to pick them up and several of the ads wanted buyer to dismantle. Does anyone have any experience of doing this and refabricating them successfully at the other end?

Dizzy_Ditzy

I've done the greenhouse bit twice but not the shed

1- take pictures before you start dismantling it. Especially of the corners at the top and bottom

2- number your panels. Each time, I put it on paper too

3- take a spanner set. We needed 9, 10 and 11mm for the nuts and bolts

4- take a screwdriver and pliers

5- spray all the nuts/bolts with wd40 before dismantling as they may well be seized

6- prepare to lose some panels. It happens

7- don't dismantle or put back together either on your own or in windy/wet weather. We took the first one apart in the rain, long story short I needed surgery after cutting my finger on glass. The wind can pick up the frame and bend it out of shape

8- phone around a few glazers to get best price quotes

9- your base is key. If that's wonky, your greenhouse won't fit together properly.

10- take a bucket to put all the spring clips, nuts and bolts in

11- make sure the glass is adequately protected for travelling



I'm sure there'll be people around with lots of other ideas, but this should give you an idea

Living_proof

Amazing QoC - thank you so much. I will take a friend who is good at reverse engineering as he sees exactly how things fit together, but the methodical approach you describe is how I will approach it. It's kinda annoying that what started me off on this was when I noticed my neighbour in the street behind me had dismantled his house last week. There is no sign of it now so he presumably disposed of it somehow. I hate to see an unloved greenhouse...

Dizzy_Ditzy

I just wish there was a blondeproof guide when I needed it instead of so much conflicting info from google

Yorkie1

When transporting the glass, I *think* it's best to have it upright rather than flat - but hopefully others will comment on this particular aspect one way or another.

Living_proof

I am excited already! I will have to look for suitable wrapping/packaging material. My friend wonders how I could get a sectional shed back home - he thinks it would need a flatbed lorry. I'm pretty good with a long wheelbase white van, but not sure about the lorry...

Dizzy_Ditzy

I used an old blanket and duvet for cushioning and masking tape to hold two to three panes together in one bundle

Living_proof

I would probably line it with bubblewrap in the winter so might buy this in advance and cut to size, and wrap in this. I could certainly give it a good douse with the Jeyes before I put it back together again.

trollopscarletwoman

Excellent advice from QUEEN OF CHEAP.

Freecycle also as a source, if I've not noticed it mentioned.

Spanners and socket set, hacksaw as well because some bolts you might just not be able to shift. So cut them and replace.

As rightly said plenty of digital camera photos.

Once you've dismantled it we can go onto the next stage-putting it back up.

kazwookie

Also take a step ladder with you to reach the top.

And a whole tool box of tools

Plenty of tea / coffee

Leave dogs and kids at home / with gran etc

trollopscarletwoman

kazwookie wrote: »

Also take a step ladder with you to reach the top.

And a whole tool box of tools

Plenty of tea / coffee

Leave dogs and kids at home / with gran etc

Yes, all cool will probably at some time go out of the window.

Goes with the territory with these type of jobs.

But worth it.