Odd-shaped greenhouse offered

Living_proof

I have been offered a freecycled greenhouse which I am told is 2m x 6m - certainly a very long thin one if the dimensions are correct.

I have google-earthed the property and the greenhouse looks to be a-symmetrical with one very high elevation and one much shorter. Trapezium-shaped I think you would call it.

We are going to have a look at it but it's 45 minutes away so I wondered if any of you have any recollection of such a greenhouse or can 'shed' any light (oh dear, it gets worse!) on whether this shape might be desirable.

Linda32

I think it sounds okay. I would imagine it all depends on where you site it rather than the actually shape.

Good luck with it. It sounds exciting.

arbroath_lass

Do you mean a lean-to? https://www.greenhousestores.co.uk/Elite-Easygrow-2x6-Lean-To-Greenhouse-6mm-Polycarbonate-Glazing.htm?source=PLA_green&gclid=CKilqtaElsoCFQ2eGwodK34KwQ

Do you need to put it against a wall?

Living_proof

arbroath_lass wrote: »

Do you mean a lean-to? https://www.greenhousestores.co.uk/Elite-Easygrow-2x6-Lean-To-Greenhouse-6mm-Polycarbonate-Glazing.htm?source=PLA_green&gclid=CKilqtaElsoCFQ2eGwodK34KwQ

Do you need to put it against a wall?

No, it is free standing

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/property-history/32-vine-road/tickhill/doncaster/dn11-9ep/36440156

Really unusual!

Sally_A

Agree, a very odd shape. On the plus point you can have taller plants on the tall side eg cucumbers and indeterminate tomatoes, and maybe peppers and chillies on the short side.

Also, if you are in an exposed area..putting the lower side towards the worst winds (N, NE?) may reduce damage.

arbroath_lass

Very unusual, I can't imagine you'd have any issues with it. I'd go with Sally A's advice and enjoy your new greenhouse.

Living_proof

We duly went to look at it yesterday, to find that it was a staggering 6m in length, in fact two houses joined together. It would have been too huge a project to take on, also 30 miles away, but would be great for someone more local who had transport - and lots of time!

So still looking.....

Davesnave

Living_proof wrote: »

We duly went to look at it yesterday, to find that it was a staggering 6m in length.....

So still looking.....

But that's what you said it was initially! :huh:

Not that staggering, if you have the room for it. I'd bear in mind climate changes that make having undercover space increasingly worth it. That was my reasoning behind buying a polytunnel roughly 8x the size of that greenhouse in 2010.

I'm not regretting it.

Back in 1988, we bought a 25' x 10' cedar greenhouse which was covering almost the entire garden of a small house. That was a bit excessive! We hired a man & van to shift it, bringing the total cost to £170. A good buy, especially as we sold the glass from it two years ago for £40.

If you are dismantling any greenhouse, take a suitable pen and label every joint, using whatever system you want to devise. That will save hours of head-scratching.

Living_proof

Davesnave wrote: »

But that's what you said it was initially! :huh:

I did put in 'apparently'. It seemed such an odd dimension that I thought it might be a typo, but no!

I have had a 6m polytunnel for Christmas which will go on the allotment in the spring, so I don't really need more than a 8 x 10 glass house which will be in my back garden. I despair of the thousands of redundant greenhouses in the neighbourhood, but finding one where the owner has finally decided to part with it is the hardest part. Also a lot have been damaged badly in the winds recently so a freecycled one is looking poor value if I have to pay to move it, then buy lots of glass. Also the frame could well be twisted which might not be apparent until it's being resited.

I think it's worth holding out until the right one comes along....

DaftyDuck

Davesnave wrote: »

If you are dismantling any greenhouse, take a suitable pen and label every joint, using whatever system you want to devise. That will save hours of head-scratching.

My suggestion for anyone intending to get one... I'd even scratch small marks on the aluminium as well, as even a garden permanent marker isn't that reliable. Dozens (and dozens) of digital photos too. Take much newspaper to stick between the panes, and mark any "odd" ones well. Several small bags for all the connector screws and glass clips. And a thermos. Most Freecyclers are generous... but not all!

I've collected two fairly large ones in recent weeks, and am eyeing up a monster (to buy) from an ex-garden centre. I think it's a bit much for me and my mini-trailer, but I'm still plotting. might hire a van! Worn-out fingertips from rusty clips and screws was my main problem. That and the dog that took a liking to me.

You can't, in my opinion, have too big a greenhouse.* There's always another plant to overwinter, or a further variety of cucumber.

I did give my sister an old greenhouse, all carefully labelled and screw-sorted (insulting tape marking ends, and glass all labelled), because I'm a bit OCD and like that. She isn't like that, and left it stuck in a corner where the moss grows an the flowers don't. For two or so years. She still got it up, but it was a heck of a chore. She still grows plants that I can't, so I just don't talk to her!

Living_proof wrote: »

I think it's worth holding out until the right one comes along....

I do agree with this, even if I do like a big one or three. Erecting a new greenhouse takes time, erecting an old one takes double. Mind yoou, old ones tend to be much more solidly built than new ones.

Living_proof

Well the right one came along very quickly and very locally too so it won't cost a fortune to move. It's an Elite 10 x 8 with two opening roof vents and a couple of louvres. It needs quite a bit of glass but it looks like a sturdy bit of kit overall. £60 to buy and I expect another £50 in glass, but a new one of that size would be iro £650 so it will be worth the effort. Sadly a bit too cold to work on at the moment....