My first greenhouse - advice please

Sunnyday

Hi everyone,
i`m looking to buy my first ever proper greenhouse. I`ve only used a plastic one before some years ago but now i`ve moved house and cleared a small space at the bottom of the garden.

The green house i`ve been looking at is this one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110263760577 (Hope that works)

Can anyone see any reason why this type wouldn`t be ok. I`d like the polycarb as it would be safe around the animals and the gh would be stood on a gravel bed with the corner base spikes held in with postcrete - the stuff where you throw the powder in and just add water. Where we live is high up and very windy but the gh will have a shed behind it and an old concrete storage garage on one side.
Can anyone offer any opinions or advice on what i`m hoping to do please.
This is a huge thing for me to do and i don`t want to hit lots of snags or buy something useless so i need someone to hold my hand so to speak:o
Thanks peeps.
SD

Janey51

Hi sunnyday.
I have just bought one of these a couple of weeks ago
It is almost up :rolleyes: Be warned, the instructions are very very difficult to follow but its looking OK...just needs a few bits finishing off but the weather intervened. THankfully, a couple of people have done it for me or I think I would have jumped on it in frustration.
We also live in a windy, exposed area. The greenhouse is on slabs which wasn't a good move on my part as DH will have to drill through these and anchor it down. He says its no problem but...:eek: It has stood up to the high winds yesterday and the torrential rain with no ill effects.
I will be interested to see what other MSEers have to say.

Sunnyday

Thanks Janey,
i`m very nervous about the whole thing as anything practical that i touch usually turns to dust
I`m willing to wrestle with the thing to get it together properly but i`m unsure about how much room to leave around the edges and also about anchoring it down, i do wonder if the method i intend to use will be enough:o
SD

mjr600

I have the Gardman 8x6 with polycarb glazing.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-x-6-GREENHOUSE-8x6-GREENHOUSE-AND-BASE-AND-SAFE-GLAZE_W0QQitemZ310059922310QQihZ021QQcategoryZ42153QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Its been up three years and the glazing has blown out each winter, the trouble with polycarb in windy areas is that it flexes and the clips just can't cope when it gets very windy.

The quality however is very good, the aluminium frame is very strong, it fits the base very well, two people are needed to put it up and it is pretty straightforward to be honest.

I've found that the best way to ensure it is safe in strong winds is to use this stuff.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/63959/Sealants-Adhesives/Tapes/Duct-Tape/Duck-Heavy-Duty-Tape-Virtually-Clear;jsessionid=4QXLVXLUJSK1QCSTHZOSFEY

As a first greenhouse I think you'd be happy with it, but if there's one thing you'll wish it were bigger when you start using it.

Sunnyday

Hi Mjr600,
thanks for your reply. I don`t think the one i`ve been looking at has clips for the polycarb, i think the frame holds it in place, Janey could you let me know how the poly is held in please?

I would love a bigger GH but i don`t have the space. I`m going to re-measure before i order just to make sure i can squeeze it in:D

Any recommendations as to how much space i need to leave around it?
I`m hoping inches are enough:D
SD

~Chameleon~

mjr600 wrote: »

I have the Gardman 8x6 with polycarb glazing.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-x-6-GREENHOUSE-8x6-GREENHOUSE-AND-BASE-AND-SAFE-GLAZE_W0QQitemZ310059922310QQihZ021QQcategoryZ42153QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I have the exact same one and I'm very please with it so far!

Its been up three years and the glazing has blown out each winter, the trouble with polycarb in windy areas is that it flexes and the clips just can't cope when it gets very windy.

Ha! I had two panels blow out in the winds the other day!

The quality however is very good, the aluminium frame is very strong, it fits the base very well, two people are needed to put it up and it is pretty straightforward to be honest.

I managed to assemble most of it alone, just needed help putting all the sides together once they were constructed.

I've found that the best way to ensure it is safe in strong winds is to use this stuff.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/63959/Sealants-Adhesives/Tapes/Duct-Tape/Duck-Heavy-Duty-Tape-Virtually-Clear;jsessionid=4QXLVXLUJSK1QCSTHZOSFEY

I also have this exact some tape :rotfl: all the panels are now securely taped into place

As a first greenhouse I think you'd be happy with it, but if there's one thing you'll wish it were bigger when you start using it.

Just make sure you leave sufficient access space to be able to get round all sides. You'll need it to secure the clips in place. I made the mistake of building it too close to the fence :doh: so struggled to clip the glazing in and had to work a panel at a time reaching across to secure the next. The clips aren't the easiest to put in and you'll end up with sore fingers even with gloves!

Sunnyday

Hi Chameleon,
thanks for the info.
I was planning on leaving about a foot in space around the back and one side and the othe two sides being open.
Will i need to be able to fit ladders around the back and sides do you think or can the clips be put in from the inside?
Sorry if thats a daft questions but i`ve never seen one in the flesh so to speak:D
SD

~Chameleon~

Unless you are a bit of a contortionist and can squeeze into small spaces I'd advise leaving more than a foot gap. This is about how much space I left between the greenhouse and fence which is why I struggled to fit the clips as they are fitted externally. I had to squeeze myself out of the small panel opening and reach across to secure the clips on the adjacent panel, not an easy task!

Sunnyday

:eek: Thanks for that lol, i`ll be doing some verrrry careful measuring tomorrow morning.
Hopefully i can move it a bit but doubt it will be much, i could go for a smaller greenhouse instead but don`t really want to unless i`m absolutely forced.
Fingers crossed for the morning:D
SD

Sunnyday

Hello again <dances round like a loony>:D

All measured and ordered:j :j :j yes i`ve ordered it and i can`t wait:D

SD

SEE

Sunnyday wrote: »

Hi everyone,
i`m looking to buy my first ever proper greenhouse. I`ve only used a plastic one before some years ago but now i`ve moved house and cleared a small space at the bottom of the garden.

The green house i`ve been looking at is this one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110263760577 (Hope that works)

Can anyone see any reason why this type wouldn`t be ok. I`d like the polycarb as it would be safe around the animals and the gh would be stood on a gravel bed with the corner base spikes held in with postcrete - the stuff where you throw the powder in and just add water. Where we live is high up and very windy but the gh will have a shed behind it and an old concrete storage garage on one side.
Can anyone offer any opinions or advice on what i`m hoping to do please.
This is a huge thing for me to do and i don`t want to hit lots of snags or buy something useless so i need someone to hold my hand so to speak:o
Thanks peeps.
SD

None of my fizzy whizz, but you can get much better for that kind of money:o I paid £150 on ebay for alum/glass 8ftx10ft, but I guess that's if you don't mind buying secondhand, you can also put polycarb if you don't like glass:T