I finally have a greenhouse! now what... building

[Madame Mucksprout]

I have been offered a greenhouse! for FREE! Im so happy. Ive got to go collect it and all that , but I can figure that bit some how.

So now what>

Where is best to put it? do I need a base? any hints or tips? glazing it? (the glass is separate, so Ill have to fit it).

struggling to upload a phooto? but its lovely - take my word for it.

[greenishfing]

Congratulations!!! Is the frame in still up or taken apart. If all in one piece take lots of pics before you dismantle. I would keep it together as much as possible to move it- just makes life easier. Mine are in full sun and the doors are pointing away from the prevailing wind. Mine are all on different bases. Two are attached to levelled railway sleepers, one is on levelled flags and one is just plonked on compacted soil.
If the glazing clips and spacers for the glass are in bad condition buy new ones. If you are in a windy position anchor it down well.

[veggiechicken]

Do you have a flat area for it? Somewhere that gets plenty of light and sun?

[happyhumph]

I agree. Whatever base you put it on take as many photos as you can, including close ups off how things fit together. Get spares of bolts & clips as a massive pain if you run out part way through. Allow at least a day just for construction, let alone base (took OH 2 days for ours but had almost no help from me due to young children ). Rope in as many people to help as you can!

Mine is on slabs as I like the flexibility of pots over borders & bolted down all the way round about every foot as very windy where we are.

[Cadalot]

Number the joints with a permanent marker then take the photos and lots of them.

I used timber joists to raise the greenhouse and to assist in providing weight and anchorage. My next one is going to be build on a scaffolding board frame with steel angles that I can place paving slabs over to assist in holding it down as the plot is very windy.

[Bigmallly]

All excellent tips above, the only thing I considered, being tall I put mine on breeze blocks to give me extra height, just something to consider...........The other option is to dig a path down the middle, this also adds height.

[Madame Mucksprout]

Thankyou so much.

I hadnt even considered wind! or anchoring it to be honest, that would have been a very costly mistake.
Ill def face the doors away from the wind (thanks Big Malley).

And getting clips etc - I hadnt considered that either (never had one before).

It is still up and the glass is out. Aparently it dosnt come apart? (but Im going to look at it this afternoon).

I tred to upload the photo they sent me onto here , but had difficulty. Ill try again later :-). Ill also need to figure out the spring sun (where that will hit my garden).

And Ill have to clear a flat patch. I didnt know if they went onto bases or soil? a base I expect as I have so much nettle and bindweed that Id be fighting it forever in there

[veggiechicken]

Take a can of WD40 with you and spray all the nuts and bolts. This will start loosening them and make it easier to dismantle. If you can split it into side panels and roof, it make reassembly easier.
Take a camera and take photos of it so you remember what goes where.
What size is it?
Do you have transport to move it?

Lots of questions!

[happyhumph]

If you have bindweed I'd suggest a base - our old greenhouse was on soil with raised borders (done by previous owners of house) & we were forever getting bindweed in the greenhouse. Now on slabs over sand then turam on the bottom since April & so far none (fingers crossed, touch wood etc).

[Bigmallly]

One very important point.............you mention it has glass therefore it is important that the base is level otherwise you may put strain on the glass if you can fit it in the first place.

[Madame Mucksprout]

I dotn have transport as yet.

Well I have my car, a roof rack and a quote for a transit van hire.

Its 6ft x 6ft and 7ft high.

[veggiechicken]

If you can dismantle it into sides and roof you should be able to move the panels on a roof rack - I did

[greenishfing]

I have had a greenhouse in sections on a roof rack and a completely dismantled one inside a Nissan Micra. Also had a complete frame on a car roof but that's another story.