Advice on putting new GreenHouse up

[lozza_9]

Hiya

My new greenhouse is arriving today and I can't wait to put it up

Just wondered if anyone had any advice to give me on putting up a greenhouse.

Its a 8' x 6' Green Frame Polycarbonate Greenhouse Inc Base, Opening Window.

This is my first greenhouse, I have had the plastic ones but I was sick on them breaking

Loz

[Nicos]

Not had much experience with this, but I do know you need a firm,level base for it to sit on ( and be anchored to)
I'd wait till the weather is a bit less blowy too!

Also- have you checked all the bits are there???
Worth mentioning.... make sure you can get all the way round/reach the outside so you can clean the glass each year.
Chop back any overhanging branches before you put it up, cos when you need to do it in a couple of years, they'll fall onto the glass ( unless you are super-skilled!!!)

I'm sure someone with more experience will be along soon!

Sounds like you're in for a bit of fun!! ( bet you're really chuffed!!?)

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Lozza,

Is it the Parlam one you have bought? I bought this one last year, the instructions are not to clear so read through them a few times or like me you will end up taking it apart and starting again

Don't try it in even a slight wind, those panels fly every where. I was so desperate to put it up that I did Also when it comes to fitting the window there are two tiny black bits in the bag almost like tiny bits of a straw. No mention in instructions about them so I thought it was packaging......wrong. You need to fit these in to the frame after putting in the opening window or it keeps falling out in the wind.

It is a good GH but I lost most of mine in the high winds last week (If I find all the bits I can build again as the polycarb doesn't break) So word of warning place it in a wind free area.

Good luck and enjoy, Mandy

[Herbgardener]

Somewhere on the forum is a link to a superb article on how to prepare a greenhouse base, do get this right as you don't want to be taking your greenhouse apart in 3 years time to re do it all. If you can put a few rows of breeze blocks or bricks down you can raise the height of the greenhouse a few inches too.

If its an aluminium frame then you can always put the frame together and carry it over to the base before you glaze it, if space is tight this might be easier!

GH's have lots of tiny little nuts and bolts and washers and clips that you can drop as well, and trust me these will vanish into the ground in an instant, so get some big tubs to put these in rather than try and take them out of the packets as you go along. Make sure its square before you finally tighten everything up. It's easier as a 2 man job but I have done them single handed in the past.

As mentioned remember that you'll need access to clean it and keep any overgrowth back.

Enjoy your new GH, just remember that it doesn't matter what size you've bought, it'll never quite be big enough! - now if only someone could invent an expanding greenhouse that automatically adjusts to how many plants you try and fit inside it :-)

[Matt.]

Assemble the base and frame where you've got room to get around it. They don't weigh much as a frame only and its much easier to screw together when you're not trapped in a small space. Put the base in place and check it's square in the corners and not a parallelogram shape. Now put the frame on top to check it fits right all the way round. Pin down the base with either spikes if its into soil or bolts if its into stone. I used spare flag stones in the corner of mine to weigh the base down and prevent movement. I also filled in the entire base with rubble but its not essesntial. I covered this is pea gravel to make a nice base. At this point I painted mine with hammerite to make it green. Once dry fit the rubber seals that will hold the panes tight.

Put the glass in starting at the roof, do this on a calm day and make sure you have time complete the job in one go. You have to fit the lowest roof piece first because of overlapping. Not putting the sides in means you can easily move around and don't risk breaking them. Start in the middle and work out. The panes by the apex are hardest because of reaching so get a helping hand if you can! Fit the sides which by now is a doddle, working from ground up because of overlapping. Finally fit the door before putting the glass in. I used vaseline to help the door slide easier in the runner. Stand back and admire your work. Thats it one greenhouse done!

[lozza_9]

excellent thank you - the advice about putting the bolts etc in a box is an good idea as the green house will be put together on a stoney area, i can see the important pieces getting lost in that!

Was going to try this weekend BUT going to check the weather forecast first after your advice.

Thank you once again. Any other advice welcome.

Loz

[lozza_9]

Hi Lozza,

Is it the Parlam one you have bought?

Hi Mandy its an

BillyOh Rosette Complete Greenhouse - Rosette Complete Greenhouse 8' x 6'

[Seahorse]

That looks very much like the one I've just put up (well, my mate did, I mainly made the coffees ).

We found the plastic panels quite faffy - if they've got a sort of plastic slider thing to put on the bottom edge before you slide them into the full frame, you might need Vaseline or similar to make that go better. Also, easier said than done, but if you take it steady and get it right first time, it's a lot easier in the long run! The edges of the corrugated plastic can get a bit squished if you mess about with them. We also struggled with the windows a bit but that was partly poor instructions (yours may be better translated!). I've yet to find a way of securing them usefully though, as they're very flappy in the wind (tied down for now).

Lastly, do weight it in place somehow! Mine is 7 x 12, so not tiny but it moved the first night it was up. I now have paving stones in the corners and sandbags at the sides.

[JanieB]

Thanks Herbgardener ,

I've been looking for my large stainless steel mixing bowl for ages. It's got all the fixings for the GH in it! You reminded me .

[Hothouse]

Hi Lozza,
I was wondering how your new green house is faring. I saw it advertised and thought I might replace my old Norfolk greenhouse with the BillOh Rossette 8 by 12 .
I was wondering what you thought of it? Do the doors slide ok ? is it sturdy enough to with stand a strong wind and do the pannells stay put ? I`d be grate full for your opinion and any tips you have .
Happy gardening for 08.

[rustylady]

Don't try to do it on your own, you need company if only to make the coffee. Sort all the nuts and bolts into sizes and put in separate bowls or containers. Instructions can be a bit vague, so two heads are definitely better than one. And if it gets a bit stressy (as our Norfolk one did) your companion will hopefully stop you putting a sledgehammer through the whole thing. BTW now it's up it's been very good value.

[starwatcher]

Dont put it up in the house

[Two_Sheds]

Dont put it up in the house

agreed - its just not sunny enough

seriously ... take it slow. They are an incredible faff to put together.

If you think you understand the instructions, you've probably missed a vital bit of info. We put all the bolts on, then got further into the instructions (seemingly translated through several different languages before arriving at English) to discover they were meant to go on differently to how we'd done them.

[Hothouse]

Hiya

My new greenhouse is arriving today and I can't wait to put it up

Just wondered if anyone had any advice to give me on putting up a greenhouse.

Its a 8' x 6' Green Frame Polycarbonate Greenhouse Inc Base, Opening Window.

This is my first greenhouse, I have had the plastic ones but I was sick on them breaking

Loz

And Loz ,
if you hav`nt already put it up ,do use uv pvc tape on the top edge of the polycarbonate and vented end tape on the bottoms. This prevents tiny insects from finding their way in, and helps stop the rain also as this can cause consensation inside the sheets in warm weather, and alge on the ends. You can order both from Norfolk greenhouses very cheaply.

I`m ordering my greenhouse on Monday, I`m trying to buy two extra windows from them at the same time .

[richardbees]

Hello, I'm new to this forum so this is my first post - I found the site through google by searching 'billyoh greenhouse'

I'm assembling an 8ft x 6ft and have done the base - but I've stalled at the next step with the 4 corner uprights (part D7) ......the booklet shows 2 bolts through each end but my D7 uprights (which match the profile) only have 1 hole in one end only.

Please - can anyone confirm there should be 2 holes at each end?

richard