Greenhouse foundations

[esrikandan]

Well...I have a confession to make. My greenhouse still isn't up. I got breeze blocks last year, dug out the area and put the blocks down (to support the steel base). Anyway, after doing all that work - I then realised the GH was going to interfere (!) with the Cherry Tree. Now having thought it over, I think I should have got a lean-to, but never mind. I also find that without taking up more garden (not allowed) the place I laid the breeze blocks down is the best place, but if moved by about 12" closer to the garage wall. So now I have to move all the blocks. I'm still trying to find the enthusiasm...

Argggghhhhh

[rana]

Foundations for a greenhouse? As Paul says a greenhouse is a light structure. Foundations are for houses. All you need do is to level the ground and run a line of bricks round the edge on which to place the greenhouse. A few paving slabs for a path and a couple of sacks of shingle spread around the edges will look more professional than an ugly concrete slab.

[Comfreyfan]

My greenhouse was moved in from a neighbour's garden many years ago and the frame was placed on wooden bearers laid directly on the earth. The bearers are now rotting away, so gaps are appearing under the frame - as the gap gets big enough I push a brick in, so it's gradually acquiring a more solid base! It doesn't seem to be affecting the greenhouse at all. There are slabs down the centre of the greenhouse - laid on sand and they've never moved at all.

[Pieman]

Interesting conversation - i'm looking what to do here with putting mine in......was going to level through (with a tiny step down to avoid a step down in the grass) then bed slabs down round the perimeter, and shingle down the walkway...

So there seems to be a mixture of loose lay slabs / cement down / bolt into slabs / concrete in corners....

[RedThorn]

I personally used the cement blocks, reason being I wanted some height in the greenhouse. Both my OH and I needed the head clearance

[mrdinkle]

These builders must think we are all made of money

I got quoted £875 the other day, which I declined.

I am now thinking about slabs.

Talking of which.... any suggestions of a place to purchase some suitable slabs some at a reasonable price? I'd prefer just to purchase some and get on and do it.

The greenhouse people have an info sheet here:

http://www.greenhousepeople.co.uk/files/pdf/slabs.pdf

[esrikandan]

Well...the breeze blocks were pretty cheap (about £1 each - aerated cement I beleive). I'm guessing a larger surface area will take the load better and will also be easier to handle than slabs being a lot lighter.

Not that I'm an expert having failed so miserably to make much progress last year.

[sewer rat]

I have a greenhouse in my garden - It is fixed to some treated 4" x 4" timbers which are laid straight onto compacted earth. The interior was then dug out to the same depth as the bottom of the timbers, covered with a weed suppressing membrane which was fixed to the timbers and then a 1 tonne bag of stone chips poured over the floor area. Whilst this means that everything in the greenhouse is in pots or growbags, I have no weed problems, and the floor is nice and clean - a quick hose and any spilt compost etc washes down through the chips.

[Pieman]

Thanks for the link about the base.......just seen that GreenhouseDirect will accept order and hold for 3 months pre delivery (saves space in the garage)

[markwcel]

i built a wooden deck to fit our greenhouse on...

[afrench108]

my gh is 6ftx12ft (well its actually 2 together) i used 2x2 cut to 30 inch lengths and used postcrete to create small solid posts, 18inch in the ground leaving 12inch on top to screw decking boards to, 2 high so it gives great stability, cheap and easy to fix and also looks nice, transforming the otherwise dull gh...total cost £80 and 3 hours to prepare..plus gives plenty of wood to drill gh into..

[Pieman]

Spoke to the other half's stepsister's husband who's a brickie by trade....going to do us a 9inch wide concrete base/wall all the way round. Plan is to site the greenhouse on this in the middle so 4.5 inches either side.
Just looked up the prices for 20 bags of ballast / 4(or 5 - can be cheaper) of cement - comes to 40 quid on Wickes plus a ton for him - job done.

As we have about a 5 inch difference from end to end of the greenhouse (6 foot) think this is the best way forward.