Polycarbonate problems ......

[Mulchado]

The instructions stated to allow 180 minutes to build our new 8' x 6' polycarbonate greenhouse. To make allowances I began late yesterday morning, having digested all the information and feeling that both my wife and I together could be done and dusted by teatime. How utterly wrong I was! By 8 in the evening, my wife exhausted, and with me at my wits end with the whole thing, the shell of the greenhouse clung precariously to a somewhat twisted plastic base by a few clamps.
The whole process was a disaster from the start, to when we finally called it a day. The clarity of the instructions was a joke and made a complete mockery of a task that was supposed to be carried out by one person for the most, and two people on a few occasions. What it really needed was three people from the start, one of whom could decipher the wording and 'clear' diagrams.
One of these 'clear' diagrams stated that the door hinge system had to fit in a certain way, and it was very important that this way was adhered to. Unfortunately, the diagram and instructions were extremely ambiguous, and as Sod's Law dictates, I got it wrong. A phone call to the makers tomorrow is priority, because the shell does not have the final strengthening fittings fitted, and I need to somehow correct the door fit and tell them exactly what I think of their 'polycarbonate masterpiece'.
Realising that I am not alone with this problem I felt that this was the best place to get things off my chest, so I hope the reader understands.

Happy Sunday!

Mike

[Two_Sheds]

The instructions stated to allow 180 minutes to build our new 8' x 6' polycarbonate greenhouse.

It's a misprint. It should read " 180 days "
It took us 9 months to put up our Norfolk polycarb greenhouse. And a lot of shouting and swearing.

[rustylady]

And it still gets "panes" blown out of the fixings on a regular basis. However, it's better than not having a greenhouse at all.

[Snadger]

And what's this pile of bits I've got leftover for?

[dwrudd]

Nigel on the next plot to me has just built his greenhouse for the third time, remember those gales afew weeks back, and then again two weeks ago??
He does
D

[Mulchado]

Have just rung the customer helpline to be told that they are dealing with 180 other complaints at the moment. Have left phone number and ..........hey, they have now rung me back!
28 minutes were spent, keeping calm and relating the whole sorry saga. Would you believe that they have told me that this is an old model:. Well, I suppose this is one way of trying to wriggle out of responsibility for design faults.
I do now know ( I think!) how to change the door hinge around. As for the base.... I will build a decking fixture to take the greenhouse.... edge on. Hope this means that I will have a completed greenhouse by the end of this week

Thanks for your comments

Happy Monday

Mike

[janeyo]

It took my OH about 2 weeks to put up our 12x6 norfolk. This was done in the evenings after children gone to bed so he could concentrate. He reckons it took him about 15 hours in total. Now however he claims that if we had another one he could do it in a lot less!- easy to say after! And he reckons the instructions were worse than rubbish- and he is a design electronics engineer so is very used to making sense of instructions and fitting things together!

Maybe he did it when the children were in bed so they didn't hear the swearing.....

Looks good and solid now though, even the window works! He put one of those plastic file sliders on it as it wouldn't stay shut and works a treat now.

janeyo I love my greenhouse, just got to persuade the birds that keep going in that they don't!

ps still not got the guttering kit on, I guess that's gonna be a winter job now!

[markwcel]

it isnt a billy oh greenhouse by any chance is it??...oh the fun we had

[ups a daisy]

billyoooooooohhhhhhh

recieved the parts looked at the boxes, walked away. few days later tried the base, enthusiasum high. hours later swearing and fatigue. friends came to the rescue,experienced greenhouse putter uppers,all day in the rain we got the frame done. each piece done three times before correct,we ran out of nuts and bolts as they were rung off .me roof vent is a BIT drafty big gaps down each side,any advice on draft proofing could fit elephants buttocks in gap?

[Cloud]

I put my Norfolk greenhouse up in 4 hours that was 3 years ago and its still standing!

[markwcel]

seal the top and bottom of the billyoh panels with clear duck tape...inside run several runs of silicone sealant........helps to stop them blowing out...worked so far

[Frana]

I had my polycarb greenhouse a few months ago and found it went up without any problems. (Had a lot of help from my ten year old son though!). Took about two days in all. I do wish that they called the panels 'plastic' though because this is what they really are afterall!

I have since found it very productive, though my heart is regularly pounding if the weather is particularly windy. (I don't open it for ventilation on these particular days as the panels are not as heavy as horticultural glass and very vulnerable to wind as they are like three square panels in one and can sometimes sound like Rolf Harris playing a wobble board!)

I reinforced some of the panels with gaffer tape and this has added some extra stability - clear waterproof sealant is also helpful along the edges.

Overall I am pleased with the results but do wish at times that I had gone for glass!

[HotStuff]

So glad I found this thread, it just helps to know I'm not the only one. Bought a Palram 6x6 from B&Q the other weekend. They were having a 15% off weekend and I'd been toying with the idea of getting a greenhouse for a while. Package about a foot too long to fit in the car, so had it delivered on Tuesday. Wednesday was busy with other things and Thursday was a washout, so started with gusto Friday morning. My instructions also said that it would take "at least 3 hours". I now realise that that's in the same vein as my broadband provider saying "upto 20Mb". Yes, technically 3 days is at least 3 hours, but that's not what I expected. Just as well that the neighbours kids weren't playing in the garden or they'd have learnt a few new words.

[Plopstar]

I also had a Norfolk 8 x 6 plastic greenhouse with polycarbonate roof, had no real problems with assembly, but as most of you have found panels do blow out quite easily and the door was atrocious from day 1 never really closed properly.

Once the door finally came off, it wasn`t long before panels blew out left right and centre, i used tape etc which helped but eventually after 3 years i dismantled it an stuck it in a skip, but salvaged the unbroken plastic, which my dad has recycled elsewhere.

That said I raised quite a number of plants in those three years and as a whole it served its purpose.

The silicone sealant idea would probably solve the wind problems, wish I`d thought of that......

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[Adrastea]

I have a polycarbonate greenhouse. It is an Eden Clearline. It took 2 separate attempts to put it up with a year inbetween! The sheets are now full of mummified slugs and snails never to escape. The panels do not fit in properly and it took me days to put up, having collapsed during the process and driven me to insanity. I eventually had to ask for help as trying to balance the roof beam on a forever collapsing frame was never going to work. I worked through high winds and rain until it was completed, otherwise it just kept falling down! It is now up....for how long I do not know. I have bought some exterior sealant to seal the gaps--there are lots -- and the door hangs off leaving a large gap at the bottom and a cold draught! But I love it all the same