Help with greenhouses

[Maffie]

Morning all

I'm looking at a greenhouse but not sure what to go for. We are renting at the moment so want it as a temp measure until we move. I've looked at the Norfolk budget greenhouse does anyone have one and what are they like? I already have a cloch and a plastic greenhouse.

So any recommendations or warnings about bad ones are very welcome.


Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

We got a Norfolk. It was a bustard to put together. The instructions aren't at all clear, but we got there eventually (9 months later). The rear sliding window kept popping out with every gust of wind and soon broke completely.
The PVC panels pop out regularly in a wind, and the whole thing slides 2ft if it's really windy.

So ... yes it's good if you can't afford anything better, but site it well, and anchor it down properly. Expect tears & tantrums while putting it together, and check every instruction twice (we put all the screws in, only to get to the next page and discover that half of them were in the wrong way round)

Still, it's been up for 2 years now, and is better than nothing.

Oh, it doesn't come with staging (shelves). Rather than buy Norfolk's staging (£40), get yourself some of those £10 plastic greenhouses and use them as staging

[snuffer]

As with a lot of things, it will probably pay dividends to buy the best you can afford. Just make sure you save all of the instructions and perhaps put a little grease or vaseline on the bolt threads. Then when the time comes to move house it will be easier to dismantle and take with you.

[sarraceniac]

I bought an 8' x 6' hall's Popular exactly a year ago. It said 'one man and one day to erect' and 'custom base not necessart'. Wrong on both counts. Definitely a 2 man job and it took us 3 days because the manual was incomprehensible. We worked from the pictures. Having got it up though I've never had a problem except the sliding door is a bit flaky and has to be regularly WD40'd. Cost me about £300 all in plus a few pints for my co-building friend. If I'd known though I would have felt safer with unbreakable glass. The wind gets a bit hairy here.

[selfraising]

Hi sorry to hijack the thread but I am also looking for a greenhouse and have no idea whether I should go for plastic, polycarbonate (I think that's what its called) or glass and if I go for glass do I choose horitcultural glass. Sorry for all the questions but I've never had one before.

[sarraceniac]

Hi Selfraising. Go for the best (and biggest) you can afford. Polycarbonate is better than glass (wish I'd bought it) but if you can only afford glass then horticultural is as good as any. It is just produced in a different way from house glass so has a few wrinkles in it (not visible to the human eye). For goodness sake DO NOT think that one of these polythene things will do. They won't - ever.

[selfraising]

Hi thanks
Will seedlings still get enough light with polycarbonate cos from pictures it doesn't look as transparent as glass? Hope this isn't a stupid question just really have no clue!!

[sarraceniac]

Plants use light at a different wavelength from animals (very slightly). Don't worry if you go for polycarbonate. It will transmit enough light at the correct wavelength. Buses and trains have polycarbonate, not glass, windows for safety. Can you see the difference?

[selfraising]

Thankyou sarraceniac, decision made!

[scarey55]

Can I just echo what Two-Sheds has said.

Please anchor it down well... no, really please do.

Take a look <<HERE>>, this is what happens if you don't

[allotmentlady]

go for glass greenhouse, top quality one"!

[russell]

Please don't go for a billy oh greenhouse. The slighest bit of wind and my greenhouse turns into a windmill. We since used selanet on the panles in the door and pieces of a pallet on the roof to stop them blowing down the street.
On the other hand glass depends on whether you have kids or not and whether they are likely to kick a football at the greenhouse or fall into one of the panels.

[lez]

I for what it's worth believe that if you are going to invest in a g/h go for the best you can afford and the biggest. Whatever size you get you will soon run out of room. I myself have have invested in a rhino g/h and it has done all I want and more. Admittedly it cost's more but then it will last with strengthened glass as standard. If you are going to a permanent place then go for it. I would err on the side of descretion if you are renting as the landlord may consider his if you erect it in/on hie/her property. [I] really do believe that polly tunnels are good but not a long term investment. The polly has to be replaced and if it was that good then the proffesionals like we see in the fens would use them. Again it depends on what you want to do or are trying to achieve. If it is a long term investment then go for glass and go for rhino. I am not selling the model just whem something impresses me I like to share the info. Good luck and let me know how you get on please.

[Pieman]

I am in the process of looking for a greenhouse (along with a kids play tower - but thats another story)......

It needs to have toughened glass - am very attracted by the Rhino, with a 4mm toughened it will definitely help.....

I am looking at the Baby Rhino 6x6.....yes I know not the biggest but I think I will do well with that - especially with some of those added bits eg the hanging rails etc.

Granted it will cost best part of 1200 quid (in green) or 1000 quid (mill finish) - but what do peeps recommend about staging.....

Was looking at having one side with staging then a 2ft one on the other side, with perhaps the 10 seed tray rack. Should I go for Rhino Integral staging or for the 6 foot - 2 shelf one....

Would definitely go for a 300mm wide staging halfway up for storing stuff....

Any hints / tips please???

[krazy_krok]

I've just brought an 8x6 polycarbonate greenhouse from B & Q for just under 200 quid. Would definatly recomend, easy to put up did all by my self in an afternoon. Had to take 1st one back though-no holes drilled on base. Glass is definatly better, but if you plan to move the plastic is easier to remove without glass smashing everywhere. Frame easy to dismantle too.