Raising my greenhouse?

[mrbadexample]

Hello all.

I have a 6'x6' Norfolk greenhouse, which despite the reviews has served me well for about 5 years. It's still in pretty good shape:



My only real complaint, apart from the usual "I want a bigger one", is that it's too darn low. It's 4' at the eaves - too low for tomatoes so they have to come more towards the centre, and then it's hard to get in.

So I want to raise it. I've acquired some blocks:



My plan was to lay a single course of blocks and sit the greenhouse on top. Trouble is, I don't really know the best way to do it. At the moment it's bolted very securely to the slabs, and hasn't shifted despite some pretty grim weather. I want to ensure it's anchored just as well.

What's the best way to do this? How can I best anchor the blocks to the slabs, and the greenhouse to the blocks? I need to do it quickly (to minimise the time the greenhouse isn't attached to anything permanent) and I need to do it soon, or it'll be full again.

All advice / ideas appreciated. Sorry for rambling on a bit.

Cheers,
MBE

[chris]

If you can lift the slabs up, concrete them in, and fill in any gap with extra concrete that'd secure the blocks to the floor. Failing that, you could bolt the blocks to the floor with angled brackets and raw plugs.

Then you could fix a batten of wood on top of the blocks, then screw the frame into the wood... or just bolt the frame onto the blocks. Wood would be easier though - more forgiving

[Aberdeenplotter]

just screwing the base rails onto the blocks should be sufficient. Hammer drill, rawl plugs, screws + screwdriver. If you feel the need, use right angle brackets and fix the blocks to the slabs using the same method.

[Snadger]

You could of oourse lower the floor instead of raising the sides.....................

[Currysniffa]

I sat my blocks on cement, than bolted on some 4 x 1 tan timber to the blocks and screwed the greenhouse to the timber.






Hope this helps a bit.

[Aberdeenplotter]

You could of oourse lower the floor instead of raising the sides.....................

Crikey Snadge, I did that with one of my 8 x 6's. Took it down about 15". You would not believe how much soil expands when you take it out of the ground

[mrbadexample]

Hope this helps a bit.

No, that helps a LOT. Do you have anything securing the blocks to the slabs, or is it just the cement?

[mrbadexample]

You could of oourse lower the floor instead of raising the sides.....................

I first thought this was lunacy, then I thought it actually made quite a lot of sense.

Now I've come back to lunacy. Mainly because it would involve cutting / breaking through the slabs, and I have no idea what's underneath them.

[mrbadexample]

Ok, I now think I know what I've got to do, so a few more questions about the actual doing.

I've never laid bricks or blocks before. I've watched it done lots of times, and my granddad was a brickie, so it must be in the blood, right?

How hard is it to lay a 6'x6' course of blocks? What mix of mortar do I use?

I like the idea of wood on top of the blocks; I was thinking of 4'x2' so that I can (a) use longer screws and (b) get that little bit more height. Is it easy to fix the wood to the blocks? I'd be a bit worried about them splitting. They're not concrete blocks but are of a fairly hefty density.

I probably just need someone to tell me to crack on, and that it'll be all right.

[kizkiz]

Crack on. You'll be alright

[Snadger]

Buy three bags of sand and one bag of cement. 3 to 1 is a strong enough mix. Because you're using blocks use plenty of compo in joints........about 20mm thick.
If they aren't thermalite blocks (can be cut with a saw)cut them with a bolster chisel use a sprit level. Do all four corners first.

Luckily, I've just dismemebered an 8X6 greenhouse today for my lottie but its on its own galvanised base............about 20cm (8") deep so.................problem solved for me!


PS Mind the step!!!!!!!!

[Currysniffa]

No, that helps a LOT. Do you have anything securing the blocks to the slabs, or is it just the cement?

Nope just a good old 4 & 1ish mix of sand & cement.

Its not hard, get your corners square and just remember you need a little fall to the end your having the water butts

[Bigmallly]

If the greenhouse is staying in the same place, mark round the corners with a felt tip then you know exactly when the blocks have to go.

[Bigmallly]

just remember you need a little fall to the end your having the water butts

Which I failed to remember........

[mrbadexample]

If the greenhouse is staying in the same place, mark round the corners with a felt tip then you know exactly when the blocks have to go.

I was going to draw round it.

Which I failed to remember........

As would I have done...