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Les1603
Mrs
 2213 Posts |
 Posted - 12/03/2010 : 19:30:54
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Can anyone give me some tips on buying a greenhouse for my new garden.
We were thinking of buying a 6x10,so any advice would be appreciated, as I've never had one before. |
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Piskie
Mrs
1584 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2010 : 19:46:23
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Are you thinking of polycarb or glass?
Can you give it an east-west location?
Can you erect it yourself or will you need to employ someone?
Think about whether you want it on hard-standing or have borders
Consider heating, do you have access to electricity?
Would you even want to heat it?
There are so many reasons for having a greenhouse, so much so that I am happy to erect and de-erect each time we move, or rather Snowdrop is, or rather he isn't, but he is good at taking orders 
6 x 10 - I'm jealous 
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sweetpea
Tree
8376 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2010 : 00:29:23
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Have a good look through your local ad paper for 2nd hand ones. Over the years I have had three just for dismantling and taking away. One of them was red cedar too so you might just strike lucky.
Even if you have to pay something it wont be anywhere as expensive as buying new.
My preference is for aluminium rather than wood. less maintenance. |
Gardening in South Wales (Pembrokeshire) |
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pennyron
Tree
9916 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2010 : 07:43:22
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| I agree with SP the new ones are very expensive. you could just check out the door of your local shop or post a note yourself. |
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steve
Moderator
23005 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2010 : 09:05:24
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| I'd go for aluminium too especially if like Sweetpea says you can pick up a second hand one, they are a doddle to dismantle and erect, only slight problem they don't as such actually rust but do after a time get a white coating on aluminium which can seize the bolts up, just give them a spraying with wd40 or similar and they come free easily |
Steve
In Ilkeston |
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Cherry
Moderator
12178 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2010 : 10:07:49
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| Mine is twinwall polycarb. It seems OK. |
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ladybirdsquirrel
Flower
1857 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2010 : 15:34:00
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Geoff Hamilton used to say " what ever size of green house you finally decide on get one size bigger" if you`ve got the space that is good too.
My first greenhouse was a "Norfolk" the one advertised in Garden News,I loved it but the door was hard to open , there was no proper windows ( I made my own) and the glazing only lasted about 5 years.
My second GH I got 2 years ago is a 4mm polycarbonate 8x12 with high eaves (very handy) and double doors.
It`s a BillyOh Rosette complete greenhouse from garden buildings direct ( simply greenhouses do the same model)
It was cheap but the quality is extremely poor. After a few months the green colour changed to bluey green  the panels blew out  the doors blew off and the windows never closed properly. Now the paint is washing off and the polycarbonate is cracking  I doubt if it`s uv protected as advertised.SO DON`T BUY THAT ONE!
"greenhouse Bonanza" http://greenhousebonanza.com/ has a good, reasonably priced selection of greenhouses and I know their after sales is good too. Send for their catalogue, as it is full of info and good pictures about loads of greenhouses, even if you don`t get one from them.
Good luck with your choice, let us know what you finally decide on 
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derekbrooks
Tree
2284 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2010 : 22:07:33
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I agree with the above advice but I would emphasise that you get one as big as you have room for and that you can afford because you will always be short of room.
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pennyron
Tree
9916 Posts |
Posted - 14/03/2010 : 06:52:21
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| Though it was 35 years ago, I remember the excitement of erecting my first GH, and re-erecting it after 10 years. It's as good as new even today and I've never wished it was bigger so it's important to get the right size. |
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Topic |
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Buying a Greenhouse