Old Greenhouse renovation?

Discussion in 'Garden Projects and DIY' started by kr236rk, Jun 15, 2017.

  1. kr236rk

    kr236rk Gardener

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    Hi,

    Have inherited an old greenhouse, small but useful. Any tips on how I could do a make-over on it please?

    [​IMG]

    Many thanks,

    Ric
     
  2. rustyroots

    rustyroots Total Gardener

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    Hi Ric,

    Is there any rot on it?

    If not I would give the green mouldy looking bits with a wire brush and give it a light rub down with sandpaper and give it a couple of coats of exterior fence/shed paint. Good clean of the glass and inside and it should be ok.

    Rusty
     
  3. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    The blocks holding the roof glazing in place look as if they may be in need of replacement. Their fixings (srews/nails?) may have corroded and the timber underneath them is prone to rot so they may need replacing/new fixings/some minor cutting out of rotten timber and making good underneath before giving a fresh coat of treatment.

    If those roof panes will slide out easily, the appearance will be improved if you remove before rubbing down and removing any algae or moss from under the glass before applying that treatment, avoiding a contasting band around the eaves.

    Check the bottom board all round for signs of rot and around side of window openings. If there's any water ingress around edges of glazing a bead clear external silicone sealant (applied aftervtreatment) will weatherproof it, plus help prevent panes from sliding out.
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2017
  4. kr236rk

    kr236rk Gardener

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    Thanks Scrungee & Rusty,

    Yes, those roof panels are a concern. I did a minor make-do about a year ago, fixed a slat which had dropped down allowing the weather in. Everything seems okay now, can't see any signs of rot. Might I paint creosote on the exterior wood please? Glass all seems to be weather-tight.

    Ric
     
  5. rustyroots

    rustyroots Total Gardener

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    Creosote would be fine.

    Rusty
     
  6. kr236rk

    kr236rk Gardener

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    Thanks :) Better get those roof blocks sorted first.
     
  7. Upsydaisy

    Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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    Please post a pic when you have done it up @kr236rk :):dbgrtmb:
     
  8. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    It might end up looking patchy, if you have some try on a very small section somewhere out of sight because if you don't like how it turns out it could be a very long time before you could use another treatment on top of it.
     
  9. Sandy Ground

    Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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    Probably the best thing to do would be to identify the current treatment and use something similar. I would not use creosote. It works best on untreated wood. At the same time, although it is used in some medicines, it is suspected to be a cause of cancer.

    Having said that, even if all of the old treatment was removed, there are far better preservatives out there that last longer if applied correctly, and are also less harmful to plant. I use a local mix (can post a recipe if asked) that has been used here for hundreds of years. If it survives our climate, it will survive in the UK!
     
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    • kr236rk

      kr236rk Gardener

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      Thanks to all :)

      I'd better call into my local garden centre / handy store and see what they advise. Those blocks are a concern - once removed, those triangles of glass, travelling down from the pinnacle, could fall back into the green house unless they were somehow secured from within. :-o
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I would like to see that @Sandy Ground - we can't get Creosote in the UK it was banned a few years ago. There is a substitute call Creocote which appears to be coloured water with no preservative qualities.
       
    • Sandy Ground

      Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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      The mix is (and apologies if I have translated incorrectly).

      1 part 100% Pine Wood Tar (sometimes called Stockholms tar or oil) 1 part Balsamic Turpentine, and 1 part Boiled Linseed oil. That will give a nice golden colour to pine. Most people would also add a pigment in the ratio 1 or 2 parts to 8 in weight. Generally, the pigment would be black or red.

      The pine wood tar can be replaced with Cedar wood tar.

      I treated this gate I made with the black variant...

      DSCN1752_2.jpg

      I can add a couple of tips as regards preparing the mix, as well as applying it as well.
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        Yes please Sandy.

        Can't seem to find a seller of this in the UK, perhaps it has another name over here?
         
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        • Sandy Ground

          Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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          @JWK These people have it:

          Balsam turpentine - Mike Wye

          When its being applied, put on way too much. Whenever its possible, I would use a spray gun, then remove the "puddles" using a brush. Just push the excess to drier places. Do it at regular intervals for the first couple of weeks until the wood doesnt want to take any more. A year or so later, one final coat...then perhaps another after 10 years.

          If you decide to use pigment, mix it up in a little turpentine before adding.

          Although I did not do so on the gate, it does work on metal also.
           
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          • Scudo

            Scudo Gardener

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