Diary of a greenhouse erection

[FONT=&quot]Well I got there in the end! My greenhouse is up, if not quite running. Thought you might like to hear how we got on, and maybe others can learn from our mistakes![/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Project:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] To erect a new greenhouse.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Materials:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] One greenhouse in kit form, one concreted area[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Resources[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: Me, the Man and the Dog[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Budget:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] £0[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Timescale:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 15 days[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 1[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Inspect the site at the bottom of the garden. Oh dear. It isnâ??t flat, or level, or square. The Man gives up and takes the Dog for a walk. I look for help on the internet and discover Gardenerscorner.com. Get lots of useful advice![/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 2[/FONT][FONT=&quot] After much discussion, we decide to build a rectangle of blocks for the greenhouse to sit on. This will make the front sill a bit high, but as thereâ??s a step up to it anyway, we decide we can live with that. Go to B&Q and buy blocks and mortar: £49. That blows the budget, then.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 3[/FONT][FONT=&quot] We lay blocks. Getting them level and square is easier said than done, particularly as we want a slight fall from back to front so the rain will run down the gutters. We do our best. â??Near enoughâ?, we say.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 4[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Too knackered to do anything.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 5[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Today is greenhouse-building day â?? or is it?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Damsel in Distress (DID) phones: her computer is broken. The Man bolts out the door faster than you can say â??intermediate glazing bar.â? Iâ??m left alone with the Dog, sitting on the floor surrounded by bits.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The instructions look daunting. I start by identifying all the components and sorting them into groups. Soon Iâ??ve got to grips with gusset plates and under-braces. I read the instructions again, and they begin to make sense.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I get ahead by fitting the glazing strip onto the bars. I put the right number of bolts into each component and fix them temporarily with masking tape. I buy more time by building the vents and the door.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 6[/FONT][FONT=&quot] DID is OK today, so we take the bits out the back. Dog supervises. We build the sides and gable ends easily: if you can build flat-pack furniture, you can do this. Having the right tools helps: one of these is worth its weight in gold:[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Day 7[/FONT][FONT=&quot] The Man and I try to join the walls together - not possible. Kindly Neighbour comes round, accompanied by Tall Friend. Weâ??re grateful for their help, although, predictably, they stand about chatting about everything under the sun except building greenhouses. I scurry around underneath, tightening nuts.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Then we try to fit the ridge bar. It doesnâ??t want to go in. KN heaves on it. TF suggests bashing it wiv a hammer, at which point I offer a cup of tea.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 8[/FONT][FONT=&quot] It doesnâ??t look quite right, but we carry on regardless. We put in the roof glazing bars. But one of the roof diagonal braces doesnâ??t fit. The Man suddenly remembers he has to deliver a course in Ancient Sumerian Cuneiform, and vanishes.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 9[/FONT][FONT=&quot] In the cold light of a new day, itâ??s clearly skew-whiff. The gable bars at the front donâ??t meet up properly with the ridge bar. The sides are square but the roof isnâ??t.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]After much to-ing and fro-ing we realise that one of the front corners is low. Our â??near enoughâ? on Day 3 wasnâ??t anywhere near enough. We prop up the corner on a couple of flat stones, and, hey presto, it all goes together nice and square. Of course, now thereâ??s a gap under the frame on two sides.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]DID needs help again. I spend the rest of the day lying on my back at the bottom of the garden, squodging concrete into the gap.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 10[/FONT][FONT=&quot] We screw the base into the ground with brackets. Of course, the brackets donâ??t fit now, so itâ??s back to B&Q to buy bigger brackets: £8.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 11[/FONT][FONT=&quot] As Day 4.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 12[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Glazing day. The glass (full-length toughened glass) was delivered in a huge heavy crate that has to be kept upright. Prizing it open is scary, as youâ??ve got to make sure it doesnâ??t topple over. But at least the glass doesnâ??t have sharp edges and is quite hard to break. Again, having the right tools helps: one of these was invaluable:[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]We get the roof, sides and vents done by dusk. The glass is so clear you canâ??t see it, and the Dog prangs his nose whilst chasing a cat. We put crosses of masking tape on the panes.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 13[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Finish glazing the gable ends and door, and fit the louvres.[/FONT]

View attachment 266

[FONT=&quot]Day 14[/FONT][FONT=&quot] As day 11.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Day 15[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Make shelving out of our old bed base and some bits of 2by1. [/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Oh joy! At last I have a greenhouse!
[/FONT]View attachment 268 [FONT=&quot] :luv:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Now all I have to do is grow something.[/FONT]

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Thanks for a fun read..the greenhouse looks great!

 

Well done! Very spivvy looking greenhouse.

 

Hillarious ucg well done, in no time at all it will be full and you will want to extend it.:thumb:

 

It's massive!!! ...and very swish indeed!
Have you moved in yet?
Congratulations!

 

Yes lovely greenhouse but mine only took a day to build I guess I didnt have a woman to help me.

 

Very nice, and I admire your determination to complete the project:gnthb:

 

:lollol:Fun times!...Thanks for sharing
Nice smart job:gnthb:

 

Tee-hee! Point taken!!! You must be Superman though if you could do all that in a day!! :ntwrth:
Seriously, it's not easy when a) you're a novice b) the "help" is more interested in other things and c) the dog needs walkies 3 times a day. Yeah, let's blame the dog, he can't answer back.

 

Well done ucg, looks fantastic :gnthb:
I work in a 1/4 acre glasshouse but don't have one of my own but one day I will and I will reread your diary when I need help (which I no doubt will).

 

Thats a right size for a greenhouse. I looked in dobbies for one similar and they watned about 3 grand for it.Id be happy with a 8x6, im stuck with a plastic 6x4 for now though.

 

Its a lovely looking greenhouse Ucg, and I understand your "squidging" in 9, becuase of 3..:lollol:(been there, done that !). Keep the photos coming so we can see it fill up with plants.

Steve...

 

Thanks Kev. This one didn't cost 3 grand, slightly over 1 grand from Europa Manor via Greenhouses Direct. They had some pretty good deals on when I ordered it just before xmas.

Good luck with your 6x4 though - even a tiny greenhouse is better than no greenhouse at all!:thmb: