Smashing Greenhouse!

HI,

Can anybody give me some advice please.

I have been in my current house for 2 summers now.

I have a small six foot by six foot greenhouse, from B&Q. It's on a slab base with a proper steel base.

In the Autumn, I lost 2 panes of glass (24" x 24" Hortic glass as supplied with the greenhouse) and replaced them with a piece of pespex 24 x 48.

Next Gales, this blew out together with about 6 or 7 more panes.

2 days ago I lost a few more, and have now removed all the rest of the glass.

The little clips seem not suitable to hold the glass.



What can I replace the glass with?

I'd rather use perspex, as cleaning up glass is hoerrendous.

I think acrylic is too expensive (£40 per 24 x 24 pane!!!!)

and the plastic sheets which are 2 layers with sections won't fit this greenhouse as this is designed for glass.

Is there a better clip around?

Anybody had this problem, and if so how did you get round it?

Thanks - Dave

 

Trouble is perspex is flexible so would blow out easily in high winds...once the wind can get in it will blow other panes out too. If it was my GH I would put all glass back in and replace the original two that broke with glass. But see what others have to say about it first.

Steve...

 

Hi Dave,

I recently purchased a greenhouse (very similar to the b and q one) and have had a few problems with the current weather.

I have Twin-wall polycarbonate panels in mine held in with the supplied 'w' clips. I have made sure that more clips are in place towards the exposed sides (not sure what aspect your greenhouse is in?) and this has helped a little.

I have read before about people using silicone to set them in place, but as it requires 5 celcius for it to set, i have yet to give that a go (no use while wind is so bad either)

The other problem I have at the moment is that the door has blown off. My solution was to use net curtain wires (the elastic white cords used to hang curtains up, with hooks at either end) stretched across the whole of the front of the greenhouse, from one side of the frame to the other.

I have also tried this on the other sides and thus far have yet to lose a panel, and the door seems pretty solid too. Sadly though, I fear this wont help you out with glass, as it will just fall straight out.

I would try the silicone idea though along with additional 'w' clips. might be worth a shot?

I agree with steve about using glass where you can. I would use glass myself, but with children, decided to go down the safer route with polycarb.

- Luke -

 

To blow out the glass, the wind must be getting inside the greenhouse.
The clips are not designed to stop the glass blowing outwards.
They just hold it in place, if the door is kept shut in windy conditions the glass gets blown inwards, against the glazing rebates.

If you should use silicone on polycarbonate make sure you use the low modulus neutral cure one, not the acetic cure that is more commonly available.

 

Hi Dave

I'd personally replace all missing panes with new glass and make sure correct amount of clips used .. and as Pete said make sure wind is not getting inside .. Once a pane is out the wind is in ..

Dave

 

Hi Dave,

I live in a windy area. I bought my greenhouse three years ago and upgraded to toughened glass at the time of buying which is heavier. It went through a force ten gale last year with not a murmur! So perhaps it's not the clips but the weight of the panes that is the problem.

 

Well - I am truly impressed with the level and quality of the responses I have had to my problem.

I have dug out photos I took when I built the greenhouse



It is vulnerable to the South and slightly East.

I am going to replace the glass as you have all suggested - but not until I have devised a sort of method to help hold in the clips.

I did have a piece of wood accross the middle where the 2 600mm panes join, and this was jammed between the uprights. This pair of panes stayed put.

I think it's back to B&Q to buy some more glass, and some wood to make a lot more "reinforcing bars"

I will probably put twice as many clips in to hold the glass as it originally had (2/pane/side)

I did think of surrounding it all with trellis as well. (The curtain wire was also a possibility)

Thanks

Dave

 

I still fail to see how glass can be blown outwards if the house is closed down during strong winds.

The clips on most commonly available ali greenhouses are designed to just hold the glass in place, all the pressure should come from the outside during a gale, thus forcing the glass in place against the glazing tape or rubber seal.

If its blowing outwards the wind must have got inside the greenhouse and that's a disaster, waiting to happen.

 

I agree with the funneling effect. The first panes to go where nearest the house (white bucket).

I can not GUARANTEE that the door was completely closed initially, as it had no catch. (It has now!)

I am wondering if I should block off the area between the shed and greenhouse with a panel especially in the winter, to help stop the wind funneling.

Thanks - Dave