Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: AlistairMcLennan on October 13, 2010, 13:29

Title: Greenhouse Base
Post by: AlistairMcLennan on October 13, 2010, 13:29
Hi,

This is my first post so please be gentle.

I am planning to purchase a 6 x 6 greenhouse from Wilkinsons soon but need to build a base for it.  It will be in my back garden.  The ground is not level, so was thinking of digging out a trench that was level and build up from there so I can have a raised edge to sit the greenhouse on.
Does that sound that right way?  Also, would people suggest building blocks or bricks? I know in my head what I want to acheive, it just getting it down on paper and getting all the measuring right.

Cheers

AL
Title: Re: Greenhouse Base
Post by: aelf on October 13, 2010, 13:38
Hiya
I would say blocks rather than bricks. A consideration is how you are going to fix the greenhouse frame to the blocks, just to stop it blowing away in any gale-force winds (as mine did first time round). It will be easier to bolt down into blocks rather than bricks.  :)
Title: Re: Greenhouse Base
Post by: AlistairMcLennan on October 13, 2010, 13:43
Thanks for the reply.

Would it be better to lay the blocks on thier side rather on the bottom?  I read somewhere else that it was better for stability?

Title: Re: Greenhouse Base
Post by: aelf on October 13, 2010, 14:07
If you are laying the blocks in a trench and backfilling the trench so that the top of the blocks are only a couple of inches above the ground, they will be stable upright. Another way to do it is to get some flagstones and lay them first to make a floor. Then bolt the greenhouse to that.
Title: Re: Greenhouse Base
Post by: JayG on October 13, 2010, 17:49
Concrete blocks are cheap, easy and very heavy (as long as you don't buy the aerated ones!)

Only reason to use bricks would be if you either like bricklaying ( :unsure:), prefer the appearance, or want greater additional height for your base.
Title: Re: Greenhouse Base
Post by: savbo on October 14, 2010, 16:02
I've laid our 12x8 on 2 courses of blocks on their edge, mortared, sitting on a sand foundation, but when I put up the 8x6 it's just going to be on blocks on their side. Someone on here suggested 1 course on its side with another on its edge sitting on top as even better but I'm too tight to spend the extra £15  :)
M