Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: Stegsie on November 06, 2011, 23:18
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After getting the keys to my new (and first) allotment a few weeks back, I've spent some time getting things tidied up and started planning for the next season.
However, I have a huge problem in the fact that the shed, and the greenhouse, that were on the plot initially are going to have to be pulled down. They are beyond repair, and without a doubt, unsafe. They'll have to go this week.
Whilst I would love to go out and spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds on a new shed and greenhouse, there is just no way on earth that's going to be possible. I was thinking about maybe looking on the likes of eBay for something second hand? Has anyone any advice, or experience they would care to share with regards to this?
Is it possible? Is it false economy? What should I look out for - and where is a good place to look?
Thanks in advance,
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Greenhouses on ebay tend to go for around the 100 quid mark - plus any replacement glass you need to buy!!!
Sheds tend to go for around 40 to 120 for a small but useable one!!!
In both cases, you'll probably have to dismantle yourself!!!
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Try local adds or free-cycle.
Mad as it may seem there are often people wanting to upgrade their garden sheds or others who move into a new home and want to get rid of a shed. There are some bargins to be had if you ask around and keep an eye out. You will need to be patient though. ;)
Exactly the same goes for greenhouses.. sometimes owners are just happy to have them dismantled and removed!
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I got a greenhouse second hand so my tips are, you will need 2 people to dismantel but take photo's first, you also could mark end parts with a marker pen, the glass stack flat in the car but put newspaper in between pains, it took me a good part of a day just to dismantel and one day to put back up but it was free.
You will need a large car as well, gloves for moving the glass.
Good luck.
PS. i am on my third greenhouse now.
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I got my allotment shed cheap (£50) as it was a display model and had seen better days. With a stronger floor and a gallon of wood preserver, it's doing a cracking job.
Go and see the manager of 'the sheds'. He/she may have one coming up for disposal. Cheers, Tony.
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I got my allotment shed cheap (£50) as it was a display model and had seen better days. With a stronger floor and a gallon of wood preserver, it's doing a cracking job.
Go and see the manager of 'the sheds'. He/she may have one coming up for disposal. Cheers, Tony.
We got our school shed ths way... excellent value :)
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Stegsie,
You can get a decent polytunnel for about £150. I know that there are not secure storage but neither is a wooden shed.
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we have a 7x7 shed and a 8x6 greenhouse we got off Freegle.... (and a £50 12x8 ghouse off a lisings site and and £100 6x6 off ebay!)
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Cheers for all the replies. Sorry I've not replied sooner, but I've had a stupidly busy week this week! :blink:
Anyway - I will be sure to checkout all the freecycle websites, and get looking on ebay etc too.
I put a plea out on Facebook for some pallets (Compost Bin time!). My cousin came back within about 15 mins to tell me he had a load of them in work. He arrived with 12 pallets yesterday - I was over the moon with them! Much more than I need, but I am sure they'll come in handy.
At the plot this weekend removing all the old rotten sheds and unsafe greenhouse.
Thanks all!
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You could build a shed with the pallets
Also try preloved
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You could build a shed with the pallets
Also try preloved
Here is one another member did with all the photos of the different stages.
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=16203.0
Good luck with your new plot.
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It's not uncommon to hear of folks getting either greenhouses or sheds free, you've just got to be lucky and be in the right place at the right time. I got both - a 6' x 4' shed in remarkably good condition, and then a 6' x 8' greenhouse, and then on top of that I've just got a Homebase 1.5m wide outdoor storage unit.
You might be lucky on Freecycle or Freegle, but you've got to be quick. Try placing 'wanted' ads on them as well. But also, tell as many folk as you can what you're after - that's how I got my first two items (the storage unit was on Freecycle).
Bot I would also go and ask if I saw, say, a neglected greenhouse in a garden. You never know unless you ask, the owner may want shot of it and not know how to dispose of it, they might be only too pleased for you to take it. Never be afraid to ask - what's the worst that can happen? Good luck ;)
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i just bought myself a nice 8x8 greenhouse for £25 going to go tommorow and dismantle it, i dont have any problem with second hand furniture as to me when they are brand new the place looks like a showgarden lol
(now to figure out a base for it!)
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Stegsie,
You can get a decent polytunnel for about £150. I know that there are not secure storage but neither is a wooden shed.
As Fen quite rightly says - a shed isn't secure storage. The first bit of advice from our allotment plot secretary was to NOT put a lock on any shed I decide to build. The reasoning behind this is that thieves see a lock and think there must be something of value inside. They will then do almost anything to get in. Apparently sheds have been virtually destroyed just to get inside. I was told it was safe to leave old tools and fertilisers etc... but anything saleable should leave site when I do.
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I just got a greenhouse on ebay and finished re-assembling it yesterday. 90 quid + 26 to replace glass - both broken already and broken during dismantling (which is bound to happen)!!!
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Stegsie,
You can get a decent polytunnel for about £150. I know that there are not secure storage but neither is a wooden shed.
As Fen quite rightly says - a shed isn't secure storage. The first bit of advice from our allotment plot secretary was to NOT put a lock on any shed I decide to build. The reasoning behind this is that thieves see a lock and think there must be something of value inside. They will then do almost anything to get in. Apparently sheds have been virtually destroyed just to get inside. I was told it was safe to leave old tools and fertilisers etc... but anything saleable should leave site when I do.
Totally agree with this thinking. Police advice is to secure with huge padlock, so doors are splintered by vandals/thieves in an effort to see there is nothing of any intrinsic value inside