Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Equipment Shed => Topic started by: noshed on August 17, 2006, 10:07
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I hate to bring up this sensitive subject but has anyone seen any plans of how you can erect a wooden frame straight? I was thinking of sinking four posts into the ground and using scrap wood to make a frame over it and then pinning my corrugated plastic to it. But how to you get the posts vertical and the same distance into the ground? I feel that O level maths should equip you for this but I can't remember any greenhouse classes.
The other option would be to make a level base and pin everything to that I suppose but that would take more wood.
All the other plot holders on my site seem to stroll up with a random collection of wood and erect enormous sheds, with verandah and grapevine pergola. I am discussing this with them but it's sometimes difficult as the best ones are built by the older Turkish blokes and my Turkish is rubblish.
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I fear you may have to borrow or invest in a good spirit level and a good old fashioned tape measure! My suggestion would be to obtain 4 metal fence post stakes and use these to anchor your uprights into the ground but if you are not planning on spending any money then this may not be an option.
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Hi Noshed - :)
You need the posts to be the same height, level and square.
First decide where the posts are going. To make a rectangle 'square' you need equal distance between breadth and width AND diagonal or you end up with a trapezium.
Post position chosen, insert posts and put a batten between them, using a spirit level on the batten you will get your level.
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The other option would be to make a level base and pin everything to that I suppose but that would take more wood.
I got two 4'x4' pallets, set them on a level, unmortared single course brick foundation, nailed them together, then built a frame based on six 7' upright lengths of 2"x2". Filled in the frame with perspex. It's not huge; about the size of 2 phone boxes stuck together, but it has seen me though my first season.
ps Lidl were doing spirit levels for about 1.99 a while back.
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Thanks for all the advice. I'm tempted by the pallet option as there seems to be a source of bricks at the back of our office (no, it's not someone else's office) and I am a bit of a pallet connoiseur.
Those metpost things cost about £5-£6 each although they look useful.
I managed to get my shed nearly straight and it is level - and yes I did it with a £1.99 spirit level. So I'm fairly confident. Just need to measure the sheets and work out how much of an overlap they need.
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Those metpost things cost about £5-£6 each although they look useful.
Not sure Milkman meant metposts. You have to be very careful to get metposts in straight - for this you need a hefty sledge hammer - because they are the devils own job to get out if they are not straight, and them you have the problem of getting them in straight in churned up ground.
They do work very well when they work, though. Their fence is still standing after some 25 years!
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I've designed it now, so construction will start soon. I reckon I've got enough junk to make it - just need to get the uprights straight...
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have a look at these spirit levels noshed .ideal for posts
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001KA18K/026-9374362-4876406?v=glance&n=11052651
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So when do we see the pics of the double greenhouse extravaganza John?
My little plastic shed is still in the concept stage but it should keep me busy in September.
Thanks for the spirit level link by the way - so you're a bit of a cyclist shaun - are you looking forward to the tour next year? Some of my mates are trying to be marshalls, linement rubbers etc. Saw a bit of it a couple of years ago in France - still got the frizbees.
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not my type of cycling noshed i keep off road up the hills and down the valleys,i go with my 14 year old son and struggle keeping up with him .i do admire those road guys even the ones who take steroids .when you watch it on the TV it doesn't justify the effort they put in.thinking of getting some steroids to help me dig the manure in the ground in a few months
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So when do we see the pics of the double greenhouse extravaganza John?
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About 2010 at present rate of progress :)
I'm going to liaise with Larry and take a day off next week to have a greenhouse raising - bit likt the barn raising in Witness but with 2 of us and a greenhouse.
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That's the bit where if you put it all up in one day, you're allowed to live in it forever.
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I thought that was only in the New Forest.
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noshed wrote:
So when do we see the pics of the double greenhouse extravaganza John?
as a total independent observer i am working in nantwich for a couple of weeks ,do you think john will have the greenhouse up by the time before we finish our job.if i am still around them parts i might sneak around to his plot for a bit of undercover work. (just to confirm that john doesnt take a pic of someone elses and claims it is his) :)
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you could even give him a helping hand!
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i would rather clime a tree with a bottle brandy and have a right good laugh,but if they were struggling i might give them a hand for a small fee :D
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Thanks shaun... hope yer tyres go flat :tongue2:
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john if i told you what happened on the way home just before the tarvin roundabout you wouldnt believe me :oops:
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I knew sacrificing that black cockerel in the pentgram would work - those Dennis Wheatley books were well worth the money :)
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Stop messing about! This is what you need. http://tinyurl.com/kh7fg
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lend me five grand, James?
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witchcraft aswell hey john,
its the only time i have changed a tyre with a smile on my face.
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What's wrong with a bit of spell casting ? Good fun if you ask me . Now back to the subject of greenhouse bodging. I've acquired two green houses one 8 x 8 and the other 8 x 6 and I'd like to join then together to make one big greenhouse. Anyone got any ideas for a method? Ta
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Join the 8' faces of each together. Should give you 8'x14' if my maths are correct. Joining an 8' side to the 6' side would give you a 2' gap, which could be adapted as a door, or maybe just a pleasing feature-style break in that elevation. Or if you centre the 6' side on the 8' side, you could have a 1' gap on either side, which might be nice. Or if you put the smaller one on top, it would create a 'telescope' effect, similar to C13th church towers prevalent in the Brabant. I'll keep reading the Pevsner.
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Hey John - where's the pictures of the greenhouse erection? (Sorry this isn't spam).
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Intending to take the camera round today - Larry called last night just as it was dark and helpfully told me that the strong wind yesterday has twisted it.
Poured with rain here yesterday as well :(
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Yes it's a howling gale here today too. Just did a bit of harvesting and left the weeds to their own devices. Surprising how quickly they grow isn't it?
My imaginary greenhouse is coming on well. Just have to get out of the realms of fantasy now.
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Well mine is less imaginary today - just needs the glass and the door fitting :)
Then the second greenhouse will come on site.
Boy am I tired.
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Our site secretary has given me permission to put up a greenhouse - and she's tipped me off for vacant plots with potentially useful wood and bricks going loafing.
I have no excuse now.
I wish I had some leave left. Weekends aren't really long enough.