Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: newtonuk on January 24, 2017, 15:47
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Hi, I've just inherited a greenhouse that has, admittedly, seen better days, however it is my greenhouse and I'd like it to be as good as I can make it.
Firstly, do I need to know the make or manufacturer of the greenhouse for spares or are things quite generic?
I've just been reading about glazing rubber gaskets, but I have no idea about fitting such things. Do I need it? What do I need to check to get the right stuff if I do?
There's more questions that I can think of in one go, but do I need to fasten it down? I have a paving slab base and the greenhouse has some sort of base that the frame sits on, kind of like a skirting board kind of height.
Any help, advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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How exciting, a little envious and greatly clueless around the subject. I'm a big fan of Pinterest and have seen things on it done with opaque plastic sheets (ridged stuff) so if all else fails give that a go. Good luck
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I don't know if it helps, but the aluminium profile looks something like the attached.
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Is the door right ? it looks like the top runner is missing. Do you a picture from head on and one of an inside corner.
I was going to say it looks rather crittal-esk but the roof windows aren't right - they look divided in the picture :wacko:
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Hi Lardman, it's a hinged door that is hinged on the left. Yes, the windows are divided.
It'll be Thursday before I can get a daylight picture, but is it the end on, i.e. door end, that would help?
Cheers!
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Also, the roof windows are on sliding stays with a thumbscrew to lock the bar out rather than traditional casement stay type.
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Oooh, I think it looks like the one on this page...
https://www.elloughton-greenhouses.co.uk/services/refurbished-greenhouses (https://www.elloughton-greenhouses.co.uk/services/refurbished-greenhouses)
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Is this the right profile - an Elite greenhouse?
(http://www.twowests.co.uk/ProductImages/ESLBC2.jpg)
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It's similar, but not as neat. This is the best picture I could get tonight.
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Oooh, I think it looks like the one on this page...
https://www.elloughton-greenhouses.co.uk/services/refurbished-greenhouses (https://www.elloughton-greenhouses.co.uk/services/refurbished-greenhouses)
Elloughton Greenhouses got back to me, but they can't remember much about the greenhouse unfortunately, only that the glazing clips were not the usual design and aren't particularly compatible with the current ones. He said he hasn't come across one like it since :(
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There have been changes over the years regarding items like glazing clips and gaskets - knowing the make of yours would be helpful in obtaining replacements, but finding that out is probably easier said than done, in which case it's handy to salvage a few existing spares to help you match them up (plenty of illustrations online to help.)
My greenhouse is only about 6 years old, but already some of the rubber glazing gaskets have magically disappeared, although it doesn't seem to materially affect either the weatherproof-ness or stability.
Although a glass-glazed GH is pretty heavy, it will still need securely fastening down - even if the winds aren't severe enough to actually blow it over, it can still be destroyed if they're strong enough to warp the frame.
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Make sure you anchor the base down onto yourt slabs otherwise if you do get a high wind it will move.
Glazing gaskets are normaly a rubber/foam strip that you can buy from most garden centres. Simply cut them to the size you need and stick them onto the frame where the glass fits. Glass is a standard size and the clips that hold theglass in place and the nuts and bolts are all universal and can again be bought from your local garden centre.
Hope that helps and happy gardening
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Thanks JayG and Shedmeister, with regards to the clips, Elloughton Greenhouses advised that:
"the glazing clips were a bit of an issue, they were a strange design which were not really compatible with the modern clips available"
Now, if this is a firm as big as Elloughton Greenhouses having a problem, then I don't think I'm going to have much luck!
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I've merged your 2 threads together, it makes more sense to have all the comments together.
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Thank you! I did try to delete my first one but couldn't work out how to :tongue2:
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It's similar, but not as neat. This is the best picture I could get tonight.
Are all the glazing bars like that? it looks like the ridgebar on my greenhouse.
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Yes, I think they are. I've not checked each and every one, but the ones I have looked at are. They look quite heavy duty for all of the frame.
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There are two basic types of clip. One is a spring wire shaped like a w. These are best for all types of glass as they hold the pane in securly. the other is a bent chrome strip that is supposed to be better for poly carb sheets.
Having built several greenhouses and many sheds I would go for the wire clips on all occasions. They can be used on both materiels but I would advise you use a pair of snipe nose pliars when fitting them rather than a thumb nail. Glass use the flat bottom over the pane. Poly carb use the two elbows. the ends clip under the ridge of the struts.
Greenhouse companies will try to sell you their own at high prices if you can get them at all.
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Hi Shed,
This is the profile of my frame, with the tall piece being on the outside and being completely new to this I don't know how the W clips will fit, as the glass sits on the little V and the current clips fasten in the channel on the M shape, down its leg and on to the glass.
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Photo of clips please ;) or are they like these?
https://www.greenhousewarehouse.com/sp-gclipx20-stainless-steel-g-glazing-clip-x-20.html
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They are the ones Mum and it does say they replace the w clips. where you get two panes in one stretch you use a small s hhaped clip that just slides over the bottom pane and the top pane fits into that giving you the overlap.
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Right, some photos as requested. Inside corner, from the front and a picture of the glazing clips...
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j463/newtonuk/IMG_1173.jpg)
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j463/newtonuk/IMG_1176.jpg)
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j463/newtonuk/IMG_1181.jpg)
As you should be able to see, the glazing clips aren't like the ones that have been linked to, and to answer a previous question, yes all of the frame has that profile.
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The w wire clips will fit that. The ends of the clip will bend under the M and will spring back into place.
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Thank you Sir!
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As said Use a pair of snipe nose pliars to fit them.
They can be spiteful little sods and are quite happy to lift an unsuspecting thumb nail up resulting in much swearing and red stuff leaking out
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I'll have my bramble gauntlets on as well :-)
Just need to find a rubber seal that will do the job to the best that it can be done.
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The seal is a self adhesive strip that is made from neophrane. You can get this from a garden centre in a roll. Just cut it to legnth pull the paper backing off and stick away. Have a dig around flea bay. You will probably get the lot cheaper
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I managed to get a good photo of the profile at last...
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j463/newtonuk/IMG_1190%20copy_1.jpg)
The circled channel bit is 5mm across, so I'm guessing I need a 5mm gasket? Does that sound reasonable?
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that would indeed be fine