In our garden we have a 10' (about 3m) x 20' (about 6m) cedar greenhouse. We bought it some years ago to replace two smaller aluminium greenhouses - one of which is now on the allotment plot.
Unlike our old aluminium version, the cedar one is really showing its age. Ideally we would have liked to have replaced it with a new one but after considering the upheaval and the fact that the garden would probably end up being destroyed in the process we have decided to have a go at giving it a facelift.
There are holes in the roof where glass is missing.
The problem with the roof is that it was originally glazed with huge panes of glass. These were slid in from the bottom edge of the roof but since then our neighbour has added some trellis work to the top of our fence so now that manoeuvre, at least on one side - the broken side, would be impossible. For this reason, and also the fact that pears tend to fall off a nearby tree and crack the glass, we (royal we aka Martyn) will reglaze the roof with polycarbonate sheets. As we have found these tend to flex in windy weather and blow out we (royal we again) will need to take steps to prevent this happening.
Another problem is that the guttering is in need of attention as there are bits of it missing. It has always had a tendency to come apart so a bit of a redesign will be needed here.
The door also needs sorting out. It is supposed to slide but it seems to have forgotten how and there has been at least one occasion when I found myself trapped inside. Now I take my mobile phone with me when I am working in the greenhouse so I can call down to the house if I need rescuing. That makes it sound as though the house is a long way away - it isn't but if Martyn is in the middle of watching a rugby match then he is unlikely to miss me for quite a while!
We've bought a big tin of Cuprinol so we (this time probably me) can restain the wood. I'm not sure how much of the roof we will be able to reach but hopefully when we have finished the greenhouse will last us for a good few years, will look a bit more loved and we may be encouraged to try and keep it tidier inside too.
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I loved reading this post apart from the amount of work you have planned & the difficulties of course. Mike like Martyn wouldn't miss me if I got trapped either. The 'royal we' did make me giggle.
ReplyDeleteThe 'royal we' is a very effective tool. Jo
DeleteIt's a fine looking greenhouse anyway Sue! Do you have one of those automatic window vent thingies? When we first inherited our greenhouse we thought we had a ghost as the window mysteriously creaked open and shut! Also re the cracked glass- we bought some magic "invisible" tape specifically for greenhouse repairs- within a day it turned white and looks awful, but has held so far!
ReplyDeleteWe have two automatic thingies, Jill - the plot greenhouse has one as well. We installed them when we knew we couldn't always be around to open windows when they needed it and had to guess at what the day was going to be like before setting off to work. As for ghosts - one school I used to visit thought they had a ghost in their ICT suite as they had accidentally set MS Word to voice recognition. It started trying to make sense of any noises in the room and started typing messages.
DeleteIt's certainly worth trying to repair the bits which are showing age, it's a beauty and such a great size. You'd get my 6'X4' greenhouses inside it a few times over.
ReplyDeleteIt's an Alton - I think you said yours was too, Jo. Luckily they offer parts for sale so maybe we will be able to get something to fix the door.
DeleteNo, mine isn't an Alton, it's a cheapie from B&Q if my memory serves me right. Mick fitted a new wheel on the door yesterday and replaced the polycarbonate in it so it looks all posh again now. It's only a tiny thing but I'd certainly miss it if I didn't have it.
DeleteOur polycarbonate still hasn't arrived.
DeleteWe used a company I found on Ebay. It was £40.90 for ten sheets, 4mm 610X1220. It was delivered really quickly, within a couple of days, but Mick ended up having to cut the sheets down as they measured a cm more than stated. It wasn't a big job though and we thought they were a good price.
DeleteHere, gardener usually don't have green house on their gardens. Unusual thing! I don't have space for a green house in my garden :-(
ReplyDeleteBut you don;t really need a greenhouse do you, Endah?
DeleteThat sounds like quite a job, but it will be well worth it. Mine is an old leaky, inherited greenhouse and in totally the wrong place in the garden. I keep hoping 'we' will refurb and move it one day..
ReplyDeleteIs that also the royal we, Jessica?
DeleteI envy you all these greenhouses. I don't have one but I have a shed with a clear roof made of corrugated polycarbonate sheets and it has worked beautifully. I am sure you will like it. It is very tough and does not break down in the sun.
ReplyDeleteThe main problem is when it flexes in the wind and consequently blows out of the frame Alain but we're hoping that we have figured a solution to help prevent that happening.
DeleteThat's a really good sized greenhouse and they are quite expensive at the best of times. Hope you get it sorted.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed Kelli that we turn it into something more pleasing to the eye.
DeleteOh how I love your greenhouse. I did laugh at the image of you stuck inside waiting to be rescued. If it was me no-one would miss me until they needed something.
ReplyDeleteI eventually managed to open the door, CJ but not before panic was setting in
DeleteWell worth fixing I think Sue. Once the work on it is finished think of the pleasure you will get from using it for years to come.
ReplyDeleteWe think so, Rooko
DeleteWe don't have green house here. We only prepare some top cover in order to protect small seedling from heavy rain or hot weather!
ReplyDeleteHope you fix your greenhouse soon!
You plants would probably burn to a crisp in a greenhouse, Malar
DeleteIt's a great greenhouse Sue and I think worthy of the effort. Look forward to seeing the 'after' pictures.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to after too, Victoraa
DeleteWhat a lovely big spacious greenhouse you have, well worth the tlc...and a new one would cost an arm and a leg as well. Looking forward to seeing how you [Martyn] gets on.xxx
ReplyDeleteDon't forget I'll be doing that important staining.
DeleteSuch a lovely greenhouse, if I was ever going to have one, I would have a cedar greenhouse too, even if it requires some wood treatment now and then. That’s a bit academic though, as my garden can’t even accommodate a shed – unless I give up one of my flowerbeds, but I can’t really see me doing that. Your greenhouse is more than half of my garden, the seating area included – would have been lovely to have if my garden was twice the size. I look forward to seeing it freshly treated and spruced up, including with a door that won’t trap you inside!
ReplyDeleteA working door is definitely essential, Helene
DeleteI look forward to seeing how the polycarbonate roofing goes Sue, our roof panels on the inaccessible side are suffering rather from rot where the rain leaks through the guttering, and we will definitely need to do something about this soon. Happy staining - it should look rather suave at the end of all that tlc, and perhaps you won't be so in need of a mobile during the rugby!
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for the polycarbonate, Janet we are promised it for Thursday apparently they have sent it out once and it went awol
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