A greenhouse is a major investment; remember that this building is
likely to be in your garden for many years to come.
A small, cheap model may be all you need. But then again, why not treat
yourself? After all, it is something that will give years of pleasure
and is practical too.
Everyone has different priorities, price limits and amounts of space
when it comes to choosing a greenhouse. Only you can decide on which
is the best model for you, however we have detailed some handy pointers
when browsing our product range.
Door Access
Typically, the average door height of a 6' wide greenhouse is 5'8",
this is not true of greenhouse builders such as
Robinsons Headens
and all of our timber greenhouses such as Alton
and MPB
Height can be increased through the purchase of an optional base;
however the doorway threshold can become another potential hazard. Greenhouses
such as Robinsons and Headens
have integral bases with almost no door threshold whilst the Alton
building boasts a kerbless threshold.
Base Options
It's easier to assemble a greenhouse correctly if it is secured to some
sort of perimeter base frame, as this should ensure the sides are square.
A base frame should also make the structure more rigid. Many of our buildings
are supplied with integral bases for additional strength see for example:
If the base is an optional extra, you could build a brick one instead,
although this could work out more expensive. Also, accuracy is essential
and not easy.
Plans for base layout are available upon request.
Siting Your Greenhouse
The most convenient position
is normally as near to your house as possible
without falling within its shadow. Avoid siting
near trees, in the shadow of buildings, walls,
etc., or in extremely exposed positions. Ideally,
you should site a free-standing greenhouse with
its ridge running from east to west as this gives
better light penetration in the winter when the
sun is low in the sky.
A lean-to greenhouse should ideally be
sited against a south facing wall.
What Shape?
Octagonal/Hexagonal adds a feature to any garden; see Fawt
and Dovetail for aluminium
and Alton in timber.
Whilst the traditional "angular" design of most popular free-standing
greenhouses assists in getting the best light penetration and efficient
staging layouts.
Not forgetting the more unusual designs in our range for example the "barn
style" roof of our AGL "Supreme"
models.
Wooden versus aluminium
Timber-framed greenhouses win on looks, ease of assembly since they are
generally supplied pre-glazed and in larger panels. These building do
however attract a higher premium.
Our Alton rot-resistant, Western red cedar models
usually start from around £800 for a basic 6 x 8ft model 'Popular' model.
The equivalent in aluminium from our AGL range
would could cost as little as £229.
Those made from less durable softwoods such as deal/pine an option on
our MPB range, fall somewhere in between, but need
painting regularly to prevent rot - unless they've been pressure treated
with preservative.
Aluminium frames are maintenance-free. Optional powder-coating of the
aluminium frame available now in a multitude of colours not only enhances
the looks, but is often guaranteed for years against fading and flaking.
Newest to our range is the plastic resin constructed Eden
greenhouses.
Accessories
At www.greenhousestoday.co.uk
we pride ourselves in offering the complete greenhouse solution from Waterbutts
to Heaters but in this section we will
concentrate on those items that it is best to consider purchasing with
the greenhouse.
Rainwater kits
Almost all aluminium greenhouses are supplied with some form of guttering,
not everything greenhouse is supplied with the down-pipes and stop-ends.
Ask one of our sales team whether these pipes are supplied with your greenhouse.
Automatic roof openers
A convenient and precautionary measure for ensuring that when your greenhouse
reaches a particular temperature zone the roof or side vent is pushed
open by the action of a small piston. No wiring or batteries required.
This form of ventilation works particularly well in conjunction with louver
side windows.
Louvre windows
Generally five or six glass bladed vents designed to increase air-flow
from the lower part of your greenhouse. These vents work well in creating
a draft-flow through a greenhouse.
Glazing
Most of our greenhouses are available in a standard horticultural glazing
or toughened glass, many can also be specified with a polycarbonate glazing.
The differences in the glass is most evident when it breaks. Like a car
side-screen, toughened glass will shatter whilst horticultural glass splinters
into large sharp pieces.
Polycarbonate is offered in 4mm and 6mm varieties on selected greenhouses
such as Eden
The twin-walls are the equivalent of having a double glazed greenhouse
offering superior heat-retention qualities. Supplied in larger sheets
the appearance is opaque.
Only greenhouses such as Robinsons
are supplied with toughened safety glass as standard. Another unique
feature of RobinsonsHeadensAltonFawt
and some buildings within the AGL
and Eden ranges is that the toughened
glass is often supplied in full-length sheets as opposed to overlapped
glass panels.
Lines
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