Greenhouse recommendation

[chalkywhite]

Hi, we'd like to get a polycarbonate/aluminum greenhouse, but wonder which brands are built the best, especially the base, which we'd like to perhaps postcrete into soil?
Looks like most of the polytunnels split or perish over time, e.g. shelterlogic
Thanks

 

[conny]

Polycarbonate/aluminium are not good in windy locations. Ours lasted 2 years despite securing the panels with extra strong webbing tape.
The panels would flex and eventually crease longitudinally before splitting or cracking. Shortly before Christmas we lost the door and 3 panels. Impossible to replace without taking half the frame apart and modifying the door support runners and end stop.
Broke it all down and took it the scrap heap.

 

[JBR]

Ours, which I put up in November 2018, is a 10' x 6' Rhino. Not polycarbonate, but tempered glass with aluminium frame and built like a tank (but with windows!). It has its own (aluminium) base which sits directly on levelled heavy clay and is held down by six ground anchors set in postcrete.

It's very strong and has withstood Storm Dennis (or whatever it was called) without any damage whatsoever.

 

[chalkywhite]

Thanks both. OK, so the spot where it'll be located is fairly shaded from the wind (tree-lined one side, shed behind and Laurel infront), but i will take onboard the advice about polycarbonate thanks. The Rhino's look like being out of my price range, even in their winter sale £50 off a £1200 model. I'll see what i can find with the tempered glass, cheers.

 

[domdee]

There are loads of second hand greenhouses around me on that facebook market place for virtually nothing. Replacement greenhouse glass isn't expensive either, £4 per sheet is probably an over estimate. And you dont need tempered glass either if its fitted correctly and securely. There are tons of spare bolts/clips/springs on ebay for greenhouses if you're missing anything.

 

[lostinthelight]

estimate. And you dont need tempered glass either if its fitted correctly and securely.

Safety,safety, safety!! I wouldn't errect a GH without now especially if getting kids interested in gardening

 

[EddieM]

I wouldn't use poly either filters out a lot of UV. Toughened glass, NOT horticultural glass.

 

[domdee]

Safety,safety, safety!! I wouldn't errect a GH without now especially if getting kids interested in gardening

We survived greenhouses growing up

 

[HawkEye244]

Check out gumtree or ebay.
The polycarbonate ones definitely are not worth their salt but a aluminum framed with glass will withstand a lot of wind.
I have an 8x6 from Halls on my allotment and it's dug down a bit into the ground and not directly exposed to the harshest of the winds.
Orientation definitely is important when setting up a poly tunnel or greenhouse.

 

[StudWall]

Polycarbonate/aluminium are not good in windy locations. Ours lasted 2 years despite securing the panels with extra strong webbing tape.
The panels would flex and eventually crease longitudinally before splitting or cracking. Shortly before Christmas we lost the door and 3 panels. Impossible to replace without taking half the frame apart and modifying the door support runners and end stop.
Broke it all down and took it the scrap heap.

Agree with this, i bought an aluminium frame greenhouse a couple of years back and while the frame is still good, the corrugated panels weaken and crack very easily, just lost 4 of mine in the last couple of weeks