• Home
  • Blog
  • Greenhouses
    • Greenhouse types >
      • Large greenhouses
      • Lean-to's
      • Greenhouses with porches
      • Gable to gable
      • Small greenhouses
      • Oak and other hardwoods
      • Bespoke
    • Plans >
      • Plans of greenhouses with porches
      • Bespoke Greenhouses - to fit existing walls
      • Popular
      • Plans for lean to greenhouses
      • Small ones
      • Large ones
    • Prices
  • Contact
  • About
    • Customer feedback
    • Videos
    • Frequently asked questions
Green Bug Ltd
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Greenhouses
    • Greenhouse types >
      • Large greenhouses
      • Lean-to's
      • Greenhouses with porches
      • Gable to gable
      • Small greenhouses
      • Oak and other hardwoods
      • Bespoke
    • Plans >
      • Plans of greenhouses with porches
      • Bespoke Greenhouses - to fit existing walls
      • Popular
      • Plans for lean to greenhouses
      • Small ones
      • Large ones
    • Prices
  • Contact
  • About
    • Customer feedback
    • Videos
    • Frequently asked questions

Nationwide

Wokingham, Berkshire

26/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Before....and, after.  Making the most of the space available to construct a "Steve" in this Berkshire garden.
Picture
Picture
The "Steve" greenhouse measures 3.5m long by 2.5m wide with a small porch projecting 1/2m - right on to the pathway in this case.  So I removed the edgings which had been concreted in and laid a new concrete trench foundation for the building.
Picture
The first 2 courses are engineering bricks which are very tough and don't absorb water - they lock the walls to the foundation and protect the softer brickwork above from possible rising water which could cause frost damage.
Picture
The next job was to dig out all the spoil and historic builders rubble from the inside.  I then laid weedblock sheeting, compacted a layer of hardcore (Type 1 mot), and leveled a layer of sharp sand:cement to support the new flooring.  In this case we added a gravel bed which could be used for siting pots, or tomatoes could be plugged through the weedblock sheeting into the soil below.
Picture
Picture
Picture
I'll finish building the front porchway back at the workshop now, order up the glass and return in a few weeks once the glass is in.
0 Comments

Walden, Essex - completion

18/2/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
This greenhouse is 3.5m long by 2.5m wide with a cold frame running along each external wall and a brick-sided raised bed inside for growing tomatoes.

It is constructed entirely from accoya and carries a 50-year guarantee.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
From: Michael 
Sent: 20 February 2021 19:10
To: robin@green-bug.co.uk

Dear Robin,
 
We’d just like to say how utterly delighted we are with the greenhouse, it’s a real testament to your passion and skill. Needless to say we’ve spent the entire day in the garden in lovely weather and lots of time standing in the greenhouse just admiring it.
 
Thank you so much for your tireless work in the most appalling wet and cold conditions, your hard labour was amazing. We shall certainly send you some seasonal progress as we get the plants growing and we hope to be here a few more decades to enjoy it...and should we ever [move] rest assured we’ll be back for another GreenBug.
 
With our deepest thanks and warmest regards
Michael and Catherine

2 Comments

Family build - driveway at home

14/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
A bit of weekend activity during the mundane lockdown - concreting over the front car parking area at home with all 3 children helping out.  Mabel is raking out underneath the retaining wall ready for concrete whilst Tam was on the mixer, full time, and Rab and I did most of the barrowing.  We didn't use a levelling board on this one - going for a wave effect with the gravel embedded in the wet mix.   
Picture
Picture
Tam holding his brother over the mix so we can smooth it over.
Picture
0 Comments

Walden, Essex

10/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
I built the base for Michael and Catherine's greenhouse just before Xmas with a view to returning in the first weeks of new year - but I'm a little later than planned due to the van misbehaving (covid at local garage etc.).  

...and then the cold snap hit - minus 6 all week. 

Great photos - but I couldn't seal the glass - so off home.  I'll return next week when the weather improves.
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Van trouble

20/1/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Stuck at home - even when I could work - as the van is trapped at the garage whilst the staff self-isolate following a covid outbreak.  It's been weeks now and the painting shed has a fully complete greenhouse on the back wall and 2 more virtually complete at either corner.  I'll just carry on machining and filling up the space until I can get out again.  (Thanks to Mabel for the snowman)
Picture
0 Comments

Abergele, North Wales

22/12/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
My customers had the base built for this greenhouse whilst other ground works were being completed so I only had to set the wallplates in mortar and take final measurements.

This is an interesting greenhouse as the porch isn't fully supported at the far end - and neither is the front gable of the main structure.  They rely on cantilevered support - that the rest of the roof is rigid it can't let one part sag.  
Picture
Picture
You can see the amount of supporting timber going in underneath the roof - supported by 2 acros to hold the line until everything is finished.  It'd didn't move a mil when I took the supports away.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This design makes for a wide open space inside - 6m long overall and 3m wide - with 5 side opening windows around the sides and 4 auto opening windows in the roof.
Picture
0 Comments

Another "Steve" in Surrey

20/11/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
This is another of the popular "Steve" type greenhouse built entirely from accoya with 4 auto-opening roof windows and 2 side windows.  The greenhouse can accomodate a lot of shelving as the sides are very tall.  On request, I made a movable potting station rather than fixing it permanently.  
Picture
Picture
The shelves can simply be lifted off the brackets for cleaning or to allow extra height for plants growing beneath.  My customer will add some good top soil into the raised bed in time - a good place for tomatoes and other thirsty plants.
Picture
And this is only the start. 
​My customer has booked a team of groundworkers starting just days after I left - to lay new slate patios, walkways, and a raised pathway leading to the greenhouse door with planting beds either side.  I'm dying to see the next stage.
Picture
Thank you again for all your hard work. It puts a smile on my face every time I look out at the garden now! I’m very much looking forward to having the rest of the work completed and will send you pictures as promised.
 
Thank you again and hope you get some rest after laying the oak flooring this weekend.
 Warmest regards,
 
Stuart 

0 Comments

Big one in Surrey complete

13/11/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
This was a large undertaking.  8 auto-opening roof windows, 8 manual opening side windows, 6m of cold frames, 8m long by 4m wide, fitted throughout with shelving and heavy duty workbenches.  Built entirely from Accoya which carries a 50-year guarantee.
Picture
Picture
I'm VERY happy with this.  Time for some smaller greenhouses now please.....
1 Comment

Alleyway greenhouse complete

24/10/2020

0 Comments

 
My customers asked me to build a greenhouse over this alleyway.  It makes great use of this space and the greenhouse feels quite spacious inside and taller than I'd hoped it would be - the doors are almost 2m high and the roof rests comfortably above that.
Picture
Picture
I added a full length shelf as requested.  The shelves, and even the brackets, are removable for ease of cleaning and for flexibility.  The work station folds down out of the way when not needed.
Picture
Picture
Picture
The roof windows have boxed upstands and full drip edges to prevent any water ingree - the pitch of this roof is below 10deg.  They are fitted with auto openers.
I cut a chase in the garage wall and installed a Code 4 lead flashing and then added guttering on the wall which flows to a downpipe which runs into the raised bed.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Back to Surrey for another "Steve"

16/10/2020

0 Comments

 
My customer had sent me some photos of where the greenhouse is going so I knew there would be some concreting to do  to extend the concrete slab outwards.  Of course I didn't know what the depth or width of the new base would be so I ordered up more than I thought I would need, then made some trips to local suppliers to get more material.  
Picture
Picture
The first job was to remove the turf for the foundation.  I laid plastic visqueen sheeting over the soil (to stop the concrete going hard too quickly) and poured a 6 inch deep slab in one pour.
Picture
Picture
Once I'd built the walls we could see the extent of the void to fill.  I bought 50 solid concrete blocks and laid then in a bed of mortar before pouring a slurry of concrete mix over the top and between all the gaps.

I could then carry on building the walls as normal.

The blue / grey engineering bricks will sit mostly below ground eventually.  The plan is for a raised path to connect the greenhouse doorway with the rest of the garden (which is also raised) and have large soil beds on either side. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Hi Robin,
 
I hope you got home safely and thank you again for coming down to build the base of the green house. It looks amazing and we can’t wait to see the completed greenhouse. Your work ethic and workmanship is truly wonderful. 

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Click on each
    heading to see the full story.....

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture

Green Bug Ltd

Ty Newydd, Llangynhafal, Ruthin, LL15 1RU                                               
Ltd Co. no. 7780242                              
VAT reg. no. 167 540 789 
Robin mobile: 077966 80761
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Greenhouses
    • Greenhouse types >
      • Large greenhouses
      • Lean-to's
      • Greenhouses with porches
      • Gable to gable
      • Small greenhouses
      • Oak and other hardwoods
      • Bespoke
    • Plans >
      • Plans of greenhouses with porches
      • Bespoke Greenhouses - to fit existing walls
      • Popular
      • Plans for lean to greenhouses
      • Small ones
      • Large ones
    • Prices
  • Contact
  • About
    • Customer feedback
    • Videos
    • Frequently asked questions