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. 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. 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. 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.
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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
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)
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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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 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. I'm VERY happy with this. Time for some smaller greenhouses now please.....
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.
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. 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.
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. |
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