Blog from a greenhouse builder

Alleyway greenhouse complete

24/10/2020

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.

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.

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.

9 Comments

Alexis long

8/10/2022 05:47:10 pm

Hi there - I’ve been looking at your blog from October 2020 and love your alleyway greenhouse you built.

We live in London with almost an identical alley (I can share dimensions).

We’d love to see if you could build something similar for us.

If you could and operate in this area how do we go about sharing further details?

Your work is fantastic!

Mr Alexis and Mrs Holly Long

Isolde de Jonge

2/5/2025 01:03:20 pm

Beautiful work! And the colour is gorgeous <3 Do you have a colour-code for it?

Robin McGregor

2/5/2025 03:33:19 pm

Hi Isolde - thanks - not the code but we had paint mixed to match Caulke Green from the Farrow and Ball colour chart (no 34).

Isolde de Jonge

2/5/2025 06:27:44 pm

Thank you so much! I will have to do the same, Farrow & Ball are hard to find in Norway :P

Heena Bharadia

11/6/2025 05:59:41 pm

Hello. I absolutely lovely this. My house is in maidenbower and has a similar alley way, would it be possible to get a quote if you'd be interested in doing this for us?

Purby

3/9/2025 10:36:21 am

Hi, I live in Birmingham, UK. Absolutely loved the alley lean to green house cum shed - will you be able to build one for me? Let me know if this is feasible for you , needs to get it done by October 2025. thanks.

Julia

2/11/2025 01:46:30 pm

Hello, what a beautiful job, I love it!
Can I ask if you needed planning permission for this?
Many thanks

Ashlinn Moynihan

9/11/2025 11:33:32 am

I love this alleyway greenhouse. Any chance you would build one for my family based in Cork? Thanks

Lisa Parkinson (Mrs)

9/12/2025 02:33:50 pm

Oh wow! Absolutely love your Alleyway Greenhouse (London). Im Kent Coast, near Dungeness. Private home owner.

I have a very narrow side entrance thats sandwiched between a conservatory/bungalow wall and boundary brick wall (which we own). Area is approx 1m wide (internal width wall to wall) x 3m long (wiggle room here) ….small huh but perfectly formed for me! I dont need a lot of space, just practical. Both walls are brick and sturdy - well constructed and maintained.

I’ve wanted a greenhouse for some time however, Im coastal (very high winds!) and cant fit this into my garden - current renovations in the garden have prevented me having a stand alone one where I wanted it (septic tanks) and we recently had to replace a workshop as well this year with a block & brick version which has prevented a greenhouse being attached to that due to space limitations with access pathways meaning a lean-2 greenhouse cant straddle or block boundary pathways in that area.

I’d like to utilise this space along the wall between the conservatory wall (has a solid, tiled roof so will need to sit under the eave) and boundary brick wall (possibly can sit on top….we own the walls as this is a self build) & not issue with access for EXACTLY what you’ve built in London with the moveable shelving, fold down work table et-all….I think you got into my mind to be honest! Even down to how to put in, a gutter and water drainage (we need to rain water harvest to tanks/butts) as we live on Englands only dessert.

I turned 60 this year and having a greenhouse was SUPPOSED to be a gift to myself….didnt happen ‘cause of the above! I’d like to look at whether something like your ALLEYWAY GREENHOUSE would be possible please and of course, the cost implications - roof, 2 end pieces, internal bits and pieces etc. It needs to have a hinged door, not slide (no room), sealed the other end. Vented on the roof (1 probably adequate), guttering, sliding/removeable shelving, drop down work table and oh, we’ve plenty of bricks left over from our house build if any are needed for the doorway as shown in your images etc. We are on pebbles here so excellent for drainage in the greenhouse! Thoughts?

Nationwide

Alleyway greenhouse complete

Leave a Reply.

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

Archives

Green Bug Ltd

Nationwide

Alleyway greenhouse complete

Leave a Reply.

Click on eachheading to see the full story.....

Archives

Green Bug Ltd

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