I had a concreted area already, so the 8'x6' gh went on that. With the help of a friend, we put fresh concrete down to bed the base in, and drilled a couple of holes on the base near floor level so that excess water could drain out. We used the same system when I put up another 4'x2' lean to next to it.
I have staging in there, but have moved one section outside - it's very useful to have a spare potting area! I use those long gravel trays in both greenhouses, and find it's a great way to keep big pots of toms, cucumbers etc watered.
We have a concrete base on our greenhouse 6' x 4' but have plastic floor tiles on top to allow draingage underneath, plus they look better than grey concrete. We got them at www.versatile-flooring.co.uk I must say I am really pleased with them
I have a soil base in one of my greenhouses but I rarely grow anything direct into it.
I buy reusable woven plastic supermarket bags, 42cm x 20cm x 30cm and fill them with a mix os soil and compost. Then when they season is over I tip the contents onto the flower beds and start again with frest next year.
I've found concrete/slabs to be too hot in the summer and harbour slugs underneath them. With a soil floor the excess water drains away.
I have just purchased a 6x6 Pelram Harmony Greenhouse. I thought long and hard about how to do the base as I was building on uneven grass. I came up with an idea that I had seen used before and that is to forget about the ground for the moment as that would take too long to level out. Instead I purchased some M10 studding and some M10 nuts along with a bag of post fix cement. I will cut the studding into 12 inch lengths and put a but on the end and cement them in place.So now I have threaded posts in the ground. I fix a M10 but to each post and lay the base on top. I then adjust each but until the base is level. I then put a locking nut on top to hold the base in place. Then build the greenhouse that is now secure and level and any alterations to the ground can be done after to tidy up and make good.
I will be putting up an aluminium 8' x 6' GH with a solid concrete base. How do I ensure proper drainage? I've heard of a 'sponge like' material that can be placed between the frame and the concrete to allow drainage. Any help appreciated.
Trench dug the area of the greenhouse. Block on its side around the footing. timber shims at either side of screw hole to level it then the gap mortared up. Soiled up to the blocks inside and out paving slabs laid on top of soil at each side in the greenhouse and central passageway sunk below that.
That's not a recommendation:
Timber shims rot.
The soil settles so
Blocks at footing move,, gastropods get in by the dozen
Slabs are off level making all the staiging off level making watering into trays uneven resulting in a a disproportionate number of infant mortalities .Nothing is plumb square or level. I didnt install it.
The hardstanding (reclaimed bricks) around the greenhouse is nowhere near flat and a far from ideal surface to work off steps with glass panels and fiddle clips
Once it's installed it's always much more of a faff, more expensive and more labour-intensive effecting repairs and sorting things out than doing a good job in the first place in a vacant space.
When I come to replace the greenhouse with a bigger one duct in utilities then get some concrete guys to vibrate in MOT1 then shutter in poured concrete. I'll fabricate a base to give 2degress runoff for rainwater if that is not designed into the guttering or the guttering angle is not adjusable.
One feature I'll use again is storage heater bricks for the central passageway for thermal mass to stabilise the day/night temperatures.
Posts
I had a concreted area already, so the 8'x6' gh went on that. With the help of a friend, we put fresh concrete down to bed the base in, and drilled a couple of holes on the base near floor level so that excess water could drain out. We used the same system when I put up another 4'x2' lean to next to it.
I have staging in there, but have moved one section outside - it's very useful to have a spare potting area! I use those long gravel trays in both greenhouses, and find it's a great way to keep big pots of toms, cucumbers etc watered.
We have a concrete base on our greenhouse 6' x 4' but have plastic floor tiles on top to allow draingage underneath, plus they look better than grey concrete. We got them at www.versatile-flooring.co.uk I must say I am really pleased with them
I am buying a 8x6 greenhouse in a week or so do i realy need to buy the greenhouse base or can i fix it to concrete slabs
I have a soil base in one of my greenhouses but I rarely grow anything direct into it.
I buy reusable woven plastic supermarket bags, 42cm x 20cm x 30cm and fill them with a mix os soil and compost. Then when they season is over I tip the contents onto the flower beds and start again with frest next year.
I've found concrete/slabs to be too hot in the summer and harbour slugs underneath them. With a soil floor the excess water drains away.
I have just purchased a 6x6 Pelram Harmony Greenhouse. I thought long and hard about how to do the base as I was building on uneven grass. I came up with an idea that I had seen used before and that is to forget about the ground for the moment as that would take too long to level out. Instead I purchased some M10 studding and some M10 nuts along with a bag of post fix cement. I will cut the studding into 12 inch lengths and put a but on the end and cement them in place.So now I have threaded posts in the ground. I fix a M10 but to each post and lay the base on top. I then adjust each but until the base is level. I then put a locking nut on top to hold the base in place. Then build the greenhouse that is now secure and level and any alterations to the ground can be done after to tidy up and make good.
Sounds good but I have no idea what m10 studding is!
My greenhouse sits on a concrete slab. No gaps for weeds/seeds to germinate and easy to keep clean and swept.
M10 studding is threaded rod that you can get from B and Q and they also do the m10 nuts.
I will be putting up an aluminium 8' x 6' GH with a solid concrete base. How do I ensure proper drainage? I've heard of a 'sponge like' material that can be placed between the frame and the concrete to allow drainage. Any help appreciated.
Trench dug the area of the greenhouse. Block on its side around the footing. timber shims at either side of screw hole to level it then the gap mortared up. Soiled up to the blocks inside and out paving slabs laid on top of soil at each side in the greenhouse and central passageway sunk below that.
That's not a recommendation:
Timber shims rot.
The soil settles so
Blocks at footing move,, gastropods get in by the dozen
Slabs are off level making all the staiging off level making watering into trays uneven resulting in a a disproportionate number of infant mortalities .Nothing is plumb square or level. I didnt install it.
The hardstanding (reclaimed bricks) around the greenhouse is nowhere near flat and a far from ideal surface to work off steps with glass panels and fiddle clips
Once it's installed it's always much more of a faff, more expensive and more labour-intensive effecting repairs and sorting things out than doing a good job in the first place in a vacant space.
When I come to replace the greenhouse with a bigger one duct in utilities then get some concrete guys to vibrate in MOT1 then shutter in poured concrete. I'll fabricate a base to give 2degress runoff for rainwater if that is not designed into the guttering or the guttering angle is not adjusable.
One feature I'll use again is storage heater bricks for the central passageway for thermal mass to stabilise the day/night temperatures.