Hi Garjobo. I took a photo of the corner of my greenhouse, but was unable to paste it into this message so I'll have to describe it.
The bit I can see above ground shows part of a piece of angle iron (about 30-40 mm width on each of the two sides which wrap round the two sides of each corner of the base frame and bolt on to it.
Under the ground each piece of angle iron projects probably about a foot into a hole filled with concrete. By memory I think it was roughly cuboid in shape with sides about 8 inches (20cm) by 8 inches and a depth of about 12 inches. The top of each 'cube' of concrete was smoothed off at ground level EXACTLY LEVEL TO EACH CORNER. That's important: the base-frame, or in your case the brick wall, then the base-frame on top, will receive the structure of the greenhouse totally square in every dimension. If it's out of square anywhere you might have a nightmare of a job getting all the components to bolt together properly. Since your base-frame is going to sit on a wall it will be crucial that it's the wall's corners that are all level with each other for the reasons given above. A good 'bricky' should have no problem with achieving that. B13
Just read again one of your earlier posts mentioning 'ties'. I was not referring to wall ties - the walls won't be high enough to need them. I was just suggesting roof ties as a source of strong strip metal to bolt on to the corners and then either concrete them them into the ground as I did or in your case imbed them between the two brick walls. That said, you still could if you wanted tie the two skins of brick wall together here and there with wire wall ties but I doubt if it is necessary. Sorry about the confusion. B13
I have tried to familarise myself with these roof ties...I was thinking How am I going to drill into a newly built short wall without dislodging the bricks esp the corners! and also, the bricks im looking at..cheap ones naturally!..have 3 holes in them..standard type..SO - any thoughts?
Or, are these roof ties the answer..and i connect base of greenhouse to them perhaps? At a loss.
But I am determined to press again, once greenhouse arrives and I can measure up perferctly ( im no builder mind you!! ) but yes..I will take photos - as all a learning expericance isnt it.
But, others thoughts more than welcome on this.
I was tempted to build the outer wall in brick and inner wall in breezeblock..saving cost..painting the innerside...but then..as i type..No - I love the look of a brick wall inside a greenhouse! As you can see im at a crossroad..and the thought on the door extension etc ..who knows!! but im determined NOT to have a step in/out!!
Anyway, yes, any thoughts on best way to secure this Base of greenhouse to the wall? Or do i simply secure using these roof ties then?
Dragging this out ..hopefully will get a further responce from some kind soul..
Bricks too expensive..so breezeblock is the way to go. SO - standing on edge - longways ( Instead of sitting flat )..i think just the one height would be enough..but a double thick wall.
SO - ...would that suffice? How'd I drill into the edge of the breezeblock - without it smashing - and attaching the Base of greenhouse?
A double thick wall of breezeblocks - 1 high - anything worthwhile putting inbetween the breezeblocks? These roof ties..still getting my head around??
As brief as I can make it...I'm not a builder either but have worked with some heavy materials. Don't try to make unsuitable materials (usually cheaper) do the job of the more appropriate materials. It could become a false economy. However, I this day and age of so much wastage you might still find the right materials being thrown away somewhere if you look around.
Breezeblock ( ie the old fashioned black cinder type of material) relatively light, good in compression, quite fragile in expansion (eg could split if screwed into too near the edge); also easy to knock bits off (eg wheelbarrow going too close round its corner); makes a hell of a mess if cutting with angle grinder (I once filled a room with black dust in 2 seconds flat when cutting a window out of a wall built with breezeblock.)
Bricks: denser material, excellent in compression; less fragile than breezeblock in expansion, stronger when knocked accidentally, cuts quite well and takes raw plugged screws well. They can get hairline fractures though if dropped which can show up when you try to drill into them later (answer: don't drop them).
Engineering bricks: very much denser and heavier, stronger in all the above respects. Don't absorb water like ordinary brick, so less likely to rot. therefore used to top off a brick wall. But, more expensive!
Consider looking around demolition sites for secondhand bricks. Not sure if this happens these days but you might even get them free! (I built a wall this way years ago) But you'd need to have transport.
Don't get hung up over these roof ties. All you need is a way of ensuring your beloved greenhouse doesn't end up next door after high winds. You just need some way of securing the light, greenhouse structure, which can catch so easily catch the wind, to your much heavier brick wall. Any method that links the two will do providing the material used to link them is strong (eg metal) and that the method of the connecting material to both the greenhouse and its wall is also appropriately strong (eg bolts and cementing in, respectively).
I have been phoning around re bricks for sale..not much joy im afraid. Due to cost and transport..breezeblocks will have too be - appreciate what you mentioned - i am no builder but realise breezeblocks crumble.
I was thinking..always a worry when i do that!..two breezeblocks high ( flat ways lying ) and then 1 layer of bricks above. Now..this wont be pretty!..but perhaps more secure.
I dont know..perhaps just breezeblocks and drill in the middle. Afterall only today i walked past a newly erected greenhouse and noticed that not only did it look like it lent to the left..but the chap had mounted it on a slight sloping garden with some short sleepers literally thrown on the ground! - even i know sleepers swell ( i have some )...so..for me..i have a cement base already, part hidden by a garage wall...to cement a couple of breezeblocks and then secure...at the very least its better than the one i saw today!
Posts
The bit I can see above ground shows part of a piece of angle iron (about 30-40 mm width on each of the two sides which wrap round the two sides of each corner of the base frame and bolt on to it.
Under the ground each piece of angle iron projects probably about a foot into a hole filled with concrete. By memory I think it was roughly cuboid in shape with sides about 8 inches (20cm) by 8 inches and a depth of about 12 inches. The top of each 'cube' of concrete was smoothed off at ground level EXACTLY LEVEL TO EACH CORNER. That's important: the base-frame, or in your case the brick wall, then the base-frame on top, will receive the structure of the greenhouse totally square in every dimension. If it's out of square anywhere you might have a nightmare of a job getting all the components to bolt together properly. Since your base-frame is going to sit on a wall it will be crucial that it's the wall's corners that are all level with each other for the reasons given above. A good 'bricky' should have no problem with achieving that. B13
I have tried to familarise myself with these roof ties...I was thinking How am I going to drill into a newly built short wall without dislodging the bricks esp the corners! and also, the bricks im looking at..cheap ones naturally!..have 3 holes in them..standard type..SO - any thoughts?
Or, are these roof ties the answer..and i connect base of greenhouse to them perhaps? At a loss.
But I am determined to press again, once greenhouse arrives and I can measure up perferctly ( im no builder mind you!! ) but yes..I will take photos - as all a learning expericance isnt it.
But, others thoughts more than welcome on this.
I was tempted to build the outer wall in brick and inner wall in breezeblock..saving cost..painting the innerside...but then..as i type..No - I love the look of a brick wall inside a greenhouse! As you can see im at a crossroad..and the thought on the door extension etc ..who knows!! but im determined NOT to have a step in/out!!
Anyway, yes, any thoughts on best way to secure this Base of greenhouse to the wall? Or do i simply secure using these roof ties then?
Dragging this out ..hopefully will get a further responce from some kind soul..
Bricks too expensive..so breezeblock is the way to go. SO - standing on edge - longways ( Instead of sitting flat )..i think just the one height would be enough..but a double thick wall.
SO - ...would that suffice? How'd I drill into the edge of the breezeblock - without it smashing - and attaching the Base of greenhouse?
A double thick wall of breezeblocks - 1 high - anything worthwhile putting inbetween the breezeblocks? These roof ties..still getting my head around??
Breezeblock ( ie the old fashioned black cinder type of material) relatively light, good in compression, quite fragile in expansion (eg could split if screwed into too near the edge); also easy to knock bits off (eg wheelbarrow going too close round its corner); makes a hell of a mess if cutting with angle grinder (I once filled a room with black dust in 2 seconds flat when cutting a window out of a wall built with breezeblock.)
Bricks: denser material, excellent in compression; less fragile than breezeblock in expansion, stronger when knocked accidentally, cuts quite well and takes raw plugged screws well. They can get hairline fractures though if dropped which can show up when you try to drill into them later (answer: don't drop them).
Engineering bricks: very much denser and heavier, stronger in all the above respects. Don't absorb water like ordinary brick, so less likely to rot. therefore used to top off a brick wall. But, more expensive!
Consider looking around demolition sites for secondhand bricks. Not sure if this happens these days but you might even get them free! (I built a wall this way years ago) But you'd need to have transport.
Don't get hung up over these roof ties. All you need is a way of ensuring your beloved greenhouse doesn't end up next door after high winds. You just need some way of securing the light, greenhouse structure, which can catch so easily catch the wind, to your much heavier brick wall. Any method that links the two will do providing the material used to link them is strong (eg metal) and that the method of the connecting material to both the greenhouse and its wall is also appropriately strong (eg bolts and cementing in, respectively).
Thanks once more for the reply.
I have been phoning around re bricks for sale..not much joy im afraid. Due to cost and transport..breezeblocks will have too be - appreciate what you mentioned - i am no builder but realise breezeblocks crumble.
I was thinking..always a worry when i do that!..two breezeblocks high ( flat ways lying ) and then 1 layer of bricks above. Now..this wont be pretty!..but perhaps more secure.
I dont know..perhaps just breezeblocks and drill in the middle. Afterall only today i walked past a newly erected greenhouse and noticed that not only did it look like it lent to the left..but the chap had mounted it on a slight sloping garden with some short sleepers literally thrown on the ground! - even i know sleepers swell ( i have some )...so..for me..i have a cement base already, part hidden by a garage wall...to cement a couple of breezeblocks and then secure...at the very least its better than the one i saw today!
Greenhouse arrives Wednesday!! woohooo!!