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GREENHOUSE PROTECTION
LINDA F
Posts: 162
I bought an aluminium greenhouse with toughened glass , but has not been erected yet. We are a bit concerned about protecting it over winter when its very windy. We already lost one a few years back threw strong winds. But we are desperate to give it another go...hence the toughened glass. We were thinking of buying laplarch panels to surround it when it is very windy throughout the winter. Has anyone done this before ? Does anyone see any drawbacks to this plan.? I really don't want to loose another greenhouse . Be glad of any advice. Thanks
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make it a concrete foundation and bolt it down. Could even give it a couple of courses of bricks to make it taller. Ours is still where we put it over 10 years ago
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hi Linda. My greenhouse has toughened glass and I live in a windy area and to be honest the weight of the glass is great enough that your greenhouse should be quite safe. The drawbacks to the lap larch fence (and I'm assuming here that you just mean putting it up when the weather is windy) is you having to erect and then remove it constantly when the weather is bad; plus if you are thinking of having things in the greenhouse over winter then the fence would produce excessive shade.
As nut and LB say, fix it down to the ground and it will be fine. If you surround it with temporary fence panels, there's a good chance those will be blown onto it and shatter the glass. Toughened glass is indeed tough and is heavy enough to not be easily blown out of the frame, which is where the danger lies. Once a pane is lost, the wind gets in and can blow more panes out. If the glass is fixed in with spring clips (usually 4 per pane), invest in some extra ones so you have 6 or more per pane.
Nutcutlet , thanks for the advice..might change my mind with the fencing now . My OH and I were going to buy the fencing tomorrow . Will put that on hold I think. Thanks again
Ladybird and BTG. Thank you both for your help. We have just decided to give the fence a miss . We were thinking that the weight of the glass would hold it in place ok ,but weren't sure. Glad yours is still in place Ladybird . Gives us a lot of hope. And with the money I have saved on the fencing I can buy more PLANTS.
Thanks Scroggin.
Just putting in my tuppence as well. I have a greenhouse on a very exposed allotment in the teeth of the westerlies. before i erected mine, my neighbour had his blown down twice. Yes of course you must secure it down onto heavy blocks. i have also used windbreak material which is thick plastic with perforations which comes in a roll and is available at garden shops. if not here is available at agricultural suppliers. it is about 5ft wide and comes to the top of your vertical faces. i secured mine about 9 inches from the glass and tied to stout bamboos. it has not caused any lighting problems and has withstood the last 3 winters.
Make sure that the greenhouse you buy as internal bracing as this will help to stop the frame from twisting in very high winds.
Sorry, didn't realize you'd already bought the greenhouse. You can buy the braces (metal struts) from greenhouse accessory shops on the net. Easy to fit and well worth it.