Greenhouse advice

[Happyinheels]

Good morning folks! I am at last in the position of getting a greenhouse! I had been watching on marketplace etc for a second hand one but was advised against it as it would prove too difficult to take down and rebuild. Most I saw were very old and rusted.
So now I’m looking at buying one. I can’t afford a Rhino, as much as I would love one! I’m looking at a Halls. I’m going to try and attach the link here. It says I can buy a base for it, which is recommended for smooth door opening etc. Excuse my ignorance but does that mean I wouldn’t need to build a brick/concrete foundation to stand it on? I’ll be doing this on my own so need all the advice I can get!
Let’s see if I can add the link!

https://hallsgreenhouses.com/uk/halls-popular/so0201

We've usually done a wooden sub base to keep the base frame rigid and add weight, then level the ground. You might need to put in something to hold it down, so it can't blow away! Screw the sub base to some spikes knocked into the ground or something. A full concrete foundation shouldn't be necessary, but is nice. We put paving slabs on the floor inside and use pots, growbags, etc. Some automatic vents are also very useful to reduce possible overheating in the summer. Should be fairly easy to build the wall and roof sections, but you will need help to erect them. I think we have the big brother of that one.

Thank you so much for your response.
I was thinking just a rectangle shape, for the greenhouse to sit on top of? Reading the info it sounded as though it wouldn’t need that if I buy the base with the greenhouse? Great point about staking it down!

I didn’t see a bigger one - off to look! It’s on sale at the moment too! I saw the automatic vents - they look like a great idea.
I’m sure I’ll be able to rope my daughter in to help me 😬

I paid someone to install mine...as I couldn't face putting it together. I'd just say that buy the biggest one you can fit in the space. It soon fills up!

Ours is the 12 x 8, as above go for the biggest you can. I keep saying I need another one!

@bumphousebump I had a look at the installation costs and it is a few hundred pounds sadly. I can totally see why you had someone install it though as the reviews say that the instructions are terrible!

@catipussha I’m gathering that! I’ve measured several sizes out in my living room to give me an idea - it’s torrential rain here!

We have two greenhouses, an old 6x8 that was already here, it is bolted on breeze blocks. We got an 8x12 4 years ago, and DH made a concrete channel about six inches wide to go around the bottom edge of it. It's bolted to that (we are in a windy location). There are paving slabs along the middle, just laid on the soil, in both houses. That way we can grow direct into the soil, so we have four beds along the sides of the g/hses. I do use bags for some things though. If you get staging with removable slats that gives you more options.

We got our greenhouse from neighbours who wanted it gone. It was a standard 6x8 aluminium one and they had it mounted on a solid concrete base.

We bought a new base which was just a rectangle with a spike at each corner, then we used something called Postcrete - very quick setting concrete- to secure it in place.

It is doable but it's hard work. You have to make sure the base is absolutely flat and level, and that the corners are perfectly square, before you anchor it in or else the doors tend to stick. It probably wouldn't cost that much to get someone in to do it for you.

We then put paving slabs down the middle, keeping earth beds on each side so things can be planted straight into the earth along each side.

I'd like one, but I think I'd end up using it to dry the washing when it rains 😊

Good luck with your project OP. I was also interested in your question about the base (if I ever get around to getting a greenhouse that is!). So it looks like the house section is mounted on a solid base and anchored as mentioned above. I have to admit that I had visions of my greenhouse flying off in a storm to a neighbour's garden.

What am I like...

Definitely get a solid foundation, not.just the 'base' frame thing (which needs to go on a properly levelled surface, so if you're doing that work anyway you might as well get proper groundwork in).

I'm just about to get a 12 x 8 Halls as well. The planthouse, for the extra height.

Automatic vents are nice, but my experience is that they don't last well.