aIBU to spend £8K on a greenhouse

[BarrelOfOtters2]

Small garden - you can see the greenhouse very easily from the house - it's the main view. So I've priced up a wooden greenhouse. £8K including shipping (I live on an Island) and installation.

I could get a very cheap aluminium, or a nicer aluminium for less.

I think the wooden one will look better - could potentially be a garden room for someone if we move...

I'm trying to justify it really.

I was expecting a nicer greenhouse than that for 8k, I must say!

I would like a similar designed one, but I'd rather source the wood and see if I can build a better model for better price.

The basic greenhouse is £5,700 before you start adding extras...shipping is £750.

Unless you're going to have particularly photogenic plants growing in it - I don't think it's worth that price.

It's not unreasonable if you can afford it. I wouldn't suggest getting into debt for it but if you've got the money & it's not needed for other things, why not have what you want?
It's more reasonable than blowing £8k on cocaine or gambling

Do you really want the upkeep of a wooden greenhouse, which won't look anywhere near that pretty for long without it?

That said, you should definitely buy a lovely greenhouse. Mine is a Rhino, in ? seagrass ? maybe, and looks lovely. All very solidly built, highly recommended.

Is there not a handy-person on the island who could knock up something bespoke for the same money?

If you can afford it and will use it loads and love it, then go ahead and get it.

Don't try and kid yourself it adds any value to your house though. Most prospective purchasers will see it as something that needs removing, especially if the garden is small.

I'd rather go without than buy a cheaper version of the thing I really want, it's almost always a false economy because you still want the one you wanted in the first place.

If you really need justification, work on the basis that the economy needs people to spend money

It looks expensive to me. What about one of these wooden ones?
www.greenhousestores.co.uk/Swallow-Kingfisher-6x8-Wooden-Greenhouse.htm?source=PLA&gclid=CjwKCAjwo8-SBhAlEiwAopc9W72BCT0FMGbtdNrcf4d4AM_BsDQUuuueN4ri8PiUCO8iRGUDNRpcnhoC_EkQAvD_BwE

Depends which island(S) you’re on. In Shetland you’d be better off getting a polycrub.

Have you looked at the Woodpecker Joinery ones? They are red cedar so no maintenance required and tone down to a lovely silver grey. We have one from there and are really pleased with it.

www.woodpecker-joinery.co.uk/bromley.html

Yes, you are because there are other lovely wooden ones around for less than half that price!!

Id also be looking local, any carpenter looking for work? Can you get glass on the island?

Plus as someone mentioned, the wooden ones do need maintaining, can you be bothered with that??

why dont you find a good carpenter and get him to build you one. it would most likely be cheaper and would be exactly how you want it.

I would second that if you're going to splash the cash get a Rhino or something equally sturdy. I have an allotment and the cheap greenhouses seem to get blown down or collapse quite regularly, but the site is quite exposed

I thought it was going to be one of those frameless Rhino ones. What size is it as it does look small.

I really like the cedar one linked ^

[quote yodaforpresident]Have you looked at the Woodpecker Joinery ones? They are red cedar so no maintenance required and tone down to a lovely silver grey. We have one from there and are really pleased with it.

www.woodpecker-joinery.co.uk/bromley.html[/quote]
I have a Woodpecker coldframe as well as the greenhouse. I did look at them for greenhouses, but they were looking at May 2022 deliveries when I asked in June last year - don't know how far they've caught up with themselves now.

Am glad actually, think the maintenance-free Rhino was the better choice.

Previously had a Rhino type one in another house and really liked it - but I think the wooden one will look better with the house.

Can't get woodpecker one transported over here. It's an expensive thing to ship and need to go with someone who is insured to get it here - which is limited.

Carpenters/joiners - a good one is like gold dust and they charge a lot.

Will it last on an island? What have your neighbours got? Looks like it may take quite a bit of upkeep and potentially blow away in the first storm to me, but maybe you’re putting it in a sheltered spot. Have you considered a lean-to type greenhouse or a cold frame?

Yes @Whitney168 there was about a six month wait when we ordered but they have been very good - only took a day and a half to fit to an existing wall and it is a very large greenhouse. We have been told it’s maintenance free as we want it to weather to grey.

Woodpecker is gorgeous stuff for sure, love my cold frame

My first thought is that 8k buys a lot of fruit/veg, even at island prices. If your goal is to successfully grow your own veg etc then an aluminium one will be more cost effective. If you want a summer house, then buy a proper summer house.

I’ve spent a fortune over the years happy growing veg and flowers.

The greenhouse is somewhere to potter, have seeds, overwinter tender plants. Sit with the cat, a cup of tea and the seed catalogue contemplating spring on a miserable March day when it’s blowing a gale and summer seems unreachable.

It does my mental health the world of good to plant seeds and nurture them.

I’m 53, I earn a reasonable amount, I have no one to leave anything to….buying a nice looking green house seems harmless enough.

My husband also fears the piles of compost I leave in my wake. The greenhouse contains that.

I'd buy it if it's what you want. Is it cedar?

So much lovelier than an aluminium one, although there are some beautiful cream coloured ones I've my eye on.

Buy as big as you can.. there's always something to fill it with

I have wondered about a cream or light green aluminium one….or modern black one that would match the extension but clash with the old garage it’ll be next to.