Greenhouse base

[Muttley]

I've bought a second hand 8x5 ft greenhouse but have no idea what kind of base I need to build for it.  I know you can buy greenhouse bases, if I was to do this can I just sit it on the soil?  Will it blow away in a strong breeze?  Any suggestions?

[Muttley]

[Mimi]

Hiya mutley, when we built our greenhouse we didnt have a base either so got hold of some ordinary bricks and built up a base with those.  Dug down a bit to get a foundation and then built up from there.  Once we had a nice straight base we bolted the greenhouse to the base, and have had no problems since.  Best of luck ;)

[Hugh_Jones]

A solid brick base is undoubtedly the best foundation.  However, a word of caution.  If the greenhouse is aluminium DON`T  use steel bolts - the electrolytic reaction between steel and aluminium will eventually cause the aluminium to corrode and break around the point of contact.

As an alternative to brick base I know of one manufacturer which recommends railway sleepers and another which suggests concrete slabs - both of which are easier to lay, and neither of which is likely to blow away.

[feet of clay]

Mine's bolted onto ex-council paving slabs.

[TrailRat]

Going to see what I can get from work, might mean a few kerbs for my base. At 60kgs per metre :o I should have no trouble with the greenhouse blowing away. ;D
I know what Hugh was saying because the guy who put the greenhouse togther replaced the bolts with steel ones and now i've got to replace the bottom section. >:(

TrailRat

[Muttley]

Thanks for all the advice, especially the bit about steel screws.  I had no idea they'd be a problem.  Looks like I'm going to have to learn to be a brick layer.  That's why I like my allotment there's so much more to it than just growing vegetables.

[kenkew]

I dug down a foot, concreted to grass level round the base area and a path down the centre. I put a course of bricks at base perimeter and screwed through angle brackets greenhouse to base. Now I wish I'd put 3 courses of bricks high. The eves are usually only about 4' and the extra courses would have given me almost an extra foot in height.

[growmore]

I have got railway sleepers under mine..
But with Miss Dimmock and party now using them for raised beds etc..They are becoming expensive to get hold off..But they do make an excellent base..the lip of the greenhouse fits over side then I use a washer on a 6inch nail  every 2 ft or so to hold it down,>>Jim