Janet Tweedy wrote:
Noticing our Alton cedar greenhouse was distinctly sagging in the
middle and there was a good deal of rotting showing through along the
side beams, we thought about getting a new greenhouse last year.
Couldn't seem to find one we really liked or if liked ... could
afford (e.g. Alitex!) However clearing it out the other day for the
arrival of new plunge bench and soil cable I noticed rotting along
the wood touching the foundations, so I guess we'd better start
thinking again.

The greenhouse is near the kitchen door/window and at the moment
doesn't get heated, we have room for at least a 10 x 8.

Anyone got any experience with choosing greenhouses and what not to
get or what to opt for?

If I can't have cedar then I'll go for green as I couldn't stand the
aluminium look so near the house.

One consideration that we never found much info about was whether to
go for double glazing, would this cut down the cost of heating? Eden
do a cheap range with poly carbonate glazing that's twin walled but
not sure if that would be a good option to go for. If double glazing
is so good how come many of the manufacturers don't offer it?

Is 25 years a good age for a cedar one? We did treat it every other
year and clean it etc but the design does allow water to rest on the
wood so not sure I'd go for this Dutch light one again. Roof glass
rests on horizontal strips of wood which have been the first to show
rotting, presumably because the water runs off the glass onto the
wood.

All advice gratefully received.

janet


Hi Janet,

My father's on his second Alton (the first lasted nearly 30 years!) and he
chose the model identical to the first. His is the Traditional, with double
glazing and staging on one side. If it was me, I'd go for another Alton (25
years is a fair age). Alton (as you probably know) do two lean-tos. If you
want to see them in the 'flesh' then the nearest stockist (according to
Alton's website www.alton-greenhouses.co.uk) is Wyevale's in Beaconsfield (I
assume you know, on the London Road?) I believe there is a 10'x8' lean-to.

He just has a cheap aluminium attached to the side of the 'garage' (read
junk storage container) - but it's enough for toms, peppers and cucumbers.

He also grows trailing cherry toms in an old barrow. I don't know what they
were last year, but they were the sweetest and juiciest I've ever eaten -
there weren't many left when they were needed for a salad!


--
Facon - the artificial bacon bits you get in Pizza Hut for sprinkling
on salads.