On 05/05/2011 07:39, 'Mike' wrote:
wrote in message
...
On May 4, 11:36 pm,
wrote:
Hi,
I'm a newbie here. I've just bought a secondhand 8x10 Alton greenhouse
and now must go and dismantle and collect it from the seller.
I'd like advice about the best way to do this... eg should I remove all
glass or transport the panels with glass in situ?
I've ordered a complete set of assembly hardware from Alton so I can be
savage when dismantling and use new screws etc when reassembling.
What sequence should I dismantle - eg roof....walls... ends. Or roof...
ends...walls?

I've downloaded the assembly instructions from the Alton website and
notice that there is mastic used along the ridge. Is this easy to
access and cut through with a Stanley knife?

I will be hiring a van to transport the greenhouse and will need to
bring all the tools I'm likely to need (screwdrivers, saw, knife,
spanners) Anything else?

--
Tractorboy

You will need to take all the glass out. If your van is big enough
you may then be able to transport the larger sub-assemblies which
would save a lot of work. (Or on roof rack?) If not, you will have to
completely dismantle it.


The main problem is transporting the glass without breaking it. It
needs to be clean and stacked on it's edge. You will need something to
prop the glass up and cushions or carpets to stand it/on wedge it to
stop it falling about.
Cardboard boxes, rope, bungey ropes, small tyres?
.................................................. .................................................. .................

Take lots of photos as you dismantle it. Lots and LOTS of photos from EVERY
angle.

I put one together which had already been dismantled without tooooooooooooo
much trouble. Common sense is more important than anything. "Do I take the
walls out first? No dummy, the roof!!""

As the previous poster said, it really is best to take all the glass out
first unless you can take the greenhouse down into only 6 sections and
transport them whole .................... CAREFULLY !!

You can probably get away with transporting any opening windows and
doors as entire subassemblies, but everything else needs to be broken
down. Expect to have to deal with broken glass and have some suitable
non-slip gloves for handling it. Also worth having a wrench and the
right socket set for the bolts as well as a couple of adjustables.

The bolts do tend to have corroded/seized even if they are aluminium -
particularly the ones near the ground. Apart from that it should be
obvious that the order to dismantle is glass out first - especially from
the roof. Hard hat not a bad idea here. The structure is quite
vulnerable to wind damage during this stage if it is in an exposed
location. As the other poster said take lots of pictures and if possible
mark the corners with numbers before taking it apart. It will almost
certainly go together more easily in the same configuration.

Regards,
Martin Brown