Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

Hi All,

I'm about to build a greenhouse on some existing paving slabs. The slabs are very firmly laid, but are not perfectly level. I'm building a 4' x 6' greenhouse and along the 6' length the slabs are virtually level, but along the 4' length it drops by about 15mm. I'm using a metal base supplied with the greenhouse. With this amount of fall is it OK to bolt the base directly to the slabs, or should I try and level it up (if so using what?)? The greenhouse is in a sheltered site, so it won't have to content with very high winds.


I'd appreciate any advice.

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"tjr" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

I'm about to build a greenhouse on some existing paving slabs. The
slabs are very firmly laid, but are not perfectly level. I'm building
a 4' x 6' greenhouse and along the 6' length the slabs are virtually
level, but along the 4' length it drops by about 15mm.
I'd appreciate any advice.


I would not worry about so little fall.

Mike

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"Muddymike" wrote in message
...

"tjr" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

I'm about to build a greenhouse on some existing paving slabs. The
slabs are very firmly laid, but are not perfectly level. I'm building
a 4' x 6' greenhouse and along the 6' length the slabs are virtually
level, but along the 4' length it drops by about 15mm.
I'd appreciate any advice.


I would not worry about so little fall.

Mike

except that verticals will not be vertical and from a distance the lean will
be noticeable if there are other true verticals in line of sight. Drive me
mad that would.

Mike

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"Muddymike" wrote in message
...

"tjr" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

I'm about to build a greenhouse on some existing paving slabs. The
slabs are very firmly laid, but are not perfectly level. I'm building
a 4' x 6' greenhouse and along the 6' length the slabs are virtually
level, but along the 4' length it drops by about 15mm.
I'd appreciate any advice.


I would not worry about so little fall.


You will have no end of troubles if you do not ensure that the metal base is
horizontal.
I would suggest that you lay it first on your slabs and pack it up at the
low point.
You can then mortar the increasing gap across the base and along one side.
Alternatively you could relay the slabs level.

Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"Muddymike" wrote in message
...

"tjr" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

I'm about to build a greenhouse on some existing paving slabs. The
slabs are very firmly laid, but are not perfectly level. I'm building
a 4' x 6' greenhouse and along the 6' length the slabs are virtually
level, but along the 4' length it drops by about 15mm.
I'd appreciate any advice.


I would not worry about so little fall.


You will have no end of troubles if you do not ensure that the metal base is
horizontal.
I would suggest that you lay it first on your slabs and pack it up at the
low point.
You can then mortar the increasing gap across the base and along one side.
Alternatively you could relay the slabs level.

Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"Granity" wrote in message
...


I love people who mix feet and millimeters :-)

Probably won't matter too much if it's polycarbonate glazed but with
glass it is a bit of a strain on the structure which eventually will
shorten it's life, but you don't really need to worry. You can easily
level it using drymix under the low side, put it in position, level
using a couple of bits of tile or something, then push drymix into the
gap and leave to set. (or you could rip the slabs up and relay them :-(
)
--
Granity



And where are you that it is already afternoon ?

Regards
Pete

I love people who mix feet and millimeters :-)

Probably won't matter too much if it's polycarbonate glazed but with glass it is a bit of a strain on the structure which eventually will shorten it's life, but you don't really need to worry. You can easily level it using drymix under the low side, put it in position, level using a couple of bits of tile or something, then push drymix into the gap and leave to set. (or you could rip the slabs up and relay them :-( )

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"tjr" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

I'm about to build a greenhouse on some existing paving slabs. The
slabs are very firmly laid, but are not perfectly level. I'm building
a 4' x 6' greenhouse and along the 6' length the slabs are virtually
level, but along the 4' length it drops by about 15mm. I'm using a
metal base supplied with the greenhouse. With this amount of fall is
it OK to bolt the base directly to the slabs, or should I try and level
it up (if so using what?)? The greenhouse is in a sheltered site, so
it won't have to content with very high winds.


I'd appreciate any advice.

If it's sheltered from strong winds I wouldn't even bother bolting it down,
when it's glazed it's not going to go anywhere. As for the fall, so little
is not going to be a problem unless it's in the direction that means the
rain will come off in the most inconvenient place, ie where you can't site a
water butt. But the bottom sections of many greenhouses are shaped with a
lip rather than being flat, this means that you can screw it to timber, I
would use as heavy as possible, and this also gives you the opportunity to
adjust the fall.

Steve

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"shazzbat" wrote in message
...


If it's sheltered from strong winds I wouldn't even bother bolting it
down, when it's glazed it's not going to go anywhere. As for the fall, so
little is not going to be a problem unless it's in the direction that
means the rain will come off in the most inconvenient place, ie where you
can't site a water butt. But the bottom sections of many greenhouses are
shaped with a lip rather than being flat, this means that you can screw it
to timber, I would use as heavy as possible, and this also gives you the
opportunity to adjust the fall.


But tjr has already told us that has a metal base.
Why introduce a rot factor by incorporating timber ?

If you do not start off with a level base you run the risk of assembly
troubles the nature of which depends on the style of structure.

Been there - done that ( with a Halls Ally 8 x 6ft one) !!

Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

It appears that us registered users posts don't appear to you when we post them but at some arbitrary time in the future. :-)

I know you ugers don't like the forum, but I belong to quite a lot of different groups and quite honestly forums are much less trouble as you don't get a constant stream of of things to sort through, just pick out what you are interested in.

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"Granity" wrote in message
...


It appears that us registered users posts don't appear to you when we
post them but at some arbitrary time in the future. :-)

I know you ugers don't like the forum, but I belong to quite a lot of
different groups and quite honestly forums are much less trouble as you
don't get a constant stream of of things to sort through, just pick out
what you are interested in.


I am an ugler who does not dislike "the forum".
I just fail to understand why the time that the post was sent seems to be
incorrect.

Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

Hi All,

Thanks for the advice. On closer inspection the fall was more like 20mm so I've gone for the mortar option to get it level. It will be sited very close to a shed so the effect of a slope on the verticals would show up. I bolted down to the slabs as I didn't want to take any chances with it moving.

Just gotta wait for the mortar to set before I can build it now!

PS - something very strange happening with the time on this board. I posted this at 12:30PM and it says 5:40 PM. I've checked that my profile is set to GMT so who knows what's happening!

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

"tjr" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

Thanks for the advice. On closer inspection the fall was more like
20mm so I've gone for the mortar option to get it level. It will be
sited very close to a shed so the effect of a slope on the verticals
would show up. I bolted down to the slabs as I didn't want to take any
chances with it moving.

Just gotta wait for the mortar to set before I can build it now!
--
tjr


I am relieved to learn that you have bolted it down.
There are two extremes in the "sheltered" mode.
I had failed to advise that in my earlier posts and the cost is minimal for
the added security.
What make and model is it by the way ?

Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

Greenhouse Base - how level?
 

tjr wrote:
Hi All,

Thanks for the advice. On closer inspection the fall was more like
20mm so I've gone for the mortar option to get it level. It will be
sited very close to a shed so the effect of a slope on the verticals
would show up. I bolted down to the slabs as I didn't want to take any
chances with it moving.

Just gotta wait for the mortar to set before I can build it now!

An additional reason is that you would have problems with rainwater
collection - would be forced to the lower end.

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames