Glasshouse frame with no glass, how would you turn it into a Greenhouse?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Glasshouse frame with no glass, how would you turn it into a Greenhouse?

dwilson

162 posts

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#225885 10-Dec-2017 07:42

Hi.

Inherited a Glasshouse frame from a property. It no longer has glass but an elderly neighbor nearby is incredibly nice, gives people vegetables already and she doesn't have much. I know she's had something like this on her wish list for a while.

I thought it would be nice to get this thing functional for her. I can drop the frame over the fence and then I need an economical way to cover it.

The frame is 2.4m wide x 1.8m wide x 2.2m high.

The panels are designed for cheap thin glass, they have small bits of metal that fold over to hold the glass in place.

I was thinking plastic roll from Mitre10, but having a rotter of a time working out how I would cover it effectively.

I've been wondering what hard plastic I could get that I could cut with a stanley knife, but nothing seems economical. I mean, I can pay $150 to get this thing finished for her, but I don't think my generosity will go much further than that.

Any ideas chaps?

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#1915883 10-Dec-2017 08:36

Will soft plastic survive the weather? You could tell that story to glass companies and ask if they have offcuts?

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gbwelly

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#1915885 10-Dec-2017 08:38

I reckon clear corflute would be the business, if you can find the stuff.

Goosey

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#1915888 10-Dec-2017 09:00

Heaps of places (mitre10 and specialists), Search "green house plastic sheets".

wrap that on and off you go !

dwilson

162 posts

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#1915889 10-Dec-2017 09:02

I see some white Corflute at Bunnings. It looks like the stuff they make real estate sales signs out of.

The price seems okay. Just need to find a source of clear stuff.

nickb800

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#1915892 10-Dec-2017 09:05

I think you will struggle to do this with a semi-rigid material (glass or plastic) for $150 TBH unless you find a generous supplier.

My Grandad's greenhouse is a half circle, with pipes forming a half circle and a flexible clear plastic (like a super thick and clear plastic bag material) pulled taut over the frame.

I wonder if you could retrofit your frame to fit a taut film you could get it done within your budget. On the long edge, I'd place timber battens along the roof ridge and where the roof meets walls (to cover any sharp metal bits). Run the plastic from the bottom of one side over the top and to the bottom of the other side. At the ends of the plastic, wrap it a few times around a wooden batten, and screw the batten into the metal frame to tension the plastic. Use a similar approach for the ends, although it would be tricky to get the ends uniformly tight.

Mitre10 has a really cheap film and really expensive options, you might find something a bit more in the middle with a short roll with a good width

e.g. this film is cheap https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/number-8-polythene-2-x-10-metre-opaque/p/291825

afe66

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#1915912 10-Dec-2017 09:59

Get quote then try geekzone crowd funding.

Sounds like a generous community minded project. I'm in for $20 if you want to do this.

A.

semigeek

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#1915919 10-Dec-2017 10:51

It wouldn't be that expensive, but you could fix trellis battens to some of the supports with self tapping screws, and then wrap with plastic sheeting.

Trellis battens are about $4-ish for 2.4 metre lengths, and rolls of plastic for greenhouses aren't that expensive.

MikeB4

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#1915924 10-Dec-2017 12:04

That looks like an Edenlite frame. Eden have an online store, buy the spring clips to hold the glass from them and get the glass cut to fit. Eden will be able tell you the size and supplier

Adamanski

54 posts

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#1915999 10-Dec-2017 13:20

Where in the country are you? I'm Auckland based and am sure there's a couple of lengths of the brand spanking clear fluted polycarbonate at work that can disappear.

mattwnz

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#1916008 10-Dec-2017 13:39

I have a similar sized glass house, although mine is timber. It takes thin agricultural glass, which should be cheaper than normal glass. The problem is that that type of glass may not be easy to source as my local glass place doesn’t stock it, and when I have broken panes, I have had to get normal glass, which is stronger, but doesnt slide into the frame as well. I imagine coreflute will be too thick to fit into the glass slots. Screwing timber battens to the frame, and then screwing on the coreflute could be an option and maybe the cheapest way to do it although may not look that great, and may not be weather tight. Thin Polycarbonate sheets is an option and safer than glass, but pricey.

dwilson

162 posts

Master Geek

#1916034 10-Dec-2017 16:04

Thanks all for the replies. We're in Dunedin, so the Auckland 'back of the truck' idea is off the cards. Going to follow @MikeB4 advice and see how it goes, otherwise will get out the wallet myself. Cheers.

ockel

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#1916038 10-Dec-2017 16:19

Have you tried Redpaths in Christchurch for some end-of-line greenhouse films? Various grades and widths, use some clips to attach to the frame.

http://redpath.co.nz/current-plastic-film-specials.html?

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networkn

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#1916175 10-Dec-2017 18:56

I'm in for $20 to help you reward this nice lady for her generosity.

Rikkitic

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#1916311 10-Dec-2017 23:02

I will also contribute $20.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

dwilson

162 posts

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#1916317 11-Dec-2017 02:36

Appreciate the money offers - not required, thank you. I will try my best, with the options I have, to stay under $150 - if I go over I will cover it.

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