Grow Your Own Magazine

As the title says I am restoring a ramshackle greenhouse!

I just thought I would give a few tips on how I've gone about it! First of all the glass is irregular sizes and even though the width is correct, the length of the panes varies. The glasing joint clips supplied in packs are no good because the overlap varies.

No problem.....a pair of tinsnips and a piece of thin aluminium or galvanised plate( even a tin can will do!) can soon be cut into strips and used to good effect.
Some of the overlaps are 6" or more, in this instance cut the strip 1/2" wide and as long as you like, fold over the first 1/2" into a shepherds crook and hook this over the bottom pane with the long side on the outside. Put the top pane in position and bend up the strip to suit! Wallah!! You don't need two clips as the side flanges hold the glass in position! Once positioned, trim off the excess to neaten it up!

On a wooden greenhouse hammer in a few tacks to hold glass in position (carefully!) on ally greenhouse use galsing clips, and finish off with a smear of silcone to make it watertight and keep out drafts. Clear silicone(from poundland) is best but white bath sealant will do!
Clear silicone is also handy for sealing cracks or repairing panes. Find a bit of glass bigger than the holed area and smear the surface where it overlaps. Clag it on and you have a repaired pane. Not particularily pretty, but functional. Clear silicon doesn't look too bad and lets light in as well!

If you want to stop the green algae forming at the joints, a smear of clear silicon inside greenhouse and out will seal it and stop algae forming!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Gosh, thanks very much for this information.
You're a star.

It may well help Mr MB's confidence (and certainly mine). We are measuring the frame again tomorrow (third time) just to make sure before we start cutting the polycarb.
Will keep you posted.

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Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

Snadger a great description, but I can't quite visualise what you mean, could you post a couple of piccies?

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."