eBay greenhouses

[Ewen]

Ian, the drill is for those unsuspected bolts that won't budge and it also doubles as a power driver to remove the rest of them. Bill, I bet you didn't have to drive from Glasgow to Oban, dismantle a greenhouse that had been onsite for a number of years, untangle the electrics that had been bodged, load a large hire van in such a way that you didn't break all the glass, drive back to Glasgow, unload the greenhouse with a 50 metre walk to where it was being stored and then finally return the hire van.

Fun and games when you have to move something made of glass but all in a days work.

[Bill]

Ahh Ewen you gave the impression it was only the dismantling and loading that took all day, my apologies, that means it took you more like 1/2 day to dismantle and 1/2 day driving.

It took me a bit more than 2.5 hrs if you take into account the 2.5 hrs round trip and the unloading etc

[Julie]

Just a thought, folks - would it not be worth the extra few quid to just have a new one delivered to your garden?

[Chris43]

Hi Julie, as ever it does depend, I think, and it may not be a few quid!
I was lucky and bought a cedar Alton greenhouse on eBay last year, 4 years old, and it was just 15% of the new price. Even after the hire charges for the lorry, it was still only 18%, with the savings running well into 4 figures, so I know it can be worth it. But if there not too much in it, I'd agree with you.

[Bill]

Julie, my two Elite Belmonts would have cost nearly ?1,000 new, even allowing for my time at the same rate the NHS pay me, replacing broken glass, missing bolts etc and fuel costs of collecting them they cost about ?450.00 in total, that's ?550 that I can spend on plants instead.

[iann]

Julie, it does depend. Renting a van, travelling some distance, replacing a lot of glass and bits, putting in vents and staging, and still ending up with a greenhouse that would be less than ?500 new, might not be worth it.

But if you have suitable transport already, have an excess of time (rather than an excess of money), get a decent greenhouse for next to nothing with auto-vents, staging, maybe a base or some foundation materials, then it is certainly worth it. I found two greenhouses this spring, for free, transported them in existing cars (here's a tip - very long aluminium spars can be put in a convertible car!), and so am set up for the price of some glass and replacement bolts.

It is a lot of effort though, and if I was still contracting in London every day, I'd just shell out ?1,000 or two and have a new one erected for me

[Bill]

[quote=Ian]very long aluminium spars can be put in a convertible car![/quote]

Like a man with style Ian.

You can get a complete 8x12 in and on (roof rack) a Citroen Picasso and still have room for a passenger.

[Tina]

Julie
You can get some good bargains,my old robinson 20 x 10 cost me ?230 plus ?20 petrol ( borrowed works van:) ) & about ?40 on glass.
I dread to thnk of the new price but would guess aanother nought on the end.
It was easy to put together too as I left it to him indoors just regualar bacon sandwiches & tea breaks .
The only problem is I have no space & am wingeing for another G/H already

[Ewen]

Have a look on eBay now, there is a 10ft x 24ft Robinsons. At the moment it's worth ?200. Contac Robinsons for a quote on a new one that size and you are probably over ?5k.

The other greenhouse link at the top of the posting shows a professional sized glasshouse. It's massive but think how much that would have cost new.

[Ewen]

Just testing my signature. Seems that the new forum shows this as being off. Just switched it back on again so lets see if it worlks.