BCSS - Forum

I spend thousands on heating my plants each year. Looks like some (substantial) support may be available to build a replacement greenhouse to try and reduce this in the future. What's the considered opinion as to the best, most robust, most insulated, professional greenhouse manufacturers / installers? I'd be looking at going the whole hog- solar power, heat sinks, automatic temp regulation, the works- is there a company that offers that kind of quality of service? Space somewhere in the region of 30' x 20'
Paul

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Ask Ralph.... http://www.forum.bcss.org.uk/viewtopic. ... se#p261546

I got Cambridge HOK to build mine. Ask for Noel O'Leary (tell him I sent you! ). While he's a salesman, he has a fair understanding of the technical points, and he'll be able to tell you what they can and can't do. I told them I wanted a turnkey solution where they did everything from groundwork to the greenhouse and getting it installed (they used a 3rd party installer, but Dan and the guys who came were excellent; HOK hired local guys to do the groundwork, including a retaining wall).

Their greenhouses are certainly robust. We've already had winds over 50 mph here, and no issues whatsoever. They can heat them however you want - mine's oil, but they can do gas. I did think of a ground source heat pump, but it is just too expensive to be worthwhile. They supplied the benching too, flood trays and the watering system (but again they can supply other kinds), ventilation fans and even a potting bench and some propagators. They also ran electrics and Internet out.

I'm not so sure of the idea of insulation though. I had some Sulcos in a double glazed conservatory, and they etiolated quite badly due to the lack of UV / light.

If you want to chat about my experience, send me a PM and I'll give you my phone number so you can call me.

Ralph, thanks for your info, and profuse appologies for the delay in replying- somehow I managed to switch off my notifications and assumed there was no reply I will send you an email.

I'm always happy to chat.

As an alternative lower cost option look at

http://www.peritys.co.uk/page2.html

I have their 20ft by 50ft been up now for 5 years and still looks like new.

I did do the optional toughened glass and additional 10 year coating to the wood which has proved well worth the cost as not yet re treated it and it looks great

I put up wires just above head height so I can suspend insulation up to cut down volume for winter heating. Its great and i can put it up and pull it down in about an hour as its not caught up in plants etc .

They did my benches too.

M

Thanks Martin. I'm going to steer away from wood frames though, these Altons I have are not standing up to our weather.

I too had a bad experience a few years ago with an old Alton - the sides splayed out: the forces are not vertical in this kind of design, and the wood rotted where fixed to the base. This in turn removed the support on one side of my benching. I came home to find about 6ft of collapsed benching with what resembled a cactus compost heap on top. Fortunately, I managed to save nearly all of the plants involved (mainly Notos etc), although I lost a few.