Greenhouse - Goodbye Old Friend, Hello New

We started by removing the roof panels at the end where they had been trying to slide out every time the were strong winds.
I carefully removed the wall tiles that I had slid underneath the glass and between the timber. This had jammed them into their grooves. Simon was standing next to me ready to take the pane if it started sliding.

We took out these three first and then moved to the other side. You can see where the timber had broken away.




Then started on the other side




As we worked our way further along the extra strips of wood that we had screwed to the frame some years ago needed to be sawn off as they were actually doing the job of keeping them in.


Whereas some of that wood had dropped down because the wood it was fixed to had rotted away.


The job was made more difficult as the flashing tape we had run all round the bottom edge the other month (before we went on holiday) was very difficult to peel or cut off. Although it had done a good job.






The job was progressing slowly but steadily despite 40mph winds

 

We were then able to remove the small top lights by standing on steps and unscrewing the outside hinges by reaching through the now open roof.

The side panels had to have the beading removed before we could get them out.

In theory that should then have made it easy just to have taken them out without needing to slide them. In practice, some of the larger side panels had Mastic used on the edges when a glazier had to replace them and the Mastic had gone solid. So they had to be cut out.

Also, in theory, the bottom opening vents (they just lifted up to open them) should have been able to slide up and out.



No such luck. They had plastic clamps screwed in at the bottom and a screwdriver wouldn't shift the clamps.
So an angle grinder had to be used


The panels at the far end also needed to angle grinder to cut the clamps. (Mrs Shiney taking the opportunity to have a last photo in the greenhouse)


The sliding door also need the angle grinder to cut through the metal channels.

Then we were able to start taking the roof off but needed to take the top shelving out first.


On the top shelving at this end was some carpeting which has been used by numerous cats for them to snooze on.

 

We tried lifting one piece of the curbing to see whether it would come out easily. When I say 'we' it was only figurative as I just watched. The greenhouse was seated on top of it and that was on top of crazy paving. Once the greenhouse was settled in place we continued the patio paving that was on top of the crazy right up to the curbing.











Once we have finished removing the greenhouse we shall need to tidy the paving, measure the perimeter of the crazy paving to see whether the new greenhouse will fit on it or whether we may need to take away some of the top paving. We shall then need to make sure it is flat.

In the meantime we have started loading the skip.







I have put some of the benching on top of the skip to try and deter people from using it.


Most of the wood shall be left to last so we can see whether we can fit it all in. If not then the wood will go on the bonfire.

We have two and a half weeks before the new greenhouse is delivered and then another three weeks before the fitters come along. So have that time to sort out any problems and to check the new one for missing parts.

 

I've been told not to continue doing any more deconstruction until Simon returns . He is due again on Saturday if he can make it. Unfortunately rain is forecast for the rest of the week so he may not come. I'll try and get some tidying done. A bit of sweeping will make me feel better about the slowdown.

The armoured power cable on the catenary wire fixed to the pole at the far end needs to be removed before any more framework is taken down and I certainly can't bend down and lift the concrete blocks .

The blocks will need to go in the skip next before loading any more timber as it depends on how full the skip will be. Any timber that won't fit in the skip will go on my bonfire heap.

The wood that is lying against the hedge at the far end of the greenhouse is my large propagator. We shall be installing that in the new greenhouse. The black box still on the end of the benching is the smaller propagator. I may have a go at emptying the contents of that into buckets and chucking it into the skip. I'll buy a couple more buckets when out shopping as all thirteen of mine have the contents of the large propagator in them.

I'll add photos as I progress.

 

Can you get the installers round after you've cleared it all, so they can tell you about any remedial work on the ground before installation?

 

We'll check it out first and if not sure will try and get them round.

I think it will be OK as long as the new one is not much wider than the old. We can't check it until Simon moves all the concrete blocks. I'm certainly not going to attempt to do it.

The length should be OK as there is sufficient space crazy paved area at the door end. The original area of the crazy paving is easily wide enough anyway but had other paving built on top that runs right up to the concrete blocks.

Anything that is not level enough should be OK with a concrete skim but an hoping that it has remained OK. None of the paving in top of the crazy seems to have moved at all. Hopefully the new one will have the same footprint as the old.