Buying or building a greenhouse?

Moin everyone.

We have a nice little corner on our garden, directly behind our garage facing directly west. Our plan was to eventually remove the old shed standing there and replacing it by a greenhouse, using the brick wall in the back as temperature battery powered by the evening sun.

Now we are facing a dilemma. On the one hand I think I could build my own greenhouse given enough time and motivation. On the other, there are lots of ready to buy greenhouses on the market I could simply buy and install...

So I will start a little survey with the following two posts. Just like one or the other to cast you vote, with the question being:
Is it
1. better to build your own greenhouse from scratch, or
2. Just buy one and install it?

 

1. Building is manly and you get what you really want. Do it yourself!!!!

 

2. Don't be a fool. Just buy a prefab kit. Installing it is enough work already. And it will look better!!!

 

Hi,

Building your own greenhouse typically means its going to be wood and unless its expensive Red Cedar it means you will need to regularly re-paint or preserve the wood.

Having had two aluminum greenhouses it would still be our first choice, simple to errect and keep clean.

Sounds like you can have a leanto against your brick wall , we currently have one and find its so much more spacious than a similar sized apex one.

We did think about extending ours or even getting a new larger version, but the manufacturer (Elite Greenhouses uk) said there was a 22 week turnaround, so do check the delivery time on anything ready made you may order.

 

buy ....... its still hard work putting up and nothing worse than a bad job of something you have made and no one can be honest to tell you it looks a mess

 

I'd buy , everyone always enthusiastic at the beginning of a project but it does grind you down over time . Make it buy all means if you are passionate about making stuff and wood work etc , otherwise its much easier to just buy one and they probably not much in it money wise either. .

 

I've been married nearly thirty eight years and I have two twenty something daughters....telling me honestly what they think has never been a problem!
I say make your own. You can make it exactly the size you want at a fraction of the price of a bought one, especially if you use reclaimed timber. Wood and polycarbonate. I treat mine with old engine oil. It soaks in lovely, keeps creepy crawlies away and I have not had any issues with contamination before anyone asks

 

Off topic, but I treated my fence with used chip oil, from the deep fat fryer, last summer, did a really good job and actually smartened it up.

I was thinking about boiled linseed oil and then thought, ..Boiled vegetable oil, practically the same thing.

I told the neighbours it was preservative.

Not a lie

 

I use engine oil then mix it with creosote for the fence

 

Will you be applying to join the Green party anytime soon ....

 

I don't use creosote at all now. The smell seems to linger too long and I always end up with more on me than on the fence/shed/greenhouse

 

Think it were the other stuff Creocote , my dad actually painted the fence ( I am to lazy ) all I remember it smelt like creosote .

 

Buy used or go round to your local window companies and see if they gave any free or cheap returned/used double glazing around.

 

Thanks for all the replies.
As much as I love to work with wood, keeping the bugs away and treating is for every occasion sounds too much of a hassle. I would always prefer aluminium because it neither rots nor does anything try to eat it.

That being said I am not sure if I can actually build something from aluminium and polycarbonate double sheets that comes into the price range of a cheap lean-to you can get at your local retailer

 

Those on here that know me well will expect this answer.

I'd build it myself, because a) It would be exactly how I want it. b) I could make it in pine. c) Traditional methods of treating pine are eco- and food- friendly and can allow it to last for hundreds of years past our own lifetime.