An important addition to any British back garden, greenhouses
are firmly established in the British way of life. It's
probably the inclement weather that drives the british gardener
'inside'. If you are visiting this site then you are probably
thinking about obtaining a new greenhouse. It is possible
you don't know the type of greenhouse you need or even how
to decide on the type of greenhouse. Greenhouse design was
revolutionised with the arrival of aluminium frames and
the scarcity of pine. This article takes a brief look at
the differences between metal and wooden greenhouses.
Wooden Greenhouses
Wooden Greenhouses are the choice for the traditionalist
and the expert gardener. They are commonly made from Canadian
Western Red Cedar, which is renowned for it's exceptional
long life outdoors as a result of it's effective rot resistance.
Wooden greenhouses are the traditional style of greenhouse
before the aluminium greenhouses and plastic greenhouses
became more popular towards the end of the last century.
A timber greenhouse will obviously blend in naturally with
your garden and will become an integral feature rather than
something of an eyesore which you wish to hide away. Timber
is also the choice of the expert gardener and it is generally
agreed that it is the best material for a greenhouse. One
of the main reasons is that the red cedar greenhouses are
much better at maintaining a constant temperature than aluminium
ones, which obviously leads to a healthier and more natural
environment. An experienced gardener will know the benefit
of having things to hand and a wooden frame will allow the
gardener to easily fix hooks and shelves exactly where he
wants them, so those all important greenhouse accessories
are to hand. The wooden frame also makes it easier to fix
an extra layer of insulation of plastic bubble sheeting,
such severe weather conditions prevail.
The best time to add a protective coat to a timber frame
is before winter sets in. Choose a good day in the late
autumn and give the frame any attention it needs. Look for
any wear and tear and treat it immediately. Most good timber
frames come with a ten year gaurantee, but don't wait for
10 years before checking.
Wooden greenhouses are slightly more expensive than aluminium
and plastic ones, but do offer more to the experienced gardener.
Aluminium and plastic greenhouses are a better choice for
the beginner before upgrading to a timber greenhouse.
Aluminium Greenhouses
A major advantage of aluminium greenhouses is that they
are relatively cheap and maintenance free. They are the
best choice of greenhouse if your priority is low maintenance.
However, you should be aware of the advantages of other
types of greenhouse. For example, with wooden greenhouses
it is easy to fix extra shelves and hookes, inside and out.
Aluminium is certainly easier to maintain than a wooden
greenhouse, but care should be taken to keep all structural
components as clean as possible to deter pests and disease.Aluminium
greenhouses are certainly the most popular at the moment
and part of the attractiveness is the flat pack packaging
and (relatively easy) self assembly. This helps keep the
cost down and aluminium is the value for money choice of
greenhouse.
Before erecting an aluminium greenhouse, there are certain
considerations. Firstly you should decide upon the location
of the greenhouse. Somewhere easily accessible during bad
weather would be good. Observe areas of your garden during
sunny days to see which parts get the most sunlight. Some
protection from wind would be good, but not at the expense
of blocking out light. Also, be aware of any stray footballs
from next door !
If you're after a value for money and low maintenance greenhouse
then aluminium is a good choice. You may lose some of the
aesthetic qualities of a wooden greenhouse, but you do benefit
from modern technology and design.
About The Author
Garry John is a regular contributor to home
improvement sites http://www.greenhouses.gb.com,
http://www.uk-conservatories-online.co.uk
and http://www.patio-and-decking.co.uk
