need an easy way to make a greenhouse/shed

[Cheezy]

You talked about making solid walls and a clear roof.

A quick way would be to use the tongue and groove chipboard flooring.

it's comes in 60cm by around 240cm boards so you can quickly create a wall. You'd need a timber structure to screw it on to.

Make sure it's the green stuff that has been water proofed.
You could also use WBP chip board (water boil proof) that's the stuff they put to replace smashed windows. I'm not sure which is cheaper. I suspect that the chip board flooring though is harder to ignite, as its a more dense fibre construction that tends to char.

This is relatively hard to ignite, however if you wanted to improve the resistance you could always paint it with fire resistant paint.

Try googling "intumescent paint" there are loads of suppliers.


Ps word of the day today is now intumescent

[Christine]

Thanks for the design ideas - and the translation of 'wbp' Cheezy - I have plans for a heavily-disguised 'shed' for the upper end of the allotment. Amazingly, the plastic greenhouse (in the picture) is still more-or-less standing after the gales but must be replaced sooner rather than later.

I'll do my best, Fee! Someone at work said their mate (an eco-journalist, apparently) wants to do the same but I'm definitely too shy for that one!

After lots of design headaches and 'should it be on the soil or on the concrete pad' dilemmas, I've decided to put it on the concrete pad - as that is pretty much useless for anything else. On the earth would be easier, as I could use bamboo canes to run through the bottles, it would be more forgiving in terms of precise sizes and I could plant tomatoes, etc., in the earth.
There are some precast concrete 'lintels' left over from the greenhouse previously there, which are but loosely connected to the concrete pad, so I'm going to get galvanised wire and loop it round them and up through the bottles. The upper frame will probably be of 22mm gas pipe- the only big expenditure - which I can solder on site and the roof will (again, probably) be an old trellis panel supporting plastic (or corrugated plastic sheets if I can liberate the unused ones in my dad' garden). I need a firm roof to collect rainwater in a butt, which will feed the pots inside through 'soaker hose' - bought in a garden centre sale.
Well, that's the plan - for what it's worth (just about as much as the fag packet it's written on, I guess).
Wet, miserable weather and a torn shoulder muscle are both hindering progress at the moment. I'm looking forward to a bright, balmy day to sit and cut the bottoms off all the bottles - around 360 collected. once I've assembled one line, I'll do the maths to check how many more I need.
Roll on spring! The frogs are going crazy in the garden pond, so they obviously think it's on its way!

[mattachinelee]

Have followed this thread with interest - I only drop in from time to time, but wow - plastic bottle greenhouse!!! I work in a school and am always trying to find cost effective ways of extending our green ish projects - this has inspired me for a whole new way to promote our gardening club. We have struggled to find the money even to get fencing to bunny proof the allotments we dug out last year and have made do with partly effective ways and means. It was heart breaking for the kids to see their plants vanish overnight. IS there an actual design/plan available or do we literally string the bottles together with wire? Will they form a strong enough structure to support themselves or do they need a framework to tie into?

[Christine]

Hi, there
Use Google to search under 'plastic bottle greenhouse'. Since I started collecting bottles - inspired by www.sci-scotland.org.uk/greenhouse.html - there is a lot more available, including some actual plans from Moray Waste Busters, which you can download. As theirs was a project for children, it should suit your needs.
Because of the arson threat - which has increased again - I intend to use no- or little- wood, hence will be trying out a frame made of pipe.
Good luck with your project! and wish me luck too!

[mattachinelee]

Wow thanks the link looks amazing - I was particularly impressed with the bottle built bus stop - ties the whole concept together somehow. Sorry to hear your arson risk has escalated again - don't suppose theres any chance of a neighbourhood watch around the allottments is there? My experience with community allotments is that they are often in hidden away parts of town so they are vulnerable to all kinds of abuse. Good luck with your project! Look forward to seeing some pics of your progress. Will you be able to construct it in sections for quick assembly on site? Or does your limited transport mean this isn't feasible? I'll let you know if we manage to get our project off the ground.

[the.fee.fairy]

metal pipe or plastic?

It sounds like it'll have a really rounded, almost organic look to it. can't wait to see!

[mattachinelee]

Do you know, if I could get my brain in gear I'd be dangerous - I've spent hours online searching for suppliers of a cycle shelter and trawled round my work site with salesmen to get a quote of approx £6500 for a cycle shelter (thats only for 14 cycles). I made the connection this morning when I drove past a bus shelter with a cyclist stood by it - hooray, just saved us a fortune! Anyone know any good sources of plastic bottles?! Thanks peeps!

[Annpan]

try freecycle... or just ask the folk you work with Friends and family could help you colllect.

I'd defo do a freecycle post

[Christine]

*sigh* copper pipe was the plan for the frame - and, as you suggest, I was looking forward to a lovely curved shape - but, at £10 per length, it's too dear - so it's back to the timber frame at about 60p/70p per metre for 2x2 (old money). 2x1.5 won't be strong enough, as the bottles are heavier than you might suppose.

Never mind! Onwards and upwards! as I'm writing to you now with a singed nose and hair from a slightly lively bonfire today, perhaps it will be safer than soldering...

I really hate bonfires - they are a complete pain and waste of time. I use an incinerator and it needs constant fuelling and poking to keep it going - loose bonfires are even more boring.

Regarding sources of bottles - I collected bottles from work and from family, with the occasional sortie into the re-cycling bins at the supermarkets - very productive but they have to be at the top of the bin and the right sort. I have around 350 - 400 now after a winter of not-too-strenuous collecting and it's amazing how the numbers mount up once people get interested and engaged. My parents use bottled water in 2 litre square bottles and two colleagues specialise in 1.5 litre bottles in green or brown. However, I can use the coloured bottles at the tops of the walls to help with the shading or on the bottoms of the walls, so that's fine so long as you have enough of a particular shape to make a complete vertical. I decided not to ask Freecycle, as the petrol to collect the bottles felt unacceptable in green terms.

I sat in the garden when it was calm last weekend and cut off the bottoms and removed the labels of about 90 in around two hours.

My sister stayed overnight on Friday and agreed to come and help me for a bit on Saturday. We arrived at the allotment to find it strewn with the plastic bottles I'd left hanging in bin liners from the washing line (support for bean canes) - obviously the wind had outwitted my best efforts!

The good news - maybe - is that the council have agreed to spend a startling amount of money on a security fence! How about that, then? I don't really believe it will cure the problem but it might help. The site is huge and there are numerous places to squeeze through or climb over.

[Rohen]

I rather like this effort from the buildeasy site

Its given me an idea for cold frames and also for collecting rainwater and giving myself a rain proof verandah at the front of my shed

[the.fee.fairy]

That is nice. I actually find that slightly more attractive than the normal glass look.

[Christine]

That is really pretty, isn't it? I love the look of it.

However - I have just bought four sheets of that corrugated plastic roofing, 2.4m x 66cm (but remember you have to have an overlap, so they cover about .5 metre) and the total cost was about £32, so how much would all that cost?!
I spent the Easter hols - all five days (sneaked in one extra) - building a greenhouse out of plastic bottles. Fortunately, I had some old polycarbonate sheeting donated by neighbours, so the four sheets just did the job.

I've used 400 bottles and now need a further 150 to complete the back wall - but I've draped plastic in the meantime. The front wall - away from the sun and in the lee of the building - is only partially walled but it seems fine - I suppose it's like leaving the door open on the greenhouse.

The other shocking expense was guttering - jolly dear but I just couldn't make up a full set of old stuff in one size and what bits I did have weren't compatible with what is now available. The wood for the frame was a total of about £20, the galvanised wire (to suspend the bottles) a total of £24 and the bottles cost - nothing!

[Thomzo]

Hi Christine
Well done. That sounds fantastic. I would love to see a photo when you get a chance.

Zoe

[flower]

oh lovely!

please please post a picture!
we are saving up plastic bottles as fast as we can and would love some more inspiration!

[the.fee.fairy]

Picture picture picture!!