How to assemble your greenhouse

When you have decided to order a greenhouse from Dancover, we must assume that you have decided which type of greenhouse you want, how small or big it should be, where to put it, made the foundation and made sure that the spot for the new greenhouse is perfect in regard to the sun, shadow from buildings and big trees and more. Then you press order and wait a few days for us to deliver your new greenhouse.

Room enough for two persons to assemble the greenhouse

Before you receive the greenhouse, please make sure that there is enough room to assemble the greenhouse where you want it as you cannot move it when it has been assembled. Even though there is enough room for the assembled greenhouse, you need a little room around it to go around it when putting the various parts together.

Before you start assembling the greenhouse

When you receive your new greenhouse, please start by checking that everything is there – all the parts you need to assemble the greenhouse. Start by finding the manual inside one of the boxes or visit Dancovershop.com and find the manual here. In the manual is a list of all the parts you will be needing to assemble the greenhouse according to the shop and the manufacturer’s guidance. When everything is there, you can start assembling. Be sure that you have enough room to assemble the greenhouse and put out the various parts in order so you can find everything when needed. Put the small bits like screws and bolts in a bowl or small box to keep everything together. Have the tools ready and make sure you are wearing cloves and more to protect yourself. Then you can start working!

Safety plays an important part from the start

When you start assembling a greenhouse, please make sure that you protect yourself by wearing gloves, shoes, long sleeves and maybe safety goggles. Many of the parts have sharp edges so you can get injured even if you are careful. Another thing to consider is the weather – most of our greenhouses are strong structures made of lightweight materials, which can be moved easily if the weather is windy. Rain is another thing that do not go well together with assembling a greenhouse. Make sure that children are kept away from the assembly site to protect them from getting in harm’s way. Make sure that the large plastic bags and pieces also are kept away from children as they can cause suffocation.

Fasten the greenhouse to the ground or foundation

It is also important that you secure your finished greenhouse by fastening it to the base or foundation using suitable screws or ground anchors. Most greenhouse are strong and durable, but as they are made of lightweight materials, wind can cause troubles and damages if the structure is not fastened.

For more Safety Advice, please read the enclosed folder or find it in the shop together with your greenhouse.

Which foundation should a greenhouse have?

A greenhouse needs a plane and firm foundation. However, if you go for a simple polytunnel greenhouse, you can place it directly on the ground if the ground is not slanting. Our greenhouses with a frame in aluminium or galvanised steel require a steady base. Some of our greenhouses comes with a ground frame, while other do not. We recommend that you use the ground frame or order it separately if possible. The greenhouse will be stronger and a little higher, too. In general, we think it is worth the extra work to make a foundation in flagstones or wood. The greenhouse will be stable and plane and you will get a nice deck inside the greenhouse. Finally, you may consider casting a foundation in cement.

Tools required for assembling a greenhouse

As a rule, you do not need any special tools to assemble our greenhouses. If you have the following things, you can get to work as soon as you receive the greenhouses:

• - Spanner or adjustable wrench
• - A socket set (Optional)
• - Level meter
• - Measuring tape
• - Protractor or angle square
• - Electric screwdriver
• - Wooden mallet
• - Marking pen
• - Silicon
• - Knife
• - Phillip screwdriver

Things take time – this include assembling a greenhouse

Be prepared to use some time assembling your new greenhouse. If you have ordered a polytunnel greenhouse, it is done in no time, but our greenhouses with an aluminium frame and polycarbonate windows or glass, it will take some hours and then some. There are many bits and pieces, and it is important that you use a little time studying the manual so you get the overview before starting to assemble the different parts. Lay out the parts so you can see everything and put screws and bolts into some small bowls or boxes to keep everything together. Make sure that you do not try to assemble the greenhouse on a windy say as the parts can be fragile when they are not completely assembled. Also make sure not to lean against the half-assembled frame or put a ladder against the frame before it has been assembled completely. And make sure that you measure correctly if you have to cut the polycarbonate plates and be careful not to cut yourself as the edges can be sharp – this of course goes for the glass windows as well.

Use silicon to seal the windows

Please note that we always recommend that you use silicon to seal the windows even though is does not say so in the manual. It will seal the windows and make sure they stay in place even in windy weather and it will at the same time silence the windows. Sometimes, the greenhouse windows can make a little noise in windy weather if not tightened with silicone. You can find suitable silicone on the internet and at your local builder’s market.

The polycarbonate windows must face the right way

When working with polycarbonate window panes, be sure to face the panes the right way as there is a difference between the two sides in regard to the UV-protection. Our manufacturers have made an effort in showing which side is going outwards so please look carefully before removing the protective film on the panes. You should be able to tell which side is UV-protected by looking at the protective film but if not please check with the manual. There is a risk of the windows deteriorating in the sun if you turn the polycarbonate plates the wrong way.