If you're lucky enough to have the space, a greenhouse can be the perfect environment for you and your green babies to thrive. As our greenhouse buying guide has pointed out, greenhouses can be vital places for cultivating, encouraging and caring for your veg and ornamental plants, but they can also be places of sanctuary for you as well.
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But new greenhouses can set you back a pretty penny. There are alternatives, such as making a DIY greenhouse like this one from old windows (they look great) but what if you or your family members aren't that handy? Could a second-hand greenhouse be a good option?
This was exactly the question I asked myself after we had had a bit of renovation work done and had found the perfect spot in the garden for a greenhouse. While they were still working, we asked the builders to lay the foundations for the greenhouse that we would, at some point, install on top.
There are various places you can find second hand greenhouses, but probably the most prevalent is word-of-mouth, or sites such as Facebook Marketplace. If you've just taken on an allotment, chances are someone will offer you their old greenhouse.
Should you pay for a second hand greenhouse?
Many local offers are for free, as long as the buyer dismantles and transports, although you can still buy a second hand greenhouse for anything from about £50 to £250. If you're considering paying for a second hand greenhouse, it's worth thinking very carefully about how much work it is going to be for you to take it down, transport it and put it back up again. Even if it is the exact size of your spot, there won't be any guarantees that you will be able to rebuild it in your garden. Always try and see the greenhouse before committing to anything.
I found ours for free through our village Facebook group, and couldn't quite believe my luck. It was from just up the road, and from the photos, seemed to be in an OK condition. The people getting rid of it had recently moved in and had plans for their garden that didn't include a greenhouse. Great news for me, I thought.
The reaction from our builder made me wonder if my plan would definitely work: he frowned, sighed, and said: "Make sure it's not already dismantled when you pick it up. You need to take a note of exactly how you take it down so you can follow that to put it up."
Of all the people who responded, most said it was very hard work to dismantle their second hand greenhouse
"How are you going to transport it?" he asked, before pointing out that if you are going to transport a greenhouse, you'll need a big van or car, and you'll need padding inbetween each of the panes of glass, to avoid them breaking. It turned out our builder had done this before and knew exactly how hard getting a second hand greenhouse could be.
Is getting a second hand greenhouse a good option?
The short answer to this question is, in many cases: no. If someone is trying to get rid of their glass and metal greenhouse, chances are that it is old, it's an eyesore and they want it gone. Unscrewing rusty bolts is very difficult and transporting heavy and sharp pieces of glass is time consuming and hazardous.
However, I spoke to several people who had successfully obtained a second hand greenhouse and they were ultimately very pleased with their finds. "We got our greenhouse from someone else at our allotments, so we just had to dismantle it from the old position and carry it across. It took a couple of hours," explained one. "We are really pleased we managed to get a second hand one."
We also asked our readers whether they had a second hand greenhouse, and out of 723 responses, 20 per cent said they had a second hand greenhouse (with 64 per cent saying they didn't own one at all). Out of that 20 per cent, 36 per cent paid for their greenhouse, but it was very cheap, while 53 per cent said they got theirs for free. Eleven per cent said they'd paid, but that it was more expensive than it should have been.
It was in such a bad condition that we had to admit we were beaten after about 40 minutes of wrangling.
But of all the people that have second hand greenhouses, most said it was hard work - 64 per cent said it took ages to dismantle and put back again.
Despite this, the vast majority of respondees said they would recommend a pre-loved greenhouse.
It may be that you have been offered a beautifully kept greenhouse, that has been carefully tended to over the years. It may be a stone's throw away, and the previous owners are willing to help you put it up again in your garden. If this is the case, then it may be that this second hand greenhouse is worth your while.
In my experience, however, even though the greenhouse wasn't that far away, and was definitely cheaper than buying new, our second hand greenhouse still didn't work for us. Our greenhouse spot still stands empty because it was such a pain to dismantle - it was in such a bad condition that we had to admit we were beaten after about 40 minutes of wrangling. The idea of putting it back up again, without the help of someone very handy, also did not appeal in the slightest.
Positives and negatives to getting a second hand greenhouse
- Getting a second hand greenhouse is good for the environment and it's much cheaper. Not buying new means you're making use of something someone else may have thrown in landfill.
- You need to be good at DIY, and have the right tools: you need good protective gloves to handle the metal and glass, and you need the right spanners, alongside some WD40 to loosen any bolts.
- It takes time: we turned up at our greenhouse with an hour to take it down: after 40 minutes of struggle, we realised it was going to take a lot longer. Probably more like three hours to dismantle the whole thing. And don't forget the time it takes to put it back up again once in the garden.
Key tips on getting a second hand greenhouse
Always try and see the greenhouse before you agree to take it away. One of our main issues was that we hadn't reckoned that the greenhouse would be quite so rusty. It had obviously had a long, fruitful life where it was, and wasn't that keen on leaving it's spot.
Make sure you dismantle it, so you know how to put it back up again.
Think carefully about how you might put it up again when you take it down. Putting markers on each of the glass panels and metal bars might be helpful so you can follow them when you're erecting it.
Take the correct tools - protective hand and eye wear are a must. As is WD40 and a spanner.
Go for one as close to your house or allotment as you possibly can. Transporting them can be a real pain.
You'll still need good foundations for your greenhouse - here's everything you need to know about preparing a space for a greenhouse.
If you're transporting it, you'll need carpet or cardboard to cushion the glass.
It is possible to replace most parts of a greenhouse - so don't panic if you've smashed a pane of glass.
Where to get a second hand greenhouse?
Sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle and Gumtree are probably the places with the vast majority of second hand greenhouses, and you can search proximity to you, but there's no guarantee that these greenhouses will be of good quality and you will have to take a punt on how easy it is to dismantle.
There are places you can buy ex-display greenhouses. These are greenhouses that have been put on display either in a warehouse or shop, as a demonstration of what buyers can expect. These usually still cost significant money, but they are cheaper than new - so you'd be finding a bargain. Some sites will deliver these for you others you will need to collect. Generally they will be in good condition, although it will be worth visiting them first to check.
Would you rather try a new greenhouse?
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Here's what the experts say:
Tori Tomlin, director of White Cottage Greenhouses says: ""We are occasionally but with increasing frequency approached to assist in the relocation of our greenhouses – both our standard buildings and, even, bespoke structures as well. If you have your eye on what looks like a major bargain, we would recommend getting in touch with the original maker and getting advice from them before you commit. We, for example, can provide accurate base plans for you to follow, which is the first and most vital step to a successful and stress free rebuild.
"Most greenhouses aren’t put up with the intention of them being taken back down again so don’t expect that to be easy and you may cause some damage as you do this. The original maker may be able to assist in supplying you with new components such as glazing tape (which degrades over time), nuts and bolts and help you replace toughened one-piece glass.
"If you are the owner of an unwanted aluminium greenhouse, the best thing to do is take it to the scrap yard where the framework and all the nuts and bolts have a scrap value and can be recycled. You won’t get much but they will pay you for the value of the metal."
