Where do our greenhouses come from?
We bought our greenhouses via Tuinkassenwinkel.nl, this website has a large selection of many different kinds of greenhouses. The model that we have is called ECObasic. These, or similar greenhouses, are widely available at most gardening-specialized stores. With these greenhouses, the frame and foundation are made of aluminium, which tends to be stronger and better against rust.
What are the measurements?
At Mediamatic we have 2 different sizes:
Greenhouse for 2 persons: 195cm width and 130cm length.
Greenhouse for 4 persons: 195cm width and 192 cm length.
A= Width: 1925mm
B= Length: small 1300mm/ large 1922mm
C= Gutter height: 1316mm
D= Ridge height: 2020mm
E= Door width: 600mm
F= Door height: 1717mm
What material are the greenhouses made of?
GLASS: The glass in the greenhouses is 3 mm thick reinforced glass.
ALUMINIUM: The frame and the foundation are made of aluminium. In both sizes there is a sliding door and a window that opens from inside.
In deze video worden alle specificaties van de ECO basic kas in detail uitgelegd. (Alleen in het Nederlands)
After the materials have been ordered and received, the greenhouse can be assembled. This process can be more difficult than it looks. Based on our experience, we have made a list of tips and tricks, about the best ways to go about assembling a greenhouse.
Manual
There is a complete and detailed manual available about the assembly of the ECObasic greenhouses that we have at Mediamatic, which you can find here, however, it is only in Dutch.
Manpower and Time
The assembly of a greenhouse requires at least 2 people. With 2 people, building one greenhouse would take about one day.
Foundation
It is very important to have a flat, level surface, on which to build the greenhouses and where they will eventually be standing. We built them inside and then moved them to the waterside, so the wind wouldn't interfere while building them. If the surface is not level, the frame of the greenhouse will not be completely straight and it will become almost impossible to place the glass in the frame.
Think carefully about where you want to place the greenhouses, as it is possible that they might blow away during heavy storms.
Info over fundering van de kassen - uit de handleiding van ECO tuinkassen
Extra material
We recommend buying extra material for the greenhouses, such as more glass and sliding parts for the door. These spare parts will come in handy in case the glass breaks when you move the greenhouse and for general wear and tear in the future.
Placing the glass
The glass is reinforced, but still fragile, so always use a suction cup handle to lift it up. When placing the glass, it is important to leave space on both sides between the glass and the frame and put the glass in the middle as much as possible. Don't put in one side first and then the other, because then it will not fit well in the frame.
When you start placing the glass, it is best to start at the bottom of the greenhouse and work your way up, this will make the greenhouse more stable. Make sure that the sealing rubber between the glass and the frame is placed correctly, otherwise, leakage may occur.
Placing the rubber - Afbeelding uit de handleiding van de tuinkassenwinkel.nl
Once the little window in the roof has been assembled, and the glass has been put in place, you could use transparent silicone sealant to make the window 100% waterproof, and to avoid the plastic from hitting the aluminium.
Stainless steel screws
While assembling the frame, we have used stainless steel screws (against the rust). These are not as strong as regular steel screws, so it is important to be careful while putting in the screws and to use a correct size screwdriver.
Order of assembly
As mentioned previously, it is helpful to assemble the frame separately (on a level surface) and place it on the foundation afterwards. Only once the frame is mounted on the foundation it is time to place the glass. Click here for more information about the measurements of the greenhouses.
Now you have your greenhouse, you can start to upgrade it for future guests. Here you can read more about the adjustments that we've made to make the serres comfortable for humans.