Laying a greenhouse base
Gmasgarden
Posts: 4
My new garden is an old paddock which is now compacted clay which holds water when it rains and becomes solid in the sun, I put in a rotary washing line in a concrete base and it has sunk, I'm worried that a greenhouse base will do the same, Advise please,
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Posts
I think it's common practice these days to sit sheds on concrete posts (laid lengthways of course). A lot less work
Hi
I am assumming that you are considering buying a greenhouse but concerned that a concrete base would sink in to the clay soil. Stuart's comments, with all due respect , are not really relevant. If you were to put a concrete base down for a greenhouse, you would use slabs. If you are concerned that the base would sink, then you would need to dig out the ground and lay a 100 to 150mm hardcore base ( broken slabs, bricks etc) The hardcore base would support slab etc tha
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that you are intending to lay for your greenhouse. This should stop any collapse in the soil
I agree with, Steve...put down a good, deep layer of hardcore and use a mini wacker to compact it good and solid and you should be fine.
This was my base ( pre Greenhouse ) laid on the same type of clay soil that you probably have.
Yebbut, it's a lot easier and cheaper to dig out a couple of 4" channels. It's a shed, not a drive
Thank you both for your very welcome advice, I feel more confident now. I'll probably play on the safe side and do the digging and hardcore, wish me luck. Happy gardening Last question, can I use broken up roof tiles in the hardcore?
Last edited: 19 February 2018 08:59:20
Stuart
Actually, it's a greenhouse. So I am assuming that your suggesting to bed these concrete posts in to the ground and then lay a slab base. Without laying a consolidated hardcore base then there could still a chance of subsidence based on the problem that they are having with the clay structure. In any slab construction you need a consolidated ground. Fortunately, the weight of the greenhouse is not that extreme so your suggestion could work but personally I would not take that chance
" if you fail to prepare, you should prepare to fail"
A shed might go a bit wonky if it moves, a greenhouse will lose its glass.
I think , for the sake of a bit of hard work, I'd go with a proper base.
Your garden, your greenhouse, your money, your choice.
Thank you, it's difficult to know exactly what sort of base to lay as concrete doesn't help with drainage, which is a problem over the whole garden.
Actually, yes, it's a greenhouse and not a shed, so the concrete post idea is not a good one. Should have read the question before replying!