Extreme weather conditions can wreak havoc in your garden! That’s why when bad weather is forecast, it’s advisable to take precautions to prepare your greenhouse for high wind.
There are a variety of protective measures you can take to prepare your greenhouse for storms. From wind-proofing your greenhouse to ensuring you’ve replaced or repaired any damaged parts, considering the type of greenhouse you’re selecting and where it will be positioned –many factors will help you properly prepare your greenhouse for storms.
In this article, you will find tips and suggestions on how to go about safeguarding your precious greenhouse and treasured garden space to give you security and peace of mind – whatever the weather!
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For those preparing for a greenhouse installation
For those with unfinished greenhouses (mid-installation)
PREPARATION BEGINS BEFORE INSTALLATION WHEN WIND-PROOFING YOUR GREENHOUSE
Preparing your greenhouse for bad weather starts when you decide on the location and base of your greenhouse. Choosing an appropriate site is step one, so if you are thinking of purchasing, or are about to start your groundwork in preparation for installation, take these considerations into account:
- Avoid exposed areas of land when you prepare the greenhouse for storms.
Provide some shelter from high winds by placing it near something that will act as a windbreak, such as a garden wall, fence or hedge. If no protection can be offered, consider erecting a windbreak of some kind.
- Orient the greenhouse so the gable end faces the prevailing wind.
The front end is the most susceptible to high winds, while the gable end (or back end) is the strongest side of the greenhouse.
- Keep a clear perimeter when you prepare the greenhouse for storms.
This will allow you to make adjustments and tackle every side of your greenhouse (inside and out) if any extra reinforcements are needed.
- Keep away from overhanging trees.
Gales, storms and hurricanes might bring down branches or the entire tree. So assess your surrounding trees carefully when planning and wind-proofing your greenhouse.
- Ensure the base and door are square and level when you prepare your greenhouse for storms.
A well-built greenhouse should be level when installed, as it is essential to the overall structure and integral to the lifetime of the building as a whole. If your greenhouse isn't correctly levelled all around it is likely to create gaps in the framework and between the panes that will let the wind in where it’s loose or ill-fitting.
If your greenhouse isn't level when you come to prepare for bad weather, see if you can realign or bolster the worst affected areas of the greenhouse by filling gaps and wedging in loose components as a temporary measure.
Seek advice from your greenhouse manufacturer concerning appropriate ground preparation.
- Anchor it down well.
The more secure the better! If your greenhouse is sited straight onto soil, cemented anchors are best. And for those with a hardstanding base, drill down into it as deeply as possible. Make sure to place the anchors across all sides evenly to spread the load.
- Hard-standing bases are the most secure – a concrete/paving pad or perimeter supporting the greenhouse frame is ideal.
Hard-standing bases offer the most solid support, being easier to keep level and less affected by weather conditions that might shift a soil base.
UNFINISHED GREENHOUSES AND HOW TO PREPARE YOUR GREENHOUSE FOR STORMS
If your greenhouse is partly built, carefully consider the best way to protect your greenhouse as bad weather approaches. You don’t want to get halfway through installation only to have your pride and joy irreparably damaged!
- If the frame alone has been erected but not anchored down, move the greenhouse into a sheltered place, preferably inside. If it must be left outside, weigh down the frame as much as possible.
- If the greenhouse is too heavy to move, anchor it down immediately.
- If safer, consider taking the greenhouse apart and starting again when weather conditions have improved.
WIND-PROOFING YOUR GREENHOUSE
One of the most effective ways to prepare your greenhouse for storms is to batten the hatches. The most important thing is to secure the structure and make it as airtight as possible. If the wind gets inside the greenhouse, it can cause a lot of issues, so secure everything you can.
- Keep doors in a closed and secure position. Close all roof and louvre vents to prepare the greenhouse for high wind.
If you have a lockable door, lock it.
If you have storm locks on your roof vents, lock them. If applicable, refer to the section below on how to disengage any automatic openers before applying the storm locks.
- Disengage automatic roof vents and louvres to prepare your greenhouse for high wind.
After all your careful checks, the last thing you need is for an auto-vent to open in the middle of the storm.
Remove the wax cylinder and engage the storm locks if you have them (see bullet-pointed instructions below). Otherwise, tie down the arm of the vent to prevent the hinge from opening. The heavier the window (toughened glass), the less likely it is to be forced open by gusts, but tying it down is a good additional measure when you prepare a greenhouse for high wind.
- Engage storm locks (if you have them) to prepare the greenhouse for storms.
It is best to disengage the cylinders and engage the roof vent locks in strong winds. Here is a brief list of what you need to do when you want to lock your roof vents. The roof vent openers must be deactivated BEFORE locking your roof vents. Locking the roof vents without this could cause damage to your auto openers and potentially damage your roof vents.
- Remove the pin from the auto vent
- Once the pin has been removed, push the roof vent up slightly so that the cylinder drops out of the black cup
- Unscrew the cylinder
- Repeat on all other openers
- Now you can lock them down to help prevent damage
- Keep cylinders stored in a cool place until needed; cool in the fridge before refitting
- Remember to slide locks up out of the way when refitting cylinders
Storm locks can be purchased for our Rhino Premium range on our website.
- If you have a polycarbonate greenhouse, tape the panels to the frame with glazing repair tape to ensure you’re adequately wind-proofing your greenhouse.
Polycarbonate glazing panels are the most vulnerable to wind, being lightweight and flexible. Panels can come loose from the greenhouse frame, or if the whole structure isn’t anchored sufficiently, the entire building is light enough to lift off the ground if the wind gets in. You might want to consider taping the polycarbonate panes onto the frame with a strong adhesive tape such as glazing repair tape.
- Replace any damaged or missing panes, or use glazing repair tape as a temporary measure when you prepare the greenhouse for storms.
Replace any missing or cracked panes or use tape to cover up cracks temporarily. Take care when handling panes of glass, and always wear gloves, even when handling toughened glass with bevelled edges. Replacement panes are often supplied by the manufacturer, or you can contact your local glazier.
Buy Rhino Greenhouse Replacement Panes here.
If replacement panes cannot be sourced in time, cover the exposed areas with suitable, water-resistant material and tape it down securely.
- Replace any lost or broken glazing clips when you prepare greenhouses for high wind.</