At the bottom of this page we have included images and the clients reactions to builds to show just what can be achieved. 

Timber garden buildings not only look appealing they are also both practical and cost eefective. A well constructed building will give many years of service but inevitably it will require some maintenance and repair.

Over the years we have built on a reputation for working on and restoring many garden structures, Most challenging of which are timber greenhouses. These buildings have a charm all of their own their mellow appearence sits beautifully within the garden with a more natural appearence that doesn't conflict with plants as perhaps the aluminium framed version does but of course this is a subjective.

Timber greenhouses are traditionally manufactured from Western red cedar or Redwood.  More recently 'Thermoood' and pressure treated spruce has been used. The most common commercially made greenhouses tend to be The Alton Cedar Greenhouse, C H Whitehouse greenhouses and Edgell's greenhouses. All of these used western red cedar and there are many example that we have worked on that are over 50 years old and some 80 plus years old. Over the years the grade of timber used has tended to decline for commercial reasons, with very early buildings being of heartwood grade 1 timber but more common it is grade two. This grade is normally timber cut closer to the edge of the tree and the grade has an allowance for minor defects (often referred to as 'character') Many claims are made that cedar is 'rot resistant.' Sadly this is not true, Mother nature has evolved many ways to reabsorb just about anything. It is acually graded as 'extremely durable and high resistant to insect and fungal attack.' The cause for the greenhouse starting to fail is often simply that the timber has lost this natural resistance. However it can be restored......

             Most Cedar greenhouses but also timber greenhouses in general need maintenance. Maintaining something like a shed is relatively simple but protecting the timber on a greenhouse is far more difficult. It is often out of reach even when working off steps. Also the damage is often occuring under the glass or around its edges in rebates and grooves out of site until too late. However even though there are issues the majority of the greenhouse is perfectly sound as is most of the glazing.

            Timber frames used in greenhouse constructions are made up of numerous component parts and all these parts can be repaired or individual components can be replaced. Quite often an unsightly timber frame can be cleaned back to reveal beautiful well seasoned solid timber. 

             Cost wise a new 10ft by 8ft cedar greenhouse at time of writing retails for around £3000 to £3500 erected and of course you still have to get rid of the old one. We have worked on scores of old greenhouses and fully restored them for far less than this typically 30 to 40 perecnt less.

             Equally restoring is better for the environment specially with regards to the glass panes. Timber from managed sources is very environmentally friendly, trees typically require 40 - 50 years to reach a stage where they can be harvested for lumber. In that time they absorb carbon monoxide from the environment which of course is a contributor to climate change. That co2 stays locked in the timber until it is burned or decomposes.  Although another tree is planted in managed woodland ideally everything needs to last as long as possible before it is disposed of and recycled (which invariably means burning as bio-mass.) Although glass bottles are recycled most flat glass taken to waste handling sites is simply sent to landfill. 

            As part of our restoration we also look to improve on the original greenhouse. The bottom roof rail (eaves rail) always rots out, Cedar is a soft wood and although durable it will rot. We replace these hardworking key parts with colour matched hardwood that will last far longer than the original piece.

            in our experience greenhouses start to show issues after 15 - 20 years so if the building can be restored back to its original condition it is not only good for you saving on the costs of a new building but also good for the environment.

Obviosly there are many factors in determining cost, Such as distance travelled, how much repair is required and if any changes are to be made. We always like to come and see the 'patient' and always give a fixed quotation. As a guilde here are just a few of the one we have done 

Here are just a small selection of some of the greenhouses we have brought back to life and what the client made of the experience.

This Client had tried four other companies who all said it was beyond repair......

Inherited with a house purchase, The building was leaning so badly that the client refused to go into it.

However it was restored back to its original condition and even relocated in the garden.

This very large Whitehouse greenhouse would cost over £7500 new, The building located 100 miles away was dismantled and restored before being returned and resited, The work included creating a raised platfom for it as the whole garden was on a steep slope. plus we restored two large all cedar Coldframes and fitted new guttering and drainage pipes. Total cost £5600

The Clients Reaction:

Everybody else said it was beyond repair, we are so glad we found you, just to go inside and feel the warmth and space is special and the smell is amazing.

The clients reaction:

When you said it would look like new i thought that was a bold claim...

                   but it has to be said you lived up to that claim.

This greenhouse was 25 years old and soil had collected against the rear and side completely rotting the lower 400mm (16 inches) of the frames such that it was only the glass buried in the soil that was holding it up.

      New it would cost over £3800 to replace but was saved and fully restored for £1950

The Clients reaction:

You said it would look like new but i disagree... it actually looks better than when it was new.

This Very old greenhouse had stood at the edge of a wind swept field for years The glass gradually being stripped off by the wind. Destined for the waste tip.......could we save it?

Of course we did,  plus The client wanted it to be moved into a new more exposed location and asked for a system that allowed them to easily change glass should it break. The solution was that we installed the glass with custom made hardwood blocks to clamp it in place these can be simply unscrewed to remove a pane of glass.

     Here the client had thoughtfully collected glass from other greenhouses and also supplied reclaimed oak boards that were used in the base. Replacement cost £2995.00, restored cost £1570.00

Some would have simply walked away but you actually seemd to relish the challenge. Ity has been on this site since before our time and now will go on for many years to come. I actually have friends with 'greenhouse envy.'

Both these greenhouses would cost over £3000 and £4000 new but were restored for £1500 for the smaller one and £1900 for the larger one.

The clients reaction:

Who would have guessed that hidden in that derelict pile of wood was such a beautiful greenhouse.

We also restore larger greenhouses like this Victorian Lean to style.

The greenhouse had stood on this site for around 100 years and consisted of three linked spaces that allowed for different heating conditions. The on the roof was sliding off and the frame was starting to seperate from the wall. We completely restored the building and the wall which had several severe cracks. Then finished it with a new potting bench with integral water storage fed by the guttering outside. Replacement cost was £27500 but we restored it for £10439

the Clients reaction:

It is the attention to detail that marks you out. The care and considered approach to every aspects means that nothing is left to chance.