FEATURE: AUTUMN & WINTER PREP
keeping humidity levels down so soft furnishing don’t become musty. If you plan to serve meals in
a greenhouse, a lean-to adjacent to your kitchen can also simplify logistics. Eating what you have grown means you can measure your food miles in millimetres and enjoy freshness no supermarket, artisan deli or farm shop can compete with.”
5
Drainage – Both inside the greenhouse and out needs to be considered. Think about what you will be growing and, more importantly, watering inside the greenhouse. And think about what you want to do with rainwater run off outside. Lots of people go for a solid concrete pad – it’s straight forward, means you don’t have to pre-think where staging or workbenches might go and should provide you with a weed-free zone for many years to come. There’s nowhere for the run off from a heavy watering session to go, however, and you will have plenty of puddles until it dries out. An additional advantage some gardeners would argue, boosting humidity levels, but incorporating a drainage channel into the floor might be preferable and gives you the
perfect excuse to consider covering this with a decorative cast grate. Outside, your greenhouse will be fitted with guttering and downpipes to collect and discharge rainwater. Especially on smaller greenhouses it is acceptable to allow the downpipes to simply discharge onto the ground surrounding the greenhouse. But on larger houses, and if the surrounding area is hard landscaped, you may prefer to incorporate gulleys into your plan which the downpipes can be directed into.”
6
Utilities – If you have the opportunity to get power to your greenhouse, and this is best done at the building stage, then you’re giving yourself scope to have heaters, lighting, a kettle etc. If you are not planning to collect the rainwater run off somehow, it’s worth thinking about having a tap in or near the greenhouse. Some go as far as including a kitchen sink too – useful for scrubbing pots or rinsing freshly picked produce for a super-speedy salad turnaround. Think about these things at the building stage rather than afterwards. They may add cost and complexity to the building work but it’s much easier to incorporate these elements at the beginning.”
White Cottage Greenhouses
offer a unique design solution for those looking for the traditional warmth, look and feel of wood, with the maintenance-free benefits of aluminium. All White Cottage Greenhouses have a painted Accoya timber frame, and a matching powder coated aluminium roof.
Accoya
timber offers unparalleled stability and durability (guaranteed against rot for 50 years) meaning coatings last twice as long. Virtually maintenance-free aluminium roof components are coated to match, achieving an authentically period-looking structure
that will last a lifetime. This distinctive, innovative design is unique within the greenhouse market.
• For more details and to explore White Cottage Greenhouses’ full range of handcrafted period greenhouses, visit
www.whitecottage.co.uk
All-in-One Retail & Trade Software from RBA: Built to Drive Growth and Save Time
For over 30 years, RBA UK has helped retail, trade, and wholesale businesses in Hardware, DIY, Building, Plumbing, Agriculture, Locksmithing, and Multi-Drop Distribution simplify operations
and drive growth. Our software gives you full control of sales, trade accounts, stock, and suppliers—while freeing up time to focus on customers and profitability.
With everything in one system, you can manage point of sale, deliveries, quotes, mobile orders, and supplier checks quickly and accurately. Automated stock updates, supplier price change alerts, and real-time comparisons help protect your margins and keep your business competitive. By connecting directly with all major suppliers through powerful, integrated, inventory EDI (electronic data interchange) links, you benefit from faster automatic ordering, better accuracy, and reduced admin. “RBA as a partner has lived up to, and exceeded, expectations. We’re delighted with the system, the support and the results we’re getting.” – Havard’s (community- owned hardware store)
Our cloud-based debt management platform reduces risk, while AI-powered insights (in development) will deliver smarter, data-driven decisions for long-term
www.diyweek.net
Paul Tierney, Sales Manager at RBA UK
growth. Integration with Sage Line 50, Xero, and multiple card payment providers ensures smoother financial management, while e-commerce and multichannel integrations open up new opportunities without adding complexity. We look forward to talking to you
at DIY Week Live.
www.rbauk.com
SEPTEMBER 2025 DIY WEEK 15
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