I was quoted £1k to do up my greenhouse but I did it myself for £100 with B&Q bargains and it looks amazing
DIY is something not all of us are great at, so it’s often easier to just pay a professional to do the job for you.
But when faced with a huge quote that is not in your budget, would you have the skills and courage to do it yourself?
Well, one woman, Hilary Hart, 58, from Dundee, recently turned her hand to DIY when she received a massive quote for her greenhouse.
Hilary, who is mum to three children aged 33, 30 and 27, told : “I ordered a new greenhouse because the one I had which used to be my mum’s was 39 years old, and the door had blown off.
“I had done a temporary fix with a shower curtain, weighted down with heavy glass beads, but it looked terrible, and didn’t keep the heat.
“I ordered one online, and the delivery time was 18 weeks, so I figured I had plenty of time to get the base sorted.
“I really struggled to get someone to quote, as a lot of contractors said they were busy doing jobs over the pandemic.
“I did get one professional who came out and quoted £1,000 for a greenhouse base and installation - a lot more than the cost of the greenhouse in the first place (£750)!
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“The guy said it was a tight space, and it would be a difficult job.
“I thought it was a lot of money, and didn’t want to end up being coerced into moving the greenhouse somewhere else. It was a great spot!
“So, I decided to have a go myself.”
Hilary, who is an occupational therapist for the NHS, explained that in order to carry out the DIY, she turned to YouTube to learn more about DIY greenhouses.
She said: “I watched lots of YouTube videos to learn how to make concrete and lay greenhouse bases.
“I didn’t realise that there was a cement shortage until I had dug a big hole in the garden...online delivery prices were extortionate, so I asked everyone I knew if they had any idea where I could get some.
“I eventually managed to source some from a builders yard 20 miles away, they were really helpful!
“I picked up three bags of cement from Travis & Perkins in Arbroath for £17.50, then moved on to B&Q for the rest of my supplies.
“I purchased three bags of sharp sand for £21 and 20 bags of gravel for £53.
“I also got a plastering trowel for £9 and measuring jugs for £3.50.
“It did take a few journeys, especially for the sand, as I only have a wee Skoda.”
If you’re also looking to give your greenhouse a revamp, Hilary has all the tips you will need.
She explained: “After I had marked out the area and excavated it, I removed all of the debris and compacted it with a roller.
“I then laid out the metal base frame using parts I already had and levelled it out using a spirit level.
“Next I needed to mix the concrete and I did so using the standard mix of one part cement to five parts ballast (sand and gravel).
“Overall, preparing and laying the foundation was really hard work.
“At first I mixed the concrete in my tub trug and that worked well but it knackered the tub trug!
“It took several days, so I passed the time by listening to John Grisham audio books whilst I was doing it.
“I filled the area with the concrete once it was ready and used a shovel to spread it around evenly.
“I used a straight piece of timber to compact the concrete and then I levelled it out, ensuring the corners were filled.
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“I then left it to set for four or five days and it was ready to be built on once the greenhouse arrived.
“I’m so pleased with the result. I think doing it myself was just a great feeling.
“The cost of the materials for the base was just over £100.
“I bought a recycled plastic rug for the floor, because I thought it looked a bit like a conservatory floor.”
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