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Tips for cleaning and maintaining your greenhouse

Do you own a greenhouse? Then it is naturally important to know how to clean and maintain it. This ensures that your greenhouse remains in good condition for as long as possible. Read here what you need to know.

Advice for cleaning your greenhouse

Cleaning a greenhouse is a substantial task. Fortunately, you only need to do this once or twice a year. During this cleaning session, you clean both the glass and the aluminium profiles on the inside and outside using a bucket of lukewarm water with a small amount of non-greasy dish soap.

Be sure to avoid using aggressive products such as bleach, vinegar, or agents containing acetone, for example. These can be harmful to the glass or the paintwork on the profiles.

Cleaning the side walls is quite simple: you take a stepladder, bucket, and sponge and get to work. Cleaning the roof, on the other hand, is a different matter…

Cleaning the glass roof of your greenhouse

Cleaning the roof of a greenhouse can pose a challenge, especially with tall models. A stepladder and a brush (long pole with a sponge or cloth) can certainly come in handy.

Place the stepladder next to the greenhouse wall, stand on it, and try to clean the roof as thoroughly as possible from this position. Do not place a regular ladder against the greenhouse wall, as this can cause damage and may also be less stable.

The most important rule when cleaning a glass roof may be self-evident, but we will mention it anyway: never walk or crawl on your roof. Also, never lean or place a heavy weight in the middle of the roof. If you must lean on it, it is best to do so along the sides – as close as possible to the profiles that provide support.

Maintaining your greenhouse

Most greenhouses, or at least the ones you find at Janssens AluSystems, are in principle maintenance-free. Nevertheless, there are a few things you can do to keep your greenhouse in top condition:

Remove leaves and sand from the gutters and drains;
Check the functioning of moving parts (windows and doors);
Clean the guides of sliding doors – especially removing sand or dirt from the bottom guide.

To prevent dirt in the guides of your doors, you can opt to install a paved path at the entrance of your greenhouse.

If the sliding doors of your greenhouse are not used frequently, you can optionally apply a drop of oil to the wheels to ensure smooth operation. When the doors are used regularly, this is not really necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What warranties do I have?

You benefit from the following warranty periods:

10 years on the quality and alloy of the aluminium
10 years on the paint finish (powder coating) in case of delamination, peeling, flaking, corrosion, chalking, discolouration and loss of gloss where the pre-defined tolerances are exceeded, in accordance with the Qualicoat or Qualinod specifications
10 years on the adhesion and tension of the glazing rubbers
10 years on production defects in the glass
5 years on PVC components and their UV resistance

The following damage is not covered by the warranty:

Damage caused by failure to follow the installation and operating instructions
Damage resulting from use other than the intended normal use
Damage due to lack of maintenance
Normal wear and tear
Materials and items used at the customer’s specific request
Structures not part of the Janssens range but manufactured at the express request of the customer or distributor

Our greenhouses are intended for growing vegetables, fruit, flowers, etc. The following characteristics are inherent and vary depending on the situation, environment and use:

Condensation on glass or profiles
Draughts at doors, windows or gaps
Roof windows, roof connections and gutters are not 100% watertight
No waterproof barrier beneath the foundation frame

How do I prepare my garden for installation?

Think carefully about the location of the greenhouse, its orientation and the position of the door and windows. Please note: for lean-to greenhouses, the supporting wall must be straight and square. If you’re having the greenhouse installed by a professional team, ensure the ground is clear and level before the team arrives. Also ask about the necessary foundation work in advance (see the separate topic on this).

How can I maintain my greenhouse?

Give your greenhouse a thorough clean twice a year. Make sure to avoid aggressive cleaning products.

Moving parts such as rollers and hinges may benefit from occasional oiling.

Close the roof windows during storms to prevent them from being forced open.

Do you have automatic openers? The wax cylinder can freeze in sub-zero temperatures, be sure to remove it when temperatures drop below freezing.

In the event of very heavy snowfall (rare in our climate), clear the roof of snow.

How do I choose the orientation of my greenhouse?

To prevent overheating, a southerly orientation is best, with the entrance of the greenhouse facing south. This way, your greenhouse receives maximum sunlight both in the morning and the evening, minimising the risk of overheating.

If you want to grow heat-loving plants such as cacti or succulents, a westerly orientation is preferable to give them maximum sun in the afternoon. The greenhouse will also be slightly warmer around midday in winter.

Do I need a foundation?

The greenhouse must be placed on a sufficiently load-bearing (concrete) foundation that extends down to solid, frost-free ground. The dimensions given for our aluminium structures always refer to the outer dimensions of the construction. We recommend a concrete ring beam foundation matching the outer dimensions of the greenhouse. This must be perfectly level and smoothly finished so that the foundation frame can be mounted on it. The type of foundation (width, depth, composition) depends on the site conditions, ground type, region and the practices of your contractor. We recommend seeking detailed advice from your builder or contractor.

Our greenhouses are supplied as standard with an aluminium foundation frame including a ground anchor at each corner. In consultation with your contractor, it may be possible in certain cases (smaller greenhouses) to anchor only the 4 corners of the greenhouse, however, in that case the option of a low threshold at the doors is NOT possible.

Do you have any questions?

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