Badseed did you get your new greenhouse?

I have an 8 by 12 Rion and am having the warped door issue just wondering if you got you new one and if it's different.

I've been thinking of calling and complaining about it to see what happens.

Thanks
Nancy

I'm sure she will come along and respond soon, but I read a thread where she said that they did send her a new greenhouse, and she keeps the old one too.

Sounds like they are very willing to try and please the customer. I'd contact them.

What do you think is the issue with the door? I'm thinking about purchasing a Rion, and wondering if there are certain things you can do to avoid "pitfalls".

Kathy

I did get the new greenhouse! I'll be back on later. Sorry. I have not been home in days and spent last night away from home too. I have to run to a volleyball game and will be back in a couple of hours.

I really don't know first the pane next to the door started to bow now there is a gap where the doors meet. I've had mine longer than Badseed so they might now have it fixed on her new one.

Treeclimber--If I recall right from the other posts, it's the wider models with the double doors that have the problems, but the narrower 6'-ish wide ones with a single door aren't as problematic.

Okay, sorry about that! I've been running a lot lately.

Yes, ecrane is right. The hobby models are the 6' wide ones that have single doors. On the "pro" models which are 8' wide, they have double doors. I did a lot of reading when mine started acting goofy and and somewhere read that they had made some improvements to the door. My new one is sitting here but I have not opened the boxes yet. They look the same as they did when I got mine early last year but I can't say much until I open the box. I have not decided whether to buy the base for it or again set it on lumber. I like having the added height but there is something nice about the thought of just filling the base and putting up the GH. LOL

Anyway, the problem with the double door in my opinion-that is a big span for one tube of PVC. There is a flat metal rod that goes in there but I don't know how much it offers other than keeping that piece from snapping. Someone offered me the solution of using a piece of metal bar/strap to lift that piece. I am going to try it on the older greenhouse. I guess I am going to keep that one for overwintering plants and keep the newer one for starting seeds and cuttings.

Sataclr, do you mean the polycarb panel next to the door is bowing or is it the actual PVC posts? My first thought would be to make sure the GH is square. Secondly, has it gotten excessively hot in your greenhouse? They sent me a new one but also gave me and extra louvre window and roof vent with opener. They are stating you want one roof vent per four feet of length which basically means you have to have one every other roof panel. They have upped that number in the last year to the best of my memory! I would take a picture and send it with an email to whomever sold you the greenhouse. They are guarenteed for 7 years against manufacturers defects.

Post some pics, folks, because I'm thinking that there has to be a way to fix this.

If you look, you can see that the sag is not major but obvious.

The real problem is the way it puts pressure on the doors and causes them to bulge.

Again, not painfully obvious, but if you look closely, you can see a gap at the outside corners where you can see the rubber edge strip. In the center where the doors meet, it is plastic to plastic.

In this pic, you can see where the stress on the center is causing the left side to pull away.


I do not think the idea to attach support from the roof to the bottom of the frame top would be a bad idea. It would have to be done in a way that would not adversely affect the top piece you attach to though. I'll have to pull the directions from the new front section box and see if anything has been altered. I read that they were aware and improved it but I do not remember where I saw that.

Badseed,

Your picture of the door bulging is what I'm having a problem with. Which caused the pressure on the panel next to the door to bow out.

Nancy

I got mine last Oct. and my doors look just like yours. Last winter I had to put a plastic bag in between both doors to keep the cold air out. After I put the plastic in then I would push the bottom of the door in because it is always bowed out.

BS, which way is the metal piece oriented, vertically or horizontally?

Do you have a pic from the inside? One that shows the metal piece?

The flat metal bar actually slides inside the tube of plastic that is the top of the door frame. You never see the metal piece again after you build!

SB, if you go to this link and scroll to page 10 (front of roof) and page 11 (back of roof), it shows the assembly for the roof and where the metal bars come into play. http://www.riongreenhousekit.com/manuals/Rion_40Series_Assembly.pdf

Oddly enough, most sites say the greenhouse is constructed of pvc and steel. There is not a whole lot of metal on this greenhouse. LOL 99.9% of the greenhouse is extruded plastic tubes or polycarb panels.

So basically we need the horizontal PVC piece over the door perfectly straight, right?

Is that groove in the PVC large enough that you could slide the small edge of an "L" shaped extruded aluminum support into it?

Here is another idea...better, I think...

Pull out those little 1/4" pins across the top. Open the door and jack up the piece of PVC so it's level. Align a flat piece of aluminum...right now I'm thinking 1/8" flat extruded aluminum stock...along the PVC on the inside, and mark the positions of the holes for the pins that were removed. Drill these out at maybe 1/4-5/16". Then attach the aluminum flat against the PVC throught pin holes with something...let's see...thinking...metal screws might work but risk cracking the PVC...I think the first thing I would try would be plastic wall anchors, those barbed anchors you drive into the drywall to hang stuff with...find the larger ones and insert the anchor through the aluminum into the PVC. If it weren't tight enough, you could just drive the screw into the wall anchor and it would grab the PVC better.

Something like this diagram. This way, if it didn't work, you haven't damaged or altered the basic frame in any way.

Hubby thinks both of your ideas sound really good but is questioning the strength of aluminum. Years ago he worked for a company that produced extruded aluminum. It was one of the joys of his life. NOT! He did say he was thinking much along the same lines but using a flat steel bar instead.

He said his thought is to use a steel L the length of the front of the greenhouse. He would removed the lip on the left and right end so they'd be flat, but leave it in the door opening to hold the piece of tubing straight.

The problem I have found replacing single pieces on this particular greenhouse=it has no flexibility, and less than none when cold! LOL You have to take apart many sections to remove and insert new pieces. When you pull out the plastic Tpins, there is probably a two inch overlap of pvc on pvc. Am I saying this right???

Very nice diagram. :)

So, I'm thinking that I should deal with this potential problem before I put my greenhouse up. Keep the ideas coming, I'll be having my husband take a look at the ideas.

Thanks for the link to the instructions Michele. I'm not going to order until the first of the year, but I want to prepare the site and the base now, so this will be very useful.

I was just thinking that aluminum would be easier to work (drill) than steel, but steel would be stronger.

I do appreciate your help SB. :)

Kathy, I would definately plan ahead. I was not joking about the lack of ease in part replacement.

The lack of ease in getting replacement parts in is why I haven't done to much with customer service on replacement parts. I did however email them on the bow in the door. Haven't heard back yet.

Nancy

Steel will rust. Just something to keep in mind. Rusted steel looks bad. ;) So far, so good, on my Rion. No warping. *knocks wood* There's one ever-so-slightly bowed piece, but it's been that way since day one. There's another piece that's a fraction of an inch too long, I think, causing the bowing. But, I'm not sure which one. The bow has never increased, even slightly.

Another thing to think about, when reinforcing...

While the PVC is strong, it's no match for the *insert metal of choice here* bar that you're considering. The PVC will still try and bow. The metal bar will try and hold it straight, via the *insert fastener of your choice here*. All of the stress will be placed on the holes in the PVC, where the fasteners are, which could quickly become out of round. Something will inevitably "give". This could be a re-bowing of the part, or a crack somewhere.

Or, nothing at all could happen, and it could work perfectly. :)

Hello. :)

We have not done anything with mine yet. I crammed it full of brugs, bananas and elephant ears and it's still as it was. I still haven't done anything with the new one either. I really want and need a commercial size greenhouse but am in a bit of a holding pattern. LOL

If you're still considering getting a base, one came with my 8x12 that I have no use for. I put mine on a 4x6 wood frame. It's yours for the shipping cost, if you need it. Just let me know. I don't always have time lately to get back to the forums, but I always check email. =)

ARE YOU SERIOUS???

Oh yes! I always check my email! I would never kid about a thing like that.
=)

This message was edited Oct 30, 2006 7:39 PM

ROTFLOL But, do you answer it??

Yup. =)

I have emailed 2 times about my greenhouse and still haven't gotten and answer. Badseed do you have a phone number that isn't a long distance charge?

Nancy

You can try this number: 1-888-404-7626

Or this one: (877) 407-9100 ext. 1

I have to tell you though, I never have any luck getting anything but a machine. Those are the numbers for Systems Trading Corp in TX. I actually bought mine straight from them. If you bought yours from a greenhouse retailer, it may not help. Most companies have a note that states returns have to be made back to them.

Thanks I'll try getting a hold of where I ordered mine from.

Nancy

No matter where you look, the brag on the 7 year manufacturer's defect warranty. Since the door thing is a common problem, I see no way it could be through any fault of yours. The only thing they told me when they sent mine is that they were sending an extra window and an extra vent and a shade cloth and to make sure I used them.

Wow! Two greenhouses for the price of one! Not a bad deal. Now if I could just get them to ship that extra free greenhouse in advance... (grin)

The door problem on the larger greenhouses looks like a plain old design flaw to me. They need to completely redesign those end sections to add a lot more plastic structure. And maybe fix the software computer program that validated their current wimpy design.

MM

P.S. Badseed, In your pictures I see an outside groove in all of the structural pieces. Is that for insertion of a wire or something?

The groove is on four sides of each piece. Most pieces could be "180 degrees out", in either direction, when assembling.

But MaineMan, the structure must be perfect....it can hold up to 1,100 pounds of snow or men! Haven't you seen the ad??? ;) http://www.greenhouseoutlet.com/rionprofessional.shtml#

Most of the pieces are oval or round with that groove down all four sides of the length (as EZ said). The pins that hold it together fit inside those grooves. The clips for the roof vent openers, shade cloths and a few other things also use those grooves.

I honestly believe the four foot span is too much for the single piece of plastic. They do give you a flat metal rod that slides inside that piece but obviously it's not enough. I had read there had been modifications to the door opening but I've not seen anything that obviously reflects it.

It really is a neat little unit and the way it fits together is downright interesting. I was really impressed while putting it together.

I was totally shocked when they said they were sending me a new one. I was not even mean until three weeks had passed and I still didn't have an answer. LOL

Badseed, mean ............... never! ;)

LOL thank you for the endorsement dear friend. Lately I have been feeling a little mean though. LOL

Hi,
I'm thinking of getting one of these units. How hard was it to set up? Can I do it myself? Do you have a heater inside of it? Does it keep out the cold air pretty well? Lots of questions, thanks

Crystal

I just found this thread. Bad, I think your DH is right get a angle piece of steel in there. A flat piece has no strength at all. A square steel tube would even be better if you can get it in there.
Is there room on the inside of the header to bolt a angle or tube on to it. Not inside of the pvc tube but on the side of it. If there is brace the sagging PVC thing up a little high, then drill holes through & bolt the steel on nice & tight. When you take the brace out it should stay straight.
Now if you would have moved to MN instead of Southern Ohio, I could just drop over & fix it for you! LOL!
Have a great day!
Bernie

Crystal, I am sorry your question went unanswered. The greenhouse itself is easy enough for one person to build alone until you get to the roof. They tell you to build the roof then have a few people help you set it on. Hubby and I can get the 8x12 roof on ourselves without help, but I want to tell you, that thing is pretty heavy! LOL

Once you have your area level and get the base laid, it's like a Lego set with plastic Tpins to hold it together. I did mine twice, completely by myself until it came time for the roof. Four people to lift it on would be best. Of course it would be easiest if you could build it on as you go.

The instructions say if you use their plastic base, you can build it anywhere flat then pick it up and move it to where you want it.

Bernie, if it wasn't so blasted cold there, I would have moved closer. :) I think we could do a fair amount of damage to some growing and remodeling. LOL