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Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 8:16 pm
by IanMelb
An elderly neighbour is planning to demolish his greenhouse (for safety reasons - the frames are rotten and the glass is very brittle):
The current floor is dirt with some paving slabs about 200mm below ground level with a couple of courses of blockwork above ground. He's plaaning on turning the area in to a summerhouse and store. Basically, he's thinking of putting a concrete pad (plus sub-base) in to ground level.
Now here's the tricky bit - how do we get rid of all that glass? The closest place we can get a skip is 50 yards away. He was wondering about knocking the glass in to the below ground area, breaking and crushing it (carefully!) and then covering it with concrete (I've suggested he may want to add type 1 over the top, but he says the concrete would help to bind the glass.
Would that work? Could the crushed glass (maybe run a roller over it or even the plate compactor) work as part of the sub-grade/sub-base? The concrete pad will be there for minimal foot traffic at most so he's not too worried about it having to support any weight.
You'd think after hanging around in here for so long, I should know the answer to this automatically!
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 8:46 pm
by mickg
you will need a skip for the wood, blocks etc so for the sake of a few hours of carefully removing the glass and putting it into a skip its not worth it in my opinion.
from what i can see the roof is made up of 6 full height sheets of glass, if its the same on the other side then its only 12 to remove, start at one end and remove the end piece of wood what the glass rests on which leaves the glass supported top and bottom and one side only, remove the stop what is holding the glass from sliding down .
wearing gloves push and pull the glass from side to side carefully until it comes out of the rebate...one out 11 to go 
seeing as the timber is rotten the sides may only need a few pieces of glass removing to then cut through the timber frame top and bottom and carry the glass in a frame to the skip
as a safe guard if you put plywood sheets inside and outside in case any glass breaks it will make tidying up a lot easier
if you don't feel confident in removing the glass in one piece then use a piece of 3 x2 or 4 x2 say 8' long to smash the glass to the inside of the greenhouse
remember always wear your safely goggles, boots and gloves 
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 9:31 pm
by remus
It looks like a small dutch light greehouse. About 20 years ago we purchased a large one took it down and rebuilt it on our farm. Over 500 sheets of glass.
The roof glass will be in a grove on three sides. its just the block at the bottom that holds it in, two screws. If you get a thin blade like a wallpaper scraper ( have done it with a thin screwdrive) to just lift the bottom of the sheet a tiny bit. Then with finger pressure on the glass against the blade you can then just pull the sheet out. Support the centre when almost out then turn onto side.
The side sheets are in a grove on one side and top.with a wood bead on the other side. Take off the bead, get someone to take the weight of the glass then remove the block from bottom, lower a little to till you clear the top grove then swing the glass out of the frame.
this is all good fun when working from the centre gutter of a multi bay glasshouse.
When we had to replace some 50 sheets when the local youths came to visit the glass firm said we could put the old glass in their yard skip.
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 9:33 pm
by seanandruby
It seems quite high so go carefully. You might even need a jump up scaffolding to remove it safely. Have a large bin handy to put any broken pieces in, it will be safer to carry like that between 2 people. Thick gloves, strong boots etc: I'd avoid smashing it in as glass is so unpredictable and splinters of it fly so fast. Although you can use crushed glass in concrete etc; i think it might be to time consuming to do, not to mention dangerous.
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 9:45 pm
by local patios and driveway
must admit i'd be very tempted to smash it all and leave it under the slab, maybe a little type 1 on top before a compactor for the sake of safety. i wouldnt want to be the guy taking it up in 30 yrs time though....
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 9:59 pm
by bert
ive just pulled up part of a path around my house , its a big concrete path , some eejit thought it would be ok to hide some asbestos sheeting underneath it. 
, you can imagine my surprise and then worry as my cango started bringing up bits of broken asbestos.
for this reason i wouldn't hide anything under concrete , you never know , the next time you go to pull up a slab of concrete you might just find a load of broken glass down there under it. :;):
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:25 pm
by IanMelb
The last time I got rid of a load of glass I had an old plastic bath tub. Two of us would put the sheets into it and then carry them to the skip.
I can see the point about not burying it for later consumption. I know that it'll be me shifting it for him or knocking it down so I'd rather do it properly.
I think, when it comes down to it, I'll be wearing a fair bit of my ice hockey padding for extra protection.
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:32 pm
by bert
just take your time and it should be ok , they design greenhouses to be easily dismantled , perhaps it can be freecycled? if i were closer id probably have it off you.
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:01 am
by Mikey_C
bert, which bit are after the rotten frames, or the brittle glass!
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:06 am
by Mikey_C
ian you can special gloves, that aren't to expensive, that have Kevlar stitched in the them to be cut resistant. might be an investment stop you having only 3 or 4 fingers.
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:16 am
by IanMelb
Cheers Mikey - we'll be investing in a couple of pairs of these.
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:10 am
by GB_Groundworks
our glass lads wear plastic wrist protectors under thick gloves to protect the veins and arteries.
you can also gaffer tape the glass with crosses before you start to add a bit of strength
if it were me i'd give it ten minutes trying to take it down if it was an arse then i'd flatten it with a digger
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 2:24 pm
by rab1
dont tell lies giles, after 3 seconds you'd have the digger on it. :laugh:
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:13 pm
by Mikey_C
my money would be on giles being sat in the digger whilst someone has three seconds to make a dent in it, otherwise mind the bucket.
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:36 pm
by GB_Groundworks
you know me to well
, you can imagine my surprise and then worry as my cango started bringing up bits of broken asbestos.