Vitavia Apollo assembly guide
Vitavia Apollo
Sizes 2500, 3800, 5000
Pick your size at the top. Quantities and drawings change to match.
The build at a glance
0A Prepare the foundation
0B Build the steel base
1 Build both side frames
2 Build the back gable
3 Build the door gable
4 Join the frame
5 Build and hang the door
6 Build and fit the vent
7 Fit the glazing
Before you start
Six golden rules
- Build frames loose; tighten only when the whole greenhouse stands square on its base.
- Measure both diagonals; they must be equal.
- Never overtighten nuts 1002: maximum 3 Nm. Overtightening strips aluminium and cracks glass.
- Fit extra bolts when instructed; you cannot add them after bar ends are capped.
- Build with two people.
- Always anchor your greenhouse. An unanchored greenhouse can blow away.
Get ready
- Read the whole guide once before you start.
- Gather flat/PH2 screwdrivers, 10 mm socket spanner/wrench, 10 mm combination spanner, knife, tape measure, spirit level. Set cordless drill adjustable torque low.
- Wear gloves, safety glasses, sturdy shoes and a hat. Aluminium edges are sharp. Clear up broken glass straight away.
- Open one bundle at a time and keep opened bundles apart. Mixed bundles are the main cause of lost-part searches.
- Check every part against the parts check pages. Contact Greenhouse Stores before you begin if anything is missing.
- Read single-frame drawings as views from inside the greenhouse. Read double-frame drawings as views from outside.
- Choose a sunny spot with as much shelter from wind as possible.
Parts check
Open one bundle at a time. Tick each part as you find it. The number in green is how many your size should have.
Bars and profiles
Fixings and small parts
Prepare the foundation
Prepare a square, level foundation before you assemble the steel base.
| 2500 | 3800 | 5000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1310 + 70 mm | 1932 + 70 mm | 2554 + 70 mm |
| B | 1942 mm | 1942 mm | 1942 mm |
Watch out
Check the base carefully: everything above it depends on it being square and level. Glass will not fit a frame that is out of square.
Check that the base is exactly square and level. Measure both diagonals as shown by X = X; they must match.
Only applies if you build your own stone or concrete foundation. Follow drawing 0A and page sizes A and B. Table A sizes are lengths plus 70 mm. The section shows foundations at least 70 mm wide under the base. Foundations must reach below frost level.
If you use the anchor legs supplied with the steel base, make a hole at each point marked C. Fill these holes with concrete after the greenhouse is fully assembled.
Only on a very windy, exposed site, drill through both the greenhouse bottom profile and the steel base. Bolt them together with nuts and bolts.
Build the steel base
Assemble the supplied zinc-coated steel base with bolts 1001 and nuts 1002.
You need
Installer tip
Use anchor legs 9001, as Vitavia recommends.
Watch out
Measure the 634 mm door gap before you continue. Door runner bar 1334 fits across it in step 4.
Join your side rail (9013, 9014 or 9016) to the back rail 9014 or front base length as shown. Fit corner bracket 9006 and anchor leg 9001 at each corner.
Bolt bracket 9046 to the end of base length 9042 at the door gap, as shown.
Leave exactly 634 mm between the inside ends of front base lengths 9042 and 9043. Check outside base sizes C and D against the table for your model.
Bend the anchor leg ends so they hold firmly in concrete, then place the steel base on the prepared foundation. Wait until the greenhouse is completely assembled before you pour concrete.
Build both side frames
Build two identical side frames flat on the ground, and leave the nuts loose.
You need
Installer tip
We recommend a blanket or lawn beneath the parts to protect the finish. Leave every nut loose so the frames can flex during step 4.
Watch out
Use the correct number of uprights 1332 per side: 1 for the 2500, 2 for the 3800, 3 for the 5000.
Bolt the bottom of each upright 1332 to your sill bar (1322, 1323 or 1324).
Slide bolts 1001 into the bar's channel through its open end, then line them up with the holes. Insert them before you close off the end.
Bolt the top of each upright 1332 to your eave bar (1327, 1328 or 1329).
Build the back gable
Assemble the plain back gable flat on the ground, and leave the nuts loose.
You need
Installer tip
Build from the bottom upwards. Slide each extra bolt into its channel before you fit the bar above it.
Watch out
Insert both extra bolts for brace 1335 before the bar ends are capped. These bolts are easy to miss.
Bolt the bottom of upright 1341 and diagonal brace 1333 to sill bar 1323.
Insert one extra bolt into each of uprights 1341 and 1342 for horizontal brace 1335. Bolt brace 1335 across both uprights.
At each top corner, use corner plate 1343 to join corner bar 1336, roof bar 1338 and brace 1335. Join diagonal brace 1333 at the same plate, as shown.
Bolt corner bar 1336 to sill bar 1323 at each bottom corner.
Bolt the top of upright 1342 to roof bar 1338.
Build the door gable
Build the front gable flat with nuts loose; keep bottom bars 1321 and 1320 separate across the doorway.
You need
Installer tip
Choose the door direction now, usually towards your path and away from the prevailing wind. Changing it later means taking the gable apart.
Watch out
If parts will not line up, check for bars fitted upside down or back to front. Do not force them.
Bolt door post 1285 and diagonal brace 1333 to left bottom bar 1321. Repeat with door post 1286, diagonal brace 1333 and right bottom bar 1320.
At each top corner, join roof bar 1339, bar 1349 and diagonal brace 1333 with corner plate 1343.
Bolt bar 1349 to door post 1285.
Bolt roof bar 1340 to door header bar 1348 and door post 1286.
Slide door runner bar 1347 onto header bar 1348. Bolt them loosely from the outside with two nuts and bolts.
Line up door runner bar 1347 to the left or right, according to which way you want the door to open.
Join the frame
Work with another person to join the frames on the prepared steel base, with clips 9002 fitted loosely.
You need
Installer tip
Count the extra roof bolts on your drawing before you fit any end cap. The number depends on greenhouse size and vent position.
Watch out
Keep all fixings loose until the whole greenhouse is on its steel base and square. You cannot adjust the frame once the glass is fitted.
Bolt the side frames to the gable ends at the top corners, where corner bar 1336 and diagonal braces 1333 meet.
Join your sill bar (1322, 1323 or 1324), corner bar 1336 and bottom bar 1320 as shown. Fix to base length 9042 and your side rail (9013, 9014 or 9016) with clip 9002 and bolt 1001.
Fit diagonal side brace 1333 between the eave bar and sill bar at each corner. Clip the sill bar loosely to the steel base with clip 9002, as shown.
Bolt your ridge bar (1050, 1051 or 1052) to both gable tops, onto roof bars 1339 and 1340.
Bolt roof glazing bars 1355 to your eave bar (1327, 1328 or 1329).
Bolt glazing bars 1355 to the ridge; insert an extra bolt in each for roof brace 1356, then fit the braces. Insert another extra bolt into each of the 2 vent glazing bars.
Slide bolts 1001 into the channel of door runner bar 1334 and fit it across base lengths 9042 and 9043. Fit clip 9002 and bolt 1001 at the end as shown.
Adjust the greenhouse until it is completely square, with matching corner-to-corner measurements, just like the base. Only then tighten all bolts to a maximum of 3 Nm.
Fit door runner support 1357 to door runner bar 1347 with bolt 1001, washer 6060 and nut 1002.
Fix the other end of support 1357 to the gable with bolt 4201 and spacer 1310.
Press end caps 1017 and 1018 onto the open profile ends.
Build and hang the door
Assemble the sliding door, fit its seals and rollers, then hang it in the tracks.
You need
Installer tip
If the door binds or jumps the track, check that the frame is square. Do this before you force the door.
Watch out
Never stand the assembled door on gliders 1014. This damages them.
Push a door glider 1014 onto each end of bottom door bar 1360. Screw side bars 1350 to it with screws 1003.
Screw middle bars 1361 between side bars 1350 with screws 1003.
Bolt door top bar 1362 to upper bar 1359 with bolt 1001 and nut 1002. Screw upper bar 1359 to side bars 1350 with screws 1003.
Fix the two door rollers 1015 to top bar 1362 with bolt 1304, washer 1009 and nut 1007.
Slide brush seals 3021 into both side bars 1350. Cut the seals to length.
Slide bolt 1500 into the bottom of the brush seal channel and secure it with nut 1515. This stops the seal from sliding out.
Lift the door and hang rollers 1015 in door runner bar 1347.
Check that gliders 1014 run in bottom door runner bar 1334; fit a nut and bolt at bar 1347's end. This is the door stop; adjust the door until it slides freely.
Build and fit the vent
Assemble the roof vent, fit its glass, then hook it into the ridge bar.
You need
Installer tip
Fit vent sill 1063 flat edge up, with its grooved lip down towards the pane below. Recheck it if that pane will not sit snugly.
For glass up to 4 mm thick, join vent side bars 1065 and top bar 1064 as shown.
For glass 4 mm or thicker, join vent side bars 1065 and top bar 1064 as shown in this drawing.
Put the bolts for bottom bar 1066 into the prepared holes; slide the glass into side bars 1065's tracks. Fit bottom bar 1066 and check the vent is square before you tighten it.
Hook the vent into the ridge bar from one end of the greenhouse.
Hook vent top bar 1064 over your ridge bar (1050, 1051 or 1052), as shown.
Slide the vent along to your chosen position. Push plastic cap 1019 onto the end of window opener 1067.
Fix vent sill 1063 to the extra bolts left in the roof glazing bars. For a corner vent, use bolt 2001 instead of bolt 1001 on the corner bar.
Screw window opener 1067 to vent bottom bar 1066 with screws 1006. Screw both window fixers 1016 onto vent sill 1063 with screws 1006.
Fit the glazing
Fit the rubber glazing seals, then glaze the roof before the walls.
Polycarbonate sheets
This step and its pane table cover horticultural glass. Your polycarbonate sheets are different sizes and use different fixings. We recommend you glaze using the fitting instructions Vitavia packs with your polycarbonate sheets.
Your toughened glass
Your toughened glass comes as full panes, listed in the table below. Use the plan below for pane positions, not the drawing above. Join your gable glass with plastic H profiles where glass meets glass, replacing glass retaining clips 1012. Fit each H strip with its longest arm inside and uppermost.
| Pane | Size (mm) | 2500 | 3800 | 5000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 610 x 1210 | 9 | 11 | 13 |
| 2 | 610 x 1144 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 3 | 610 x 610 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 610 x 228 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4a | 610 x 343 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 600 x 544 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | 610 x 450 x 24 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | 610 x 234 x 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | 610 x 439 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total panes | 25 | 29 | 33 | |
| Plastic H profiles | 6 | 6 | 6 |
You need
Installer tip
We recommend soaking the whole seal reel in hot soapy water first so it softens and presses on more easily. Glaze the roof before the walls to avoid leaning over fitted side glass.
Watch out
Never force a pane, as this cracks the glass. If it will not seat, correct the frame's squareness first.
Press rubber glazing seal 1020 onto the aluminium profiles and cut it to length.
Start the roof glazing at the eave. Fix the first pane with glazing spring clips 1011.
Overlap each next pane over the pane below it. Fit glass retaining clips 1012 between the panes to hold them.
Glaze the sides from the bottom upwards. If you chose polycarbonate sheets, follow the instructions supplied with them.
Horticultural glass for your greenhouse
| Pane | Size (mm) | 2500 | 3800 | 5000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 610 x 610 | 24 | 30 | 36 |
| 2 | 610 x 544 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 3 | 610 x 467 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 610 x 343 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 600 x 544 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | 610 x 464/38 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | 610 x 20/234/20 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 36 | 44 | 52 |
Pane numbers match the glazing layout in the drawing above.
Finish and look after it
Finish
- Fill the anchor leg holes with concrete.
- Fix the steel base to the foundation with screws and plugs, which are not supplied.
- If you wish, seal the edges with neutral silicone, which is not supplied.
- Stick the warning label inside the greenhouse.
- Stick the model label onto door top bar 1362. You will need it to order spare parts.
- Keep this guide somewhere safe.
Looking after it
- Shut the door and vent in high winds.
- Clear the roof or support it in heavy snow. Heat the greenhouse in winter.
- Wash the greenhouse occasionally with a mild detergent that does not attack aluminium or the glazing clips.
- Keep the upper and lower door tracks clean to prevent grit build-up.
- Add the greenhouse to your home insurance. Check local building rules about where you can put it.
Drawings reproduced from the Vitavia assembly instructions (Vitavia manual 061.01.1703 (Apollo 2500, 3800, 5000)). Greenhouse Stores, greenhousestores.co.uk.