Vitavia Hera 2 assembly guide
Vitavia Hera 2
Sizes 9000
Pick your size at the top. Quantities and drawings change to match.
The build at a glance
0 Prepare the base
1 Build five plain sides
2 Build the door side
3 Join the six sides
4 Build and fit the roof
5L Build the left-hand door
5R Build the right-hand door
6 Build the three vents
7 Fit the glazing
8 Fit vents and doors
Before you start
Six golden rules
- Build side elements loose. Tighten side joints only when the frame is square and upright on its base.
- Never overtighten nuts 3002. Overtightening strips aluminium and cracks glass.
- Slide every bolt head into its channel before closing the bar. You cannot add bolts afterwards.
- Build with two people. Use two to three people for the walls, roof and glazing.
- Always anchor your greenhouse. An unanchored greenhouse can blow away.
Get ready
- Read the whole guide once before you start.
- Use flat and PH2 crosshead screwdrivers, 10 mm and 17 mm spanners, 10 mm combination spanner, craft knife. Bring tape measure, spirit level, 1.8 m step ladder, 20 mm drill bit, cordless drill; set 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.
- Have the other person hold the step ladder steady whenever you are on it.
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 base
Prepare a level base for your six-sided greenhouse.
| 9000 | |
|---|---|
| A across the corners | 3768 mm |
| B across the flat sides | 3263 mm |
Installer tip
Use ground spikes or anchor legs only in soil. On concrete or paving, bolt down with suitable fixings; use one method.
Make your base level; a zinc-coated steel base is available separately. Follow the regular hexagon drawing: corners 3768 mm across; flats 3263 mm across; sides 1884 mm; corners 120 degrees.
For stone or concrete foundations, follow drawing sizes; extend below frost level. Fit treated timber beneath sill bars 6001: minimum height 18 mm, maximum width 32 mm (A-A). Beneath door sill 6002, use maximum width 52 mm (B-B); secure timber with 50 mm bolts, not supplied.
Only on a very windy, exposed site, drill through both the greenhouse bottom profile and steel base. Bolt them together.
Build five plain sides
Build five matching plain side elements flat on the ground, with every bolt loose.
You need
Installer tip
Lay the parts on a blanket or lawn to protect the finish. Leave every nut loose so the frame can flex.
Watch out
Slide bolts into the channels from the bar ends. You cannot add bolts once a bar is joined at both ends.
Join middle bar 6013 to eave angle 6072 at the top. Follow the small inset for its position.
Join bar 6003 and diagonal brace 6008 to middle bar 6013 as shown.
Join middle bar 6013 to sill bar 6001 at the bottom.
Join the lower end of diagonal brace 6008 to corner bar 6022 at sill bar 6001.
Join bar 6003 to corner bar 6022.
Loosely fit corner plate 1092 where eave angle 6072 meets corner bar 6022.
Slide all bolt heads into each vertical bar's bolt channels as you go. Repeat for the other four plain side elements.
Build the door side
Build the door side element flat on the ground, with every bolt loose.
You need
Installer tip
Check you have sill bar 6002 before you start this element. It carries the door track; sill bar 6001 does not.
Join bars 6013 and 6005 to eave angle 6073 at the top. Follow the small inset for their positions.
Join bar 6004 and brace 6007 to bars 6013 and 6005 as shown.
Join bars 6013 and 6005 to sill bar 6002 at the bottom.
Join brace 6007 to corner bar 6022 at sill bar 6002.
Join bar 6004 to corner bar 6022.
Loosely fit corner plate 1092 where eave angle 6073 meets corner bar 6022.
Join the six sides
Work with another person to join the six side elements.
You need
Join the sides at each bottom corner, where diagonal braces 6008 and sill bars 6001 meet corner bar 6022.
Join bars 6003 where they meet at each corner bar 6022, as shown.
Bolt the sides together at each top corner with corner plates 1092, below eave angles 6072.
Carefully push a plastic eave end 6067 into the eaves at each corner, as the arrow shows.
Position plastic eave end 6067 in eave angles 6072 at the corner, as shown.
Check from outside that plastic eave end 6067 is fitted to eave angle 6072 as shown.
Place the frame on its base and connect loosely; leave base bolts loose until glazed. Adjust until square and upright, then tighten the bolts joining the sides without overtightening.
Build and fit the roof
Build the roof on the ground in drawing 4A, then lift it onto the walls in drawing 4B.
You need
Watch out
Use the step ladder for roof work. Have another person hold it steady at all times.
Lay all six roof bars 6087 on the ground; accurately pencil-mark each 1055 mm from the end shown. These marks position the bars so the glazing fits later.
Connect assembly help disc 6144 to hexagonal cone 6095 with bolt 3001 and nut 3002.
Bolt roof bars 6087 onto cone 6095. Place each bar's straight cut edge against disc 6144.
Position the six roof bars 6087 round hexagonal cone 6095 as shown. Tighten all bolts.
Connect ring beam bars 6097 to roof bars 6087. Place the joining point edge on the 1055 mm mark.
Join ring beam 6097 to each roof bar 6087 as shown.
Lift the whole roof assembly onto the walls with another person.
Connect roof bars 6087 at each corner, above corner bar 6022 and corner plates 1092. Follow the drawing where eave angles 6072 and 6073 meet.
Use the step ladder to connect roof middle bars 6088 to hexagonal cone 6095.
Connect roof middle bars 6088 to ring beam 6097.
Connect roof middle bars 6088 to eave angle 6072 or 6073. Tighten all bolts.
Assemble outer cone 6036 with bolt 6052, washer 6061, spacer 1010 and nut 3002; lift into place. Remove bolt 3001 and nut 3002 holding disc 6144; inside, connect bolt extension 6038 to bolt 6052. Fix cover 6099 to 6038 with washer 6061 and bolt 6059.
Build the left-hand door
Build the first sliding door flat on the ground, ready to hang in step 8.
You need
Watch out
Use middle bar 6141 with lock parts 6143 and 7400 for the left-hand door. The right-hand door uses middle bar 6140 with lock part 7401.
Lay bars 6085 and 6086 flat; slide 6 bolts 3001 into each bar's channels. Prepare one 3 mm glass pane A, 714 x 454 mm, and B, 919 x 454 mm.
Press glazing seals 6090 onto bars 6085 and 6086. Cut them to length.
Connect bottom bar 6017 to bars 6085 and 6086 with prepared end bolts. Align door bar bottoms with 6017's face groove, as shown, for the correct overhang. Loosely fit wheels 6049 and jump clips 6039 with bolt 6046, washers 6051 and nut 3002; tighten when hung.
Fit lower pane B, then the middle bar. Join the middle bar to the door bars with bolts 3001 and nuts 3002.
Use middle bar 6141 for your left-hand door. Fix lock parts 6143 and 7400 onto it with bolts 6142 and nuts 3002.
Fit upper pane A and connect door bar 6014 with the last two prepared bolts. Screw plastic door guides 6057 onto bar 6014 with screws 6062.
Secure the glass on both sides with plastic fixing strips 6500.
Measure both door diagonals; make them equal before tightening any bolts. Lay the square door aside for step 8.
Build the right-hand door
Build the second sliding door flat on the ground, ready to hang in step 8.
You need
Installer tip
Build this door the same way as the left-hand door. Lay both aside for step 8.
Watch out
Check you are using middle bar 6140 and lock part 7401 for this door.
Lay two bars 6086 flat; slide 6 bolts 3001 into each bar's channels. Prepare one 3 mm glass pane A, 714 x 454 mm, and B, 919 x 454 mm.
Press glazing seals 6090 onto both bars 6086. Cut them to length.
Connect bottom bar 6017 to both bars 6086 with prepared end bolts. Align door bar bottoms with 6017's face groove, as shown, for the correct overhang. Loosely fit wheels 6049 and jump clips 6039 with bolt 6046, washers 6051 and nut 3002; tighten when hung.
Fit lower pane B, then the middle bar. Join the middle bar to the door bars with bolts 3001 and nuts 3002.
Use middle bar 6140 for your right-hand door. Fix lock part 7401 onto it with bolts 6142 and nuts 3002.
Fit upper pane A and connect door bar 6014 with the last two prepared bolts. Screw plastic door guides 6057 onto bar 6014 with screws 6062.
Secure the glass on both sides with plastic fixing strips 6500.
Measure both door diagonals; make them equal before tightening any bolts. Lay the square door aside for step 8.
Build the three vents
Build three side vents flat with 3 mm glass panes C, 750 x 610 mm, for fitting in step 8.
You need
Watch out
Warm the window seal to room temperature before fitting it. Do not stretch it.
Warm window seal 6034 to room temperature before you start.
Press seal 6034 centrally onto the top edge of glass pane C. Do not stretch it.
Cut the seal at the corner as shown, then press it onto the side and bottom edges. Cut it to fit round each corner.
Fit vent bottom bar 6024 over the seal.
Fit side bars 6020 and 6021; screw them to 6024 at the corners. The drawing labels screws 1003, but the parts list supplies screws 1008 for the vents.
Finish pressing the seal onto the top edge; cut it to length in the middle. Fit top vent bar 6025 and screw it to side bars 6020 and 6021.
Make each vent completely square before you tighten any screws.
Loosely connect bar 6066 to eave angle 6072 with bolts 3001. Use the prepared holes, which set the vent position.
Remove side brace 6003 and diagonal brace 6008. Fit vent sill bar 6019 behind them with bolts 3001.
Refit bar 6003, then diagonal brace 6008, loosely with nuts 3002; leave loose until the vent is fitted. Repeat for all three vents and lay them aside.
Fit the glazing
Fit the 6 mm polycarbonate roof panes and 3 mm glass side panes.
You need
Installer tip
We recommend soaking glazing seals in hot soapy water first so they press on more easily. Check pane letters if a pane looks too big.
Watch out
Never force a pane. If it will not seat, square the frame first; forcing glass cracks it.
Sort polycarbonate panes: D 1727 x 546/19 mm (6), E 1847 x 608/12 mm (6), F 1847 x 608/12 mm (6). Sort glass panes: G 1793 x 470 mm (2), H 982 x 610 mm (3), J 1793 x 610 mm (12). There are 35 panes; put each polycarbonate sheet's UV-protected face on the outside.
Have one person inside on the step ladder. Slide roof panes D, E and F into the guides in roof bars 6087 and roof middle bars 6088.
Slide each roof pane down into the guides, as the arrow shows.
Once neighbouring roof panes are fitted, secure end piece 6077, 6078 or 6079 with screws 7349. These stop the panes sliding out.
Position end pieces 6077, 6078 and 6079 along the bottom of roof panes D, E and F as shown.
Fit door guide bar 6074 onto eave angle 6072 or 6073. Secure it with 3 equally spaced screws 6068.
Position door guide bar 6074 along the eaves on both sides of the corner, as shown.
Press glazing seals 6090 onto all side bars 6013 and corner bars 6022. Cut them to length.
Fit side panes G, H and J as shown. Secure each side with plastic fixing strips 6500 at corner bars 6022.
Secure the panes with plastic fixing strips 6500 at side bars 6013 in the same way.
Tighten the bolts holding your greenhouse to its base.
Glass for your greenhouse
| Pane | Size (mm) | 9000 |
|---|---|---|
| D | 1727 x 546/19 (6 mm) | 6 |
| E | 1847 x 608/12 (6 mm) | 6 |
| F | 1847 x 608/12 (6 mm) | 6 |
| G | 1793 x 470 (3 mm) | 2 |
| H | 982 x 610 (3 mm) | 3 |
| J | 1793 x 610 (3 mm) | 12 |
| Total | 35 |
Pane numbers match the glazing layout in the drawing above.
Fit vents and doors
Fit your prepared vents and doors, then add the remaining parts.
You need
Installer tip
If a door binds or jumps the track, the frame is almost certainly not square. Check it before forcing the door.
Lift each vent into its prepared position and loosen bar 6066. Slide the vent's top bar 6025 into bar 6066 from one end.
Check bar 6025 sits in bar 6066 beside door guide bar 6074, as shown. Lift sill bar 6019 into position against the vent, then tighten all inside bolts.
Fix opener 1067 to bar 6024 and both vent fixers 6056 to sill bar 6019 with screws 6062. Push plastic cap 1019 onto the end of opener 1067.
Hang each door by pushing plastic door guides 6057 up into door guide bar 6074, as the arrows show.
Check plastic door guides 6057 sit in door guide bar 6074 as shown.
Lower the door wheels onto the track on bar 6002. Hook door jump clips 6039 under its lip.
Tighten door wheel bolts 6046.
Push plastic nut caps 6070 onto all visible nuts 3002 inside your greenhouse.
Fit down pipe elbow 1402 onto down pipe 1415. Push down pipes into plastic eave ends 6067 at 3 corners that are not next to each other.
Hook clamp 1414 onto corner bar 6022 at elbow 1402's height. Fit screw 1006 into the prepared hole in clamp 1414.
Use the 20 mm drill bit to make drainage holes in the marked areas of the 3 plastic eave ends 6067.
Inside your greenhouse, slide glazing spacers 6075 or 6076 onto eave angles 6072 and 6073. Secure them centrally with screws 7349.
Position spacers 6075 and 6076 as shown. To reduce unavoidable polycarbonate condensation, use parts 6100 instead; they let in more air. Fix each 6100 centrally in each section at the eave with screws 7349.
Finish and look after it
Finish
- Anchor your greenhouse. This is not optional.
- If you wish, seal edges and gaps between glazing and spacers 6075 or 6076 with neutral silicone, not supplied.
- Stick the warning label inside your greenhouse.
- Stick the model label onto door bar 6014. You need it to order spare parts.
- Keep this guide somewhere safe.
Looking after it
- Shut all doors and vents in high winds.
- Clear or support the roof in heavy snow. Heat your greenhouse in winter.
- Wash your greenhouse occasionally with a mild detergent that does not attack aluminium or plastic.
- Keep door tracks clean so dirt does not build up.
- Add your greenhouse to your home insurance. Check local building rules about where it can go.
Drawings reproduced from the Vitavia assembly instructions (Vitavia manual 011.01.1209 (Hera 2 9000)). Greenhouse Stores, greenhousestores.co.uk.