Vitavia Ida assembly guide
Vitavia Ida
Sizes 900, 1300
Pick your size at the top. Quantities and drawings change to match.
The build at a glance
0 Prepare the base
1 Build the front wall
2 Build ends and roof
3 Fix to the house wall
4 Build and hang the door
5 Build the roof vent
6 Fit the glass
Before you start
Six golden rules
- Build frames loosely. Tighten only when the greenhouse stands square on its base, with both diagonals equal.
- Never overtighten nuts 1002. The maximum is 3 Nm.
- Fit extra bolts when instructed. Each roof glazing bar needs one for the roof vent.
- Before fixing the greenhouse to the house wall, check that the sides are perfectly vertical.
- Build with two people.
- Always anchor your greenhouse.
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 base
Start with a square, level base at 90 degrees to the house wall.
| 900 | 1300 | |
|---|---|---|
| A | 653 mm | 653 mm |
| B | 1300 mm | 1922 mm |
Installer tip
Use ground spikes or anchor legs on soil only. On concrete or paving, bolt down with suitable fixings; use one method, not both.
Watch out
If your base is not square and level, nothing above it will be. Glass will not fit an out-of-square frame.
Make your base exactly square and level at 90 degrees to the wall; check both diagonals match. A zinc-coated steel base is sold as an accessory.
Only for your own stone or concrete foundation, use this page's A and B sizes and extend below frost level. Fix treated timber at least 18 mm high and no more than 32 mm wide between the foundation and aluminium frame, with 50 mm bolts into the foundation, not supplied.
On very windy, exposed sites, drill through both the greenhouse bottom profile and the steel base. Bolt them together.
Build the front wall
Build flat on the ground with every bolt loose, and loosely connect corner plates 1092 at both upper corners.
You need
Installer tip
We recommend laying the parts on a blanket or lawn to protect the finish. Leave every nut loose so the frame can flex when you square it in step 3.
Watch out
Use two bars 4041 and two bars 2096 for the 1300, or one of each for the 900. Follow your size's drawing.
Bolt the bottom of bar 4041 to your bottom bar (4046 or 4047).
Slide a bolt into the channel of your bottom bar (4046 or 4047), as the arrow shows. Join bar 4041 as shown in this outside view.
Bolt the top of bar 4041 to your eaves door track (4084 or 4085).
At each end, bolt bar 4036 to your bottom bar (4046 or 4047).
Bolt bar 2096 to bar 4036.
Bolt the other end of bar 2096 to bar 4041.
Build ends and roof
Follow your size's drawing to connect the ends and roof, with all bolts still loose.
You need
Installer tip
Slide the extra bolt into each roof glazing bar 4055 before you fit the bar.
Watch out
Do not miss the extra bolt in each roof glazing bar 4055. You need it to fix the roof vent in step 5.
Connect gable end bars 4080 and 4081 to your eaves door track (4084 or 4085). Loosely fit corner plate 1092 above the eaves; use washers 7395 at every eaves door track connection.
At the wall side, connect gable end bars 4080 and 4081 to vertical wall bars 4082 and 4083. Join them to your ridge bar (4050 or 4051) as shown.
Bolt sill bar 4022 to bar 4036 at the front corner.
Bolt sill bar 4022 to vertical wall bar 4082 at the wall end.
Bolt bar 4096 and bar 2096 to bar 4036 as shown.
Bolt the other end of bar 4096 to vertical wall bar 4082.
Fit roof glazing bars 4055 between your eaves door track (4084 or 4085) and ridge bar (4050 or 4051). Use washer 7395 at each eaves connection; insert one extra bolt per bar for the vent.
Fix to the house wall
Work with two people to square the greenhouse on its base and fix its back to the house wall.
Installer tip
Check that the sides are perfectly vertical before you mark the holes on the wall.
Watch out
The wall plugs, screws and drill are not included.
Put the greenhouse on your prepared base or foundation and connect it loosely. Adjust until completely square, check sides are perfectly vertical, then tighten all bolts to a maximum of 3 Nm.
Mark the pre-drilled holes in vertical wall bars 4082 and 4083 and your ridge bar (4050 or 4051). Lift off the frame; drill 6 mm wall holes and insert 6 mm wall plugs.
Put the frame back on the base. Screw your ridge bar (4050 or 4051) to the wall as shown.
Screw vertical wall bars 4082 and 4083 to the wall as shown.
Finally, fix the frame to the base.
Build and hang the door
Assemble the sliding door, then fit it into the upper and lower tracks.
You need
Installer tip
If the door binds or jumps the track, the frame is almost certainly not quite square. Check the frame before you force the door.
Watch out
Never stand the assembled door on its gliders 1014. This damages them.
Push a door glider 1014 onto each end of door bar 1060. Screw side bar 4058 to it with screws 1003.
Screw the two bars 1061 to side bars 4058 with screws 1003.
Bolt door bar 1062 to upper bar 1059 with bolt 1001 and nut 1002. Screw the side bar to it with screws 1003.
Fix the two door rollers 1015 to door bar 1062 with bolt 1004, washer 1009 and nut 1007.
Slide a door seal 4021 into each side bar 4058.
Slide bolt 1500 into the bottom of the channel that holds door seal 4021; fix it with nut 1515. Cut door seals 4021 to length.
Connect door fixer parts 1111, 1112 and 1113 as shown in the door drawing.
Lift the door and slide door rollers 1015 into your eaves door track (4084 or 4085).
Check that door gliders 1014 also run in the bottom track of your bottom bar (4046 or 4047).
With the door fitted, put a nut and bolt into both ends of your eaves door track (4084 or 4085). These are door stops; adjust the door until it slides freely.
Build the roof vent
Assemble the vent around its glass, then hook it into your ridge bar.
You need
Installer tip
Fit window sill 1063 flat edge up, with its grooved lip facing down towards the pane below. If that pane will not sit snugly, recheck window sill 1063.
Watch out
On the Ida 1300, fit the vent in the middle section if you can. Use the extra roof glazing bar bolts there; bolt 2001 is not needed.
For glass up to 4 mm thick, join side bars 1065 and top bar 1064 as shown.
For glass 4 mm or thicker, join side bars 1065 and top bar 1064 as shown here instead.
Put bolts 1001 for bottom bar 1066 into the prepared holes; slide vent glass into side bar tracks 1065. Fit bottom bar 1066; check the vent is completely square before you tighten the bolts.
Hook the vent into the ridge bar from one end of the greenhouse.
Hook vent top bar 1064 over your ridge bar (4050 or 4051).
Slide the vent along to your chosen position. Push plastic cap 1019 over the end of window opener 1067.
Fix window sill 1063 to each extra bolt in roof glazing bars 4055 and corner bar bolt 2001, as shown. Screw both window fixers 1016 onto window sill 1063 with screws 1006.
Screw window opener 1067 to vent bottom bar 1066 with screws 1006.
Fit the glass
Fit the glazing seal before any glass, then work upwards with the panes.
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. Your plan shows plastic H strips joining the glass in the gable end. Check the table for how many you need.
| Pane | Size (mm) | 900 | 1300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 610 x 1500 | 3 | 4 |
| B | 610 x 676 | 1 | 2 |
| C | 610 x 508 | 2 | 2 |
| D | 600 x 545 | 1 | 1 |
| E | 610 x 305 | 1 | 1 |
| F | 610 x 122 | 1 | 1 |
| G | 610 x 257 x 11 | 2 | 2 |
| Total panes | 11 | 13 | |
| Plastic H profiles | 2 | 2 |
You need
Installer tip
We recommend soaking the whole glazing seal reel in hot soapy water first; it softens and presses on more easily. Check the glazing layout: an oversized pane usually belongs in another opening.
Watch out
Never force a pane, as forcing glass cracks it. If it will not seat, correct the out-of-square frame first.
Choose any front section for your door. Leave that section free of glass for now.
Press glazing seal 1020 onto the aluminium profiles and cut it to length. Do this before you fit any glass.
Start at the eave on the roof. Fix the first pane with glazing spring clips 1011.
Place each next pane over the pane directly below it. Secure it with glass retaining clips 1012 between the panes.
Start at the bottom of the sides and work upwards. If you chose polycarbonate sheets instead, follow the instructions packed with them.
Horticultural glass for your greenhouse
| Pane | Size (mm) | 900 | 1300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 610 x 508 | 11 | 14 |
| 2 | 610 x 343 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 610 x 307 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 610 x 267 x 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | 610 x 127 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | 600 x 544 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 18 | 23 |
Pane numbers match the glazing layout in the drawing above.
Finish and look after it
Finish
- Anchor your greenhouse. This is not optional.
- If you wish, seal the edges with neutral silicone, which is not supplied.
- Stick the warning label inside your greenhouse.
- Stick the model label onto door bar 1062. You need it to order spare parts.
- Keep this guide somewhere safe.
Looking after it
- Shut the door and roof vent in high winds.
- Clear the roof or support it in heavy snow. Heat your greenhouse in winter.
- Wash occasionally with a mild detergent that does not attack aluminium or the glass fixing clips.
- Keep the upper and lower door tracks clean so grit 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 003.02.1302 (Ida 900 and 1300, glass)). Greenhouse Stores, greenhousestores.co.uk.