Vitavia Venus assembly guide
Vitavia Venus
Sizes 6200, 7500
Pick your size at the top. Quantities and drawings change to match.
The build at a glance
0 Prepare your base
1 Build both side frames
2 Build the back gable
3 Build the door gable
4 Join and stand the frame
5 Build and hang the door
6 Build and fit roof vents
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 your base
Start with an exactly square, level base.
| 6200 | 7500 | |
|---|---|---|
| A | 3166 mm | 3788 mm |
| B | 1922 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
An uneven or unsquare base leaves the frame uneven or unsquare too. Glass will not fit a frame that is out of square.
Make your base exactly square and level; the accessory zinc-coated steel base is the easiest option. Measure both diagonals and check they match, as shown by X = X.
For homemade stone or concrete foundations only, use this page's A and B sizes. Fit treated timber between foundation and aluminium frame: minimum 18 mm high, maximum 32 mm wide; attach with 50 mm bolts (not supplied). The foundation must go down below frost level.
On a very windy, exposed site, drill through both the greenhouse bottom profile and the steel base. Bolt them together.
Build both side frames
Build two identical side frames 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 when you join it in step 4.
Watch out
Check your upright count: the 6200 has 4 uprights 1032 per side. The 7500 has 5 per side.
Bolt the bottom of each upright 1032 to your sill bar (1325 or 1326).
Slide the bolts into the bar's channel through its open end, then line them up with the hole. Insert them before you close off the end.
Bolt the top of each upright 1032 to eave bar 1330.
Bolt the bottom of each upright 1032 to your sill bar (1325 or 1326).
Slide the bolts into the bar's channel through its open end, then line them up with the hole. Insert them before you close off the end.
Bolt the top of each upright 1032 to eave bar 1331. Connect a corner brace 2056 between eave bar 1331 and each upright 1032, as shown.
Build the back gable
Build the plain back gable flat on the ground, with the bolts loose.
You need
Installer tip
Build upwards from the bottom. Slide each extra bolt into its channel before you fit the bar above it.
Watch out
Do not miss the extra bolts for brace 1035. Insert them before the bar ends are capped.
Bolt the bottom of upright 1041 and side brace 5549 to sill bar 5022.
Insert one extra bolt into each upright 1041 and 1042 for brace 1035. Bolt brace 1035 across these uprights.
At each top corner, join corner bar 1036, roof bar 1038, brace 1035 and side brace 5549 with corner plate 1043.
Bolt corner bar 1036 to sill bar 5022 at each bottom corner.
Bolt the top of upright 1042 to roof bar 1038.
Build the door gable
Build the front door gable flat on the ground, with the bolts loose.
You need
Installer tip
Choose your door's opening direction now and line up door runner bar 1047 to the left or right. Changing it later means taking the gable apart.
Watch out
If parts will not line up, check for upside-down or back-to-front bars before you force anything.
Bolt vertical bar 1044 and side brace 5549 to bottom bar 1046.
At each top corner, join roof bar 1039, bar 1049 and side brace 5549 with corner plate 1043.
Bolt bar 1049 to vertical bar 1044.
Bolt roof bar 1040 to horizontal bar 1048 and vertical bar 1045.
Connect door runner bar 1047 to horizontal bar 1048 from the outside. Use two nuts and bolts and leave them loose.
Fix clip 1013 with a bolt as shown to strengthen the frame. Make sure its edge overlaps and holds vertical bar 1044 or 1045.
Join and stand the frame
Work with another person to join the frames and stand the greenhouse up.
You need
Installer tip
Count the extra roof bar bolts on your drawing before you fit any end cap. The number depends on your greenhouse size and vent position.
Watch out
Leave everything loose until the greenhouse is on its base and square. You cannot adjust it once the glass is in.
Bolt the side frames to the gable ends at the top corners. Position side brace 5549 between the eave and sill bars, as shown.
Bolt the side frames to the gable ends at the bottom corners. Join your sill bar (1325 or 1326), corner bar 1036 and bottom bar 1046 as shown.
Fit side brace 5549 at each corner, between the eave bar and sill bar, as shown.
Bolt your ridge bar (1053 or 1054) to the top of both gable ends.
Bolt roof glazing bars 1055 to your eave bar (1330).
Bolt roof glazing bars 1055 to the ridge; insert an extra bolt in each for roof braces 1056, then fit them. Insert another bolt in each of the 2 glazing bars at the vent position.
Place the greenhouse on its prepared base, bolt down loosely, then adjust until corner-to-corner diagonals match and it is completely square. Only then tighten all bolts, to a maximum of 3 Nm.
From outside, fit door runner support 1057 to door runner bar 1047 with bolt 1001, washer 6060 and nut 1002.
From outside, fix the other end of support 1057 to the gable with bolt 1005 and spacer 1010.
Press end caps 1017 and 1018 onto the open profile ends.
Bolt the side frames to the gable ends at the top corners. Position side brace 5549 between the eave and sill bars, as shown.
Bolt the side frames to the gable ends at the bottom corners. Join your sill bar (1325 or 1326), corner bar 1036 and bottom bar 1046 as shown.
Fit side brace 5549 at each corner, between the eave bar and sill bar, as shown.
Bolt your ridge bar (1053 or 1054) to the top of both gable ends.
Bolt roof glazing bars 1055 to eave bar 1331. Insert an extra bolt at each roof bar's eave end and connect the corner braces 2056 fitted in step 1.
Bolt roof glazing bars 1055 to the ridge; insert an extra bolt in each for roof braces 1056, then fit them. Insert another bolt in each of the 2 glazing bars at the vent position.
Place the greenhouse on its prepared base, bolt down loosely, then adjust until corner-to-corner diagonals match and it is completely square. Only then tighten all bolts, to a maximum of 3 Nm.
From outside, fit door runner support 1057 to door runner bar 1047 with bolt 1001, washer 6060 and nut 1002.
From outside, fix the other end of support 1057 to the gable with bolt 1005 and spacer 1010.
Press end caps 1017 and 1018 onto the open profile ends.
Build and hang the door
Assemble your sliding door, then fit it into the upper runner and bottom track.
You need
Installer tip
If the door binds or jumps the track, the frame is almost certainly not quite square. Check it again 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 1060. Screw side bars 1058 to it with screws 1003.
Screw middle bars 1061 between side bars 1058 with screws 1003.
Bolt door bar 1062 to upper bar 1059 with bolt 1001 and nut 1002. Screw upper bar 1059 to side bars 1058 with screws 1003.
Fix the two door rollers 1015 to door bar 1062 with bolt 1004, washer 1009 and nut 1007.
Slide door seals 1021 into both side bars 1058. Cut the seals to length.
Slide bolt 1500 into the bottom of the door seal channel and secure it with nut 1515. This stops the seal sliding out.
From outside, lift the door and slide rollers 1015 into door runner bar 1047.
Check door gliders 1014 also run in bar 1046's bottom track. Connect door fixer parts 1111, 1112 and 1113 as the door drawing shows. Fit a nut and bolt in door runner bar 1047's end as a stop; adjust until the door slides freely.
Build and fit roof vents
Build and fit both roof vents; the 6200 and 7500 each have 2.
You need
Installer tip
Fit vent sill 1063, the slam bar, flat edge up, with its grooved lip down towards the pane below. Recheck its orientation 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 here instead.
Insert bottom bar 1066's bolts into the prepared holes, then slide the vent glass into side bars 1065's tracks. Fit bottom bar 1066 and check the vent is 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 (1053 or 1054), 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 you left in the roof glazing bars.
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 seal first, 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) | 6200 | 7500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 610 x 1210 | 15 | 17 |
| 2 | 610 x 1144 | 8 | 10 |
| 3 | 610 x 610 | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | 610 x 228 | 1 | 1 |
| 4a | 610 x 343 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 600 x 544 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | 610 x 450 x 24 | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | 610 x 234 x 20 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | 610 x 439 | 1 | 1 |
| Total panes | 38 | 42 | |
| Plastic H profiles | 6 | 6 |
You need
Installer tip
Soak the whole glazing 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; forcing glass cracks it. If it will not seat, correct the unsquare frame first.
Press rubber glazing seal 1020 onto the aluminium profiles and cut it to length. Complete this before you fit any glass.
Start at the roof 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 packed with them.
Horticultural glass for your greenhouse
| Pane | Size (mm) | 6200 | 7500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 610 x 610 | 42 | 48 |
| 2 | 610 x 544 | 8 | 10 |
| 3 | 610 x 467 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 610 x 229 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 600 x 544 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | 610 x 464/38 | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | 610 x 20/234/20 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 60 | 68 |
Pane numbers match the glazing layout in the drawing above.
Finish and look after it
Finish
- Anchor your greenhouse. This is not optional.
- Seal the edges with neutral silicone if you wish. Silicone is not supplied.
- Stick the warning label inside your greenhouse.
- Stick the model label onto door bar 1062. You will need it to order spare parts.
- Keep this guide somewhere safe.
Looking after it
- Shut the door and all vents in high winds.
- Clear the roof or support it in heavy snow. Heat your greenhouse in winter.
- Wash your 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 your greenhouse to your home insurance and check local building rules about where you can put it.
Drawings reproduced from the Vitavia assembly instructions (Vitavia manual 005.01.1306 (Venus 6200, 7500)). Greenhouse Stores, greenhousestores.co.uk.