Greenhouse assembly
Greenhouse assembly service for Dunster House kits in Colchester
We are an independent installer who builds Dunster House greenhouses in Colchester, Witham and Ipswich. We can lay a level, square base, handle the toughened glass with care and finish the ground around it.
- Based in Colchester, covering North Essex and South Suffolk
- Base, build and finishing from one local team
- Built to Dunster House's published instructions
- Free, no-obligation quotes
What arrives with a Dunster House greenhouse kit
Dunster House's greenhouses page lists 4mm toughened glass and 15mm tongue and groove timber, pressure treated. Whether you ordered a Sprouthouse or a Growzilla, it comes as a kit of parts, and Dunster House's terms say its products "are designed for Competent DIY assembly by two or more adults".
The glass needs the most care. Toughened glass is strong across its face but vulnerable at its edges, and a knock on a corner can shatter the whole pane.
Why a timber greenhouse needs a level, square base
If the base is out of level or out of square, the frame can twist, the door may stop closing cleanly and the glass can sit unevenly.
Dunster House's terms say that where a defect is put down to the customer, for example an "unsuitable base/site", "any rectification will be chargeable to the customer". Its help centre also says concrete should be completely dry before you build on it, "usually this is approximately 48 hours".
We can lay:
- A concrete slab
- A paving-slab base
- A Dunster House RapidGrid base you have bought
Siting your greenhouse for light, access and planning
Pick a spot with good light for most of the day, away from overhanging branches.
Dunster House's help centre says goods are delivered "to the first point of contact at the front of your property" and "We will not carry items through a back gate, garage, house or any decorated property". When you ask for a quote, tell us about the route from the driveway to the garden, such as gate widths and steps.
The Planning Portal's permitted development rules for outbuildings include "No outbuilding on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation" and a lower height limit within two metres of a boundary. Rules depend on your property, so check with Colchester City Council, Tendring District Council or Ipswich Borough Council before you build.
Paths, gravel and paint around your greenhouse
Through our landscaping work we can add a gravel strip, a paved path or a small patio for pots. If you would like the timber painted a colour, we can do that after the build.
How it works
- Send the details Send the model, your delivery date and photos of the spot and the route from the driveway.
- Check the kit Check every part against the component list as soon as it lands. Dunster House's terms give you 2 calendar days from receipt of delivery to report missing or damaged items. We can look through it with you before a build date is booked.
- Free quote We give you a free, no-obligation quote for the base and build.
- Base We level the ground and lay the base, and let concrete dry fully before building on it.
- Frame and glass We assemble the frame following Dunster House's published instructions, checking level and square as we go, then fit the glass and door.
- Handover We finish any path or gravel, check the door opens and closes cleanly, and walk you round it.
Garden buildings, bases and timber work we have built
Real photos from our own jobs around Colchester. See more in the project gallery.
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Garden building, Coggeshall -
Base preparation, Lexden -
Timber canopy with trellis, Lexden -
Raised deck with balustrade, Witham
Questions we are often asked
Does Dunster House install its greenhouses?
Dunster House's help centre says "We do not currently offer an installation service on any of our product ranges". We fill that gap as an independent installer. Your purchase and product guarantee stay between you and Dunster House.
Can you build it on my existing patio?
Possibly, if it is level, solid and big enough. We check it when we quote, and suggest a new base if it is not.
How should I store the glass until the build?
Leave glazed parts in their packaging, lying flat on a level, dry surface where nothing can knock their edges, and away from children and pets. Keep the rest of the kit off the ground. Dunster House's help centre suggests reusing the delivery wrapping to cover the parts until you are ready to build.
Will the Dunster House guarantee still apply?
Dunster House's guarantees page gives 10 years on pressure-treated timber against fungal decay or insect attack, and says "The products must have been correctly installed and only subject to normal domestic use". We build to Dunster House's published instructions, and any product claim goes from you to Dunster House.
Do I need planning permission for a greenhouse?
It depends on its size, height and position, and on your property. The Planning Portal sets out the permitted development limits for outbuildings, with tighter rules for listed buildings and designated land. Check with Colchester City Council, Tendring District Council or Ipswich Borough Council first.
Other garden buildings we build
Tell us what you have bought
Send us the model name and size, your delivery date and a photo of where it will go. We will come back to you with a free, no-obligation quote for Colchester, North Essex & South Suffolk.
Independent installer. McKenzie Property Renovations Limited is an independent building contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of Dunster House Ltd. "Dunster House" and product names are used only to describe the products we build and remain the property of their owner.
Information about Dunster House is quoted from its own help centre and terms, and planning guidance from the Planning Portal, checked 27 September 2026.
