The Alton Evolution Eight is a stunning 8ft 7in wide greenhouse crafted in the finest Western Red Cedar. The Alton Evolution Eight features a double sliding door as standard, and unlike the smaller models, includes additional ridge and eaves bracing for further strength and durability. The Alton Evolution Eight includes toughened safety glass with screw-in cedar bar capping which ensures the glass is held firmly and securely. The gutters, door supports, and base plinth are powder coated aluminium in an attractive 'Moss Green' coloured finish.
The Alton Evolution range is crafted within the UK and machined in Alton’s fully equipped workshop using CNC technology. CNC milling gives highly accurate results, all to bring you a flat-packed building that's easy to install. Improved designs include the use of a metal base plinth that helps to keep the cedar away from the floor, a new glazing system, low threshold access and a unique gutter design - meaning the Alton Evolution is revolutionary in the world of greenhouses.
What's Included with your Alton Evolution Eight Greenhouse?
Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar is famed for its extraordinary durability and resistance to decay. It has a pleasing aromatic odour and is treated with a natural preservative oil which protects against the elements.
Cedar Bar Capping
As standard your greenhouse comes with cedar bar capping which holds in the glass firmer and stronger than other greenhouses.
Toughened Safety Glass
3mm toughened safety glass is supplied as standard for strength and safety.
Guttering and Downpipes Included
Attractive aluminium guttering and downpipes allow you to collect water while protecting the cedar framework.
Aluminium Base Plinth
The metal base keeps the wood away from the floor, ensuring no water sits on the cedar.
Louvre Side Vents
Included is a slatted ‘Louvre’ side vent which allows extra air flow into your greenhouse and really makes your plants flourish.
Automatic Opening Roof Vents
Included as standard, these roof vents open automatically as the greenhouse warms up – keeping your plants from overheating.
High Eaves (5ft 7in)
Extra high eaves gives you plenty of headroom and room for a high level shelf.
10 years Framework Guarantee
Your Alton greenhouse comes with a free 10-year frame guarantee.
Optional Upgrades
Moss green Aluminium Bar Capping
Upgrade to Aluminium bar capping for a virtually maintenance free cedar greenhouse – and the stylish moss colour blends perfectly.
Staging and Shelving
Add 25” staging and 12” shelving for a practical and stylish upgrade. Available in a moss green Aluminium finish.
Hanging Basket Brackets
Use these brackets to hang baskets, without the need for an obtrusive rail.
Internal Blinds
Add blinds to your greenhouse to create shade for your plants.
Automatic Louvre Openers
Automatic openers can be fitted to the louvre vents, just set and forget!
Extra Roof Vents
An additional roof vent increases the flow of air through your Alton greenhouse, ideal for orchid houses or other specialist environments..
Extensions
Add extra length to your greenhouses with an 8ft 3in extension.
Additional Information
Size
Roof Vents
Side Vents
Ridge Height
Eaves Height
Doors Width
6'6"
1
1
2.39m
1.70m
1.19m
8'6"
2
2
10'7"
3
2
12'9"
4
2
Extension
2
2
Five Reasons Why The Evolution Models Are Even Stronger:
More Wood
Over the years greenhouses made from both aluminium and cedar have become thinner to save costs, after studying the process from raw material through to delivery, the team at Alton discovered that a large part of the costs came from double handling, storage and distribution costs. After streamlining this process Alton have been able to add much thicker glazing bars based on 44 x 44 timbers or 44 x 69 in places giving you a truly robust greenhouse.
A New Bar Capping System
Normally a wooden greenhouse will have its glass held in place with a beading or groove cut into the wood. The result of this can lead to the glass rattling in the frame. The Alton Evolution Victorian bar capping system uses the toughened glass as part of the greenhouse's overall strength by gripping the glass tightly, preventing the glass from rattling and giving a far stronger frame. A cedar bar capping is included as standard on these models, but an aluminium upgrade is also available. The stylish moss colour blends perfectly with the cedar's distinctive silvery colour.
Mortice and Tenon Joints
These cleverly designed joints not only create strength throughout the Evolution's framework, but also make the greenhouse really simple to install.
Toughened Safety Glass
Being 5 -7 times stronger than horticultural glass, the 3mm toughened safety glass (which is fitted as standard) means that every pane is helping to keep the greenhouse structure rigid.
Optional Aluminium Staging and Shelving
Unusual in a cedar greenhouse the aluminium staging and shelving in the moss green paint finish looks amazing. Unlike timber staging and shelving this will not stain or mark and can be easily wiped clean.
Image Gallery
Alton Evolution EIGHT
Alton Evolution 8ft 7in x 16ft 9in
This 8'7in ( 5.13m) wide model is just superb !
There's a choice of lengths from 6'6 ( 1.97m ) up to 12'9( 3.87m ), then you can add 8ft extension units so there's really no limit to how big you can make it !
Toughened safety glass and screw-in cedar bar capping are standard which ensures the glass stays where it's put ! The gutter, door support and base are long life aluminium construction which are then powder coated in an attractive moss green finish.
The double door has a low level threshold which means there's easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs ( the staging can be set lower down for wheelchair users ).
The framework is rock solid with its sturdy mortice and tenon construction and it carries a ten year timber guarantee.
Evolution Eight detail
The Evolution Eight can be fitted with a partition to separate the growing area: handy if you want to heat part of the greenhouse to a different temperature, perhaps for bringing seedlings along in the spring.
The cantilever staging brackets are clearly shown in this picture which illustrates that there's plenty of unobstructed space for storage beneath the staging too.
Please take a look at the detail pictures on the other sizes of the Evolution as they illustrate many of the features and options available with the Evolution Eight.
Alton Evolution Guttering and Aluminium Bar Capping System
The Alton Evolution Guttering is an attractive moss green finish aluminium extrusion and is supplied with a downpipe for each side of the greenhouse.
The external capping over the glazing is showing the optional green aluminium bar capping which is totally maintenance free ( except for a bit of a wash down every now and again ).
In particular please note how the toughened safety glass extends beyond the cedar eaves bar, discharging water directly into the gutters rather than allowing it to run across the cedar itself.
Alton Evolution Cedar Bar Capping System
This picture shows the standard external cedar bar capping which is supplied with each Evolution unless you opt for the green aluminium bar capping. It is screwed in place and holds the glass firmly and securely.
Alton Evolution Staging and Shelving
Alton Evolution staging and shelving is finished in moss green powder coated finish and just needs a wipe down to keep it clean and tidy. The cantilever brackets leave room beneath the staging for storage rather than having staging legs in the way.
Alton Evolution Framework
The Evolution has been developed in the UK in our fully equipped workshop with the latest technology. We have to confess though that one or two of the machines have been reliably making other Alton Greenhouses for over 40 years !
The jointing system is incredibly strong and makes the Evolution rock solid once assembled... so it will cope with almost anything the British weather cares to throw at it !
Constructed in long -life cedar sections these greenhouses do not compromise by using thinner glazing bars; they are machined from 44mm x 44mm cedar (and 44mm x 69mm sections in places )
Mortice and Tenon Joints
These are the reason behind the superior strength of the Evolution.
You would expect any timber greenhouse to be built this way but in fact many others simply butt joint and nail the components together.
Alton Evolution Base
Aluminium is rot proof, maintenance free, rigid and easily assembled ... that's just 4 reasons why it makes an ideal greenhouse base.
Normally you won't find it used as a base on cedar greenhouses because it doesn't match up with the rest of the building.
The Evolution is a special case ; because the components in the areas where the weather or watering takes its toll ( the eaves, base, staging, shelving, door support track ) are all constructed in aluminium, then powder coated for life with an attractive moss green colour, the base doesn't look out of place. Add to that the convenience of setting the greenhouse up in the first place ( rather than trying to lay out concrete blocks for instance ) and you'll see why this is so popular.
Downpipes
A downpipe is provided for each side. There's a 45 degree bend suppied too, either to discharge water at ground level or to create a joint higher up the pipe to divert water to a barrel.
Low Threshold
A single door is standard with the Evolution Five and Six. The Eight, Ten and Twelve have double doors. All sizes have the low threshold shown in the picture.
This makes it easy to wheel a barrow in and out or provide access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
The single door access width is 560mm ( 22" )
Ridge bracing, blinds, autovents
The wider Evolution models have eaves and ridge braces in the following quantities :
Evolution Eight : 4 eaves braces and 2 ridge braces on the 10 & 12 ft long. 8ft extension also has the same: 4 & 2
Evolution Ten and Twelve : Eaves and ridge braces on every bar (and thicker roof bars). From this you will realise that the photo is one of these ! Please note the quality of the jointing from the picture.
Also in the picture are two roof blinds. You can see the black cartridges that the blinds unwind from so they are neat and easy to retract when not required.
The picture also illustrates that each roof vent is supplied with an automatic opener. Without these you can get to your greenhouse even early in the morning and find your plants keeling over from the heat. The autovent is a wax filled cylinder which forces a piston to lift the vent as the cylinder heats. They are adjustable and therefore a very effective way of maintaining an appropriate temperature inside your greenhouse.
Internal roof blinds for Alton models
This example of Alton's internal roof blinds shows the degree of shading achieved to good effect.
The blinds retract on a sprung top rail.
GBC...here to help you
GBC have branches all over the country displaying our buildings and offering help and advice to our customers.
Established in 1986, we are real people with our feet on the ground and with a real investment in and commitment to our buildings. We are not an anonymous internet site.
Please give us the opportunity to assist you in buying the building of your choice ... contact us by freephone, email, our live website chat or call our branches direct. You will find all of these contact opportunities in this website. We look forward to speaking to you
Features
High eaves (5'7")
Extremely strong Canadian Western Red Cedar frame
Toughened safety glass and screw in cedar bar capping
Your Alton Greenhouse will be delivered by one of Alton's experienced delivery drivers, ensuring that your building reaches you in perfect condition. Alton greenhouses are sold in a 'self-assembly' kit-form, with which you will be provided all of the necessary fittings and full, easy-to-follow instructions. As with all of our greenhouses, we always recommend that you provide a good, level base prior to delivery.
Our delivery times can vary from season to season. All of our buildings are made to order, so during the busy spring to summer seasons, this may increase depending on the building that you have purchased. Please feel free to contact us on 0800 999 0123 to check our current delivery times.