CASE STUDY: Renovation of Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
Monday 4 May 2026
CASE STUDY:
Renovation of Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
How can an existing garden centre structure be upgraded
Without replacing the entire construction?
At the well-known Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in England, the answer was found in the existing structure. The steel construction was still in good condition and had many years of service ahead of it. The roof covering, however, had become outdated and discoloured, reducing light transmission and affecting the environment below.
Instead of replacing the complete structure, Smiemans Projecten renewed the roof covering while retaining the existing steel construction. In January 2025, 796 m² of polycarbonate sheeting was replaced, giving the garden centre a renewed roof and significantly improved daylight conditions.
The question: replace or renovate?
A glass or greenhouse structure does not necessarily need to be replaced when parts of it reach the end of their service life.
Over time, roof coverings, polycarbonate sheets and sealing strips can deteriorate. Discolouration, reduced light transmission and eventually leakage can affect both the building and the experience of the people and plants inside.
The steel structure itself can often remain in good condition for much longer.
This was the situation at Ruxley Manor. The existing steel structure was still sound, while the roof covering no longer provided the light levels that the garden centre wanted.
For Ruxley Manor, this raised a practical question: could the roof be renewed without taking apart a structure that was still perfectly usable?
Reusing what is still good
The answer was yes.
Rather than demolishing and replacing the entire construction, Smiemans retained the existing steel structure and replaced the polycarbonate roof sheeting.
This approach significantly reduced the extent of the building work. There was no need to dismantle and rebuild the complete structure, allowing Ruxley Manor to upgrade the roof while retaining a substantial part of the existing building.
For Andrew Evans, Managing Director of Ruxley Manor, this was an important advantage. During the original project discussions, he explained that he had not realised that older roofing systems from other suppliers could also be renovated.
"I didn’t know this was possible."
He also indicated that, knowing the renovation could be completed within a few weeks, he would have preferred to carry out the work earlier.
The ability to modernise the roof without replacing everything made renovation the right solution for Ruxley Manor.
Choosing the right level of light
The new roof was not simply a replacement of old sheets with new ones.
Polycarbonate sheets are available with different levels of light transmission. The appropriate specification depends on how the space is used and what is required inside it.
For Ruxley Manor, high light transmission was an important requirement.
The previous roof had become discoloured over time and reduced the amount of daylight reaching the plants. Improving light transmission was therefore an important part of the renovation.
Andrew had already identified this as one of the key reasons for renewing the roof:
“The new polycarbonate roof will significantly improve light transmission, creating the ideal conditions for our plants to thrive.”
The choice of roof covering therefore went beyond appearance. It was directly related to the function of the garden centre and the quality of the environment in which plants are displayed and sold.
“Since the roof renovation was completed in January 2025, the increase in light transmission has made a real difference. Our plants are surviving much better under the improved light levels, which has fed straight through into better sales and noticeably less waste. We’re simply losing fewer plants than we were before. Customers have picked up on the brighter, more open feel of the space too, and it’s made for a better overall shopping experience. It’s been a genuinely worthwhile investment for us.”
Andrew Evans, Ruxley Manor
A brighter environment for plants and visitors
The effect of the renovation became visible soon after completion.
When Smiemans visited Ruxley Manor after the renovation, the improved light transmission was clearly noticeable. According to the experience shared by the team, the difference is particularly relevant for the plants.
Better daylight creates more favourable conditions in the plant areas, while customers also experience a lighter and drier environment.
The choice of light transmission can be particularly important in different parts of a garden centre. Where plants are displayed and sold, sufficient daylight supports the environment in which they are kept. In areas where products such as garden furniture are presented, the balance of daylight can also be important to avoid unwanted discolouration.
The renovation therefore improved not only the appearance of the roof, but also the functionality of the space below it.
Renovating while keeping the garden centre open
Another important consideration was continuity.
Ruxley Manor remained open during the renovation. The work was planned for January, immediately after the Christmas period, when the garden centre is typically quieter.
The complete roof renovation was carried out within a few weeks and was completed in January 2025.
This planning allowed Ruxley Manor to have the renewed roof in place before the spring season, one of the busiest periods for a garden centre.
The limited intervention also helped minimise disruption to customers and daily operations. This was an important consideration for Ruxley Manor from the beginning. In his original interview, Andrew described the limited disruption and short construction period as major advantages of the approach.
Extending the useful life of an existing structure
The Ruxley Manor project demonstrates an important principle in renovation: not every part of an existing structure needs to be replaced at the same time.
If the primary steel construction remains structurally sound, renewing the roof covering can give the building a new lease of life without the impact of complete demolition and reconstruction.
In this case, 796 m² of polycarbonate sheeting was replaced while the existing steel structure was retained.
That means less dismantling, less rebuilding and less disruption, while significantly improving the roof's light transmission and appearance.
For existing garden centres and other glazed commercial buildings, this can make renovation an attractive alternative to complete replacement.
The result:
A renewed roof, without rebuilding the structure
The renovation of Ruxley Manor shows how an existing glass or greenhouse structure can be upgraded by focusing on the parts that actually need renewal.
The steel structure was still in good condition. The roof covering was the part that had reached the point where improvement was needed.
By retaining what was still performing well and replacing the outdated roof covering, Ruxley Manor gained a brighter, cleaner and more functional environment while keeping its existing building in operation. The quality of the plants subsequently remained much better, fewer were thrown away, and turnover has increased.
For Smiemans, this is an important part of renovation expertise: looking at the existing structure first, determining what can be retained, and upgrading what needs improvement.
A renovation does not always mean starting again. Sometimes, the smartest way forward is to keep what is good and renew what is not.
Is your existing glass structure ready for a new lease of life?
Not every renovation requires a complete rebuild. We assess the existing structure, identify what can be retained and advise on the most suitable approach for upgrading it.