You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I currently have a 25 year old shed that has seen more damp than Rigsby and is finally going to be replaced.
What are peoples online experiences, quality, ease of order and as I'm going to put it up myself idiot proof rating?
Looking for a 8x8 probably, T&G, ready to go in a box type thing.
Get a proper wooden floor and roof (not chipboard)
Look for Tonge and groove construction and seasoned wood. Can't go far wrong really. Easy to build just take care with the felt to ensure no water ingress.
Duly noted, part of the issue with this is the floor has collapsed all over with damp and rot.
Just ordered a tiger sheds 8 x 6, it hasn't turned up yet, but seems OK, and the knowledge on here thought they were decent.
It should arrive on Tuesday, so I shall see what it's like.
We used to work for a company that made sheds, we installed /erected them.
1, avoid feather edge timber, go for Veed Tongue and Groove.
2.floor and roof made from timber, eg Tongue and Groove floorboards, as its thicker than the VTG used for the sides, never use OSB OR MDF or Plywood for floor or roof its crap, and the clout nails dont hold in it for the roof felt.
3.Always put either 3 x 3 or 4 x 4 Treated timber bearers under the floor secures through floor with screws.
4, On arrival of shed, pre coat underside of floor with an oil based wood preservative or Creocoat, a synthetic creosote, also outside of roof, the bit that goes under the felt. Leave to dry overnight
5, Ensure the base is as flat as possible, as any twist will affect the door closing.Also ensure that you can get all round the shed to treat it with preservative, and also to get the felt on.
6.Erect shed lay base on bearers, and secure, then lift back into place and secure to base, 2 man job. then both sides and then front, finally add the roof, and secure.
7.Measure length of roof and ad on 10 inches , unroll felt on lawn, dont walk on it it rips, measure out the felt size plus the 10 inches overlap, cut with a Stanley knife. Roll up felt and lift onto roof, position felt on apex , and slowly unroll, get it overlapping equally both ends, now using clout nails tack the felt to lower part of roof, pulling tight, to get creases out, pull up toward top of apex and apply some clout nails and repeat other side.
8, now position another length of felt half way over the previous felt, and tack down with clout nails, and repeat the other side, fold down overlaps on front and back,fit facia board over then and cut off waste felt.Top tip when you put a handful of nails on the roof the first clout nail you knock in will see a mass suicide bide of the rest of them off the roof, use a builders nail pouch and belt.
9,Fit guttering on both side of shed, with down pipes and a water butt to collect water as most sheds rot at base due to water run off from the roof.Dont forget a slop to the water butt.
10, the surplus felt is great for starting a fire in a log burner cut into small pieces, it may cause some smoke as well.
11.Fit good quality Hasp and Staples or Padbolts, bolted through the door and frame as screwes can just be undone .
Finally treat the whole of the outside of shed to 3 coats of oil based wood preservative or Creocote.
AND POST PICTURES OF THE FINAL RESULT OR STEP BY STEP PICTURES OF THE ABOVE
I'd get a tanalised shed. Then you don't have to worry about treating it three times over.
What’s a good brand/company to use for a shed?
We've had a Billy’O from Garden Buildings Direct for about two years now and tbh it seems pretty poor.
Its t&g throughout but apart from the roof and floor it’s suffers really badly from shrinkage to the point that at the minute for instance there’s gaps in the doors and sides between the tongue and groove on sections.
I appreciate wood shrinks depending on weather but that seems almost like they weren’t fully in the groove to begin with.
Or is this normal?
Looking to make a start on garden soon so seems ideal time for a new decent shed.
where is the OP located?
I bought a combined summerhouse/shed from this company last year https://www.nordictimberbuildings.com/
Quality and design is first rate and the price seemed competitive to other companies we looked at. It was delivered within reasonable time and assembled by me and the father in law. Only difficult part was getting the roof up that high as it was proper wooden design, not chipboard. Very solid!!
Great advice Project, bookmarked for my impending shed
I bought one of those keter plastic sheds (8x6 in brown) and built it a month or so ago.
I'd never get a wooden one again the things amazing quality and could be used for whatever you wanted to do with it (out door pub etc..)
Right, thank you all for the tips.
Project - some very good points made I hadn't considered. Thankfully the base area is solid and has been down for many years. I had planned on putting this up myself but then found a local firm that will install at no extra cost, so will need to check undercoating of floor when I call them tomorrow to discuss options. I've just removed all the guttering from the shed and fitted it to a summerhouse we have in the other corner of the garden, but I will be fitting new and getting another slimline butt for the water.
Reggiegasket - I am in Tyne & Wear
RDL-82 - I have a page open on the browser looking at a BillyOh so your advice shall be noted.
The forecast here for the next 10 days will allow me to empty the shed, fling out the crap, hide the lengths of assorted timber Ive been clinging onto for donkeys (always recycle the trees!) dismantle the electrics and hopefully take delivery of something new.
The plan is to get the best built I can, I am hoping to move more stuff into it to allow me to walk from one end of the garage to the other.
I may have just been unlucky and got a Friday special!
I seem to recall reading someone on here complaining about a GBD shed not long after we got ours. Might have been a Billy-Oh too. Iirc they ended up remaking most of it.
I have had a t+g barrel board shed for about 20+ years now and it is still I great condition. I have never had to treat it and the sides and floor are dry and solid. The roof is a different story, the shitty chip board is getting a bit past it and I have had to refelt it 3 times, so may re roof it this year.
I got one from tuin.co.uk timber cabin a couple of years ago as we were going to knock down our garage (long story)
and it's been brilliant. I picked composite bottom beams, so the wood sits above any ground water resting in the concrete base we laid for it. There's a floating floor with insulation between the joists inside, with 13mm tongue and groove flooring. The whole or structure has no metal fastenings apart from the hinges for the doors and the tacks for the shingles. It 'grows' about an inch in the winter due to expansion, so I only have some small drawers attached directly to the walls - but the fastenings can float to take into account of the expansion.
Only downside in your situation is that it has to be delivered from Holland. Upside: the delivery driver wears clogs. No kidding.
I also used https://www.nordictimberbuildings.com/
noted above.
A bespoke 16 x 8 Shed / Summer house combo with extra windows and upgraded roof etc.
Pressure treated, 3 x 2 framework and proper floorboards, couldn't really find better for the price.
Delivery was £100 or so, and was built on site by them in a couple of hours (included in price)
Lead times might be a while though, guy called Steve was very helpful throughout.
thank you for the post @project the shed I am eyeing up is tongue and groove clad, floor and roof.
Question for the masses: I noticed the place I was eyeing up offers "seconds" sheds where the boards may have holes, cracks or splits. I assume if there are cracks or splits, I could seal these to stop water ingress? The seconds sheds are £200ish cheaper on the size I am looking at so has caught the eye!
Those nordictimber jobbies look pretty good. Standard 8x10 shed is £700 erected (fnar) which seems reasonable value. Any horror stories?