Shed base - how muc...
 

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[Closed] Shed base - how much?!

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We're having a 12'6" x 6' shed built, mainly to house a canoe and a kayak, hence the odd size. They have now quoted us £425 to lay a base of sand, mortar and slabs - that sounds an awful lot, or is it reasonable?


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 3:35 pm
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Its probably reasonable for someone else to do it properly, but if you have a capable man about the house, he should be able to do it easily enough for the cost of the materials....say £100.


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 3:41 pm
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How very dare you assume I can't do it myself?? Time is the main reason for getting someone else, so just checking the price really.


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 3:44 pm
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but if you have a capable man about the house, he should be able to do it easily enough

I believe a capable woman could also do this. It's not a difficult job, level the site, put some sand down, blob of mortor in each corner of the slab and a bit in the middle, then level. A pro will do it quicker, not necessarily better.


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 3:46 pm
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OTish - Have a look at the interlocking plastic tile type - much easier for DIY
example - http://www.plasticshedbase.co.uk/
https://www.leisurebuildings.com/acatalog/probase-interlocking-garden-shed-base-system.html
I used the probase - seemed fine to me

Oh and off the wall - (and depends on the shed base and fit/size etc) but could you buy two 6ft x 6ft wooden/spike bases and sit it on that
http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/garden/sheds-garden-buildings-and-storage/shed-bases - possibly with a 6" bodge in the middle to join them and make then 12ft 6 ?????????

*other suppliers are available


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 4:52 pm
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Sounds reasonable if the slabs are decent, ie 50mm thick BS paving slabs.

Also if doing it yourself, a sand/cement base is fine. No need for mortar and avoid dot and dab if you do. It's not great, especially if water will run under the shed at all.


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 5:09 pm
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We had concrete 6' posts out down on soil. Was £150.

I dug the muck out. Filled the surround with purple slate. All looks good and is solid.


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 5:47 pm
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We had concrete 6' posts out down on soil. Was £150.

This, we used cosmetically rejected concrete fence posts @£2 a time for a shed base.
Levelled up with broken tiles, jobs a goodun for less than £20. More for your long one though...


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 7:19 pm
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Jen, if you weren't so far away I'd pop round and do it for you.

It is reasonably easy to do, as advised above. Have a look at pavingexpert.com and have a crack when you have time. You do get time sometime, surely...?


 
Posted : 14/07/2016 7:30 pm
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I leveled the ground, put down pallets covered in polythene, nailed treated sheets of wood on top. Done. And it got the approval of the men delivering and constructing the shed. Bit of paint out of an old tin. I should think the base cost me £40 and took an hour or two.


 
Posted : 15/07/2016 6:52 am
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teasel - Member
Jen, if you weren't so far away I'd pop round and do it for you.

Aw, thanks for the thought.
As for time, I should have plenty, but spending a lot of it travelling over to my late mother's house, getting it cleared out ready to sell.

Still can't decide whether to have a crack at it myself, only thing is the shed should be ready next week, so not much time, and being new to this area, don't yet know where best builders merchants are for stuff.


 
Posted : 15/07/2016 7:00 am
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How very dare you assume I can't do it myself?? Time is the main reason for getting someone else, so just checking the price really.

😳 Oops!

I'm sure you're more than capable Jen, but you can direct a man better I think! 8)


 
Posted : 15/07/2016 7:02 am
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Just store the canoe and kayak outside? (assuming plastic)
I have never stored boats indoors, currently have two ten year old open boats and 15 year old kayaks outside, have always been outside, and are just fine. Big lock and racks made from pallets.


 
Posted : 15/07/2016 7:08 am
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late mother

My condolences.

As for the shed; wot Dmorts wrote...


 
Posted : 15/07/2016 7:54 am
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What Matt said - they're built to be in water so putting them inside seems rather a waste of space really. chaine/wire, padlock - done.


 
Posted : 15/07/2016 11:29 am
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+1 for wot dmorts said

I did this myself a couple of weeks back, took an afternoon. Just be careful if putting paving slabs in your car from a DIY shop, doesn't take many for the weight to get very significant indeed! My shed is half the size of yours and the car (A6 Avant) was not happy. Probably should have made two trips...


 
Posted : 15/07/2016 1:00 pm
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Have you considered a plastic eco shed base, very DIY.
I have put down quite a few of these commercially, much easier than slabs it would cost you about half the price they have quoted.


 
Posted : 15/07/2016 6:56 pm

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