Anyone ever built a shed?

miracleboy · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:08

Got one on order for the garden and wondered what I need to do about the base - I read either concrete or paving slabs but does anyone have any experience with this - what's the best options?

dustiestrat · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:13

me and my dad built shed couple years ago it just went onto patio to be honest and its fine although thinking bout it might be worth proping the bas up onto patio tiles or summin like that so the bas isnt touching floor stops water getting at it and causing rot.

squiffy · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:16

You need two people to build it really. As for the base I would elevate it from the ground otherwise the floor will rot quicker. We used treated sleepers and concrete blocks, so roughly 6" from the ground.

miracleboy · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:18

This looks like a pretty good guide for the concrete base, I think I'll follow this - as it's going to be the other side of the garden from the patio it will need a concrete base (could do with just slabs but figure I'll go with this guide).

iCraig · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:20

I helped my Dad build a metal one.

****ing piece of crap took a whole day to assemble, shredded my fingers to pieces and became the world's largest spider nest in the space of a week.

I don't like sheds. They suck.

miracleboy · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:25

But my shed will have a beer fridge and spiders are banned!

dustiestrat · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:26

thats along way to travel just for a beer cant u just put it next to your sofa or summin? mines next to my bed.

Meeark · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:33

That B&Q guide pretty much goes through how I've always done bases at work. Concrete isn't that hard to knock up although you do need a mixer. Make sure the whole base is level and square. This way guarantees a perfect job although is a little tricky if you're a beginner.

miracleboy · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:35

I'll get my Dad to help out with the base as he has laid concrete before, I always remember him mixing it on an empty concrete bag, but this was the 70's! Can you get away without a mixer for a small amount?

ste_bla · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:38

Remover 4-5" of earth and roughly level, then get some rubble or broken bricks (either from you garden, tip or builders skip if you ask they wont care!) Then get some wood planks and lay the upright around the edge and hold them in place with wooden pegs on the outside. Get the wood so that there is about 1" above the gound so that if it rains heavily the base wont get drenched in standing water. Then make up concrete* and pour over the bricks in one go and smooth. Then put shed ontop.

Also if its say a 6x3ft then dont do a 6x3 base do it slightly larger. Oh and if you can have a slight slope to aid water exiting the base..

*For the bottem bits use a mix of 50/50 concrete/chipping or gravel and then top of with a thin layer of just concrete so its easier to smooth. To mix it just get a bit of cheap wood (ie mdf) and lay it done and mix it on that unless you doing a garage sized shed!

Hope that all made sense..

Luke · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:38

iCraig said:
I helped my Dad build a metal one.

****ing piece of crap took a whole day to assemble, shredded my fingers to pieces and became the world's largest spider nest in the space of a week.

I don't like sheds. They suck.

I had exactly the same experience with mine!

I also overordered the concrete for the base and ended up with an 18" deep foundation for a flimsy metal shed!

ste_bla · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:39

emailiscrap said:
I had exactly the same experience with mine!

I also overordered the concrete for the base and ended up with an 18" deep foundation for a flimsy metal shed!

18"

Mat · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:42

dustiestrat said:
thats along way to travel just for a beer cant u just put it next to your sofa or summin? mines next to my bed.

You have your shed next to your bed :confused:

Anyway... just remember putting down a concrete base will require more work to remove than slabs when the time comes

edit: you will also need one of these by the sounds of it:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17697802

dustiestrat · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:46

my beer fridge is next to my bed :rolleyes:

Mat · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:47

dustiestrat said:
my beer fridge is next to my bed

Dj_Jestar · 26 Feb 2007 at 14:51

Dig a plot just longer and wider than the shed, about 6" to 12" deep, line the bottom with sand/gravel for about 2", pack it down tightly, then fill with concrete. Level it with a plank before it dries, and Robert is nobbing your mother's sister.

Azagoth · 26 Feb 2007 at 22:33

Get this muppet in to help you. :eek:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6399045.stm

Mark A · 26 Feb 2007 at 23:06

Me and my mates built a shed years ago for my mum, with the promise of a 24 pack of beer for payment

. There was a massive bonfire down the road so we robbed a load of crates and built a pretty respectable shed

. My mum was chuffed with it and its still standing to this day. Its now the home for my bike. We just built it on bricks ontop of the lawn lol, its not sunk though.

mattpc · 26 Feb 2007 at 23:35

It's good to concrete but its a PITA in that it takes time and is fairly hard labour. Also buy the best quality shed you can and in my opinion go for wood over flimsy metal. I bought one called the Storemore Trentdale in thin metal and it was a nightmare. Ended up binning £400 of twisted poo quality metal. Now have a nicely concreted corner of my garden with nothing to put on it. Saving up for an £800 wooden effort and probably getting a pro to install it as I can't face the pain again

yer_averagejoe · 26 Feb 2007 at 23:38

our is mounted on bricks. just converted it to a darkroom