Im typing this in wordpad, this is my first post to the forums and having
just spent a couple of hrs typing and adding pics to a "my first workshed"
build thread I clicked submit only to get the "sign in" page, somehow I had
been logged out, (is there a timer?) while I was producing my mamoth first posting.
I tried the browser back button but of course it had vanished.
So here goes again, this will be a shortened version and no danger of it
getting lost but the formatting may be strange when I copy it across.
I found myself in desperate need of a new workshed some 3yrs ago, you
go through life collecting "stuff" dont you, until you either have a big
clearout (regretted later usually) or make more room for yourself.
Id never built a workshop/shed before, so went for a sheet size one to
make life easier. 8x16ft was my choice.
I cleared an area, layed a membrain to trap the weeds, used ex council
paving slabs and concrete building blocks to form level piers for my timber frame base.
I had quite a lot of 2nd hand ash timber left from a cooling tower I
dismantled at a local factory, it had been in water for many years and
stored by me ("stuff") for a year or more and was very sound so that and
some treated 3x3" went into the base frame.
18mm ply in 8x4ft sheets went down on top using the sheets to get the
base nice and square too. Lots of screws to make it all very strong.
The framework was suck it and see, pent roofed from 3x2" built onto the
floor ply.
My plans got hijacked by the family at this point, I got outvoted on the
need for a kids playroom so lost 1/3 of my room to them before it was
even built!
This meant an extra door and more windows.
Now for the back and side sheets, I went for shuttering ply thinking I get
1 good side but what arrived as bad both sides meaning I had lots of knot
filling to do when using it. Sheet size again made it easier for me to keep
square and less cutting.
On with the roof, I used 12mm osb, still hard graft getting the full sheets
up there on my own. Now I realise I have messed up the window framing
timbers and had to do a rework on the front.
I set to making the doors from t&g on 1"x6" bracing, here they are on
the floor resting waiting for the glue to set before finishing to size.
ok so the doors are on the felting is done and the windows in, perspex in
the kids end.
I did treat the shiplap front with a clear wood preservative that the
manufacturer said wouldnt need any further treatment as I liked the
finished colour, but after 6 months it became clear from the very
darkened colour of the timber that I would now need to treat with
something else, it got a very light creasote substitute in the end.
The back of the workshop before the facia board and guttering was
added.
3yrs on and its packed solid but still looking good and waterproof.
I did pack bricks loose under the sides and back gap to the soil from the
timbers and fitted galv weldmesh along the front to stop little furry
animals making homes under it but still allow air to keep the damp away.
Total cost was around £750. More than I expected but it will outlast me!
SO I still need a new workshop.
Got to be much bigger this time, I have earmarked a bit of space at the top of the garden and moved a greenhouse to make it bigger. I did intend to build my own again but...while looking around at garden buildings for inspiration I found one local company offering winter purchases at very good discounts. I was looking at maybe around £1600 for materials for my new 20x12ft workshop and this company was offering a £1950 build for £1450 delivered and fitted to my prepared basework.
I couldnt resist (sorry purists) I promise to make changes to it so some of its my work.
Here is the cleared area for my basework.
Concrete is a non starter for my base as its too far from the road and the costs would be too great.
We built a frame 12x10ft of 4x2" treated squared it up and layed it out where the base was to go. There are lots of level changes on this area of ground so the workshop is going to be a step or so up from the lawn level.
Blocked up the frame on bricks to get levels and dug out postholes for the 4x4" treated posts that the frame is fixed to using plated bolts.
After a final levels check postcrete is added to the postholes, then the rest of the bearers are fitted to this frame. The new workshop has its own t&g floor mounted on bearers running lengthways btw.
A second identical frame is made and leveled plus screwed to the first frame.
More postholes and bolts and yet more postcrete and leveling.
Lots of 4x2" treated and all painted where cut and its almost done.
As with my first workshop there is a gap between ground and basework. This time I intend to use alloy 5 bar treadplate vertically around the back and sides of the frame sunk into the ground a couple of inches and screwed to the framework to stop little furries from making homes under.
I have a very large amount of this alloy sheeting tucked away so its at no cost and should stop surface water from running directly under the basework and puddling around my posts. The workshop will have gutters fitted to a butt, but as the garden slopes I need to be careful I think of water pooling under my basework.
The total cost for this base work was around £400
There are 18 posts supporting the frame, 18off 10mm x 8" plated bolts, we used 20 bags of postcrete, 5off 4x4" 3mtr posts, 25off 4x2x3.6mtr frame timbers and around 160 4"x12 plated screws.
just spent a couple of hrs typing and adding pics to a "my first workshed"
build thread I clicked submit only to get the "sign in" page, somehow I had
been logged out, (is there a timer?) while I was producing my mamoth first posting.
I tried the browser back button but of course it had vanished.
So here goes again, this will be a shortened version and no danger of it
getting lost but the formatting may be strange when I copy it across.
I found myself in desperate need of a new workshed some 3yrs ago, you
go through life collecting "stuff" dont you, until you either have a big
clearout (regretted later usually) or make more room for yourself.
Id never built a workshop/shed before, so went for a sheet size one to
make life easier. 8x16ft was my choice.
I cleared an area, layed a membrain to trap the weeds, used ex council
paving slabs and concrete building blocks to form level piers for my timber frame base.
I had quite a lot of 2nd hand ash timber left from a cooling tower I
dismantled at a local factory, it had been in water for many years and
stored by me ("stuff") for a year or more and was very sound so that and
some treated 3x3" went into the base frame.
18mm ply in 8x4ft sheets went down on top using the sheets to get the
base nice and square too. Lots of screws to make it all very strong.
The framework was suck it and see, pent roofed from 3x2" built onto the
floor ply.
My plans got hijacked by the family at this point, I got outvoted on the
need for a kids playroom so lost 1/3 of my room to them before it was
even built!
This meant an extra door and more windows.
Now for the back and side sheets, I went for shuttering ply thinking I get
1 good side but what arrived as bad both sides meaning I had lots of knot
filling to do when using it. Sheet size again made it easier for me to keep
square and less cutting.
On with the roof, I used 12mm osb, still hard graft getting the full sheets
up there on my own. Now I realise I have messed up the window framing
timbers and had to do a rework on the front.
I set to making the doors from t&g on 1"x6" bracing, here they are on
the floor resting waiting for the glue to set before finishing to size.
ok so the doors are on the felting is done and the windows in, perspex in
the kids end.
I did treat the shiplap front with a clear wood preservative that the
manufacturer said wouldnt need any further treatment as I liked the
finished colour, but after 6 months it became clear from the very
darkened colour of the timber that I would now need to treat with
something else, it got a very light creasote substitute in the end.
The back of the workshop before the facia board and guttering was
added.
3yrs on and its packed solid but still looking good and waterproof.
I did pack bricks loose under the sides and back gap to the soil from the
timbers and fitted galv weldmesh along the front to stop little furry
animals making homes under it but still allow air to keep the damp away.
Total cost was around £750. More than I expected but it will outlast me!
SO I still need a new workshop.
Got to be much bigger this time, I have earmarked a bit of space at the top of the garden and moved a greenhouse to make it bigger. I did intend to build my own again but...while looking around at garden buildings for inspiration I found one local company offering winter purchases at very good discounts. I was looking at maybe around £1600 for materials for my new 20x12ft workshop and this company was offering a £1950 build for £1450 delivered and fitted to my prepared basework.
I couldnt resist (sorry purists) I promise to make changes to it so some of its my work.
Here is the cleared area for my basework.
Concrete is a non starter for my base as its too far from the road and the costs would be too great.
We built a frame 12x10ft of 4x2" treated squared it up and layed it out where the base was to go. There are lots of level changes on this area of ground so the workshop is going to be a step or so up from the lawn level.
Blocked up the frame on bricks to get levels and dug out postholes for the 4x4" treated posts that the frame is fixed to using plated bolts.
After a final levels check postcrete is added to the postholes, then the rest of the bearers are fitted to this frame. The new workshop has its own t&g floor mounted on bearers running lengthways btw.
A second identical frame is made and leveled plus screwed to the first frame.
More postholes and bolts and yet more postcrete and leveling.
Lots of 4x2" treated and all painted where cut and its almost done.
As with my first workshop there is a gap between ground and basework. This time I intend to use alloy 5 bar treadplate vertically around the back and sides of the frame sunk into the ground a couple of inches and screwed to the framework to stop little furries from making homes under.
I have a very large amount of this alloy sheeting tucked away so its at no cost and should stop surface water from running directly under the basework and puddling around my posts. The workshop will have gutters fitted to a butt, but as the garden slopes I need to be careful I think of water pooling under my basework.
The total cost for this base work was around £400
There are 18 posts supporting the frame, 18off 10mm x 8" plated bolts, we used 20 bags of postcrete, 5off 4x4" 3mtr posts, 25off 4x2x3.6mtr frame timbers and around 160 4"x12 plated screws.
