New allotment - preserving an old shed.

[Brucelona]

Last week I got my first allotment and since then I've cleared all the growth and covered the bulk of it with plastic. However, it doesn't have a shed, until now.

Last night I picked up a free shed from gumtree and plan to erect it on my new plot tonight. However, it's pretty old and I feel like I should put some sort of protection on it for the winter months to come. It's an overlap construction, 6 x 4.

It has remnants of old stain on it. Can anyone recommend some sort of preservative that can go straight onto the old wood? I don't really care about the colour.

Also, any old wives tales about methods for keeping the spiders out/to a minimum?

Attempted to include a photo below, not sure if it'll work; here was the plot as I inherited it last week:

[DannyK]

Creocote, it's like creosote. It'll be a bit smelly for a while!

[nickdub]

depending on when you want to use the shed it might be easier to just stack it in pieces on the allotment and then erect it next year after the worst of the wind and rain are over. This would give you a bit of time to collect a bit of spare second-hand timber to reinforce it with too.

[Mr Bones]

Hi Brucelona , welcome to the Vine and congratulations on getting your allotment. It might not be environmentally friendly but mixing creocote with a bit of old engine oil will preserve the wood for longer and also deter spiders.

[jackarmy]

Agree with the above, creocote the only route. If its that old though, a few pallets would help with the wood replacement issues, better off with half decent wood in the first place ey

[Brucelona]

Thanks very much for the advice, I shall be investing in some of this Creocote.

Here's the shed in all it's glory


And the plot, as of last week (before the shed)

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Brucelona, your plots starting to take shape

[Snoop Puss]

Hello and welcome, Brucelona. You're making good progress already. Congrats. Just in time for some overwintering veg too (onions, garlic, broad beans, even hardy peas depending on where you are...).

Happy growing!

[bikermike]

I just wallop the cheapest wood preservative on, generously. Also, if it's in bits, soak any end-grain you can in preservative - wood wicks moisture along it's grain, so its the ends that need most protection.
TBH, that shed looks OK, I'd not worry too much about the wood, I'd just make sure it is on a dry base and a good roof.

as for spiders? embrace them... they are a force for good...

[Stan79]

That shed looks better than most! Main thing is to get it on a stable, dry base. What is it going to be on? How is it going to be secured to the ground to stop it blowing over?

[1Bee]

I have shed envy.

[shallotman]

If you still change your own engine oil, mix with creosote.If not buy a pint or two of the cheapest engine oil on the market. I suggest when erecting leave at least six inches under the shed [ sorry still imperial ] to allow the air to circulate, most sheds rot from the floor. Best of luck.

[keat63]

I inherited a shed from a mate of my dad. It was located about 10 miles away.
So we not only had to take it down, but pay a man with a van to transport it for us.
It was still a lot cheaper than buying one though, and I got to spend man time with my dad.

I've considered painting it with old engine oil mixed with white spirit.

It'll be flammable for a while, but will probably out live me.

[Brucelona]

I'll be changing the oil on the mrs' car soon so that's good timing. Thanks for the welcomes, advice and tips. Got some onions, garlic and shallots in, already got a few sprouts from the garlic, I felt very proud spotting them coming up!

Green manured another bed ready for potatoes in the spring. Anyone tried the Sarpo varieties? Any thoughts on the best as an all rounder (mash, roast, baked etc)?

Spent the weekend digging horse manure into sacks with my old man and carting it onto the site (no vehicle access). Gotta grab some more cardboard and going to try a no dig bed for my brassicas.

Shed still standing after the wind - 19 bags of fantastic manure:


A few sprouts of garlic:



And who doesn't like to see inside a shed?

[bario1]

I don't like to see inside my own shed.

Looking good, there, well done!