DIY shed build.

[ESBkevin]

Draw up a chair and grab a drink.

So last year we took on a half plot which had no shed. The landlords agreed to put down a concrete base and we are allowed a 6’ x 4’ standard construction shed.
Nice solid sheds are expensive and quality used sheds tend not to be 6’ x 4’. I decided to use my new power tools to make my own. ( I had decided to treat myself to some before Christmas and two months later the plot became available).


Saw bench, planer thicknesser and mitre saw. No workshop but the drive has to suffice.


Basic raw material is these pallet/stillages I get from work. They are about 5” x4” by 36”They need brute force (sledgehammer) to get apart the 6” nails and a crowbar to pull the nails out but the resulting timber is good quality if it’s not been damaged by the hammer.


On the pull again! You can imagine I needed quite a lot of these before construction could begin.



Here was the base they laid for us.


It’s all about the base.
I took a genny and big drill to fit mounting bolts, that was hard work but I got it done in the rain eventually (2 efforts because the cheap masonry bits melted).
Meanwhile the lumps are sawn into planks, lightly planed and then have tongue and grove cut and a lap to help shed water.





Part two follows.

[ESBkevin]

Part Two:

Simple tongue and groove cut on the saw bench with many passes (again).


The panels are assembled and creosoted, I did have to buy the long upright 2x2 and ridge plates because there was no solid recycled long stock available.
Here is a side on it’s side having been protected with the first coat.


Eventually all the panels were ready and delivered to site. By this time we had adopted the other half of the plot so the space was useful.
MFI flat packs have nothing on this.


And up she goes.


Felting the roof was an interesting experience.

[ESBkevin]

Three:




So a couple of months later the gutters and trim panels are all done and the water buts are on the pallet decking all ready for action.



We have planted our new ‘orchard’ which will be espalier style.

The whole process took about 6 months from start to finish. Cutting the timber into planks and machining them was very time consuming. Making a panel took about half a day each (frame and plank). The creosote was lavished in two coats, UI don’t want to have to make another of these anytime soon. Basic erection was a couple of hours and I then spent about the same again roofing.
I have put simple crude shelves along one side and a deep one at the back at shoulder height. It’s now fairly full of out of season equipment/nets/buckets/tools. I fitted a mortice and a padlock and I’m quite pleased.
Total project cost ( I didn’t count every penny)
Long upright timbers and 8x4’ sheet USB for the roof about £70.
Hinges, concrete bolts, locks screws and coach bolts etc. £60.
Roofing felt and pitch/mastic £55.
So the cash cost was about £185 (very roughly) not counting the tools and the small matter of my time. However I had embarked on the tool purchase to enjoy making stuff so it’s a self-inflicted pain there. I’m very satisfied with the result, it’s custom made so a little higher than ‘normal’ giving lots of shelf room as well as floor space for my rubbish.


I must thank the delightful Carol who relieved me of other duties, supplied tea/biscuits hot food as applicable and was a first rate assistant when the needs arose.

I enjoyed the process and I hope you enjoy the write up.

[1Bee]

Dear ESBKevin: will you marry me? (Carol notwithstanding. Oh, and my own husband.)

That looks fantastic and must have been very rewarding.

I WANT A SHED!!!!

[Nannysally99]

Fantastic job Kevin, we are just dismantling our 30 year old shed.
Definitely going to order a ready made one though.
That looked like hard work, well done you,

[roitelet]

Well done, it will probably last longer than a ready made one.

[ESBkevin]

Well done, it will probably last longer than a ready made one.

It's had two coats of old fashioned creosote. Unless it catches fire it will outlast me. ;-)

[Ding Dang Doo]

Excellent effort.

Can't say I would have the patience nor the inclination to start my own build, but you have to admire the dedication and effort you have put into that project.

Well done.

[Bonsai Si]

I envy you, building it from scratch, good effort. *salute*