Sheds - general advice (various Q's)

[Samuel1988]

Afternoon all,

I have decided to have a shed on my allotment patch and have been told it is allowed in addition to the allowed size (7x5 feet max). I wish to have a shed mainly to have a place to retreat to/rest whilst working on the plot, in addition to a place to store things, as I live a good 20 minute walk away and am totally exposed to the elements. I hope to make it a nice little retreat to relax in.

So my list of questions now begins and would appreciate all your advice, experience and knowledge in guiding me towards a little tranquillity hub for myself

1. Is it cheaper to build a shed yourself vs buying one (say from argos etc) which just requires following the set-up instructions?

2. My shed will be situated on the area of the plot which during the winter months of heavy rain, I am told will be reminiscent of a marshland. I will be working on improving the drainage buy digging a shallow ditch to direct the excess water to the end of the plot where the ditch is. Any advice on how to avoid any potential nuisance this may cause? This spot coincidently is in the shade where I can't grow anything.

3. Is it wise to have windows if they may be easy to be broken into? Are there alternatives to letting light in and not thieves?

4. How do you keep your shed secure/put off potential thieves?

5. Do you apply anything to make your shed fire resistant (I'm thinking of potential yob vandals here etc) as I have seen some sheds being burnt down (from that BBC allotment wars programme lol).

6. How do you light your shed without electricity?

7. Any ideas to make it nice and comfortable inside?

Sorry for so many questions but I just want to be sure and have a nice place which is comfy and safe and will be less at risk from vandals.

Thank you for your time,

Samuel

[Samuel1988]

p.s if you have any photos of the outside/inside of your shed which may be of use I would love to see them

[vikkib]

I've only got a small shed but at some point I'd like to upgrade to a bigger one so I can store my tools etc. but also have somewhere to sit and have a cuppa when it rains... at the moment it's a case of dashing to the nearest friend's greenhouse when the skies open!

1) It really depends how much you value your time at! I had a couple of friends to help me put together my little 6x4 but if I went a bit bigger I'd be tempted by someone like these guys:

Design your own shed! Easy Shed

2) No idea! I'm sure someone more techinically minded will be along soon!

3) I have a window, not sure how else you'll get natural light in there.

4) I keep mine locked up with a padlock but that's all. I've been lucky so far on my site as the site itself is locked up. Have other people on your site been victims of theft?

5) Nope - just painted mine.

6) I'm not in there when it's dark out so the window lets light in, otherwise you could get some kind of solar light or battery operated I guess.

7) Bear in mind it will get muddy in there so I wouldn't go OTT on soft furnishings! I have a foldable camping chair which is very comfy - highly recommend one of these! You could get a little portable gas ring and kettle so you can make a brew - essential in my opinion!

[Two_Sheds]

p.s if you have any photos of the outside/inside of your shed ... I would love to see them

Yep


it's in my avatar

[Two_Sheds]

I just want to be sure and have a nice place which is comfy and safe and will be less at risk from vandals.

The local policeman doesn't agree with me, but I leave mine unlocked. If the vandals break in when it's locked, I'm going to have to replace the lock at least, possibly a door or a window.

Unlocked, they get in but they don't have to smash anything.

I don't keep anything valuable in there (my best tools are hidden around the plot, and frequently moved).

The inside of the shed is deliberately messy, to deter anyone from rummaging around in it: it already looks like it's been burgled

[mothhawk]

Yep


it's in my avatar

But it's an awfully small pic TS, even wiv me specs on

[veggiechicken]

But it's an awfully small pic TS, even wiv me specs on

I thought it was a Tardis, even wiv me specs on

[mothhawk]

A guy on a lottie near me simply banged 4 long fenceposts into the ground, leaving the front 2 higher than the back 2, and nailed planks to it he got off freecycle or freeuse. Put corrugated on the roof (slopes to the back 'cos of the lower posts) and a door from the tip on the front. (Extra couple of posts for the frame). Nailed up a bit of guttering along the back with a downpipe to a butt. Job done. No windows, he just leaves the door open when he's inside.

[mothhawk]

I thought it was a Tardis, even wiv me specs on

Ahh, that's why it looks familiar....

[RedThorn]

You could always try this for light
http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144385...ht-in-a-bottle

[mothhawk]

You could always try this for light
In Philippine Slums, Capturing Light In A Bottle : NPR

I love those. So often the most brilliant and successful ideas are so simple.

[RedThorn]

It's the simplicity I love too

[veggiechicken]

Have you made any RT? I don't understand how they work Does the bottle have to be screened from the light, apart from the top or could you use them in a GH?

[Alison]

My shed was free off freecycle. I used to leave it unlocked for the reasons given above. I soon started padlocking it as was fed up searching the entire lottie site as somebody was swapping stuff between sheds. Was a right pain even though all I lost was a ball of string and some labels but probably wasted hours reclaiming stuff. Still don't keep anything of value there though. Never needed to worry about lighting as I can't garden in the dark.

[RedThorn]

Have you made any RT? I don't understand how they work Does the bottle have to be screened from the light, apart from the top or could you use them in a GH?

Basically it's a plastic pop bottle filled with water and a cap full of bleach. The bleach inhibits algae growth. The water scatters the light into the area you want to illuminate. It uses sunlight so the amount of light varies according to the ambient light levels outside the building. The obvious drawback is that it will not operate during the hours of darkness. This could therefore be counteracted using an emergency light fitting( preferably LED) with a photo voltaic cell system on the roof to counteract the depletion of the battery cells. With some simple wiring modifications to the light fitting, one could thereby incorporate a light switch, preventing the light from depleting the battery during the hours of darkness when one is not in the structure where one has fitted the prior mentioned two devices....