Hey folks, Finally after 8 months of searching we have an offer accepted on a house. Moving in on or around the 20th April. More importantly I will be able to store my blade at my home instead of 6 miles away in a secure car park. Looking for a bit of advice on a little shed project I plan to build in the summer. I am not a builder by any means so hoping you guys can answer some questions that I may have. Approximate size of the shed will be 3200L x 2400W. I think the height has to be less than 8ft otherwise i'll need planning permission to build it. The construction will be generally timber stud work 38 x 63 for the walls and rafters. The floor joists will be 45 x 120 with 18mm OSB for the floor. Can anyone with some building knowledge share their wisdom and confirm if those sizes seem ok and will be strong enough to build. Cheers
No i have a 15m back garden so plenty of room to build a generous shed/garage to store the bike at home.
Good if you can do it yourself. I am in a similar position and got quotes from shed companies for a 2.0 X 3.0. Came in at 1105.00, BUT I had to either prepare base with pavers or preferably concrete slab! I've decided to just manage my smaller, no-room-to-move shed. Do give a thought to insulation properties though.
What about one of the concrete pre-fab things. Like slats of concrete that slot into upright posts? This would be my choice.
Depends on your budget but ideally get a concrete base down with a DPM to stop the moisture from the soil soaking up. Insulation will also help condensation. You can never have enough light or power sockets.
I have to be very careful to be non-offensive here, because I have previously been lambasted for my 'annoying' posts, but seriously Hitch, do you really see aesthetic appeal in that? Sure, it MIGHT have potential with 4-years growth of Ivy over it, but its present state is not unlike a public toilet block:
This should give you a helping hand with the building of the shed mate. He explains it well and gives you a good idea of cost too. I did my base with 20mm limestone compacted to a depth of about 6in then sand/cement dry mix with flags layed on top. You'll want a soak away round the edge of that about a foot aswell. No shame in getting someone in to do the base though if you are going to tackle the shed build yourself. I would probably consider pouring concrete for your base though if it's housing motorbikes. Good luck.
Oh yea, don't fuck about with felt roofs either they're shite..... Do as Colin has or get EPDM rubber roof. Do it right, do it once.
Well I have created some plans in Revit. Going to go for a timber base as I think it will be easier to construct on my own. Its treated timber 45 x 90mm for the floor joists at 600mm centres with supporting dwangs to give it extra strength. The floor will be 18mm sheet Plywood.
That will be strong, especially considering the use of 'Abba' or similar stand taking the full weight across its base. I have a builder-installed DIY shed with a very sub-standard base for bikes. (OK for lawnmowers and the like). Only this week I laid 15 mm ply over the top of existing floor and it is now very sturdy. On that basis, your '600 centres' with 18 mm ply will work well.
Yeah thats just the basic studwork. I need to work out where the window and door is going to be and frame them to suit. Also plan to have a 550m worktop along the length of one wall so that will need some noggins installed to support that.
Gable end wall studwork setting out with doorway opening. Wondering if I should go with a double top plate?
What is the sub base though...I.e. where is the shed sitting in your back garden? Are you just laying a timber frame on the grass or have I misunderstood?
Good stuff, take your time getting the base right and you'll grand. Look forward to seeing some pics.
We used readymix concrete on our base, bout 12 inch thick with dpm and damp backed underlay under laminate flooring. Very dry and solid, means ground anchors etc are solid as can be. Then the shed walls just sit on the top edge of the base allowing run off into the gravel around the base. I would highly recommend a rubber roof, looks cool and you get a massive warranty with them to cover any damage in weather. He used 18mm tongue and groove for the walls which are solid and will take years of weather even without treatment. Think the roof was the same stuff to be honest. My advice is go as big as you dare mines 10.5ft wide and only just enough turn the bike round inside when it was empty! Wouldn't worry about planning as it's not a fixed structure. Mines 32ft by 10.5ft and not had any issues at all even so I think it is slightly over its close to the limit and my neighbours are cool with it.
