Reclaimed windows garden shed diy

Fern Bench

Like half the country at the moment, I'm planning a garden shed/potting shed build. I have several old small windows and had a lovely romantic notion of these rustic buildings that you see on Google images, Pinterest etc which are like greenhouses made up of lots of different old windows.

As I do my research, I'm starting to think that this would be a nightmare to build, framing up all the odd sizes, and making sure they are structurally sound under the weight of a roof, watertight etc. I'd love a big expanse of windows on one wall, but how would you frame them? Is it possible to frame windows stacked on top of each other or is it a fiddly nightmare? And would you end up with loads of structural timber between each window anyway, spoiling the view and lots of poky spaces to clad?

Does it add lots of time and complication to your build to add lots of different windows? I have several small windows that will fit between studs but some larger ones too.

looksee

Fern Bench wrote: »

Like half the country at the moment, I'm planning a garden shed/potting shed build. I have several old small windows and had a lovely romantic notion of these rustic buildings that you see on Google images, Pinterest etc which are like greenhouses made up of lots of different old windows.

As I do my research, I'm starting to think that this would be a nightmare to build, framing up all the odd sizes, and making sure they are structurally sound under the weight of a roof, watertight etc. I'd love a big expanse of windows on one wall, but how would you frame them? Is it possible to frame windows stacked on top of each other or is it a fiddly nightmare? And would you end up with loads of structural timber between each window anyway, spoiling the view and lots of poky spaces to clad?

Does it add lots of time and complication to your build to add lots of different windows? I have several small windows that will fit between studs but some larger ones too.

Speaking from a base point of total ignorance, if I were approaching this job I would not start from a notion of building a standard structure, its a creative, problem solving project and could be very interesting.

Are you talking about taking double glazed glass sections out of the plastic frames? Or using old wooden windows in their frames cobbled together? The first would be easier, the second would look more 'romantic'.

Don't even think about cladding the window wall, especially if you are using complete wooden frames. Live with the odd frames and bits of infill. Its rickety appearance is part of the charm, but if its going to annoy you then don't go down this road at all

Rather than thinking in terms of small windows that will fit between studs, think of creating studs around windows/groups of windows. Studs don't have to be the usual 16inch centres for this type of building. With a bit of planning you can get in enough framework studs to bear the weight of the roof.

Most of these romantic sheds are not nearly as haphazard as they look, windows will have to be laid out and arranged and rearranged till you can make them fit 'economical' spaces and suitable, load bearing, stud arrangements. The more organised you are, the less romantic it will look!

Lumen

Have you got a picture of what you're aiming for?

Fern Bench

Lumen wrote: »

Have you got a picture of what you're aiming for?

There's a lot of them here

https://www.thespruce.com/garden-shed-ideas-4178306

And a few more here

https://www.apieceofrainbow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/12-DIY-sheds-reclaimed-windows-apieceofrainbowblog-2b.jpg

I don't really have a picture of exactly what O want, but I'm fairly sure I'm going for floor size of 3 osb sheets, so 12x8ft

EPDM rubber roof (pond liner)

Shiplap sides. I'm looking at the pvc shiplap that people are referring to in this forum but I'm not sure yet if I can get them delivered down the country. Wood otherwise.

Pent style, single pitch roof

It's going to be a potting shed, which is halfway between a greenhouse and a garden shed, lots of light is preferable, but solid walls for shelving and hanging and potting. I have an assortment of single glaze windows of various sizes. I'll probably make a timber shed door, unless I can find a cheap French door. Lots of internal ones going for half nothing, but I think these would be a no no for external use, I'm open to advice or correction!

I think the above sheds are dressed up and photographed in a very stylised way. I'd like to see what they look during a stormy Irish November. I don't know if I'd feel safe surrounded by all that glass and not a lot of structure, with a solid roof to hold up. The structures look a bit disposable too. How can they hold up for more than a few years?

I don't want to spend a fortune but at the same time I want to watertight it as best I can, otherwise there's no point.

Fern Bench

looksee wrote: »

Don't even think about cladding the window wall, especially if you are using complete wooden frames. Live with the odd frames and bits of infill. Its rickety appearance is part of the charm, but if its going to annoy you then don't go down this road at all

Rather than thinking in terms of small windows that will fit between studs, think of creating studs around windows/groups of windows. Studs don't have to be the usual 16inch centres for this type of building. With a bit of planning you can get in enough framework studs to bear the weight of the roof.

This is an interesting idea, do three proper solid walls and leave the front one like a collage of windows, but would you still need good framing around each one, and how do vertically stacked windows hold up under pressure? Maybe if I aimed to get two or three evenly-spaced doubled up studs I could relax about the spacing of the others. I'm sure there is safety spec for this though, I don't want to just hope for the best!

Lumen

You could perhaps build it like a pergola, i.e. post and beam with non load bearing walls. And then the wall structure only needs to be strong enough to hold itself up.

looksee

This kind of project is a mind-set. If you are concerned about safety specs then don't do it. If you want to send for plastic cladding, don't do it - what would you clad if you had windows on all sides? There should not be any vertical stress on the windows, put in 'noggins' to support them or fix them individually to the uprights so the structure supports them. You have to decide do the windows go outside the frame or fitted into it.

Of the multi-window sheds in the pics you linked, the first of the second link is just a hefty frame with the windows screwed or nailed on, you can see the nail holes, and the second one is ridiculous, it doesn't have a roof and will not last past the first storm. In the first selection any of the sheds using old windows only has one window per bit of structure, very carefully selected to fit.

As Lumen says, build a frame and attach windows - plan the spacing. No-one can tell you how to do it, you have to have worked out a clear vision of what you are going to do and how it will work, then make it up as you go along

Fine Cheers

As already suggested, frame it out so your walls are not load bearing.
Just use windows and cladding to infill.
I am just finishing a lean-to shed with these composite boards in slate grey:
https://timberireland.ie/pura-cladding-20x120x4000/
Obviously depends on your budget but I am getting to the stage where maintenance free is the priority !!
I guess you need to think of aesthetics too, you don't want it looking like a mish mash (or maybe you do )
One of my favourite sources of info is The Restoration Couple on youtube and he has done a shed and a workshop so you are probably somewhere in-between.
Can't help structurally but you might be looking at 4" or 6" square posts at the corners and some intermediate posts of similar size. Ring beam / wall plate in similar size might work also but honestly just guessing here. Anyway, point is that weight or roof is loaded onto the posts and not the infill windows / cladding.
This might help with just the principles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92LJkcH1WJ0

Fern Bench

Fine Cheers wrote: »

As already suggested, frame it out so your walls are not load bearing.
Just use windows and cladding to infill.
I am just finishing a lean-to shed with these composite boards in slate grey:
https://timberireland.ie/pura-cladding-20x120x4000/
Obviously depends on your budget but I am getting to the stage where maintenance free is the priority !!
I guess you need to think of aesthetics too, you don't want it looking like a mish mash (or maybe you do )
One of my favourite sources of info is The Restoration Couple on youtube and he has done a shed and a workshop so you are probably somewhere in-between.
Can't help structurally but you might be looking at 4" or 6" square posts at the corners and some intermediate posts of similar size. Ring beam / wall plate in similar size might work also but honestly just guessing here. Anyway, point is that weight or roof is loaded onto the posts and not the infill windows / cladding.
This might help with just the principles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92LJkcH1WJ0

Thanks for the responses. I'm starting to get a clearer idea now of what to do. I think a good thing to do first would be place all the windows and a few studs on the ground and shuffle them around to look at different configurations. I will aim to firstly get the load resting on good supports and place the windows second.