DIY Garden Storage Shed Ideas

almostover

Looking for some input on a DIY garden storage shed build. Have just bought our first house. Semi-D with a 13m x 7m garden at the rear. I need an outside storage shed to house a small lawn mower, small garden table + 4 chairs, my tools, my golf clubs and a few random bits such as tins of paint etc. Thinking of doing it DIY as I have acquired 26 eight foot lengths of 3' x 3' timber from a friend who works in construction.

Thinking of doing an 8' x 8' timber frame shed with pvc coated steel cladding. Don't need the shed insulated but it will need to be dry and condensation free. A similar size shed from Steeltech or Adman are expensive hence the DIY angle.

Looking for advice on construction techniques to ensure a dry shed. Don't want to do a concrete base either. A block or paving slab base would be preferred with a timber frame floor on top. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Lumen

Not enough timber for 8x8 with pitched roof.

Even using 600mm spacing, you'll need around 24 of those for the verticals on the walls and the rafters, plus 8 for horizontals, plus the ridge board. You can use offcuts for roof ties at a push.

Suggest you draw a diagram of the framing.

Think about how you're going to stop it blowing away in the first storm.

almostover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118394660#Comment_118394660

Yes, understand that I haven't enough for the framing but thinking about supplementing with some 4'x2'. I'll have to draw it out like you said.

In terms on stopping it blowing away, would it have to be anchored or strapped down in some way to the block foundation?

Lumen

Yeah, use the 4x2 for the roof structure.

You can probably use concrete screws into the pavers although they might crack. Also might lift in high wind.

Really depends on your site as to how much wind there is.

almostover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118394716#Comment_118394716

I'm back thinking about this. Now thinking I'd be better off using concrete blocks laid on some compacted sand and gravel as a foundation. That would allow me to drill through the base frame of the shed and into the blocks and use rawl bolts to tie the base to the blocks.

The garden is west facing. Standard estate house back garden. 8ft wall at the back of the garden and 6ft 6in concrete post and timber fence panels to seperate our garden from the neighbours. Not particularly windswept or not very sheltered either.

Thinking of doing a base frame with the 3'x3' joists at 16' centres and then add 3'x3' noggins at 90deg to the floor joists. 2 sheets of OSB3 on top to make the floor and then make a frame and apex roof with 4' x 2'. Wrap the frame in a vapour control membrane and then clad the shed. Thinking of cladding then with non-drip box profile sheets.

Am I mad?

Lumen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118414536#Comment_118414536

I'm no lover of concrete, but in all honesty if you have a flat site and side access for a wheelbarrow you will get the best result from a small concrete delivery and pour a nice thick slab with some mesh in it. A day's work (including removing topsoil) and you'll have a perfectly level, slightly raised surface which can be used for anything you need to put on it for the life of the property.

almostover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118414579#Comment_118414579

That was my initial thought but here's why I'm deviating a little from it. This 8'x8' shed idea is smaller that I want in the long term. I would like a small home workshop in time, maybe a 16' x 10'. But I don't possess the finances right now for that. This current idea is to build a simple, cheap storage shed to house a lawnmower and some other items until such time as I can afford what I want long term. So the idea was to make it such that the 8'x8' shed can be disassembled in time and replaced.

Having said that, I'm now thinking if I get my positioning right with a concrete pad I could just dig out around it in the future and add to it?