Steel shed no DPM in base

wedger

Just moved house and we have a steel shed in the back yard. Estate agent said its only in since Feb. Was doing a big of digging and it looks like there is no DPM in the concrete base. I was hoping to store tools - electric lawnmower etc in the shed. What are my options to insulate the floor?

I dont think there is much point in insulating the walls as it won't be heated - just hoping to keep condensation to a minimum?

Any help or suggestions gratefully appreciated

The Continental Op

Not unusual for a shed not to have a DPM, its easy enough to put in when you are pouring the concrete but the attitude seems to be why bother its only a shed. tbh no DPM shouldn't make much of a difference. I've been storing stuff outside in sheds for years and my advice is to store as much as possible in waterproof boxes if you don't want it to rust. If your boxes aren't waterproof a bin bag inside them sealed when you close the box works. Try not to store anything flat on the floor and use strips of wood under anything on the floor to stop direct contact. You can insulate the floor with the cheapest polystyrene bats if you put a decent thickness of plywood over the top of it.

Lumen

DPM is for preventing moisture coming up through the ground, not insulating.

There are surface treatments that will block moisture.

wedger

Thanks for the answers - was thinking of coating floor with waterproof paint - special stuff for floors!

The polystyrene bats sound interesting - any idea where I would get some?

I guess it would be a good idea to seal around the stell box frame on the bottom thats touching the floor - I know I won't stop all condensation just want to minimise it as best I can

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119863597#Comment_119863597

Isn't there moisture anyway in a shed in winter ?

I put stuff in plastic bags as damp and rust tends to get them eventually when stored

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119864670#Comment_119864670

I do the same, I'm in love with ziplock bags but I didn't read it that the OP was storing small tools.

btw I've found these waterproof stanley tool boxes excellent for keeping steel tools from rusting https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-194749-inch-Waterproof-Toolbox/dp/B001SY4TOU I also do a light spray with WD40 over the waterproof toolboxes before closing. Same with the ziplock bags they get a small squirt of WD40 when I store tools in them.

GreeBo

Assuming from your OP that the shed is directly sitting on the concrete base?

You could lift the shed (2x4 with a car jack) and fit a membrane and then cover with OSB (or insulation and then OSB)

You'd need to find a nice way to finish off the membrane outside the shed, but you could probably get away with just taping it it to the inside (and not bother jacking up the shed at all) and letting the flooring cover the tape.