Byrons Official Workshop Build Thread

[ByronBlack]

I thought i'd start this at the beginning and document everything as I go so that it will add to the already good amount of information currently on the forum for workshop builds.

After some initial from help you guy's and Espeically thanks to Dave for doing such a great job on Sketchup, i'm ready to start building. I'm taking a modular approach to the build, trying to do a section each day, hopefully i'll get the bulk of the work done during my two weeks break from work.

I'll also be adding a full materials lists, suppliers, and costs. And solutions to any problems along the way. Please all feel free to contribute to this thread in means of questions, info, etc. I'll try my best to answer any questions along the way

Day 1.

I've mostly been preparing the ground for the concrete plinths which the floor joists (6x2) will be placed on. This involved digging away the dirt next to the fence, and also breaking and removing the ye olde concrete path, i'll probably use some of the hardcore from this path to bulk out the plinths.

Photo's to follow in an edit.

 

[wizer]

well done Byron and good luck..... not jelous at all, not one bit :mrgreen:

 

[dedee]

BB,
there are always thing to learn from others workshop builds. I will (and have been) following yours and Wizer's builds with interest.

Andy

 

[SketchUp Guru]

I'm going to be following this thread for sure.

BTW, I made a couple of modifications to the SKP. I found some odd ball things on the south wall that I shouldn't have missed earlier. I'll send the file along.

Just a note, too. My thinking about the attic area is that you would put in whatever planking before putting on the roof sheathing. This will give you a place to stand while working on the sheathing. I did that on my shed and found it to be very helpful.

 

[ByronBlack]

Dave - great tip! Thanks i'll bear that in mind.

Glad you're all interested, i'll try not to waffle too much!

 

[garywayne]

Byron, I'm in desperate need of a workshop and will be watching with great interest.

Looking forward to the next installment.

 

[SketchUp Guru]

You had to mention waffles. Now I'm hungry. :roll: :lol:

Gary, why don't you buy a copy of the plans from Byron and build the same shed design? It could be a race. The rest of us could make smart remarks to both of you and egg you on.

 

[PowerTool]

It could be a race. The rest of us could make smart remarks to both of you and egg you on.

And take bets on the winner :wink:

Andrew

 

[ByronBlack]

lol - does the winner get a prize? Maybe a forum sponsored spending spree at Lie Nielsen or Festool perhaps? :lol: :lol:

Extra Info for Day 1

I've had to make a couple of changes to the design and dimensions of the workshop. SWMBO has forbidden me from making it 13ft high as it will the highest thing in the garden in our entire street - and to be honest it really is perhaps a touch too high (I was hoping to get around by not mentioning it until it was done)

So, I'm making the height a max of 10', this is achieved by reducing the wall from 8ft to 7ft, and taking a couple of foot of the roof height which will reduce the 'attic' space slightly, but it's a good compromise so i'm quite happy.

I have loads and loads of hardcore going spare, if anyone on the forum fancies coming to collect any of it free of charge, your more than welcome, i'm going to be storing it in two large hippo bags, and if no-one needs it, then its going to be collected at the end of the week, just give me a PM if anyone needs any of it.

End of Day 1 Summary

I'm bloody cream crackered!

Piccies!

Getting to grips with the hired Hilti Breaker Drill:

After an hour or so and some back breaking effort, most of the concrete path is broken and moved out of the way - you can also see the results of the digging out of the soil on the left hand side: (harder than the concrete!)

and me:

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Couldn't you put up a 20' flag pole? That'd make the shed not the tallest thing in the garden.

Ideas? I'm full of it.

 

[JFC]

May i suggest putting a flat roof on and keeping the walls over 8' . 10' and a flat roof will let you swing an 8'x 4' sheet around .
Just my 2p worth .

 

[Alf]

Yeah, I'd try and keep as much wall height as possible myself, even at the expense of that handy roof space storage. Anyway, looks like fun - well fun for us seeing you do all the work anyway... :wink: Looking forward to see it progressing.

Cheers, Alf

 

[ByronBlack]

A flat roof is an idea I suppose, but my only concern with that is that it's a bit ugly compared to a pitched roof - but on the other hand would also be cheaper.. but then I have to worry about the rain and snow run-off and because SWMBO is having a greenhouse directly behind the workshop I couldn't have the run-off running backwards to the greenhouse..

 

[WellsWood]

May i suggest putting a flat roof on and keeping the walls over 8' . 10' and a flat roof will let you swing an 8'x 4' sheet around .
Just my 2p worth .

Gets my vote too. In my experience, low headroom is the first thing you'll wish you hadn't done. My workshop has 2.3m (7'6" in old money) from floor to the underside of 8x2 roof joists, with a flat roof on top. I've lost track of how many times I've stood in the garden staring at the workshop desperately trying to think of a practical way of raising the roof even another foot.

Watching with interest as your build progresses.

Mark.

 

[WellsWood]

I couldn't have the run-off running backwards to the greenhouse..

...I'd have thought a runoff into a water butt for the plants would be ideal then, especially given our seemingly endless water shortage.

 

[Nick W]

Don't forget that 'flat' doesn't have to be dead-flat (which is probaly best avoided). Go for a shallow pitch - you won't get standing water problems, and can still keep decent height over the entire workshop.

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Byron, you could knock about nine inches off the height by modifying the trusses to remove the peak. I could re-draw the trusses for that if you want.

I think you should try to keep the wall height at 8' too. I'm over 6' tall so I would miss that extra foot of clearance.

Do you think there's any talking your bride into letting your shed (and the back of her greehouse) be the tallest thing in the neighborhood?

ps Got your e-mail and I'll respond when I get to work.

Dave

 

[wizer]

yep another vote for the height here. I have done everything I can to gain extra height. I'm 6ft 4in so more the better.

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Here are a couple of ideas to help you maintain some headroom while lowering the overall height.

Dave

ps. I found another error in my original drawing. I've fixed it and will forward.

 

[ByronBlack]

Hi guy's

Cheers for all the ideas/comments regarding the roof, i'll have to sleep on it and put some more thought to it over my kellogs in the morning.

Thanks for the revised models Dave - i'll check them out tomorrow.

And now, the next thrilling installment:

Day 2 Update

So, yesterday was mostly breaking up the old concrete path, and digging away some of the soil to widen the area where the base of the shed will be put.

Today we (including SWMBO) spent most of the day out and about gathering together materials and supplies, and then shovelling all the old soil and broken concrete path into a mega-hippobag. The shovel we had was too small and it felt like I was trying to dig up the sahara with a spoon. It took all afternoon and into the evening.

No piccies today as it's almost exactly like the very first picture before we did anything, the only difference is that the path is gone, the soil is gone, my will to shovel has died and the area is now completely clean and ready for the concrete plinths.

Things I wish I did:

Hired a couple of polish or bulgarian labourers and a mini-digger to shift all the stuff.

Day 2 Summary

I'm even more cream crackered, but now excited as the construction will start tomorrow proper.

Also, throughout the day i've been putting more thought to a number of issued, namely the roof, the placement of the plints, the placement of the threaded rods so that they don't get placed where any up-rights are and keeping the neighbours sweet with gifts of plants and shrubs from the garden that are no longer in the missus planting plans.

Looking forward to day 3 to see some real progress. I intend to have all the plinths concreted and threaded rods placed, and if the concrete is dry enough by the end of the day, the joists will be placed. Thursday will see me take delivery of the 1million meters of 2x4 for the frames, so by the weekend I should have all the walls up, roof joists fitted and floor laid.

Also, whilest i'm contructing the workshop, i'm also in the middle of renovating the house, and landscaping the garden, it's sheer utter madness, but bloody good fun, the house feels like a builders yard!! No 'geezer' called 'smiffy' though to help out - maybe I can hire one of them from somewhere, and pay in tea and bacon butties..

I'm rambling now so i'm closing this captains log, have fun kids, and remember, it's dangerous to run with scissors!