General thoughts of whether better to buy a metal or wooden shed particularly if I want a stove with a chimney?

[Mel769]

Hows about a shipping container cladded with wood?

 

[Jameshow]

Oh I certainly wouldn't be wanting to do that.

Roundwood timber framing is a thing though and something which has been suggested to me more than once. Perhaps a very wasteful use compared to making timber planks but much simpler and traditional!

Go for it if you have the timber..

 

[trvlr]

Build your own wooden shed to your own specifications. My son and me did over the summer. Great project.. and...kept him away from gaming for a bit too.

that's a superb job. Well dun MacDuff... I note that the door shiplaps align neatly with those on actual walls too; not often seen that even on bought in sheds.

 

[Inspector]

One thing you could look into is stack wall or cordwood building. Basically it is short firewood length logs stacked with the ends mortared and batt insulation between. They are well suited to building alone and being that the wood is short at least until the roof, not needing machines, lots of people or rigging to lift logs with.

One thing to keep in mind is that log built walls are heavy and need a solid foundation to build on. Do something half axed and it will shorten the life from decades to a few years wasting all that effort you put in.

Got any picture of the trees on your land? It will go a long way to identifying them.

Pete

 

[wiley198]

that's a superb job. Well dun MacDuff... I note that the door shiplaps align neatly with those on actual walls too; not often seen that even on bought in sheds.

Thanks. It was a bit tricky (had to cut two attempts at the bottom boars.on the door...but worth it.

 

[Tris]

I forget if it's been mentioned earlier, but do you have a chainsaw?
If so take a look at getting an Alaskan mill so you can produce your own boards. Needn't be expensive, less than £100 probably, and will mean you can put up a round wood frame then infill with boards.
Pete's suggestion of cordwood walls is probably your easiest method, especially if you've got some clay soil on your site

 

[Tris]

I'll take a guess at your trees being poplar, not a durable wood outdoors so keep it well off the ground and good overhangs at the eaves

 

[Nail]

One thing you could look into is stack wall or cordwood building. Basically it is short firewood length logs stacked with the ends mortared and batt insulation between. They are well suited to building alone and being that the wood is short at least until the roof, not needing machines, lots of people or rigging to lift logs with.

One thing to keep in mind is that log built walls are heavy and need a solid foundation to build on. Do something half axed and it will shorten the life from decades to a few years wasting all that effort you put in.

Got any picture of the trees on your land? It will go a long way to identifying them.

Pete

He only wants it to last a few years anyway.

 

[woodlearner9810182]

One thing you could look into is stack wall or cordwood building. Basically it is short firewood length logs stacked with the ends mortared and batt insulation between. They are well suited to building alone and being that the wood is short at least until the roof, not needing machines, lots of people or rigging to lift logs with.

One thing to keep in mind is that log built walls are heavy and need a solid foundation to build on. Do something half axed and it will shorten the life from decades to a few years wasting all that effort you put in.

Got any picture of the trees on your land? It will go a long way to identifying them.

Pete

I had actually been thinking about that myself recently of what about using firewood as it is very readily available this time of year and will be dry which people have noted is important.

Also like you indicate, since they are small they would be very easy for me to move from top of the site to the other side, which is where I would probably want to place it.

What is the most easily accessed binding material though?

Hmm as I read more about this cordwood construction type the more I like it as it seems to fit with my requirements. Just reading the wiki on it. Good shout OP.

I see that the wider umbrella this falls under in natural building which seem to follow the general philosophies I would support.

 

[woodlearner9810182]

I forget if it's been mentioned earlier, but do you have a chainsaw?
If so take a look at getting an Alaskan mill so you can produce your own boards. Needn't be expensive, less than £100 probably, and will mean you can put up a round wood frame then infill with boards.
Pete's suggestion of cordwood walls is probably your easiest method, especially if you've got some clay soil on your site

No and I don't want to mess with chainsaws tbh. Just like I prefer just sticking to 12v electrics vs AC. Don't want the added risk of either.

I prefer the labour aspect of manual tools anyway, even if less efficient, being more 'at one' with the environment.

Aha! If I could use clay from my land that would be great however I would question if I would have enough for the job since the stream is so small very unlikely to get the amounts for a whole structure. A few pots and hand items yea. Better to buy it in. Is that the best thing to use or what else if I am sourcing from elsewhere? Is clay good for the environment as in if I just abandoned the building does it rot or decompose or whatever harmlessly?

 

[woodlearner9810182]

I'll take a guess at your trees being poplar, not a durable wood outdoors so keep it well off the ground and good overhangs at the eaves

I have just looked them up and can't say any look like them but it seems there are loads of varieties but none I saw so far.

Most of the images have a lot more branches along their midsection whereas mine there is like nothing except little turfs at the top.

Oh also, a distinctive feature is that while there are no branches going upward there are usually 3 or 4 at the base, so 3 or 4 big trunk sections which curve out immediately from the base and shoot up.

I did take my camera last time but forgot the charger and it was discharged but even so I couldn't have charged it since it requires mains connection. I might be able to make a connection to 12v system myself but that remains to be seen as has not been top of my priority list.

 

[woodlearner9810182]

He only wants it to last a few years anyway.

Indeed and less than perfect is better than nothing and I am sure I would learn how to make improvements from the first. A few years of shelter is by no means 'waste of effort'!

 

[woodlearner9810182]

Can I just buy normal builder's mortar for the stuff in between the wood? Or are there better options as in more eco friendly and/or cheap or easily accessible. Any or all of the above.

Is just pure lime a good choice maybe with a natural binder of some sort like hay and water? I have read that it is the traditional choice and is ecologically good.

How much would a cordwood 10ft x 10ft structure compare to a cheap shed? Seems the equivalent shed, even the cheapest variety, will run near a grand.

I have no idea how much firewood logs would be required to make a cordwood 10ft x 10ft structure and price and how much mortar would be required? Anyone with a better idea able to give estimated figures?

 

[Tris]

You could ask around local builders, if they are digging footings there may be clay to be had for free.
Last time I stacked a builders bag of logs the stack was about 6ft x 4ft if that's any help.
Mortar is a possibility but it'll be an expensive and poor alternative. Clay will move with the wood as seasonal moisture levels change

 

[woodlearner9810182]

You could ask around local builders, if they are digging footings there may be clay to be had for free.

Not going around begging for anything else after the frosty reception I got when asking for pallets. I prefer just pay and get the advertised service as not desperately short on cash.

Last time I stacked a builders bag of logs the stack was about 6ft x 4ft if that's any help.

Ok but how much does that cost? I have not bought fire wood in my life I think.

Mortar is a possibility but it'll be an expensive and poor alternative. Clay will move with the wood as seasonal moisture levels change

Ok is commercially bought clay as cheap or cheaper than mortar? How does clay move? I have only known it to be brittle and crumble if you put it under pressure?

 

[Inspector]

Straight clay is going to wash off every time it rains needing re-application yearly. Some sort of plaster, lime or other, will likely be a better choice.

If you want to save money buying firewood isn't going to be the answer. Here it is from $150Cad to $600Cad a cord depending on species. A cord in case you don't know is 4'x4'x8' and you'll need about 8 cords to do a 10"x10'x8' building using 16" long wood if my math is correct. Cutting your own trees and then bucking them up costs your time, a good chainsaw, proper fallers chaps, helmet/face shield/ear muffs, ballistic gloves and some lessons in safe saw use.

Your trees have grown up competing for light which is why they are straight and branchless. The three or four coming from a base might be from cutting them when younger leaving the tree to shoot new growth from the stump. Coppicing I believe you guys call it.

You might be better off working for a while and saving. Use the money to buy a used RV trailer, caravan to live in. Get a short shipping container to work in.

Pete

 

[Tris]

Cost of firewood varies with area, round here about £100 a bag.
Celtic sustainables might be able to help with clay, lime and the like. They are probably your nearest source

 

[Bristol_Rob]

As someone who has put about a dozen commercial flues through timber roofs I'd say as long as you mange the risks it's not a problem.

Create a nice opening in the roof structure by carefully creating a trimmed opening.

When buying your flue look for the doubled lined versions to protect against heat transfer and fires.

Investigate and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the appropriate cowl detail.

Only burn what is recommended and at a rate/volume that is recommended to avoid creating a fire in the structure or neighbouring buildings.

Finally, consider the final solution before commencing and how that will impact your neighbours. (If you have any)
As well as local laws around burning.
As a beautifully and thoughtfully built solution can be scuppered if you fall foul of local planning laws and receive a prohibition notice from the council because you've been reported.

Just my $0.002

 

[woodlearner9810182]

Cost of firewood varies with area, round here about £100 a bag.
Celtic sustainables might be able to help with clay, lime and the like. They are probably your nearest source

Yes but what about comment above that clay will just wash away. Seems to be conflicting advice!

 

[woodlearner9810182]

Straight clay is going to wash off every time it rains needing re-application yearly. Some sort of plaster, lime or other, will likely be a better choice.

If you want to save money buying firewood isn't going to be the answer. Here it is from $150Cad to $600Cad a cord depending on species. A cord in case you don't know is 4'x4'x8' and you'll need about 8 cords to do a 10"x10'x8' building using 16" long wood if my math is correct. Cutting your own trees and then bucking them up costs your time, a good chainsaw, proper fallers chaps, helmet/face shield/ear muffs, ballistic gloves and some lessons in safe saw use.

Your trees have grown up competing for light which is why they are straight and branchless. The three or four coming from a base might be from cutting them when younger leaving the tree to shoot new growth from the stump. Coppicing I believe you guys call it.

You might be better off working for a while and saving. Use the money to buy a used RV trailer, caravan to live in. Get a short shipping container to work in.

Pete

Back to the cheap premade shed idea then. Seems little practical benefit in any of the DIY suggestions. Little benefit for my main criteria anyway, relatively cheap and easily put up in a timely fashion.