Need to build a new shed (sigh)

[Nishing]

Ok i removed the old slab and i have a idea i would like advice on, i want the shed to be 2.7m x 4m and im gonna build the floor frame and plywood over the top, now i want to have the frame sitting on concrete blocks which will be sitting on a pad of concrete.

I want to know if this is a good idea, what size timbers should i use for the floor frame will 43x75mm's do? And also how many pads of concrete/blocks will i need?

Thanks

 

[Paul200]

Sounds OK to me. I had a similar concrete base that was an old tractor shed until a tree fell on it! Concrete wasn't brilliant so I cast concrete pads at 60cm centres all over it and have just built a 100x50 timber base frame. There's no bounce in the frame at all but I think if you put your blocks at a reasonable distance then 75mm timber will be fine.

 

[Nishing]

Thanks for the reply if you dont mind me asking how deep did you pour your concrete slabs and i assume they are protuding above ground level?

How big is your shed and how many concrete pads did you pour?

Cheers

 

[Paul200]

Your welcome. The old concrete base was very uneven (lord knows how old it is - bits of our cottage are 150 years plus) but stable and solid so I just needed to level it up and - being at ground level - get everything off the ground. Because of this the slabs vary in height but average about 50mm. The base is 5m x 4m and I made 40 slabs. Originally I was going to cast 'beams' of concrete across the length but decided this was wasteful and time consuming. Not sure my method saved any time though - setting up formers for ten slabs at a uniform height across 5m of uneven concrete is a mare!

Eventually I'll have a 3.6m x 3m garden room with decking on two sides enclosed under an all-over roof with an offset ridge. I'm taking photos as I go and will post on here eventually.

 

[Paul200]

Actually - thinking about it again - the 60cm centres are along the 5m length only. I've cast 4 rows so the centres across the 4m width are 133cm. But the base is down and all the decking and noggins are in place and it doesn't bounce - that's the main thing!

 

[Nishing]

Thanks 40 slabs wow i wasnt expecting that much.

Another question if u dont mind, did manage to get 5m timbers or did you have to join (scarf) pieces together ?

Thanks again

 

[Paul200]

I just butt jointed two pieces with an overlapping piece behind, on top of a block to provide support. All the stress will be downwards so didn't see the need for a proper joint.

 

[Nishing]

Makes sense, did attach the shed to the concrete or ground in anyway ?

 

[Nishing]

Im thinking i would prefer to build the shed without a wood floor as all the 2x6's and plywood i need will be expensive plus id much prefer a more solid floor like concrete or even paving slabs.

Question is how can i do this without pouring huge amounts of concrete? I obviously cant just built the walls on piers

 

[Nishing]

Ok im gonna stick with building the frame on blocks but going to level them with gravel or sand i think

 

[Paul200]

Sorry mate - I was up the hill building my shed!

I haven't attached the timber to the concrete. Thought about it but I think the weight of a 5mx4m building should keep it in place. I may, of course, be proved wrong!

Whichever way you go with your base you're going to have to take a hit - either financially with timber or time-wise with concrete. Your call really :?

 

[Benchwayze]

Hi, today i took down a old garage i had in the garden, due to rot, bowing and leaning, it had stood for 55 years

The garage has a brick footing which is at least 3 courses deep (underground) and it had a concrete slab poured inside the garage about 10 years ago, the garage was built right against the boundary with my neighbour and id like to build the shed the same way but my neighbour has concrete slab on his side so theres essentially a 3" gap where the bottom plate of the garage sat.

Im gonna reuse most of the wood from the garage, new featheredge cladding and some fibre cement sheets for the roof

Where do i start?

YouTube.

Decide how many panels you will need. Then make a framework of 3x2 in which to build each section. Each section is joined together as appropriate for the dimensions of the shed. You can clad the sections flat, or if you are not worried about stooping down and/or kneeling, clad them after you have erected them, on the floor, which of course you put down first!. How you attach to the ground is dependant on the site really. I am sure you will find plenty of useful info on YouTube, but be selective.

Hope it goes better than mine did! But then I got someone else to erect the thing! :mrgreen:

 

[Nishing]

I must have watched every shed build video on youtube! Lol i think im gonna build the walls in place if not ill have to rope someone into helping me and id rather do it on my own

My plan is to build the floor out of 2x4's and have it supported by concrete blocks on grade every 2ft or so, osb on top then start building the walls

 

[Nishing]

Oh and after i took the slab up i found out the garage was just sitting on a single course of bricks on the soil, it must just have been the small bit i dug up that had 3 courses (weird)

Crazy it lasted so long

 

[defsdoor]

I'm finishing off my shed now. I had to build one so I can empty the old brick one that is falling down and knock it down and build a workshop.

I looked at all the flat pack sheds but they are all extremely flimsy so instead built one from scratch.

The only advice I can give you is to make sure your base is level. Build the floor first and make as sure as you can it is square, then use that as a jig to make the walls.

My shed is 8'x6' and 8' tall. made all out of 2"x3" (floor 2"x4") and ship lap cladding. Sprayed with clear preservative and ultimately going to be sprayed green.

Material costs have been about £600 which could have bought me a shed but this one will withstand a tornado

This photo is quite early on - the roof is on now and it's clad all round. Just got the door, windows and 2 edge trims to do, plus barge boards on the roof and felt it.

 

[Nishing]

Hey paul you wouldnt happen to have a pic of your floor frame layout would you? Im gonna do the floor in 2x4's and would like some ideas on how best to lay it out.

Thanks

 

[Nishing]

I'm finishing off my shed now. I had to build one so I can empty the old brick one that is falling down and knock it down and build a workshop.

I looked at all the flat pack sheds but they are all extremely flimsy so instead built one from scratch.

The only advice I can give you is to make sure your base is level. Build the floor first and make as sure as you can it is square, then use that as a jig to make the walls.

My shed is 8'x6' and 8' tall. made all out of 2"x3" (floor 2"x4") and ship lap cladding. Sprayed with clear preservative and ultimately going to be sprayed green.

Material costs have been about £600 which could have bought me a shed but this one will withstand a tornado

This photo is quite early on - the roof is on now and it's clad all round. Just got the door, windows and 2 edge trims to do, plus barge boards on the roof and felt it.

Nice one, looks good what foundation you got under it and do you have a pic of the floor frame?

Cheers

 

[Paul200]

Here you go -

 

[Paul200]

And this might be useful too -

 

[Benchwayze]

Hi defsdoor,

I think I'll move to another part of town! In my part of North Brum, eight feet high is too high for planning. Has to be no more than two metres to the ridge or pent. I am a mere 5'6" but I need more headroom than two two metres would give!