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Shed

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Loofah, Jan 19, 2021.

  1. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    Small update as I really haven't progressed much! Have got a knackered 2nd hand shed / summerhouse and that's in bit ready to be fixed up as much as possible. My issue is the base and I've reached decision paralysis! I've chucked a load of hardcore down and was going to concrete over; then I thought about screed (or what I call screed which is sharp sand and cement ); then I thought about topping with a load of paving slabs I have with a mortar base.
    And now I'm cycling through them and need someone who knows better than me to advise...

    Help please?!
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Has the shed got a floor?
     
  3. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    Did but it rotted so now the floor will be what I put down which is why I was looking at the above options.
    Cost wise it's all much of a muchness that will leave me with either spare sharp sand or spare ballast
     
  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Right so the sides of the shed will be put down directly on the base, which you are building, and that will be the floor inside the shed?
     
  5. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    That's right. Also screwed to the base with some form of anchor; just looking at the slab material really.
    Concrete is stronger but spare sharp sand is more useful than spare ballast!
     
  6. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Not how I would do it, but I assume others might do it that way.
    I just think you are going to have the same problem as FatController had with his shed some time ago, a wet floor most of the time where the water seeps in.

    Concrete would make a good slab, but I still think the shed needs a floor.
     
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    • Loofah

      Loofah Admin Staff Member

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      You make the slab the same size as the shed and the roof slightly bigger so the water runs off into the surrounding mud.
      I got tired of all the over thinking so just ordered the stronger ballast and hope it all works out!
       
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      • JR

        JR Chilled Gardener

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        It wouldn't take long to knock up a wooden floor. If you make a nice concrete (or slab) base, then put down treated wood bearers every 300mm topped with blockboard/all weather ply or suchlike.
        It's good to keep the main shed timbers off the wet and creating an air flow under the floor sheeting. Might seem fussy but you are only doing it once..
         
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          Last edited: Mar 16, 2021
        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

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          The soffits on my bungalow are 2ft deep but that doesn't stop the rain hitting the walls and running down, particularly if it's windy.

          A wooden floor on bearers now will save a return to the situation at a later point to dismantle the shed and replace rotting wood.
           
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          • Loofah

            Loofah Admin Staff Member

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            Did I mention the shed was knackered already? It will be patched but it's not worth the added cost of concrete base plus a wooden base on top, the wooden base being twice the cost of the concrete incidentally. Water runoff will disappear into some shrubs and I might look at guttering to catch the water also. I'm really not concerned about a small amount of leakage as this is not a shed that will outlast me, just one that needs to survive 5 years or so. May also consider a strip of dampproof membrane
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              Oky doky , we will come back to this in 5 yrs time
              :)
               
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              • Sheal

                Sheal Total Gardener

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                Fair enough Loofah. :thumbsup:
                 
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