James' shed build log

[mightyjcb]

Hi all,

Thanks again for the welcome into TWII.

I hope for this thread to be a way to get advise/direction from this community, and so i can appreciate progress in the inevitable issue/slow spot!

The shed/workshop will facilitate my car project, bike maintenance/storage and a bit of beer brewing.

I've put the concrete slab down ready for a 16x8 structure :


I'm not sure if there is any other necessary prep work/questions i need to ask myself before i can start laying bricks/framing. With that in mind.......I dont have a design necessarily(!) so i've allowed the below points and questions dictate it so far:

1. Utilise concrete base as the workshop floor rather than joists and floorboards
2. In terms of height i do not believe that i need to exceed 2.5m with what i intend to use the workshop for. So unless the design of the roof calls for it planning permission shouldn't be necessary.
3. An electric and water supply.
4. Maximise internal wall space by having windows very high/at the top of the walls. Sky lights.
5. I don't want the shed to rot from the bottom up so i must lay a course of bricks as a plinth for the structure to sit on.
6. Initailly felt the roof, but intend on changing this later.

Questions/Unknown

1. How do i know if i need to address drainage?
2. Will there be a noticeable benefit from wall and roof insulation if the concrete is base is not insulated? (Not looked into the merits of the available insulation materials yet).
4. With boiling liquids/spillages from brewing i need to allow good vetillation and breathability. I've seen the Mike G sticky thread with good ventillation.
5. The base is in the corner of the garden 1-2' away from 6' fencing. Am i introducing any problems if i overhang the roof to create a sheltered-ish space along the back sides of the shed, laid to shingle.
6. How to lay a course of bricks and what type of brick. Can Youtube teach me all i need for this?
7. Can i finish the roof with felt, and change this later without too much hassle?

After these decisions, i plan on putting a list of materials together, including any tools i don't already have.

Cheers
James

 

[TrimTheKing]

Hi Jamie

I've moved this into the Workshop Builds forum, just FYI.

Cheers
Mark

 

[Mike G]

I'll look at this more fully later, James, but a couple of quick points come to mind. Insulating your floor is far less important than insulating your walls and roof. Heat rises, for a start, and the thermal mass of the ground and the slab means that your slab will actually stay at a fairly even temperature year round.

Secondly, you need 2 course of bricks, minimum, not one, and watching a few youtube clips on bricklaying will help. If your ground is flat, even and accessible, then you won't even need to lay corners first (the difficult part of bricklaying), you can make up some wooden gauge rods and run string lines from them once you've got them to the right level.

Finally drainage....you need foul drains if you have a water connection to the workshop. When you pull the plug out of the sink, it's got to go somewhere! Otherwise, just surface water drains to take the water from the roof.

 

[mightyjcb]

Hi Jamie
I've moved this into the Workshop Builds forum, just FYI.
Cheers
Mark

Apologies Mark, and thanks!

I'll look at this more fully later, James, but a couple of quick points come to mind. Insulating your floor is far less important than insulating your walls and roof. Heat rises, for a start, and the thermal mass of the ground and the slab means that your slab will actually stay at a fairly even temperature year round.

Secondly, you need 2 course of bricks, minimum, not one, and watching a few youtube clips on bricklaying will help. If your ground is flat, even and accessible, then you won't even need to lay corners first (the difficult part of bricklaying), you can make up some wooden gauge rods and run string lines from them once you've got them to the right level.

Finally drainage....you need foul drains if you have a water connection to the workshop. When you pull the plug out of the sink, it's got to go somewhere! Otherwise, just surface water drains to take the water from the roof.

Some logical, sound advice. Thanks Mike. I will no doubt have further questions when i arrive at those hurdles.

I have updated the first post with a picture.

 

[TrimTheKing]

No need at all to apologise mate

Cheers
Mark

 

[mightyjcb]

Determined to get the shed up this summer!..after a winter of slacking...

Looking for some advise In terms of the types of brick recommended for the plinth. A cursory check shows that most bricks are sold in a pack of almost 400. I don't particularly want ~200 bricks left over in the garden. Stupid question, is asking to split a pack of bricks in Travis Perkins an option?

If i must buy complete packs, 'facing' bricks are ~£300 a pack. They (TP) sell concrete bricks which are classed as a 'common' brick at £160 odd, roughly half the price. Is that an option i could consider, or would that look unsightly unless rendered? Negating much of a saving.

Is it worth considering reclaimed bricks?

 

[StevieB]

Any merchants will split packs for you - well worth seeing before you buy however and deciding what you like the look of.

 

[jules70]

Any merchants will split packs for you - well worth seeing before you buy however and deciding what you like the look of.

Exactly as Stevie says. Can I just add prices/discount can vary enormously between the various merchants. It really does pay to shop around !

Personally I think its a nice touch if the bricks match that of the house as in the case of yours where its located close by. Reclaimed bricks you will normally find are more expensive than new unless of course you can find some going begging from someone just getting rid.

 

[jules70]

Sorry that's a guess its close to your house - just going on the other back gardens !!