Building a shed!

clivvy · 08-08-2010, 18:29

yup, me and the other half are starting stage one of our new shed-build this week. a brief description of current layout is that we have an existing garage pointing towards the back of the house, decking to the right side up to the old shed. we are taking the old shed down, and building a new one up to the garage, to form an L shaped unit, so it will look like one building.

the plan is to build an apex roof that MEETS the garage apex roof, rather like a barn type building, with guttering runing all the way round to a water container.

initially we need a load of timber frame wood, needs to be cheap and approx 4x3cm
want to avoid B&Q and Wickes if possible, but hoping for some hints and tips for places to buy the timber from!

any ideas??

zippy656 · 08-08-2010, 18:32

look in yellow pages for a timber mill / yard.. buy direct..

also collect yourself if posable.

clivvy · 08-08-2010, 18:39

right ill do that, managed to find what looks like a big one down near where i work, only issue i have then, is length of wood. cant fit very long peices in the Maverick, but can in the Mazda but only so much at a time.

I found another place too and they deliver but im not sure of prices yet so will pop in there on my way home from work tomorrow for a price up...

zippy656 · 08-08-2010, 18:48

you got a tow bar and a mate with a tailer you could use for a few weeks...

maybe a trailer hire center local..

get then to say delivery INC. always worth it, before they got time to add £40 for del..

remember if you got a trailer you can get rid of the rubish when you take it back..

tip use decking screws and nails.. dont rust ( shed will stay up longer )

Deleted account DD · 08-08-2010, 19:02

Clive, If you have one near you try Doves

We've had (literally) tons of stuff from from them over the last year and even from the word go their prices hammered everyone else's.

The one near us in a stones throw from B&Q as well as other merchants so theres some fierce competition. Effectively unlike some of the others who'll give you minimum discount Doves seem to pitch in at any level that will get a sale and not make a loss.

The last purchase from there was stone for the patio and by the time we'd come to a mutually acceptable price , even with the £25 delivery inc it undercut every other place we'd tried (and we're both pretty good at haggling

)

Beauty of them delivering of course is the ease of it but also any damage en route and at the point of delivery to goods and 3rd party stuff is their responsibility until youve signed

I suspect on some of our deliveries of wood the profit for them was buoyed up by the delivery charge

dont know but at the end of the day what we got for our money was excellent

(RIP) PLANK · 08-08-2010, 19:41

there are a few timber yards near me that i get good discounts fomr but that's not much use to you! my advice haggle! if you are buying a lot of he same size wood this is easy. Just get the cheapest quote and ask the nearest supplier to match it. but 4 x 3 cm doesnt sound very strong for the frame of a shed mate! I would suggest 5 cm by 5cm so you have a good 2 inch cavity for adding insulation at later date if requires. Plus the thicker wood will allow a little for 'snow load' as will getting the pitch of the roof right! If you can afford the extra get pressure treated wood as it will last virtualy for ever.

and a golden rule for shed building 'triangulate' don't forget all the cross braces on the corners etc. to make sure it holds it shape over the years

clivvy · 08-08-2010, 19:53

Daved, thanks for that, ill search for Doves, good point about haggling, im not a great haggler but ill try my best!

Plank, thanks for the tips, I said to the other half i didnt think 4x3 was big enough so ill go for 5x5, and use bigger for any load bearing bits such as door frame, window frame and all four corners. we build an extension and roof onto our garage, and did what you said about the apex roof and reinforcement, so we will repeat the same procedure as the roof has been spot on for about 6 years now, taken ever snow load and held up well againts the heat, great tips guys i REALLY appreciate it!!

im reight looking forward to building the shed, think ill keep a diary for you guys with pics!

zippy656 · 08-08-2010, 19:54

see what you get for your £10...

also not of the stupid " off topic" you get on some 4x4 websites!

clivvy · 08-08-2010, 20:01

i know Zippy, its great here. i mean to be honest, this post is only really as a chin wag type of thing, not expecting anything from anyone but it just goes to show that folk are interested, and happy to help, its brill.

oh, thanks for the idea about the trailer, i think ill have a look to see how much it is to hire one when we come to the construction side of things...

i found an online website for "Doves" http://www.jtdove.co.uk/

not sure its the same place Daved has mentioned but im browsing now for some prices...

(RIP) PLANK · 08-08-2010, 20:07

you could allways look for a cheap trailer on ebay

and i know it sounds daft but the best deal on screws i have found is trade packs from screwfix! If you use twin threaded screw they go straight in with no pilot holes, and using a cordless drill it's as quick as hamering a nail, plus you can get then out again for any alterations or repairs and they don't pull out of the wood and come loose.

I wish i was close enough to help

clivvy · 08-08-2010, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANK

you could allways look for a cheap trailer on ebay

and i know it sounds daft but the best deal on screws i have found is trade packs from screwfix! If you use twin threaded screw they go straight in with no pilot holes, and using a cordless drill it's as quick as hamering a nail, plus you can get then out again for any alterations or repairs and they don't pull out of the wood and come loose.

I wish i was close enough to help

hey, good point. i was just out emptying the shed, and found my pack of decking screws and that reminded me...need screws! there is a screwfix on Leeds Road where i work, ill check out the trade packs..!

Deleted account DD · 08-08-2010, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by clivvy

i found an online website for "Doves" http://www.jtdove.co.uk/

it is but the on line prices are well negotiable. Youre looking to use the managers discretion after a blast from your communication skills putting the case

Or in the best traditions 'Aggle mate

Having said that, in all seriousness they were actually very approachable and helpful.

Deleted account DD · 08-08-2010, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANK

If you use twin threaded screw they go straight in with no pilot holes, and using a cordless drill it's as quick as hamering a nail,

I'll second that, they are brill used them a few times

clivvy · 08-08-2010, 20:49

twin thread sounds good to me, i dont think ive used them before so nows the time to try!

jims-terrano · 09-08-2010, 09:00

Earnshaws Timber and Fencing. http://www.jobearnshaw.co.uk/

If you need a long wheel base with roof bars just shout. Same goes for tools, got a crackin compound mitre saw but it don't give you a second chance if you got fingers in the way.

Jim

08-08-2010, 18:29	#1
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	Building a shed! yup, me and the other half are starting stage one of our new shed-build this week. a brief description of current layout is that we have an existing garage pointing towards the back of the house, decking to the right side up to the old shed. we are taking the old shed down, and building a new one up to the garage, to form an L shaped unit, so it will look like one building. the plan is to build an apex roof that MEETS the garage apex roof, rather like a barn type building, with guttering runing all the way round to a water container. initially we need a load of timber frame wood, needs to be cheap and approx 4x3cm want to avoid B&Q and Wickes if possible, but hoping for some hints and tips for places to buy the timber from! any ideas??

08-08-2010, 18:32	#2
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,138	look in yellow pages for a timber mill / yard.. buy direct.. also collect yourself if posable.

08-08-2010, 18:39	#3
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	right ill do that, managed to find what looks like a big one down near where i work, only issue i have then, is length of wood. cant fit very long peices in the Maverick, but can in the Mazda but only so much at a time. I found another place too and they deliver but im not sure of prices yet so will pop in there on my way home from work tomorrow for a price up...

08-08-2010, 18:48	#4
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,138	you got a tow bar and a mate with a tailer you could use for a few weeks... maybe a trailer hire center local.. get then to say delivery INC. always worth it, before they got time to add £40 for del.. remember if you got a trailer you can get rid of the rubish when you take it back.. tip use decking screws and nails.. dont rust ( shed will stay up longer )

08-08-2010, 19:02	#5
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	Clive, If you have one near you try Doves We've had (literally) tons of stuff from from them over the last year and even from the word go their prices hammered everyone else's. The one near us in a stones throw from B&Q as well as other merchants so theres some fierce competition. Effectively unlike some of the others who'll give you minimum discount Doves seem to pitch in at any level that will get a sale and not make a loss. The last purchase from there was stone for the patio and by the time we'd come to a mutually acceptable price , even with the £25 delivery inc it undercut every other place we'd tried (and we're both pretty good at haggling ) Beauty of them delivering of course is the ease of it but also any damage en route and at the point of delivery to goods and 3rd party stuff is their responsibility until youve signed I suspect on some of our deliveries of wood the profit for them was buoyed up by the delivery charge dont know but at the end of the day what we got for our money was excellent

08-08-2010, 19:41	#6
(RIP) PLANK Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central England, in the Heart of the Black Country Vehicle: T2 2004 TDI SE LWB Posts: 7,740	there are a few timber yards near me that i get good discounts fomr but that's not much use to you! my advice haggle! if you are buying a lot of he same size wood this is easy. Just get the cheapest quote and ask the nearest supplier to match it. but 4 x 3 cm doesnt sound very strong for the frame of a shed mate! I would suggest 5 cm by 5cm so you have a good 2 inch cavity for adding insulation at later date if requires. Plus the thicker wood will allow a little for 'snow load' as will getting the pitch of the roof right! If you can afford the extra get pressure treated wood as it will last virtualy for ever. and a golden rule for shed building 'triangulate' don't forget all the cross braces on the corners etc. to make sure it holds it shape over the years

08-08-2010, 19:53	#7
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	Daved, thanks for that, ill search for Doves, good point about haggling, im not a great haggler but ill try my best! Plank, thanks for the tips, I said to the other half i didnt think 4x3 was big enough so ill go for 5x5, and use bigger for any load bearing bits such as door frame, window frame and all four corners. we build an extension and roof onto our garage, and did what you said about the apex roof and reinforcement, so we will repeat the same procedure as the roof has been spot on for about 6 years now, taken ever snow load and held up well againts the heat, great tips guys i REALLY appreciate it!! im reight looking forward to building the shed, think ill keep a diary for you guys with pics!

08-08-2010, 19:54	#8
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,138	see what you get for your £10... also not of the stupid " off topic" you get on some 4x4 websites!

08-08-2010, 20:01	#9
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	i know Zippy, its great here. i mean to be honest, this post is only really as a chin wag type of thing, not expecting anything from anyone but it just goes to show that folk are interested, and happy to help, its brill. oh, thanks for the idea about the trailer, i think ill have a look to see how much it is to hire one when we come to the construction side of things... i found an online website for "Doves" http://www.jtdove.co.uk/ not sure its the same place Daved has mentioned but im browsing now for some prices...

08-08-2010, 20:07	#10
(RIP) PLANK Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central England, in the Heart of the Black Country Vehicle: T2 2004 TDI SE LWB Posts: 7,740	you could allways look for a cheap trailer on ebay and i know it sounds daft but the best deal on screws i have found is trade packs from screwfix! If you use twin threaded screw they go straight in with no pilot holes, and using a cordless drill it's as quick as hamering a nail, plus you can get then out again for any alterations or repairs and they don't pull out of the wood and come loose. I wish i was close enough to help

08-08-2010, 20:49	#14
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	twin thread sounds good to me, i dont think ive used them before so nows the time to try!

09-08-2010, 09:00	#15
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Earnshaws Timber and Fencing. http://www.jobearnshaw.co.uk/ If you need a long wheel base with roof bars just shout. Same goes for tools, got a crackin compound mitre saw but it don't give you a second chance if you got fingers in the way. Jim