Garden Shed Build

[fizzle]

Hi All,

Apologies for delayed update. It's been a very slow process with the Covid lockdown but I am near the finish line. Please see pics below and brief comments in next post. Mistake have been made but we'll get there eventually!

 

[fizzle]

Overall happy with the end results but there are a few issues need to be fixed. For the keen eye you might have spotted the damp in the joints of the paving slabs. I only brushed sand into the joints when i put down the base so I am going to have to blow out the joints with a power washer and brush in a dry mix of sand/cement (3:1). I'm probably going to run into problems with water leaking under the walls so might have to run a bead of Tek7 at the base of the wall inside. The walls are sitting on an angled flashing which I sealed underneath with bead of silicon when I put them down however it is leaking through the joints in the paving slabs.

Anybody have other ideas on how best to seal the paving slab joints? I'm trying to avoid using a wet mix as it could get messy.

 

[fizzle]

I went with the 40mm insulated panels but they are a pain to cut. I put a steel cutting disk onto my circular saw but it only cut half way through the panel so had to flip over and cut on other side also. This was a pain when cutting the angle on the top of the walls to match the angle of the roof sheets.

I split the clear roof panel into two parts as I think it looks much nearer than using complete panel on one side only.I had to put in extra roof rails to support the joint at bottom of clear panels and roof sheet.

Spent a bit extra on a roller door instead of making a set of double doors. It seals up a lot better also.

 

[fizzle]

 

[Ashley Burton]

@fizzle I like that! Looks a nice solid build & low maintenance

 

[gaz1]

you wont cure the damp leaking through even with a dry cement mix as it will still come up as well maybe less though

nice build and does look well built

 

[3000alloy]

1000 guage polythene under the slabs is the only cure or at least 4inches of 10mm 30n concrete as the shed base.

 

[Reman]

If the slabs are concreted in, Could he get away with 3 or so thick coats of epoxy floor paint? By the third coat I'd think it would have near as damn it glued the bottom of the walls to the ground, and probably done a reasonably good job of self leveling too.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

you wont cure the damp leaking through even with a dry cement mix as it will still come up as well maybe less though

nice build and does look well built

As an 'interim' *cough, cough* solution, would a layer of self-levelling screed help?

 

[gaz1]

unless you layer the whole floor water will always creep back up and go sideways makes no difference really

 

[addjunkie]

unless you layer the whole floor water will always creep back up and go sideways makes no difference really

Put a 4x2 accross the door, a membrane down, then raise the floor with 4 inches of concrete!

Those base trims are d signed to sit over the edge of your base.

 

[Nick DV]

1000 guage polythene under the slabs is the only cure or at least 4inches of 10mm 30n concrete as the shed base.

Probably the membrane solution is the easiest if the slabs can be lifted easily. I'd also be inclined re-lay the slabs on a deeper bed of muck so they are above the level of the slabs outside

 

[slimjim]

Mix Sbr with the cement into a paste, it will mostly stop water ingress, worth a try even if you decide it’s not good enough later

 

[fizzle]

Thanks All for replies. Ive gone with sand/cement dry mix for now and try seal around walls with Tek7 or similar. I did think about raising the floor inside with either self leveling compound or concrete screed. I went against this as the concrete screed would need to be at least 3 inches to stop it cracking. The other option with the leveling compound would have been tricky as the base is not entirely level. There is about 2-3 inch drop from back to front (another mistake).

There is about 100mm of stone and another 50mm of sand/gravel bed under the slabs so I'm hoping thats plenty of drainage and the water coming in is just off the slab surface outside. Ive not finished the gutters yet and the amount of rain the fell here over the last 2 -3 month was unreal. I'll see how it goes as not to bothered with small amount of damp once it doesnt start condensation inside.

Really impressed with the insulated panels. The building doesnt overheat on hot days and actually stays cooler inside than outside. It tends to regulate the temperature. Not sure what it will be like in the winter but hoping it keeps the temperature above freezing. Can imagine a blower in there would make it toasty on a cold day.

 

[gaz1]

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his mistake was leaving the floor level the same as the grass level water will go under the flags and come up the only sure way to stop it strip down and make the floor higher with concrete by creating a step up to the floor level by wooding it

no matter what he does he will have nothing but trouble with it

 

[Reman]

My cheapo metal sheds pretty much classifiable as a temporary structure (If it was any more flimsy it could probably be classed as a "Freestanding metallic tent" ! ), so I didn't want to go to the expense of mixing up concrete for that. but if I was going to build something as nice as your's I'd probably have poured a slab for it to sit on. A "Shed" like this will last decades, so might as well put in the extra effort to make it as good as possible.

Seeing how nice it's turned out, and with you adding that it's also slightly on the .... Urm.... Well, unlevel (Them Admin folk have told me off for language way too many times for me to finish that sentence. ), I'd be sorely tempted to unbolt it from the deck, Jack it up and prop it a foot or so up on brick and plank "Bridges", Then spend a back breaking day pulling out the paving stones and pouring a proper slab for it to sit on. It looks a bit substantial for you and a few mates to lift it from the inside and walk it off the current base, So this is the best once and for all type solution I can think of.

 

[fizzle]

Reman, that would be a proper solution. I'm going to leave it for the winter and see how it goes. If it gets bad then action will need to be taken. Once the condensation keeps out im not to bothered with a couple of damp spots on the floor.

 

[gaz1]

4 planks and some round bars will roll it onto the grass area out of the way

lift your ends up slot a plank under it one at a time put wedges on the outside and inside on the planks they will fasten it in its form at base

strengthen midlle up by a 3x2 going across

lay 2 planks on the grass then use the round bars to gently push it onto the planks reinserting new bars as and when needed

easier with 2 people

the do your base then push it back onto it in a weeks time after laying cement floor 4" thick

 

[judemarve]

I also had to worry like this when I wanted to get my shed sometimes 2 years ago until someone recommended urban sheds for me. I tried them out and to my greatest surprise they made a shed with all my full specifications for me at a very affordable price. You may want to try them out too.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I also had to worry like this when I wanted to get my shed sometimes 2 years ago until someone recommended urban sheds for me. I tried them out and to my greatest surprise they made a shed with all my full specifications for me at a very affordable price. You may want to try them out too.

Welcome to the forum - what's your connection with the company in the link you posted?
They're in America so I suspect of limited interest to most Members [not to be exclusional ]