Men in sheds

[Lippyp]

When I did O level metalwork in 1983 we had a full class, we even had a small aluminium foundry and a forge. We cast handles for a junior hacksaw from ally, making our own sand moulds. I bet today Health and Safety rules would preclude a lot of what we did back then.

 

[Ceraphim]

I did the equivelant GCSE in 2003 (resistant materials... bit poncy sounding but it covered plastic, metal and woodwork) and your right, health and safety meant we couldnt touch most of the equipment, they had everything there to look at, but weren't really allowed to use that much of it, even the dip coating machine was off limits...

having said that i had a brilliant teacher who let me play around with stuff at lunch time

and by the way, that 'shed' look like its going to be amazing

Ceraphim

 

[Lippyp]

We made the moulds but the teacher did the actual pouring as it is somewhat dangerous. we did however learn how to use a lathe, milling machine, gas weld and do a little forge work. I believe the same is tru today of most of the sciences, I did Chemistry, biology and Physics O levels and Biology and Chemistry A levels and they were all very practical based. I understand today that most of the experimental stuff is done by the teacher with the kids watching, no fun at all and how can you get kids to engage with that? I loved making smells, explosions and chopping dead things up.

 

[andychud]

The plasticote sheet is much the same price everywhere. Adam G Brown
make it in Glasgow. although most cities have a supplier. There are good insulation products available. Maybe Kingspan insulation for roof? If you had a slab foundation you could even infill your steel with Thermolite blocks . These have an e value and can be built easily by an amateur........more money though. Put plenty of cover on your roofing sheets. I tend to bed the laps down in Sikaflex or any other Polyeurathane sealant to avoid any cappilliary ingress from driving rain. Take your time and think about what you can design in while you have the chance.

Will they not let you put in a few clear GRP panels on roof for light? These can be got in same profile as steel sheet and could be covered over if there are any probs on selling up.

Alex

I'll well insulate it. Every steel sheet will be one continuous run so no chance of capillary action. I'll use the proper fillers, sealing strips & capping pieces on ridges & eaves. As for light, I'm planning on fitting 2 velux style roof windows in the front steeper part of the roof. I'm not going to extend the first floor fully towrards the front of the bulidng. Instead, I'll have a 1m opening (mezzanine type thingy) which will allow a fair bit of light downstairs and heat upstairs (heater will be downstairs). The "mezzanine" area under the steeper part of roof will not be totally wasted space because it will accomodate the barrel for the roller shutter door. The only thing that I haven't so far got a solution for is handling rainwater drainage off the roof. It's too far from any drain to connect in. There's no real room for a water butt (unless I make a real slim (150mm) one that fits between the side or back of the shed and the fence. A soak-away would be an option but it's a lot of hard work and I'd hauve to break up existing concrete. Any suggestions?

 

[andychud]

Its expensive for one single reason really.

That is nowhere near as many people are buying steel as they used to so the stockists are charging more for any given sale.

The interest in metal working and other types of construction certainly in the hobby market is falling rapidly.

My local used machine shop said a school sold them 5 lathes and now the school only has 1 left due to lack of pupil numbers doing metal shop so you can imagine why steel is expensive LACK OF TURNOVER!

I've recently returned from living in Australia & NZ and, as you're probably aware, they seem to favour using steel over tile for roofs. It's MUCH MUCH cheaper there. They're also much more creative with the way they use it. In NZ especially, there are many steel roof houses with velux windows... it's obviuosly not a problem. But when you speak to the suppliers here (both of steel roofing and of roof windows) the majority say that it can't be done. It can! They're just don't know how. I asked Velux UK and they said you can't get a flashing kit for profile steel. I asked the same question to Velux NZ and it wasn't a problem. They even gave me the part number which I told to Velux UK who will order it for me. It's just a case of asking the right people the right questions and not allowing yourself to be fobbed off.

 

[Alex]

I agree too many people that say it can't be done. I hate it when people say that. I think it can be done just needs thought and effort, unless your talking about travelling the speed of light.

 

[lexi]

I'll well insulate it. Every steel sheet will be one continuous run so no chance of capillary action. I'll use the proper fillers, sealing strips & capping pieces on ridges & eaves. As for light, I'm planning on fitting 2 velux style roof windows in the front steeper part of the roof. I'm not going to extend the first floor fully towrards the front of the bulidng. Instead, I'll have a 1m opening (mezzanine type thingy) which will allow a fair bit of light downstairs and heat upstairs (heater will be downstairs). The "mezzanine" area under the steeper part of roof will not be totally wasted space because it will accomodate the barrel for the roller shutter door. The only thing that I haven't so far got a solution for is handling rainwater drainage off the roof. It's too far from any drain to connect in. There's no real room for a water butt (unless I make a real slim (150mm) one that fits between the side or back of the shed and the fence. A soak-away would be an option but it's a lot of hard work and I'd hauve to break up existing concrete. Any suggestions?

Can you not lead the water with some pipe to a softer bit of ground and dig a rubble drain there?

Alex

 

[Drains]

I agree too many people that say it can't be done. I hate it when people say that. I think it can be done just needs thought and effort, unless your talking about travelling the speed of light.

Warp speed. Piece of cake.

 

[Alex]

You must enlighten me on that methods of warp speed.

 

[lexi]

Andychud............This is good for roof area......http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/sellatex-insu...5QQihZ007QQcategoryZ63894QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Alex

 

[tomarse]

I've recently returned from living in Australia & NZ and, as you're probably aware, they seem to favour using steel over tile for roofs. It's MUCH MUCH cheaper there. They're also much more creative with the way they use it. In NZ especially, there are many steel roof houses with velux windows... it's obviuosly not a problem. But when you speak to the suppliers here (both of steel roofing and of roof windows) the majority say that it can't be done. It can! They're just don't know how. I asked Velux UK and they said you can't get a flashing kit for profile steel. I asked the same question to Velux NZ and it wasn't a problem. They even gave me the part number which I told to Velux UK who will order it for me. It's just a case of asking the right people the right questions and not allowing yourself to be fobbed off.

There was an episode of that grand designs program on TV the other day where they did a steel church in scotland and that had windows in the steel roof.

Your shed is looking great so far. I want one!

 

[Ratty]

Very inspirational andychud, I love the idea of two storey sheds..I want one too!
Re; getting rid of rainwater..can't you persuade your neighbour to stand a butt in his garden? Lots of nice free water for his plants and you'll even supply the butt....If he/she won't play ball just extend the roof and let it drip there anyway

As for corrugated tin roofs in Aus..they're brilliant, we want to do an extension with a fancy profile, and Clarks of Walsham (BIG agri suppliers near here) even have a special machine for rolling it to almost any radius you desire. If anyone has any photo's of fancy corrugated roofs from Aus or NZ I'd love to see some, we didn't take enough pics when we were there (over 10 years ago) and would like to get inspired again.

 

[grunty]

you have just made me happy I think. I built my garage with a pitch roof to the 4m limit measured from the front of the garage. Your list says 4m from the highest part of the ground next to it, I built it into a bank so the back of the garage is best part 3m underground. Does that mean I can raise the roof a tad and get my landy in

Alan

 

[andychud]

you have just made me happy I think. I built my garage with a pitch roof to the 4m limit measured from the front of the garage. Your list says 4m from the highest part of the ground next to it, I built it into a bank so the back of the garage is best part 3m underground. Does that mean I can raise the roof a tad and get my landy in

Alan

Alan, sorry for the delay in replying... been away in Moscow with work.

Tread carefully on this one! Mid Beds Council Planning Dept. say something like "no more than 4m from the highest original ground level to the ridge". So unless you are fairly confident you can convince your council that the raised ground was there before you built your garage then you may have a problem.

By the way, my garage is almost finished now (externally) so I'll post a few pics.

Andy

 

[Powermandan]

Any chance of some updated pics

Considering a similar project, not quite so grand though

 

[andychud]

Updated pics coming soon

I've been working away for a few months si it's been a long time since I visited the forum. However, the shed/garage/workshop/storage thingy is pretty much finished and is already loaded up with junk! I'll take a few photos this weekend and post them.

 

[phatboycrxhf]

nice !!!! i need to make me one of these

steel is very pricey around here though

 

[fran9r]

Good stuff...and info on the CAD package? I want to get into using this myself, so any help would be appreciated.

 

[Robotstar5]

Check the date of the last post, don't worry, we all do it!

 

[pidgeon chit welder]

lexi,
Yes, I'll do it with plasticoat. I've got prices from a company called Cladco - they make the stuff and the price seems reasonable. Can you recommend any other companies? I'm planning to insulate with polystyrene or rockwool -

Check the date of the last post, don't worry, we all do it!

1 st April gets earlier each year ?????