Shed building questions?

[G]

First off, any have any personal recommendation for more appropriate forums out there on the interweb to ask such questions?

Seeing that we aren't going for a house with a dream-shed/warehouse in the garden, I'll need to be making a small to medium sized shed fairly soon after moving in most probably.

So have been having a think about what to do - am thinking 5m x 6m floor area or so, to just avoid building regs.

First question; is there any problems using sheet materials for the walls etc, as opposed to feather edge?
Ie an ok ply, or even OSB etc... presuming it's given a decent coat of some kind of protection.

Second, I'd like it have a fairly minimal impact at it may be taken down in a couple of years, so was thinking of some kind of 'floating foundation' - this would negate the need for lots of digging and flattening. Would there be any problems with this given the size of the base and that it'll have some bikes in there - I presume it'll just need a bit more?

Lastly for the moment, can any one recommend a decent online timber merchant that shows prices so I can get a vague idea of likely costs. Oh and, err, what should I be looking at for general construction-timber? In the past I've just got planed stuff from wickes, which is regularly not-that-straight, etc, but has done the job.

[Kwaks]

My shed is pretty big, in fact a good 10/15 ft wider than the house, is raised from the ground and no probs with storing the bike in there, although a drop down ramp was fashioned for the bikes entrance.

Had mine built by a joiner as it is essentially split in two, one entrance straight off the decking to a "playhouse", the other for bike etc.

Solid "ply" walls, but with wooden cladding, no serious problems apart from some water ingression (although to be fair this is due to the water running off onto the decking at the same level) and a bit of warpng on the biggest door leaving it stiff.
____________________
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www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[ms51ves3]

Build a frame out of old pallets, cover it in plywood and paint it.

https://summerville-novascotia.com/PalletShed/TonyUtterbackShed-1.jpg

https://summerville-novascotia.com/PalletShed/TonyUtterbackShed-3.jpg

https://summerville-novascotia.com/PalletShed/TonyUtterbackShed-5.jpg

https://summerville-novascotia.com/PalletShed/TonyUtterbackShed-6.jpg

[tommybhoy]

Hi G

I have a similar problem.I already have a shed which is full of garden accessories and the kids bikes etc.I was think of something like the images attached,but as you mentioned which would be cheaper this or a new bigger shed?
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Current bike..Honda VFR 800 Vtec
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

[Flip]

OSB exterior walls? I'd probably use yacht varnish. OSB floor I'd also yacht varnish that but use 2 layers on the floor with a tight framework underneath to support it.

I once painted a bar with yacht varnish, pretty hardy stuff.

https://www.ronseal.co.uk/products/product.jsp?id=33

Obviously a clear finish though. Exterior paint is probably cheaper and easier to blend in to the back ground though.

My shed is sitting on a hardcore base. It's moved a little but nothing major. Hardcore isn't too expensive if bought in a tonne bag and delivered from a builders merchants (rather than 20kg bags from B&Q). Saves f*ckin around with concrete or slabs and also keeps the water away from where the wood meets the ground.

In fact could you of some reclaimed floor boards for the floor?

[G]

Cheers for the thoughts all... though, err, afraid a shed made out of pallets doesn't actually help me at all - I presume you've seen this for something a bit more impressive.

Going to be some reasonable frame work on the floor - though of course it's a case of thickness of flooring vs amount of frame.

Ideally I'll want to be doing this with minimal impact and it will quite possibly be on a slope, so foundations that can easily cope with that would be ideal.

If I can get away with cheap walls/floors I'm happy to. Would be semi-tempted to paint it up 'camo style' so it (ok not really) blends in with the greenery behind .

Can't find the link now, but was looking at some systems which are mounted on concrete blocks, then use a metal thread to hold up the beams of a shed, allowing it to be easily adjusted to the right height.
This is a similar idea: https://www.home-garden-centre.co.uk/diy_buildings/garden_building_foundations/log_cabin_foundations

Oh and damn Korn's google skills... do a search on google again and this thread is the second result!

[sebastianw]