I've bought a shed ...

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Kristen, Jun 17, 2009.

  1. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I've bought a shed (well, more of a barn really! Its 50' x 30') from the estate of an old lady that died recently.

    It was only fairly recent built.

    I've got to take it down ... I don't suppose there are many surprises there, other than trying to avoid splitting the weather boards when getting them off.

    I will photograph and document it so I can put it back up again, and mark the key timbers for location

    What about planning permission? Obviously its standing right now, can I use that in some way to make it easy for the planners to visualise what I am going to erect?

    Its currently on a concrete raft, but I'm thinking of just using a footing around the perimeter, and a concrete pad only in the are where the garden machinery will be stored.

    One side will be used as a wood store, seems a waste to have a concrete base there

    Any other tips?
     
  2. lollipop

    lollipop Gardener

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    I thought sheds were okay as they aren't permanent structures-as far as planning permission goes at least.
     
  3. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    I thought that all timber structure were classed as 'temporary' and therefore no permission required too... that said, its pretty big!
     
  4. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    There are some rules about sheds in gardens, in our council area at least. I recall a neighbour having to get permission for a shed because it was too close to the road at the back of our gardens. You should give your local planning dept a ring to check what the rules are, in case you plan to put it near a boundary or road. I found this as some general advice:

    http://www.garden-sheds-online.co.uk/info/planning.shtml
     
  5. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Thanks, that's very helpful. I've spoken to the local planning people, who make it sound very straightforward!

    Any advice on taking it down?
     
  6. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Take your time, buy some hard hats and get as many helpers as possible :)

    I'm guessing some of the structural timbers are heavy and long so you might need to hire some lifting gear.
     
  7. capney

    capney Head Gardener

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    50` x 30` ! thats not a shed, Thats an aircraft hanger......
    Nice buy and I hope it all works out ok.
    Somewhere to park your helicoptor?
    robert
     
  8. Rhyleysgranny

    Rhyleysgranny Gardener

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    I think if it's sited more tham 3metres from the house you don't need planning permission

    Where are you going to put it? What are you going to put in it?:hehe:
     
  9. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    When my dad had what is now my land, he put a couple of sheds on it to store tools and animal feed (he had livestock on there, and the land is classed as agricultural for planning purposes). The planning authority ordered him to take them down, he appealed and lost. Ironically, the sheds were not even visible from any public path or road, so it must have been a tresspasser that reported them.

    So I would say that the planning authorities can be a bit of a pain in the backside at times.
     
  10. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    "Somewhere to park your helicoptor?"

    The wife is insisting on putting hers indoors, and I don't want mine to get wet ... :hehe:

    "Where are you going to put it?"

    Behind the pleached hedge. It isn't as tall as my sketch implies, but something like this:

    [​IMG]

    The shed unfortunately has corrugated iron roof - and although only very gently sloping I think it will be a bit of an eyesore from the drive. We'll see, might have to replace with slate, paint, or just wait until we can afford a more appropriate pucker structure.

    "What are you going to put in it?"

    Bits of garden machinery that are either outside (the mini tractor) or hogging space in the garage (mowers) at present.

    We have a large amount of logs to store so that we season our own, rather than buying seasoned wood.

    And there are 3 ghastly sheds in my garden which are not suitable, two of them are on their last legs, and all of them are in the wrong place and look an eyesore.

    http://kgarden.wordpress.com/projects/shrubbery/2/ - 3rd and 4th pictures in particular

    "Take your time, buy some hard hats and get as many helpers as possible "

    Excellent! A volunteer! I want to get on with it, so would like to get it down in the next week if possible.

    "I'm guessing some of the structural timbers are heavy and long so you might need to hire some lifting gear."

    The roof trusses will be the problem I think. Telescopic loader might be the best tool.

    The thing that is bothering me is the weatherboarding. If it is dry then I think it will split as we try to remove it (or we'll have to punch the nails through the board, and that will take ages).

    Alternative is to cut vertically next to an upright every 9' or so, thereby making wall-panels, and add an additional vertical member to the existing, when we rebuild, to have something to attach the "dangling end" of the panels to.

    I suppose I need to try to remove a weather board and see how easily it comes away, or whether I wind up with a pile of splinters!
     
  11. Pro Gard

    Pro Gard Gardener

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    The weather boards should knock of ok with a sharp tap from a small sledge from just below the beams they are nailed too.

    You might want to hire a pasloade nailer for when you reefix them
     
  12. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Thanks Pro. Fingers crossed on the weather boards then :), and good idea about the nailer.
     
  13. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I'll help get it down in less than a week:
    [​IMG]


    Or maybe lift the whole thing up and transport in one piece like the Americans do with their houses:
    [​IMG]

    :D
     
  14. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    One of those low-loaders with a grab would be a big help, but I don't think I could get it up close to the current site :(
     
  15. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Planing permission has come through, so work can commence!

    We took it down back in July. Actually didn't cut it up, or knock the weatherboard off, but converted it into a sectional building. Several "sections" 40' x 12' :thumb:

    This is what it looked like:
    [​IMG]

    The traditional "after" photo :)
    [​IMG]

    and the "moving home" photo :gnthb:
    [​IMG]
     
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