Sheds

A sound idea @BellaBlue, however just to the side of the manhole, the patio level slopes up toward our outhouse which has an opening window, and beside it the alleyway into our back garden. Even an 8 ft shed would be infringing on the manhole, so we can either raise the whole shed up, or cut a hole in the floor (adding reinforcement), or both.

On the shed we have pretty much settled on, the bearers on the floor would be running in an opposing direction to the 'drop' on our patio, so at the least I would have to put bricks/blocks under the shed with DPC on top. Of course, the height of those bricks would be optional - but I am not convinced that we would get it high enough to allow access without us needing a ladder to get into the thing

 

The best of it is, we have been here for 8 years now and have never had to lift either of the covers, but you can bet that if we were to put up a new shed and not do something about it, we would run into trouble within weeks.

I fully exect to modify a shed floor, screw it all down and then we will never look at it again - - but if I don't do it..........

 

It does seem to be some sort of composite material - hard, admittedly, but composite none the less. OSB, no way I want it anywhere near anything after this experience.

18mm ply would be dandy, but it is not an option on the shed I am looking at - it is 12mm, 19mm or 28mm T&G only, hence opting for the 28mm as that will add strength (particularly if we are going to have to make a hatch in the floor). The floor itself can be screwed back in place to additional bearers (we can screw them into the other bearers from the other side of the floor before we put it down) - pic below shows what I believe will be our line (allowing room at the back once all the slabs have gone, should we wish to paint it, although with this one that would not be needed as it is pressure treated)



I want to leave more space between the greenhouse and the shed this time around too, in case we need to paint etc.

 

Thankfully, by the time any shed is delivered (4-6 weeks) my main guy will be fit, and my youngest brother in law has also offered to help (in return for being fed and watered - he loves coming to us, as he always leaves with a full belly), so putting it up should be OK. I reckon a weekend all in should do it.

Good tips on the packers and the mesh, thanks @ricky101

 

This is the same way I installed my wooden shed on the allotment. Leaving a clear air gap plus chicken wire to stop pests. There was no other foundation, dug out the soil and poured a few inches of concrete then two layers of blocks, dpc then bearers on top. The only other thing is I buried thick wire in the trench and ran this up each corner and stapled. My allotment is on a windy hillside so I did that to stop it blowing away. You shouldn't have that problem as I recall your garden is sheltered.

 

Yes, it is sheltered and now also reasonably level - I think we will be going with building bricks or breeze blocks, depending on what the consensus is as to which would be best?

 

Would it also be a good idea to rod through the drain before doing anything else - or would that be tempting fate?