We are now in our fifth year living in our house.
And in the garden, there is always something to redesign or create, which the years before didn’t allow time for.
Now I’ve been thinking about getting a small garden shed with a lean-to roof. The lean-to would be for firewood, and the shed for garden tools.
What do you think: minimum wood thickness? Is 19 mm (3/4 inch) enough?
Does it absolutely need a floor? We only want to store hand tools, fertilizer, buckets, and a wheelbarrow.
For the foundation, I’m thinking of using ground anchors that are set in concrete. The thought of digging 80 cm (31 inches) deep terrifies me...
My husband isn’t really the creative type. He can do the work, but designing a shed himself isn’t his thing. We lack the technical knowledge. So we would probably order one. Building it ourselves should be doable [emoji16]
Please show your sheds: where are they located in your garden? Did you build it yourselves or order it? Any challenges during assembly?
What would you have done differently? More windows? Different paint? Pressure-treated wood or not?
I need your input and ideas.
And in general: this topic is completely missing here.
And in the garden, there is always something to redesign or create, which the years before didn’t allow time for.
Now I’ve been thinking about getting a small garden shed with a lean-to roof. The lean-to would be for firewood, and the shed for garden tools.
What do you think: minimum wood thickness? Is 19 mm (3/4 inch) enough?
Does it absolutely need a floor? We only want to store hand tools, fertilizer, buckets, and a wheelbarrow.
For the foundation, I’m thinking of using ground anchors that are set in concrete. The thought of digging 80 cm (31 inches) deep terrifies me...
My husband isn’t really the creative type. He can do the work, but designing a shed himself isn’t his thing. We lack the technical knowledge. So we would probably order one. Building it ourselves should be doable [emoji16]
Please show your sheds: where are they located in your garden? Did you build it yourselves or order it? Any challenges during assembly?
What would you have done differently? More windows? Different paint? Pressure-treated wood or not?
I need your input and ideas.
And in general: this topic is completely missing here.
Wolkensieben3 Jan 2021 23:29Hausbau0815 schrieb:
I need to look it up tomorrow after all I have to warn you, though—I think I’ve already made myself unpopular here in the short time I’ve been around. But it breaks my heart when I see someone ignoring all the warnings and downplaying the risks. I won’t comment on this kind of thing again; it’s not my life.
What I talk about is based on my own experience.
We almost ended up with an unfinished building—a real pie in the sky, so to speak.
If you don’t have a proper financial buffer for additional funding, then you’re in trouble.
Since the construction started, the independent building inspector has been the most important person to me on the project, even though I come from the construction industry myself. I noticed quite a few things on my own, but he confirmed them as well. This whole experience even led to me changing careers. My nerves just couldn’t handle it anymore.
Hausbau08154 Jan 2021 06:38I couldn’t find anything that would suggest unpopularity. But speaking of ignoring warnings, I’m definitely a candidate for that. Here in this forum, I’ve often been told I have a “negative learning curve.” I also managed to avoid advice like demolition or selling, and how mean I supposedly am to the hardworking tradespeople, so I shouldn’t be surprised about their work quality or behavior. I’m only sharing my own experiences, but it’s so extreme it’s hard to believe.
In any case, it’s easier for me to give advice than to accept it—I’m resistant to advice. Although my situation is so unique that advice wouldn’t help anyway.
In any case, it’s easier for me to give advice than to accept it—I’m resistant to advice. Although my situation is so unique that advice wouldn’t help anyway.
Wolkensieben4 Jan 2021 11:40Hausbau0815 schrieb:
I am only sharing my own experiences, but this is so extreme that it’s hard to believe. I’m really sorry to hear that. What stage of construction are you at now? Did I read correctly that you have been building since October 2018 and still don’t live there?
That’s roughly the same length of time as us, though we started about 1.5 years later.
For us, from a certain point onward, everything got better; we finished the construction with local, familiar tradespeople. The problems were before and around that phase—but are almost over now.
It’s also important to have someone to talk to; my parents patiently listened to my building issues for years.
By the way, I totally agree—I also like giving advice. But advice can also feel like criticism. If a contractor doesn’t want to cooperate and is obstructive, you can’t achieve anything by talking. I was often told that I was not their client. My surveyor was also not well received. At times like that, no tip could help, and when you’re constantly asked how this or that could happen... it wears you down. You can’t possibly know in advance what challenges you’ll face. It was an exceptional situation, not a normal one, and it doesn’t usually happen in this combination.
Hausbau08154 Jan 2021 14:49Wolkensieben schrieb:
I’m really sorry to hear that. What stage is your build at now? Did I read correctly that you’ve been building since October 2018 and still don’t live there?So, I’ve now taken the time to write a brief summary from the start of construction up until a year ago. To be continued. If you’re interested, you can read more in my new thread “Das Fleischerhaus ....”
Wolkensieben4 Jan 2021 15:24Hausbau0815 schrieb:
So, I have now taken some time to write a brief summary from the start of construction until one year ago. More to follow. If you’re interested, you can read it in my new thread "Das Fleischerhaus ...." Great, thanks, I’m very interested. Good luck that it won’t be deleted again.
Hausbau08154 Jan 2021 15:25Wolkensieben schrieb:
Great, thanks, very interesting to me. Good luck so it won’t get deleted anymore.I just have to be careful with my wording. 😀