The allotment shed, a modest 6'x4' affair is too small. With all the tools and pelleted manure, bags of compost, not to mention the carefully accumulated layers of dried mud, there isn't room enough to open out a deckchair and enjoy the sound of pattering rain.
Clearly a bigger shed is additionally required. Not, you'll note; a replacement, just another one, but bigger.
I've never made a building from scratch before so after filling in the pond that lay behind the existing small shed I resolved to build one myself. Once we'd saved all the frogs and figured out a way of emptying the pond. My first attempt at the latter using a hosepipe and siphon led to lots of foul tasting water and the realisation that my allotment sloped gently uphill away from the pond. Whilst my small assistant bucketed frogs and frogspawn to a nearby allotment pond (frogs eat slugs, frogs are a 'good thing') my next experiment was to punch a hole in a bucket and push the hosepipe through the bottom to make a crude funnel. Having found a replacement bucket I could empty the pond by tipping the water into the funnel whilst it was suspended high in the air. This worked pretty well and soon I dragged the pond liner out and the waters settled and we in-filled with the spoil heap from the original pond digging (another project, another time). The result is a bit swampy but I'm sure it will soon dry out and it has the added advantage of making the Metposts easy to pound into the ground.
Dimly remembered building science classes helped me with the various details like remembering to flash all rain joints (I was a trainee building surveyor for the first attempt at a career) and with the help of some Metpost anchors and fence posts I was off. 10'x8' seemed about right for vegetable storage and tools.
Now the six supporting timbers are in the ground, all carefully levelled up there comes a fortunate turn of events ; my dad has replaced his conservatory and did I want some sheets of polycarbonate roofing ?
Well now; a shed with a poly roof - who wouldn't ! All delivered on site I reckon I've got enough to cover the roof space and probably some spare for windows. All that lit roof is going to make the place hot in the summer so I've got to think of storing the veg in the 'old' shed with the tools and perhaps growing some greenhouse stuff in the 'new' shed. I've always fancied a crack at some chillies and perhaps citrus fruits.
The plans are made and the shopping list is done; I reckon I have about three weekends work on it, with some help (the smaller Hamlyn is particularly interested in the nailing part of the construction although his hammering skills probably need honing).
Observant readers will notice the presence of a sofa. We can all dream...
Shed Update : The roof was on, and the cladding was done. I'd put one wall in polycarbonate and the sloping roof in poly too. It looked smashing until it rained and the poly - although relatively stiff, bowed slightly over the 8foot span of the roof and water poured in.
I tried sealant but most things just wouldn't make a water tight seal against the plastic, so I reverted to a hardboard and bitumen sheet roof, which although makes it darker, makes it drier.
I notice that Maplin sell a solar powered shed light. Only £25. Well now, who wouldn't want one of those..
Beginning with a few posts in the ground
Now with T&G and polycarbonate cladding.
A home from home - until the roof leaked.