Building a Block / Wood Shed From Scratch

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Hi;

I posted a couple of questions here but had no replies but I guess I was a bit vague :)
I am re-building an existing part block / wood shed and need some advice.

The existing shed is approx (W x D x H) 2m x 2m x 1.5m and I will be extending and raising it to 2m x 3m x 2m. It uses an existing garden wall to its rear and on one side has another block wall also up to the existing roof.

The new shed will have a concrete floor and 1/3 to 1/2 height block walls on three sides (the fourth side is an existing block garden wall about 2.3m high). On top of the block base I will construct a timber frame onto which I was going to affix wood slats (either shiplap or overlap).
For the roof I was planning on affixing a timber beam onto the rear wall (The garden block wall), just under the top layer of blocks, this batten will form the support for the roof joists which will be partially slotted into it.

The roof will be inclined from the garden rear wall to the front of the shed and made of 1/2 inch ply covered with roofing felt, wrapped around the edges. For waterproofing the end affixed to the garden wall I was going to lay some flashing into the join under the top layer of blocks and over the top of the felt.

Any comments on my plan would be appreciated
Questions:

1. The existing floor is earth, I will dig this out and lay some hardcore and then concrete - how deep should the hardcore be and how deep should the concrete be for a shed of this size?

2. As two of the walls are already in should I dig footings for the other two, build the walls and then lay the floor, or lay a floor to also form the footings for the other two walls?

3. If I have to dig footings for the new walls how deep?

4. For the flashings will 1 x block above the flashing be OK? I cant' really raise the wall.

3. For roof joist that will be 2m long (The depth of the shed) what size wood should I use, I want to be able to walk on it safely.

4. For the roof is 1/2 ply OK (for walking on)?

5. What size wood should I use for the timber frame?

Thanks for reading and if you are able to answer the questions or comment on the above I'd appreciate your input.
 
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HI;

Can anyone offer any advice on this?
One change to the above, I don't need to walk on the roof!
 
1. The existing floor is earth, I will dig this out and lay some hardcore and then concrete - how deep should the hardcore be and how deep should the concrete be for a shed of this size?
150mm hardcore and 100mm concrete is standard. A shed of that size isn't going to have much heavy activity.

2. As two of the walls are already in should I dig footings for the other two, build the walls and then lay the floor, or lay a floor to also form the footings for the other two walls?
Separate footings, then the floor.

3. If I have to dig footings for the new walls how deep?
Depends on ground conditions. How have the other existing walls fared? Can you replicate the footings if there's been no problem?

4. For the flashings will 1 x block above the flashing be OK? I cant' really raise the wall.
http://www.fixmyroof.co.uk/install-roof-flashings/
You don't need to use lead, you can use other products such as Ubiflex.
BTW, rake out the mortar for the flashing before fitting the roof.

3. For roof joist that will be 2m long (The depth of the shed) what size wood should I use, I want to be able to walk on it safely.
100mm X 50mm

4. For the roof is 1/2 ply OK (for walking on)?
The rafter spacing is more important. The ½" ply will be fine for a rafter spacing of 300mm. For a rafter spacing of 400 - 450mm you might be better going to 15mm or 18mm. OSB would also be OK and is cheaper. Although I notice the walking bit no longer applies. So ½" ply would be OK for 400 - 450mm spaced rafters.

5. What size wood should I use for the timber frame?
75mm X 50mm or 100mm X 50mm
 
Last edited:
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Sorry I never got around to thanking you for your advice and I never managed to get the shed done this year. Plan was to finish my car restoration, build the shed, move all of my 'dirty' tooling into the shed (Metal Working / Woodworking / Welding etc) then refurbish the garage into a clean workshop for electronics and robotics projects. The restoration took much longer (as they always do) and the car (a classic Mini) passed its MOT in November :)

Many thanks for the response just off to buy some bits now :)
 

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