Shed Vents

[John Smith Esq.]

Hi all,

My new timber shed is in place. It is the usual cheaper end, storage shed with a felt roof. It is a pent roof as well. I want to ensure there is ventilation and air flow through it to prevent damp and mould. I was thinking to drill some 70mm holes holes and stick those plastic louvres in with the grills. I only want to put 2 - 4 in though. Where would be best to place them for best effect? I'm thinking two high up on the tallest parts of the side walls opposite one another. So air flow through and perhaps more humid air rising up... but should I also put a couple low down towards opposite corners - other side of the shed so so all corners are covered and there's low-high draw through?

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I doubt it's sealed. Aren't there gaps between the planks? If so don't worry about it.

Fine vents will clog with cobwebs and muck. Nobody remembers to clean them.

Coarse vents will allow insects to wander in and use the place as their winter stopover.

 

[^woody^]

You don't need to vent a timber shed structure.

Vents do not prevent damp or mould, but are means to reduce the risk of it occurring. And if you did a risk analysis of a timber shed, the risk would be so low that it could not be mitigated.

 

[John Smith Esq.]

Thank you for the comments, chaps.

I agree that, in principle, a timber shed shouldn't need it because of gaps and such. However, there are not many gaps at all in this one, which is a tongue and groove structure. People do get mould inside timber sheds. I've been finding it inside my sectional concrete garage and that has plenty of ventilation gaps in it - far more than this shed, and it has DPM in the concrete base.

Let's not forget that a significant element is what we store in these spaces. I will be keeping fire wood in there for a start, which, though kiln dried, still contains some moisture. Supposing I mow the grass and do other stuff in the garden using tools and it starts raining. I put all the stuff in there wet. Where does the moisture go? So for me, some extra ventilation is a must.

I will clean the vents with Henry hoover on a periodic basis

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Tongue and groove is a pretty good seal. Although perhaps wait a year, the boards may shrink and warp to give lots of gaps.

I'd put vents high up, to minimise the amount of grot that would block them. It would be better for air circulation if they were lower, but they'd soon block. They could also tempt mice and rats with nice smells who'll then chew their way in. With a vent at each end high up you should still get enough circulation to keep the whole place reasonably dry.