Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: lizzie1982 on February 13, 2011, 13:33
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Hello Everyone
I have an allotment approx. 25ft x 40ft. I have put aside two areas for the shed (to be built from pallets) and a greenhouse.
Both the shed and greenhouse will be 10 x 8ft in size.
Can the bases for both be made from paving slabs? How do I fix the structures onto them? It is very windy up here in Preston, so I don't want them blowing away when the wind picks up.
For the greenhouse- I have been offered some upvc double glazed window units for £1 each and some scaffolding poles from a friend. How do I fix the windows to the poles?
For the shed- which is better for the roof- marine board and roofing felt, or plastic corrugated sheeting?
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Paving slabs would make good bases but there are other options, such as compacted Type 1 (crushed concrete / hardcore - Google it ;) ) or similar (you could hire a 'whacker' to compact it hard & provide a smooth base).
You won't be able to attach to paving slabs, but I would suggest setting an anchor post into the ground in each corner - drive it in well or set it in concrete - to bolt the shed to. These could be set in the ground through type 1, or adjacent to the edges of a slab base.
As for the roof, I would opt for marine ply & roofing felt, particularly if you're in a windy, exposed location - corrugated sheeting will be at risk of movement in strong winds & may break & lift off, as well as being potentially quite noisy. Marine ply will last years & although the felt may be at risk of tearing if not properly secured (use batons to secure it around the edges) & will require periodic replacement (maybe every 3-4 years), this is a much heavier & more sturdy option probably better suited to such locations :)
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Thank you for your reply.
My Uncle is a builder so I'm sure he'll have some unwanted hardcore I could have for free, and a whacker to use!
Marine Board and felt it is then.
Thank you for your help.
Pictures will get posted when I've started the build :)
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I'll be interested to see how you build the glasshouse.
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I built my greenhouse from cheap wood and bits of scrounged plastic. I made the frame base from treated timber anchored to metposts - once you get a horizontal frame you can bolt everything onto it.
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An update on the shed and greenhouse.
My Uncle has moved into a new house and has a shed and greenhouse in the back garden that he doesn't want, so he's given them to me!
The shed is 10x12ft so will need cutting down to fit on the allotment, and the greenhouse is 8x6ft.
Shed will be painted cornflower blue and cream stripes (Dad and Sis are buying the paint as a birthday present), and greenhouse is a ploycarbonate one in Green.
Happy Days :)
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That sounds like a great result! :D
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We will be needing pictures...
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I wonder if you could bodge the greenhouse and the shed to be connected together...interesting idea that, I'll think on. I'm not sure if it would work, but it might be handy, though keeping the shed bit secure would be a pain.
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I would have to site the shed on the left hand side of my plot, and the greenhouse on the right hand side, as there is an established plum tree in the middle.
This is also why i have to make the shed smaller.