DIY Builds
DIY Builds
Photo: cottonbro studio
Wood in direct contact with concrete, and the dampness often found there, will rapidly decay. To avoid this, use pressure-treated lumber. This is wood impregnated with decay-resisting chemicals, usually chromated copper arsenates. Pressure-treated lumber comes in standard lumber sizes and is available at lumberyards.
PLANNING PERMISSION REGULATIONS In general, planning permission is not required if the extension does not increase the original floor area of the...
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Sheds that are going to be frequently used will be best placed near to the home, whereas if you are going to be storing heavy duty items such as a...
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Apart from pressure-treated lumber, wood treated entirely with brush-on preservative and untreated kiln-dried Douglas fir are acceptable in dry indoor situations, such as basement floors where dampness is minimal. Coating the area beneath any lumber with asphalt roofing cement will also forestall decay. For fastening wood to concrete, several types of fasteners are available. The strongest are metal expansion shields used with lag bolts. Expansion shields are two-part sleeves, split in half lengthwise. To install them, a hole equal to the diameter of the shield is drilled in the concrete and the shield is inserted. When the end of a bolt is threaded into the shield (after being passed through the board being fastened), the halves of the shield expand outward, anchoring the sleeve (and bolt inside) tightly against the walls of the hole. Expansion shields come in two categories, short and long, and within each are a range of lengths whose sizes vary according to the diameters of the bolts they accommodate. For use in concrete, short expansion shields one to one and three-quarter inches long are appropriate. To anchor a board such as a two-by-four to be used as part of a partition wall frame, use quarter-inch- or three-eighths-inch-diameter lag bolts, two and a half inches long. Buy a flat metal washer approximately twice the diameter of the bolt head to accompany each bolt. The washers distribute pressure and prevent damage to the wood beneath the bolt head. To install the shields, begin by drilling holes through the board for the bolts. Unless substantial sideways stress will be a factor (not the case in an ordinary partition wall), bolts placed at three-foot intervals, including a bolt within 12 inches of each end, are sufficient. Drill the holes through the board with a bit slightly larger than the bolt's diameter. If you decide to recess the bolt heads, drill a larger hole, centered over the first, to a depth of a quarter inch. This hole must be large enough in diameter to accept the washer.
Powering a shed can be quite costly, especially if it is done by a licensed electrician. However, if you take on the task, it is important you look...
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You do not usually need to obtain permission to plant a hedge in your garden if it is solely within your property's boundary. However, you do need...
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These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.
Learn More »For the equivalent square footage, concrete block homes tend to be more expensive to build. Material prices can fluctuate wildly, so it's a good idea to get quotes close to the time of your construction project.
Wood framing is often more common, however concrete block construction provides big advantages that make it a worthy contender. Some of the biggest advantages of concrete block construction are:
Silicone roof coatings are the preferred choice when it comes to UV protection and resistance to ponding water. They erode much slower than other...
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The cheapest way to build a shed is by doing it yourself. Hiring someone adds labor costs plus materials, and pre-fabricated sheds are marked up...
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These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.
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So boiling water will heat the room more slowly than simply turning on the gas stove. That said, there is a way in which boiling water might feel...
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Your neighbour doesn't have to change a wall or fence just because you want them to, for example making it higher for privacy. You can't make...
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