Shed

[Dunc_n_Tricia]

The shed we inherited on our allotment last year is (only just) on its last legs.

Been looking for possible replacements, but am unsure about wood or metal as the best option. I've found models in both materials which I like, but don't know about the pros / cons of each.

Will wood rot too quickly, will metal turn into a drum when it rains?

Any advice appreciated.

Tricia

[Fingle....]

wood is treated, should be ok as long as you build a GOOD base for it and raise it up from the mud.

metal would also be like an oven in the summer !!

We have little concrete ones on ours. No windows tho  but very secure.
Will be building wooden extension tho...if only to help catch the rain for the butt

[colinandyvonne]

We saw a nice looking metal shed on our neighbours plot turn into a horrible pile of twisted metal.

Don't seem too good in strong winds  

Y.

[micklynn]

It's just gorra be wood!
Treated well it will last for years.
Raise above ground using well pretreated 3x3 or 4x4 running at right angles to the floor braces.  (I think that's what they're called, forgotten the proper word!)
Best place for advic eis a local wood store/yard and you may find that thye will build to your paln and erect your shed.  Mine is!   (Smug mode)

[Dunc_n_Tricia]

Thanks for the feedback

Tricia

[cleo]

Wood-and just a tip--when you put the padlock on fix it so the bar covers the screws. It`s not how it`s `meant` to go but what`s the point of having a padlock when some toerag can just unscrew 4 little screws?

Stephan.

[Lamplight]

Without a doubt, go for a wooden shed every time.  The metal sheds may look nice and last for a while but the biggest problem with them is condensation inside.  This is caused by varying temperatures througout the day and night.  Wood has a natural tendancy to absorb the moisture, it all helps keep everything dry and rust free ETC.

[Tall Trees]

Whilst we are on security a point to note is the most common way of entry into sheds around my area (and shed theft is very prevalent at the moment) is to take an electric screw driver undo the hinges in seconds and use the padlocked side as a hinge.

The best tip is to replace at least one screw per hinge with a bolt and nut.  Best to do this to any fixings locks, hinges, hasp and staples etc.

A bar across the window on the inside so the opening is to small should they be able to break the window.

After all this wood is by far my first choice easy to repair and fix to a base (great if you can get some railway sleepers).

Neil.

[Snake]

One of the best tips i had for shed security and by the way my tip would be wood over metal anytime, is to put superglue in the screw heads and seal them up. That way no-one can get a screwdriver into them. I also put on two lots of locks top and bottom with padlocks on each. Might just make them think twice before having a go. We are looking for a shed as well and like you the choice seems endless. Hope you get what you need.
Snake.

[Mrs Ava]

....unless you are Jethro of course who had his beautiful wooden shed burnt to the ground at the weekend  

[jethro]

Not only 1 EJ  but 3 sheds burnt, 3 polytunnels, 2 greenhouses. They broke into 1 stole all of my tools, then got the parrafin and set fire to the rest, they then smashed all the glass in the greenhouses, killed 25 hens, 30 ducks all of these had chicks. then they stole the 2 goats. The worst thing is they also took the wind turbine and the 300 watt one I was working on. Naturally no one saw or heard anything, and the police could do nothing (as usual) the plot looked like a lump of charcoal.    I have left the site for good and i'm looking at a couple of plots at the weekend on a different site. So if i get them i'll be starting from scratch as there are no sheds or greenhouses, and the committee has to agree them before you can build them, also they have to be new buildings, no self build i.e pallets or window frames.
Sorry Doris-pinks but all the seeds you sent have died off   :-/  due to the frost getting in the greenhouse. On the good side if i do take them it will be the best bl**dy allotment in the North-East.

[Doris_Pinks]

Awww Jethro, what Bar Stewards......I would be crying my eyes out  Then I would be furious. You can come and use a bit of my plottie if you want! I suppose there is no way we can insure anything on our allotments, all that hard work going up in smoke, and the yobs getting away scotch free makes my blood boil. And to kill the animals.................makes me sad when I realise we live in the same society as those sort of people, I sometimes feel there is no hope for the future  I just hope that one day they have something precious of their own that someone else destroys.)  Will see if I can find you some more seeds..........I can't remember where I put the spare ones, to give them another go when you are settled in your new spanky plot, with your new gadets!   DP X X X

[Mimi]

Jethro, what a brave garderer you are to want to start again after all that destruction.  Think that I would just throw my gloves in, and stick to my garden.  Hope that you find a nice 'safe' haven soon.

[Muddy_Boots]

Talk about adding insult to injury after all you've been thru this year Jethro

I admire your resiliance and wish you all the best of luck with new site, we'll all be rooting for u  

[Ragged Robin]

 Hell what a bummer, Jethro

Good for you for struggling on, hope you get your new plots and make them into the bestest best allotments ever; that way the little b**tards dont win!


best wishes
R

[jethro]

Your too kind the lot of you   , I will carry on cause I just love growing things and I won't let the sods grind me down. It'll take a lot more than that to hold me back   . Even if the plots are not good I'll still keep on looking, if i don't I'll just fade away and turn into a vegetable myself   . I need to keep busy or at my age you start to sieze up   .

Peter

[busy_lizzie]

Jethro, I am filled with admiration at your tenacity to keep going, a lesser person would have thrown in the towel by now.  These people are evil and I hope they get what's coming to them.  Good for you for making a clean break, as those sort of experiences leave a nasty  taste even though it must be heartbreaking after all your achievements at your old plot.  Hope you get the  plot you want and with your grit you will end up with the best plot. All the best,  busy_lizzie

[Hels_Bels]

Jethro - i can only echo what everyone else has - what a horrible thing to happen and how fab that you're not letting the b*****ds beat you!

I almost feel bad going back to the original shed question, but my dad has put up lots over the years and has some more advice. Make sure the wood is the 'flat packed' sort, i.e. not overlapping because it's less likely to rot. Also, put on a couple of good layers of anti-rot protector (can't remember the name but something like ronseal!)

Get one with a peaked rrof so that you can  make sure you put up some 2 x 4 to run a drain pipe off into for rain water too.

It should alse have additional wooden supports at the corner that you can level properly and screw down into posts so that it doesn't blow over.

Hope this helps - trying to order a basic small one through B&Q at the moment  - about £90 plus delivery- quite a bargain methinks!

Good luck

H_B