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Shed question

By 033   Follow   Tue, 6 Dec 2011, 12:22am   1,173 views   10 comments
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I have a backyard shed built custom on its own slab. It has no electricity/plumbing to it. Moisture has eaten away a corner of the exterior boards, exposing the insulation. Pest damage is probable.
I would like to fix the shed for the next five years or so, so that it acts as a waterproof shed. Down the road, I might run services to it and make it a studio or something.
Anyone have experience with either?

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1. TPB Follow Befriend (1) 65 threads 1,209 comments

   1   12:44pm Tue 6 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (1)   I have a shed that was build with lath and plaster in the back yard. Some of the wood on the corners rotted, and have exposed a few holes. I planted creeping fig, in hopes it will engulf the shed and build a bio structure.

2. woggs1 Follow Befriend 10 threads 81 comments San Bruno, CA

   2   1:11pm Tue 6 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Perhaps a DIY forum or Youtube video would be more beneficial for this question. Try this: http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+fix+a+shed

3. everything Follow Befriend (2) 3 threads 549 comments Madison, WI

   3   2:58pm Tue 6 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Take a good long look at the shed and decide if it's worth keeping. Also check the structure, usually you can salvage the skeleton and rebuild the rest. You've already got the slab, that is good. Fix the rotting parts, repaint it, seal it, etc. Go cheap, go expensive, it's your choice. Consider using reclaimed wood from your local habitat for humanity. Same for roof tile, did you know that mixed roof tile looks kind of cool? Go to to a builders or doit yourself type of forum, etc. For roof, do you like the sound of rain hitting metal?, or rain running through a gutter into a water reclamation tub or barrel. The sky is the limit with these backyard sheds, just make sure your local town/city knows whats your doing or some neighbor might complain, etc.

4. mdovell Follow Befriend (4) 28 threads 776 comments

   4   4:47pm Tue 6 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (1)   How close are you to the ocean? The reason why I ask is because salt air can corrode. If you want to make it for livable space I'd recommend cedar over pressure treated wood. Mostly because the old ACQ stuff had material that was found to be I think cancerous. Granted they changed it but some get apprehensive with it. For metals personally I don't like galvanized...stainless holds up better and doesn't get the hands that much dirty..it also can look a bit better but you are looking at nearly 10/lbs.

5. rdm Follow Befriend 4 threads 239 comments

   5   5:06pm Tue 6 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Not sure what your question is. Yes I have experience in that I am a licensed general contractor (semi retired and not looking for work at the moment) and last year built a fancy shed in Marin county (CA). In Sonoma and Marin you can build a detached shed of less then 120 sq ft without a permit, which this was though it was illegal in the sense that it did not have proper set backs from the neighbors property. I would determine what you want to do and get a contractor to give you a price. Repair work, depending on the extent of damage, is something you maybe can do yourself, running an electrical service and or plumbing probably not. When you say lath and plaster I assume you mean it has a stucco exterior and that is something you can't do your self unless you don't care what it looks like. It could be termite damage or it could be water damage or both.

6. ladilla Follow Befriend 5 comments

   6   6:41pm Tue 6 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (1)   Does the shed have a stem wall or are the walls sitting on the same level as the slab? Technically, any wood surface should be like 6 inches off the ground. So, since it doesn't have electric or plumbing i would actually lift the whole shed off the slab and put some blocks underneath. We moved our shed by hand with a car jack and round pvc pipes to roll it on and 2x4's for levers... Lath and stucco is heavier, but if you plan to use it for a studio, you need to get it off the slab and onto some sort of curb.... As long as you repair the rot and restucco and paint you should be waterproof.

7. zzyzzx Follow Befriend (9) 414 threads 4,133 comments Baltimore, MD

   7   12:15pm Wed 7 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I would need to know exactly how damaged it is and probably pics. For all I know it's mostly cosmetic.

8. REIT Follow Befriend 2 comments REIT's website

   8   7:44pm Wed 7 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Are you planning on doing the project yourself or having help?

9. Vicente Follow Befriend (8) 204 threads 4,411 comments Davis, CA

   9   9:23pm Wed 7 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Is this a deliberate attempt to evoke Parkinson's_Law_of_Triviality

10. Austinhousingbubble Follow Befriend 7 threads 677 comments

    10   11:16pm Wed 7 Dec 2011   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (1)   Vicente says “Eagles are dandified vultures” - Teddy Roosevelt Get it right, Ted -- Eagles: raptorial; Vultures: scavengers. duh.