ups and downs of downsizing 3rd summer!!

[jocelyn plummer]

Well,here we are, into our third summer of North Norfolk life! I think we have completely got the hang of the North Norfolk way and are resigned to the long waits and somewhat indeterminate standards of workmanship. Five out of 8 artex ceilings are now smooth and painted, the bath room is updated and ready for redecorating already! I daily grumble at the installation as the Plumber did not listen to what I wanted so the bath is all the wrong way round--but at least it is a lovely room! The kitchen is clean bright and cheerful but I realise that the huge larder cupboard I put in when we first moved is simply not man enough for the job and the builder made an atrocious job of tiling the wall behind the Aga City 60. The first Aga I had was faulty but the replacement, free of charge, is working a treat . Finally the downstairs loo is updated with new sanitary ware and floor covering, but no door as the Builder forgot to order it --well he blamed Jewsons---- mmmm--! The garden is fantastic I am really pleased with how that has come on, with the help of my Son we have demolished a horrid old shed, cleared away all the old overgrown shrubs, built 2 trellis pillars, and planted some mature trees and shrubs on one side and in the middle, the other side awaits bare root pleached trees and lavender to go amongst the box edging, in the Autumn.

Anyway, bearing in mind the painfully slow progress caused by the builders, I need to turn our little garden shed into a sort of boot room to last for a couple of years whilst I sort out the Conservatory. It's just a standard wooden shed on a solid concrete base --and I need to insulate it sufficiently well to keep boots, barbour macs, and fleeces etc warm and dry through the winter--beating gear too,--how do I do that?

So many goods and bads but my biggest gripe of all is the BUilder who cannot be bothered to get back to me with quotes, or does get back with a quote and then disappears off the face of the earth-- I have found a couple of good guys now and they give me a date and stick to it, but I am not entirely happy with their work - as they tend to do it their way --the easy way !!!!!

 

[paulc]

Anyway, bearing in mind the painfully slow progress caused by the builders, I need to turn our little garden shed into a sort of boot room to last for a couple of years whilst I sort out the Conservatory. It's just a standard wooden shed on a solid concrete base --and I need to insulate it sufficiently well to keep boots, barbour macs, and fleeces etc warm and dry through the winter--beating gear too,--how do I do that?

In descending order of cost and efficiency:

Fit Celotex/Kingspan PIR sheets between the stud work - If you can get 75mm in, it should keep the shed fairly warm with minimal heating.

XPS/EPS (polystyrene) sheet to 75mm will be slightly cheaper and not quite as efficient as the above.

Rockwool/fibreglass batts will need twice the thickness of PIR foam for the same insulating effect.

Once insulation is in place, tack some sheets of hardboard up and give it a quick coat of emulsion.

The concrete bas will be a problem though - Without any insulation, it will suck the heat out of the shed and be a constant source of damp. So a DPM with a good thick layer of insulation would be needed, and then topped off with a suitable floor.

 

[Flyfisher]

It's just a standard wooden shed on a solid concrete base --and I need to insulate it sufficiently well to keep boots, barbour macs, and fleeces etc warm and dry through the winter--beating gear too,--how do I do that?

Bear in mind that no amount of insulation alone will keep the shed warm and dry, you'll need a source of heat for that - especially when filling it with damp or soaking wet outdoor clothing after a winter's day out.

 

[Keith Bowman]

Is there an electricity supply to the shed? If so, a de-hunidifier will keep it both warm and dry once the walls/roof are insulated.

 

[Keith Bowman]

Whoops.....or even a dehumidifier - keeps the damp at bay as well as the Huns.

 

[88v8]

Very good point. And hanging wet clobber in the shed will do no good at all.
We hang our wet coats under the house eaves by the front door to dry. Could you extend the shed roof a couple of feet to provide an overhang?

Builders.... our builder came round in December, was going to come back and 'measure up', now he's talking vaguely about August. DIY is no longer an option for heavy stuff. Frustrating.

Ivor

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Thank you everyone-- we are looking into celotex, and also getting an electric supply down there for a tiny little de humidifier or heater. meant to say that the wooden floor is actually on batons on top of the concrete, so that's a start!! Hopefully I can sort something before the shooting season starts!!

We looked around next door today,identical to ours but it's in its completely original 1988 state-- tangerine bath room suite !! Lovely !! It's a second home and the owners are going to update it shortly,.

 

[88v8]

Maybe you could buy their period bathroom suite and put it in your shed for use during the summer.

Ivor

 

[jocelyn plummer]

You know what Ivor, that would be a brilliant idea then I could turn the current loo into the bootroom!!!!!