Windy Smithy

[Nemesis]

I am thinking of a garden shed, and it needs some sort of heating (Machine Mart pot bellied maybe...)

Anyhow, came across this site - lovely stuff, tools, metalwork and interesting stoves:

http://www.windysmithy.co.uk/index.htm

It will also need a roof, wiggly tin maybe...

 

[Moo]

What a lovely site.

Aren't you tempted by their shepherds' huts? Clad in corrugated iron!!!!

 

[Craig]

Wonder if they can do wrought iron work (rather than "wrought" mild steel) - need a new external staircase.

 

[Nemesis]

I seem to recall delving into this a while ago and finding only one manufacturer left in the UK who works with genuine wrought iron. But you can ask...

Those shepherd's huts are lovely, but I have a bothy which (when I get round to it) will be a similar sort of thing - it's above the gig house. Wooden ceiling, lime plaster walls. Currently used as a junk room. The more space you have etc etc...

What I need is a large potting shed. The existing stone outbuilding which would be ideal is used as a fuel store, unfortunately. I haven't a vast amount to spend. Too many other things to do. Initial thinking is to lay a sturdy frame base attached to the ground with metal fence post thingys, and buy a couple of cheap wooden sheds - Wilkinsons at two hundred quid each - and put them together (using stainless screws and some re-inforcing timber where required). That will give me a building 16' x 6'.

I will paint/stain it black - and line internally (OSB board maybe?). Small stove (I have no doubt the pipework etc will cost vastly more than the stove) with the pipe leading out the back wall (with appropriate fireproofing). Machine Mart potbelly looks OK - the smallest model. It isn't required to be on for long periods and I can burn wood trimmings, of which we have plenty. The Windy Smithy ones are lovely though...

Roofing needs not to be as standard, and it needs an overhang and some guttering to a water butt. At the door end will overhang even more with extended roofing and uprights to make a small porch. Some decent bargeboards and couple of finials maybe.

I would love corrugated 'iron' (galvanised steel) but it may be too heavy, corrugated aluminiun (I think the new visitor centre at Anglesey Abbey is roofed in it) I suspect in the short term too expensive (I will delve further) so for a temporary cover maybe black corrugated coroline - which is supposed to be quite eco-friendly - laid on top of the original mineral felted shed roofs.

http://www.jsnoeibv.com/uk/profile_sheets.html?gclid=CLX3paWj2pICFRkR1Aodlj1h_w

That's the plan, but how soon it will happen I do not know...

 

[Craig]

Hi - it might be worth just building it from scratch if you know what you want? The design and materials are all pretty basic - its just a question of time! (Isnt it always).

There are some handy books about building a shed - if you want it waterproof and with some basic amenities, I recommend this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Workshop-Construction-Practice-Jim-Forrest/dp/185486131X/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208167076&sr=1-24

A laithe to keep your lathe in...

 

[Nemesis]

No, too many other things to do - if it doesn't come flat pack it won't get erected! I need it this year really.

We have plans to build a permanent large building as a store/garage/workshop but I need a garden shed NOW(ish!).

Ta though.

Trying to find prices for various corrugated sheets online is proving beyond me... apart from coruline/onduline (which is a tougher version).

 

[Nemesis]

Here's the Anglesey Abbey visitor centre - my shed won't be quite on this scale...

http://haymills-website.co.uk/projectdetails.php?id=145&PHPSESSID=6e064e84955494849a78234847e143cd

 

[Craig]

Yes, only needs to be half this big, I guess?

 

[Nemesis]

I wonder if they have a few roofing sheets left over?

The garden centre, bizarrely, stocks pots from Hexham, the tiny but lovely pottery.

http://www.thepottingshed.co.uk/

Seems odd though, would have thought that there would have been local potteries.

Anglesey Abbey is interesting place - the house is OK, the gardens fine, the new visitor centre impressive, but the Lode Mill is wonderful.

(NT)

 

[Nemesis]

Maybe I had better have a look at Homebase:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/09/nshed09.xml

 

[Penners]

Here's the Anglesey Abbey visitor centre

Blimey - that wasn't there the last time I went.

 

[Nemesis]

New and rather nice - food...........

 

[Gareth Hughes]

New and rather nice - food...........

Does that mean they've demolished the old visitor centre? the one I did the lovely extensions for?

 

[Penners]

I'm sure it will have been presented to some museum or other, Gareth, as an exemplar...

:roll:

 

[Anita]

These are unusual but lovely stoves too - although handbuilt and rather pricier than a standard pot-belly. http://www.dowlingstoves.com/the_firebug.htm

 

[Jane Smith]

I thought that you were calling for me, Evelyn.

Never mind, I'm glad I came. Lovely site!

 

[Nemesis]

Now would I discuss your - er - little problem so openly?

Yes it is - some great links to other sites too!

 

[Penners]

Never mind, I'm glad I came.

And about time too. What's your excuse? And don't give me that old "missed the last bus" routine.

 

[Jane Smith]

You and your mind-in-the-gutter. No wonder Penners is as he is.

I have not one but TWO stupendous excuses.

1) We've had no phone line for over a month, as weasels had chewed up the underground cable and BT could not quite cope with that.

2) We've been busy visiting people who live in the back of beyond and make rather lovely oak windows, as we really need to replace some of our aluminiun-framed double glazing (everyone should have them, and everyone should also visit the man who makes them as visitors get served real coffee and gorgeous scones).

There. Two excuses. Am I forgiven?

 

[chuckey]

Try your local scrap yards, I bought some "reclaimed" - slightly damaged and pre-painted in part(?) ali roof sheets for £10 some 25 years ago for an out house, still watertight 25 years later.
if you are considering heating this shed I woulld recommend that you stuff the gap between the internal cladding and the outside stuff with glass fibre, likewise the roof.
Because of muck and water being splashed up it is a good idea to stand the shed on 9" high building blocks, else it will rot around the bottom edge.
Frank