Those shed friendly lot over at b3ta are looking for the following on their newsletter for next week.

* BUILD A GARDEN SHED WITH LEGO - and live in
it for a week. Complete with lego bog.

not sure how many lego bricks it would take to build a full size sheds, but if any one does this it will be in with a good chance of winning Shed of the year 2009

Image by astronut1

Please note you may be offended if you view their newsletter.

Shed of the year has been announced. Welcome Sheddie, this blog is about sheds! You can share your shed, or view other people's sheds. If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed.

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsCan+you+build+a+garden+shed+from+lego2008-11-14+13%3A41%3A33Wilco

The metro reports.

It must be every gaming fanatic’s dream – a private arcade where you can step straight into the cockpit of a Star Wars X-Wing fighter.

But for gamer Shaun Meldon, it’s no dream. The 39-year-old has created his own video game sanctuary with more than 50 classic arcade games.

The converted barn houses original versions of Breakout, a 1978 bat-and-ball game, its successor Pong and, of course, the mock-up X-Wing – and they are all stuck on freeplay.

‘I suppose it really is a hobby that has got out of control but these machines need saving – they are part of our heritage,’ he said. The fanatic started playing in arcades as a child and bought his first ‘cabinet’ in 1995.

‘It was called Robotron and basically it was an old-fashioned shoot-em-up game.

‘My other half, Dawn, was not too happy about it because at the time we were living in a one-bedroom flat,’ he said.

I would love an xbox360 in my shed, but mrs uncle wilco would prefer a new sofa

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsSheddie+creates+arcade+in+his+own+barn2008-11-13+12%3A08%3A14Wilco

Saw this on flickr and thought I would post it, wonderful work from mattolecraftsman

Here are a selection of the photos

Restoration project. Hoping to salvage as much of the wood as possible. Lots of rot.

Bought new material, frame is up and ready for siding.

Electrical is reinstalled, skirt is on, siding is half way.

Siding is on and ready for trim, a rubber roof, a door and a window with art glass.

10-3 Window needs glass and door needs to be built. Shell is finished.

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsWonderful+Restoration+project+-+pump+house+shed2008-10-06+06%3A43%3A41Wilco

Talking about backyard projects John sent me this great link, its a Ballista For Sale

An expertly created Roman siege catapult – the only one of its kind.

Yes, this is for real. We are selling a full-size Roman siege catapult (or ballista), which we believe to be the only one of its kind (for at least 2000 years).

The catapult was recreated by a team of experts, following all known records, as accurately as possible – and then successfully fired. It was created for the BBC, for a programme called Building the Impossible, in 2002. It was built by the timber-frame team at Carpenter Oak & Woodland.

The ballista weighs approx 12 tons so postage or even buyer collection is not an option. Fully built, it is approx 7.5 metres tall and 8.5 metres long.

You can find more about how it was built on the Carpenter Oak & Woodland website

Anyway you have 9 days to bid for it but it starts at £25,000.00, so get bidding.

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsFull+size+replica+Roman+seige+catapult+for+Sale2008-09-30+18%3A05%3A22Wilco

Well according to Alex who reads things, the planning permission wossname is changing from October the 1st, so there is a good chance you don’t need it.

UPDATE: Alex has posted about how it may be worse for sheddies, it very easy for me to get confused, so hopefully, we can get a clear wossname on this

“Rules governing outbuildings apply to sheds, greenhouses and garages as well as other ancillary garden buildings… and many other kinds of structure for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse. From 1 October 2008 outbuildings will be considered to be permitted development, not needing planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

* No outbuilding forward of the principal elevation fronting a highway.
* Outbuildings and garages to be single storey with maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of four metres with a dual pitched roof or three metres for any other roof.
* Maximum height 2.5 metres within two metres of a boundary.
* No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
* More than half the area of land around the “original house”* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
* In National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites the maximum area to be covered by buildings, enclosures, containers and pools more than 20 metres from house to be limited to 10 square metres.
* On designated land buildings, enclosures, containers and pools at the side of properties will require planning permission.
* Within the curtilage of listed buildings any outbuilding will require planning permission.

Read more at the Planning Portal.

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I assume the weather the last week has been terrible where you are (if you are a UK sheddie) and hope you have not been flooded.

It has been very heavy here at the Shed HQ, nestled in the welsh valleys, thankfully we are on a hill.

But the sheds(Shed HQ,Mr’s UW Shed) are leaking :(, with old greeny the worse for wear.

I will have to get out sometime and re-felt the roof, but as you know from my past experience with anything hands on, it will be a long and thumb hitting task.

So my sheddies what tips do you have for me and the rest of the readers

Whats the best way

1) To Stop the rain getting in
2) Repair any leaks and stop it leaking again what to use?
3) anything else you can think of.

any help appreciated.

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsWhat+are+you+doing+to+protect+your+shed+from+the+weather2008-09-07+14%3A53%3A40Wilco

Not it’s not something from the Austrilian sheddies (groan), a Polish builder in germany has built this house.

Picture EPA

According to the Sun.

The Pole is building an upside-down house in Trassenheideon on the island of Usedom, Germany.

A company from Poland want to complete the family house by the end of August.

All furniture is to be installed upside-down and the house will be used for exhibition.

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsHow+about+an+upside+down+shed%3F2008-08-05+07%3A32%3A31Wilco

I get a lot of people emailing me asking questions about how to build a shed, so lets clear one thing up

Iam a shed fancier and the wossname of readersheds.co.uk I don’t have any DIY skills, knowledge or aptitude for building, I wish I did, but I love the idea of sheds, the finished product and the lifestyle that a great shed brings, and of course I love all your sheds! but I do know a man who knows of the Secrets of shed building, he goes by the name of John Coupe, he’s a Civil engineer with 20 years behind him but the aim of his great website is as follows.

Getting advice from a Professional Engineer can be an expensive proposition and really is not economic for a building the size of a shed! I hope that this site helps you with some of the more commonly asked questions on shed building

If you have any shed questions you can post them in the forum and I can pass them onto John

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsSo+you+want+to+know+the+Secrets+of+shed+building%3F2008-06-22+19%3A29%3A39Wilco

We know that there are a lot of wacky sheds around the country but Marley Waterproofing has conducted this survey and got these facts about Sheds in the South East of England..

Image from MarkyBon

A new YouGov poll has revealed that people in the South East are more innovative than people from any other region when it comes to using their garden sheds. Rather than just storing garden equipment, 9% of people from the South East said they would convert their sheds into mini gyms, one in twelve (9%) would use theirs as a creative area for hobbies, while other popular answers included space for practicing music (4%). One in twenty would use it as a private space to escape for a while (7%) and 30% would use it as storage of non garden items.

The poll also found that despite people in the South East utilising their shed space for their hobbies or simply using it to store garden equipment, repairing the shed was not considered a priority. Excuses included not having enough time (40 %), unsure how to repair it (18 %) and simply can’t be bothered (19 %).

But does this research indicate that shed maintenance is really a low priority or that it is viewed as a job too difficult for the amateur DIY enthusiast to attempt? Charles Farmer, Retail Director at Marley Waterproofing says; “It’s surprising really, considering how security conscious we are as a nation and the lengths we go to protect our personal belongings. You wouldn’t leave a lap top in a damp, leaky and unsecured shed, so why leave expensive garden equipment in the same conditions.

“The findings suggest that a proportion of people in the South East were unsure how to go about repairing their sheds. This kind of research helps us to develop products that fit the needs of amateur DIY-ers. Our range of waterproofing products are easy to select and even include simple step-by-step instructions to make almost any DIY roofing project simple and straight forward.”

For further information about Marley Waterproofing retail range, please visit its dedicated website: www.waterproofingdiy.com

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsSouth+East+has+more+uses+for+sheds2008-06-20+13%3A27%3A10Wilco

Alex did a post about it’s not just writers who do shedworking, and he points to the excellent wokshopblog, who covers such joys as casting metal in your shed (note it’s not in your shed it’s outside your shed due to H&S issues but worth a read anyway)!

Of course a shed has always been a place to make things in, be it wobbly shelfs or useful things, and we have some great workshops on readersheds.

Two things I would like

1) the ability to be Cack-handed when it comes to DIY and creating stuff
2) A good set of tools

Well Number 1 have no hope, but the second one you are spoilt for choice if you have the wonga, in fact you can buy them via the shedshop if you want

but being a user of Aldi and sometimes Lidl for ages, they seem to provide now and again some great tools at very competitive prices. like this

Detail Sander for £9.99

or


1500W Circular Saw with Laser for £21.99

have any sheddies had an experience with tools from your friendly German retailers?

Filed under: Diy by Wilco - CommentsNot+just+pottering+in+your+shed2008-06-12+10%3A11%3A51Wilco