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How about an upside down shed?

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

Picture EPA

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.

Shed Week: How to power your shed or garden office?

This is a guest post from the wonderful sheddie over at Workshop Shed and he agreed to be a guest blogger after my electricity problems the other weekend.

Overview

An electrician is needed to install a Steel Wire Armoured cable in a deep trench to provide mains power in your shed.

Preparation

Determine what electrical equipment you are going to use e.g. numbers of computers, workshop equipment, lawn mowers, lights etc?

Determine where you will want lights and sockets. It is likely that the cable inside the shed will require protection such as conduit or trunking.

Do you have special requirements such a weather proof sockets outside the building or machines that can’t just be plugged into the mains?

Locate your fuse box; the electrician may have questions about it. It may need upgrading.

How far is the building from your home and how far is the fuse box from the exterior wall of the house?

Discussions with the electrician

Get hold of a competent person i.e. registered electrician who can complete domestic Part P Electrical Safety work. It is theoretically possible to do this yourself and get is signed off but the difference in cost/effort is unlikely to be worth it.

http://www.competentperson.co.uk/search.asp

The electrician may need to make changes to your fuse box to support your new cable; this could include the addition of an RCB (Residual Circuit Breaker; safety device that cuts the power in case of problems such as cut cables or damp) and an MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker; a safety device that cuts the power in case of overloads and also acts as an on/off switch)

You will need to discuss the route of the supply cable with your electrician. Factors to consider will include: trees roots, flowerbeds, vegetable plots, driveways and paths.

The electrician will work out what size cable from your usage requirements and the length of the run. The more things you need to power and the further the distance, the fatter the cables need to be.

The digging

You need to dig a trench between the house and shed. Before digging, mark out with rope and use a spade or half moon tool to cut any turf. Stack this turf somewhere safe, it can be kept up to 2 weeks without watering. The trench needs to be at least 50cm deep and just wide enough for a cable. For a short trench a drain spade should suffice, for a long trench you might want to consider renting a petrol driven trenching tool. The ease of this job will vary dependant on the type of soil as well as how many rocks and roots are present in it. The trench will be deeper under the flower beds and vegetable plots. It is quite surprising how much space you will need to keep all the soil, the looser and sandier your soil, the bigger the space you will need. Soil with lots of clay can be piled higher than sandy soil.

The electrics

The electrician will route the cabling through the house, drill any holes in the masonry, terminate the cable at each end, and connect the cable to the fuse box via the MCB. They will also fit your lights and sockets. They should provide a plastic tape to place over the cable warning people of the cable below. Most importantly the electrician will supply a certificate of work which you will need when you come to sell your house.

And finally

Replace half the soil into the trench, bash it down with a wooden post and use a hose to water the soil. Don’t overwater; you are not making a stream. Now replace the rest of the soil and repeat. Place the turf back on the trench ensuring that you don’t leave gaps between the pieces. Leave it a week before mowing the lawn. If the grass dies or you have gaps then you will need to plant grass seed.

Disclaimer

These instructions are based on my experiences in the UK earlier in 2008. If you live in a different jurisdiction or environment then these may not apply.

http://workshopshed.blogspot.com

If you would like to read more of these sort of posts when we have them, please add our RSS feed to your wossname.

How do you solve a shed problem like Ivy

My mate Chris (yes I have friends in the real word) has a shed, its normal apart from the massive ivy issue he has, which is growing up the powerline next to the shed and may cause electrical issues on the scale of mine the last weekend.

Anyway here he writes about solving the problem.

Barenaked shed

There it was - my power pole - standing there swathed in ivy -
erupting, rocket-like from the rear of my shed.

You see it was the only thing that put us off the purchase as we
looked at buying our home, almost two years ago, a low-voltage power
line ran across the southern tip of the beautiful garden.

The supporting pole sat midway between the roadside and a sleepy,
cow-filled field and was covered with ivy over two-thirds of it’s
height, which kind of made it appear as an organic extension of my
beloved shed.

We became accustomed to it - in much the same way as some people fail
to register when the 1800 from Waterloo is thundering through their
back garden, or the students next door are playing the best of Burt
Bacharach, at volume and on repeat.

But as the years passed, the ivy grew nearer and nearer to the power
lines, threatening to electrocute not only my koi carp and my
daughter, but a selection of garden gnomes which had set up camp at
it’s base - much like a gaggle of multi-coloured Swampies.

Well protest as much as they might … I love my carp, and my daughter
too, and the growing risk was just too high. It was time to call in
the power people - who in true Jack and the Beanstalk stylee reduced
the luxuriant growth to a pile of potential kindling and compost,
within two strenuous hours, utilising weaponry that would have ninja
warriors nodding and purring

It’s a strange, bare sight now, with a poodle-esque topping. I hope to
grow something new around it, pleasing the gnomes and the Mrs. But
now I think about it - I’ve always fancied a totem pole - and this one
just might be hand carved to celebrate Shed year 2008

Garden bar and Log cabin sale

B&Q (diy.com) has some offers on this week on a Garden Bar and some log cabins, not your normal sheds, but a great investment if you have the space..!



Thatched Garden Bar GTGAZSB (H)300 x (W)310 x (L)260cm
Save £511.34
Now £2787.66
Was £3299.00

Bruges Log Cabin
Save £185.84
Now £1013.16
Was £1199.00

Koula Log Cabin


Save £433.84
Now £2365.16
Was £2799.00

So you want to know the Secrets of shed building?

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

South East has more uses for sheds

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

B&Q: Up To 50% Off Now + Bestsellers

Some great deals from B&Q (diy.com)

15% OFF All Order Only Garden Buildings

Up To 50% OFF selected Garden Furniture

20% OFF 8ft Folding Trampoline & Enclosure

1/3 OFF Weber Barbecues and Accessories

50% OFF Patio Heaters

15% OFF All Order Only Fencing & Gates

15% OFF Stocked Sheds

Top Discounted B&Q Products

Wrenbury Corner Arbour Save £50.99

Save £50.99
Now £278.01
Was £329.00

Lissabon Canopy Save £75.79

Now £413.21
Was £489.00

B&Q Albany 3 Burner Stainless Steel Gas Barbecue

With Teak Trolley THG3309- Save £100.98
Now £199.00
Was £299.98

Ducane Engineered By Weber 4 Burner Gas BBQ- Save £167.49

Now £332.49
Was £499.98

Milan Patio Heater Stainless Steel 15kW Save £176.74

Now £173.24
Was £349.98

B&Q Veneto Roble Hardwood Dining Set

With 6 Reclining Chairs- Save £656.50
Now £643.48
Was £831.94 , was £1299.98

B&Q Veneto Multi Position Steamer Chair

Made From FSC Roble Hardwood- Save £151.49
Now £148.49
Was £191.98 , was £299.98

Country Lap 3 x (H)1.2m Panels, 4 x (H)1.8m Posts Save £33.94

Now £185.06
Was £219.00

Grange Featheredge Kit - 3 x (H)1.2m Panels, 4 x (H)1.8m Posts Save £38.59

Now £210.41
Was £249.00

{SummerSavings}&fh_reftheme=promo_83953901,seeall,//catalog01/en_GB/categories< {10064}/categories<{10073}/_special_offers>{SummerSavings}&fh_refview=summary&ts=1213783793398″>Arden Log Cabin Save £309.84

Now £1689.16
Was £1999.00

B&Q Folding 8ft Trampoline With Cover & Enclosure Save £41.00

Now £158.98
Was £199.98

More from B&Q

GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS ‘MAY INCREASE FLOOD RISK’

Britons spend more than £200 a year on their gardens, but some of the improvements carried out could increase the risk of their home flooding, an insurer warned today.
Homeowners have spent an average of £633 carrying out work in their gardens during the past three years, according to Direct Line.

Garden sheds are the most popular addition with 61% of people installing one, while 58% of people have added a patio and 51% have added outdoor seating.
Nearly a third of people have had a summer house built, 26% have added a water feature and 17% have taken the more drastic action of concreting over their front garden to create a drive.

But Direct Line warned that some of these improvements could be increasing the flood risk faced by properties.

In his interim report on last summer’s floods Sir Michael Pitt said laying impermeable surfaces, such as paved driveways and patios, could increase the amount of surface water run-off after rain, leading to flooding.

The Government is planning to introduce legislation later this year requiring homeowners to get planning permission if they want to lay impermeable surfaces.
Frances Browning, spokesperson for Direct Line, said: “Homeowners should be fully aware of the potential implications of their garden improvements and choose their development materials carefully.

“There are plenty of permeable paving materials now available which absorb water and so will not require planning permission once the Government changes the law.”
:: Opinium Research questioned 2,139 people during March.

Not just pottering in your shed

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?

Shed construction timelapse

Sheddie/flicker whatsthatpicture
has been documenting his old shed destruction and the Phoenix from the frames shed after taking a week off work.

Screw Fix Summer Sale Top 10 deals

Those handy blighers over at screwfix have just started their Summer sale.



and here’s their top 10 deals at the moment

Save up to 10% off Forest Wooden Outdoor BuildingsDewalt 18V Drill Driver - Save £40

Titan 3.6V Li-Ion Screwdriver - Save 10%

Start and End Date of Promotion: 04.06.08-14.07.08

25% off Selected Rigid Kitchens

8 Items Minimum per order. Offer not included on Linea Maple and Linea Beech versions.

1100×600 Curved Chrome Towel Radiator - Save £50

Save 25% on Oven and Hob Packs

Available in both Gas and Electric

20% off Selected Conex Cuprofit Copper Push Fit Fittings

Save 15% on Volex Weatherproof Range

Rawlplug Uno Wallplug Assorted Bucket - Half Price

Wolfcraft Clamping Table - Save 23%

Lady Salvager

Saw this on Boing Boing and it reminds me of readersheds old mate Rico Daniels and his salvaging antics.

salvage chair

I am an a self -taught artist and I build furniture out of salvage. I have never entered a contest before, but think this’ll be loads of fun!
The first picture is of two chairs that were all wonky and shaky. I cut them apart and used them for the ends of a bench. The back of the bench is made from parts of a decrapitated head board. This whole project (except for the 2X4 frame underneath) is from curbside salvage.

Anyway it’s posted on a great craft forum.

Rico if you are reading this, how’s things going in France!