revtothelimit - motorbike forum

I've got a brick-built outdoor... thing.. that I use as a shed. It's about 10x4', and very useful for mower, tools, bird food etc.

However, I last gave it a good refresh several years ago and it's now looking very sorry for itself. Main issues to resolve are:

- It's full of shit
- The mice have eaten through the bird-seed bins
- The shelves I put up are fucked (rails are ok though)
- The felt under the tiles has worn through
- There's no lighting
- There's nowhere really to hang tools, apart from a load of random nails everywhere.
- It's full of shit.

The pros are that it's generally dry and has an outdoor-spec plug socket so I can use that for some lighting.

I've got a mate coming up next weekend to help me sort it, but I'm really struggling to find decent solutions to my issues. I want a simple lighting solution, so presumably some kind of LED batten, but one with a standard 13A plug on the end, plus ideally with motion sensor as the plug is in the far corner. Options appear to be either industrial wire-yer-own, or cheap Amazon shit.

Buying simple shelves in something like plastic or metal that won't sag like the cheap MDF ones I have seems impossible too. And don't get me started on metal food bins that aren't round so I can fit a few together.

Also, what's the best solution for the roof. Get some kind of breathable membrane and staple it to the wooden beams? And any recommendations for a decent length of tool hangars?

Any ideas, suggestion, inspiration, input? What would YOU do?

Current photos:

Current:

What I managed to do 8 years ago:

I'd probably keep it simple, it's only a junk shed.

Tidy, declutter and pull down anything off the rafters that is going to fall on you.
A few more shelf brackets in the center of what you have currently, to halve the load, and then some new cheapo wood for shelving.
A spur from the existing socket back to nearer the door, so you can plug a dirt cheap B&Q striplight mounted off the rafters.
You can get bags of 'tool hangers' that suit all sorts of applications and random shed stuff (ladders, cycles, tools etc.)

You should see my junk shed , it's not even got a nice floor like yours ...

Empty it, paint walls white.
Replace shelves with real wood.
What he said about the lighting

Yeah, I was thinking about painting the walls. Bit concerned that they're quite crumbly though..

Slenver wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:06 pm Yeah, I was thinking about painting the walls. Bit concerned that they're quite crumbly though..

Coat it with a stabiliser first.

Rockburner wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:14 pm

Slenver wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:06 pm Yeah, I was thinking about painting the walls. Bit concerned that they're quite crumbly though..

Coat it with a stabiliser first.

Looks like just the ticket!

We use this stuff called 'crepi' this side of the water - goes on like a thick masonry paint.

DefTrap wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:41 pm We use this stuff called 'crepi' this side of the water - goes on like a thick masonry paint.

I shall investigate, thanks

My main concern would be why would the roofing felt be falling off? (I always start at the top because the first thing is to make sure it stays dry).

As others have suggested, run an extension cable from the existing socket, put another outdoor socket pair on it if you feel inclined. I'd probably just put a 4-way screwed to the wall myself. Stick an LED 'fluorescent' baton light up and put an in-line switch on it.

Lick of sealant/paint, get those shelves sorted and you'll soon have it looking like a little palace.

If you have a Screwfix within reach they'll have everything you need.

Count Steer wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 3:18 pm My main concern would be why would the roofing felt be falling off?

I guess just age. No idea how old the shed thing is, but the rest of the house is 150, so it's bound to be old enough to start perishing.

Slenver wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 5:12 pm

Count Steer wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 3:18 pm My main concern would be why would the roofing felt be falling off?

I guess just age. No idea how old the shed thing is, but the rest of the house is 150, so it's bound to be old enough to start perishing.

On closer inspection it doesn't look like roofing felt - it appears to be fixed to the underside of the battens? So some Tyvek type membrane stapled to the woodwork will breathe and keep dust etc out. (Once again, Screwfix can provide - they have Cromar brand triple layer - but most builders merchants should have something). However there are different sorts and I'd go for the more medium weight than the heavier duty stiffer stuff if poss as it'll be easier to handle. A powered stapler would be too.

I like the celebratory glass of red!

ChrisW wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 5:59 pm I like the celebratory glass of red!

It was a working glass

Though a terrible accident befell it...

Count Steer wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 5:54 pm

Slenver wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 5:12 pm

Count Steer wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 3:18 pm My main concern would be why would the roofing felt be falling off?

I guess just age. No idea how old the shed thing is, but the rest of the house is 150, so it's bound to be old enough to start perishing.

On closer inspection it doesn't look like roofing felt - it appears to be fixed to the underside of the battens? So some Tyvek type membrane stapled to the woodwork will breathe and keep dust etc out. (Once again, Screwfix can provide - they have Cromar brand triple layer - but most builders merchants should have something). However there are different sorts and I'd go for the more medium weight than the heavier duty stiffer stuff if poss as it'll be easier to handle. A powered stapler would be too.

Thank you.

And yes, we have a Screwfix (2, weirdly)

Err...is that a wriggly tin roof I spy? That'd explain why the felt isn't under the tiles...there aren't any tiles.

Slenver wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 6:30 pm

ChrisW wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 5:59 pm I like the celebratory glass of red!

It was a working glass

Though a terrible accident befell it...

Nooooo!!!!

It looks like the end of Red Dragon...

Slenver wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 6:30 pm

ChrisW wrote: Fri Apr 26, 2024 5:59 pm I like the celebratory glass of red!

It was a working glass

Though a terrible accident befell it...

Yup. It's level.