erecting a secondhand shed

[Becca]

in my perfect vision of the future where the shed up and the plot is all dug over, laid out and full of lovely food and flowers my shed is blue too but at the moment I think I'll have to settle for up and watertight..

[jackie j]

Try and put a shutter that you can paddlock to the outside of your shed windows you can then open and shut it when you want to.

[Paul Wagland]

A shutter is a good idea, because people won't be able to see what's inside. An easier option is to nail small-gauge wire mesh over the outside of the windows - good for security, but not so good at hiding the shed contents.

[Becca]

It's finally up!! no windows as yet tho, but as it's currently rather damp (had sat around dismantled for about a year before I was given it) the extra ventilation is probably good for the moment and it fulfills the main objective of somewhere to hide when necessary (no 'facilities' on the site ). I will be getting some polycarbonate sometime soon once I find a local supplier (is it a builders yard thing, a glazers thing or something more specialised?) and I quite like the shutters idea, will look into knocking some together, it has 3 windows so lots of opportunity for prying eyes.. Very chuffed tho, and amazed at how well a very ricketly looking old shed when together, tho I think we got the sides swapped round so my windows are in slightly daft places but not about to pull it apart again now.. :OP

[Paul Wagland]

Sounds great - are you brave enough to post a picture?!

Polycarbonate can be bought from DIY stores or builders' merchants. It's not cheap, but it's better than replacing broken glass every few months.

[Becca]

I will when I've taken some I forgot my camera again on sunday..

and thanks on the polycarbonate advice.. will measure up and pop to ridgeons this weekend then:O) think I may make some shutters too tho, just drove past and it's more visible from the main road than I'd hoped so would be good to make sure it's less easy to peek into

[Eternal Sunshine]

Becca, sounds great - really pleased for you.

I'd like to post a photo of our shed but can't remember how to resize photos for the forum! Can I do a link to my Facebook album? (yes - I am sad enough to post photos of our allotment on Facebook )

[mclarenpitcrew]

We freecycled for some old fireguards (the big boxy adjustable type) then took them apart and screwed them over the windows. We now have the spuds chitting nicely behind them now.
Well done on getting the shed up, hope you have many hours of fun outside it and fewer stuck inside it.

[Becca]

Shed update! went to measure up for windows on saturday and some one else is in the process of moving in.. a male wren is busily building a very sweet little nest in the rafters inside the shed.. at a bit of a quandry as to what to do next.. no eggs as yet (I know the males build several nests and the females pick the one they like best) but now I'm worried that if i put in windows he might go thonk into them and get injured/ killed and if I don't then it's likely I'll have to leave my shed windowless until the fledge (assuming she picks it, but it's snug and safe and tucked away so I suspect she might). I'm quite tempted to let him carry on as I'd love to see the babies etc but on the other hand I might disturb them too much going in and out.. I'm pondering maybe putting windows and shutters (so it doesn't still look open) in the 2 big windows and leaving the small one open (this is where I've seen him flying in) or maybe partially open boarding up most of it so he and his family can still get in and out? any advice gratefully recieved..

[Becca]

the wrens haven't moved in yet so i went looking at window options and have ended up with some horticultural glass after finding out that the twinwalled polycarbonate would be difficult to see through,(my shed makes a great bird hide and i don;t want to lose that). Question now is how best to fit it? would pins and putty like I use at home be ok?