My existing shed is OK apart from being too low, too narrow and too short, too ventilated and too old.

My solution is to get a new shed.

Like all of us I have heard horror stories of builders who promise the earth, never turn up on time, take forever to complete the job and the final bill being many times the original quote for a sub standard job.

The new shed I anticipate being approx 15-16 m long and around 3-4 m wide depending on the quote.

SWMBO has given me permission to go ahead with the project but I have stalled because I don’t know any builders or how to go about getting a good builder, coupled with the fears of being caught out with a bad one.

Build it myself? Not really, work commitments and the time to do it. I am after a fuss free good quick job that is fairly priced – am I dreaming?

I can tolerate a delayed start but once started, it needs to be completed quickly otherwise SWMBO will have trouble watching TV with all my gear in the house.

Any suggestions, recommendations of builders in the Melbourne area around Camberwell?


- Wood Borer

Are you looking at colorbond / corro, weatherboard, brick?

I've had 2 sheds built by a garage shed place but they only do garage style corro/ colorbond sheds.

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average minds discuss events,
small minds discuss people

Dave,

Colorbond roof, brick for the boundary fence and weather boards for the three other external walls.

I have chosen that combination so that it fits in with the house, gives a certain amount of insulation and noise suppression.

The floor would ideally be wood or yellow tongue once again for heat and noise insulation and dropped tool protection.

I am not in the habit of dropping tools (twice in 15 years) but I dropped a mirror honed razor sharp chisel on the concrete two weekends ago which caused me to use loud profane language.


- Wood Borer

For that style and size you will need plans to submit to the council. Ask the draught person.

Once you have some plans get on the blower and see what the response is like for quotes [usually average].

You may build a repore with one.

I think this is a fairly serious size project for your average home.

Only pay for materials once on site or if that's not possible pay the suppliers yourself not the builder.

For labour payments agree upon a set schedules, once "x" is completed etc.

This way if the builder is not up to scratch you are not too far out of pocket when you p... him/her off.

Be cynical you'll be wiser with out being poorer for it.

Pulpo

16M by 4M ????
That's not a shed, it's a bloody pavilion ! And with the cost of land in Camberwell, it could well be the most expensive shed in Melbourne. Without doubt, your first step needs to be getting approvals for your plans.

Gooday needs to be 10' high too, would have liked 12' on mine but council said 10'was limit where I am.

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Ian (Robbo) Robertson
"We do good turns every day"


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Thanks for the advice.

The final size will be determined by price, we have a reasonable sized backyard all paid off by working several jobs when I had more hair and could live on 4 or 5 hours sleep. The kids have been educated and have left home.

Part of the shed I will probably partition off to make an office for design, keeping a PC, keeping my woodwork books in and entertaining woodworking mates.

I plan to retire in the next ten years or earlier.

I currently pend more time in my shed than any other place in the house.

Hopefully I will be a long time retired so I want a good place to work.

Superannuation currently loses money, has a growing number of restrictions on it and all you get in return is money. Money of course is necessary but it doesn't keep you entertained or your mind occupied.

On the other hand, the day I retire, I will have a nice shed to work in, plenty of projects to work on, superannuation trickling in to live on, I won't be under SWMBO's feet ......

I will also have ten years or so to break it in and fill it with good tools and timber.

You reckon that is an expensive shed? I reckon it will be the best value for money around.

Robbo, I appreciate the comment about the height and I will try to make it as high as is practical and legal and within budget.

So if you see someone around Camberwell on the weekend wearing a navy blue singlet and old clothes who is happy, stop and say g'day to me. Better still follow me home and have a cuppa in my shed.

- Wood Borer

Woodborer, if you are using brick for one wall because it is on the boundary or within 1.5M then it will need to be a fire rated wall (usually rated for 60min.) and this does add to the cost. I know that even though the Building Code of Australia does have a lot of regional variations in it I don't imagine that they would relax this requirement. I'm not sure that a single leaf brick wall would meet this requirement, so it may pay to check before going too far. Please post some photos of progress once started! My shed progress has stalled as we've had 3 weeks of unseasonal rain and I'm just ready to put the roof on.

Mick

Mick,

I will post photos - before after and during. I have to get a builder yet and my plans together.

I was planning on putting in a double brick wall to replace the current paling fence.

I estimate the project will cost between $20K-$30K which on the surface seems a lot for a shed but like I said earlier the benefits are there for me and SWMBO.

Any savings I can make will go into insulation and the cyclone I plan to build thanks to Wayne.

- Wood Borer

Wood Borer,

How well do you get on with your neighbours? Are they aware of your plans? You may have some problems if not. I don't know if I'd be too thrilled if one of my neighbours wanted to build a 10' high brick wall on our shared boundary.
Just my $.02.

Craig

Wood Borer,

Seeing as you a going to build a Cyclone D/C, think about including a sealed up cupboard/small room for the Cyclone or, better yet, put the Cyclone on the outside with an enclosure/roof over it. This will lower/remove the noise the beast generates. They are not really noisy like a Table Saw but, as you would generally turn it on and leave it on, it will be continually making noise which can get on the nerves. (This goes for all D/C's BTW)

Good luck with the Shed! I hope to build myself one in a few years time and get out from under the house.

__________________
Wayne
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"I'd be delighted to offer any advice I have on understanding women.
When I have some, I'll let you know."
Picard

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Craig,

They are already downhill from me and they have a 2 storey house that overlooks us so their view from the ground floor is already obstructed by the paling fence and the existing shed.

Their view over a higher shed will still be possible from the second storey.

SWMBO has already mentioned it in passing and they are quite excited about the project because they will get a new fence (brick) near their spa!

I have also made some things for them.

- Wood Borer

WHAT?????

The cyclone after the shed if finished??????

I would have thought that one would have engaged Wayne as a highly decorated consultant from day one. The pipe work to aid in the efficiency of the cyclone should determine the structural layout of the shed. I strongly suggest you get Wayne on the blower (pardon the pun) or better still arrange for him to do an all expenses paid site visit. The site visit will need to be in the summer as it will be too chilly for him down here at the moment. I am sure the extra $20-$30K invested in Wayne’s services will pay hansom dividends in the long run … it will be a shed that they will be talking about for years to come. Oh and don’t forget to fly Bill out for the final certification on the cyclones instillation and the first turn on.

Before people start to write in … the above should be taken in the good humour that it was intended. I think Wayne’s cyclone is a great idea … and I’m sure that he can supervise the project from the comfort of Queensland.

Stinky

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how quick is that man

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Stinky,

After telling so many others about Wayne and Cyclones I now have to build one just to save face! In the last week I have drawn diagrams of cyclones three times on the whiteboard in the old shed. Should use a permanent marker!

I was considering building a large cyclone and then building the shed around it. With the new ASIO laws and people a bit nervy about terrorists I decided something looking like a rocket cone sitting on a concrete pad might give me free accomodation in some ASIO cell for 7 days!

Do you think my estimate of cost is too high, just right or am I dreaming?

- Wood Borer