timsk Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Hi folks, I'm Tim and I've just joined the forum having been sent a link to this thread by my wife Pam who stumbled across it by chance after surfing the interweb for solutions to window reveals when installing Hardie Plank cladding - or 'siding' as our friends across the pond call it. We're in the process of building a 5 x 3 metre garden room to use as a mosaic studio as Pam and I are both - wait for it - mosaicists! I would have entitled the thread Garden Studio rather than Garden Room, but Pam thinks that sounds pretentious and, instead, prefers to tell everyone we're building a shed - albeit quite a posh one. I have no specialist skills or, indeed, any particular aptitude for this sort of thing and my age (60 later this year) doesn't help much either. That said, I confess to having worked for three years as a landscape gardener (about 15 years ago) during which time I helped to build a number of patios and decks etc. Also, our property is a 60's bungalow which we moved into two years ago which I've been 'doing up' bit by bit - so I've learnt a lot throughout that (at times tortuous) journey! I describe myself as a reluctant - but moderately experienced - DIYer. The studio - sorry, I mean shed - is up and just about water tight and ready for the electricians to come in and do a first fix. I don't touch any of the specialist trades and hire in professionals as and when required. I'll post questions about things I've yet to do and am happy to answer questions about what I've done and, where I can, help members embarking on similar projects. Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Welcome..! I've learnt a new term today... mosaicists! Never mind the garden room, lets see some pictures of your work,,! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Welcome we have a few masochist on here @ToughButterCup is the leader, just stay on his good side and you won’t get banned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 You are very welcome @timsk. I can see that, from your skills list) I will be asking you for advice in a couple of months time. I had a happy few years in the Cotswolds, and so visited many of the Roman villas that have been found there. Couple that with a visit or two to Herculanum (?spelling) and that got me very interested in how mosaics can exist at all sorts of levels. So now we have two experts on whom we can call .... excellent. Ian PS we are asking Matron to up @Russell griffiths medication .....? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsk Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 (edited) Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and to Russell especially for the heads up about TBC; it's always good to know who the big cheese is and who one should be deferential towards! ? Peter, some pic's for you - nothing very interesting I'm afraid. Currently, the whole structure is wrapped in a breathable membrane (a cheap version of Tyvek) and looks dreadful. The chap one can just see in the corner of the final image (pic #4) is our local village chippy who helped with the main construction of walls and roof. A great bloke, a good carpenter and super quick. From the base frame, (pic #3) to the main structure being completed - including two windows - took just eight days. It would have taken nearer eight months if I'd been working alone! Tim. #1. Studio Site Diseased apple tree and Leylandii hedging subsequently removed. Just behind the figure (my wife, Pam) you can just make out the corner of the summer house which you can see in pic #2, below. #2. Concrete Piers 24 concrete blocks used in total - much cheaper than using bespoke products. #3. Base Frame This is secured to the concrete blocks with steel angle brackets and 80mm long 10M concrete screws. The 200mm long battens at the bottom of the 5" x 2" joists are for the 100mm insulation to sit on to ensure it doesn't fall out. #4. OSB Sheathing Going Up The large aperture on the end elevation is where the entrance door will go (currently the entrance to our bungalow which is due to be replaced). The openings in the right elevation are for two windows bought from a supplier of misfits for £190 including the glazing and VAT! So, that is in fact the total cost of windows and doors - which is often a big chunk of the budget for a project like this. Edited June 19, 2020 by timsk Adding comments to the pic's 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiking Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 @timsk Where did you get the slatted fence? DIY or retail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsk Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 (edited) 11 hours ago, daiking said: @timsk Where did you get the slatted fence? DIY or retail? Hi daiking, I built it: 450 battens @ 19 x 38mm x 3.6 metres (at a cost of £1.00 each inc. VAT) with 10 stainless steel screws in each, attached to 100 x 100mm uprights on 1,800 centres with two 25 x 100mm uprights in between on 600 centres. It took forever! Tim. Edited July 13, 2020 by timsk typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiking Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, timsk said: Hi daiking, I built it: 450 battens @ 19 x 38mm x 3.6 metres (at a cost of £1.00 each inc. VAT) with 10 stainless steel screws in each, attached to 100 x 100mm uprights on 1,800 centres with two 25 x 100mm uprights in between on 600 centres. It took forever! Tim. That's cheap as I can't find anything much below £1.50 for treated. I also need double-sided slats which is a lot more work. I also need to take a closer look at that youtube channel as I'm wary of how on earth I will get concrete piers level myself when I get round to the same project. Edited July 13, 2020 by daiking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidFrancis Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 30p/metre at my BM here. Not too bad a trip from s. Manc https://www.cwberry.com/ProductDetail.aspx?p=01020061 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiking Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 16 minutes ago, DavidFrancis said: 30p/metre at my BM here. Not too bad a trip from s. Manc https://www.cwberry.com/ProductDetail.aspx?p=01020061 Cheers, it makes a difference if you need 1km of batten Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsk Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 5 hours ago, daiking said: That's cheap as I can't find anything much below £1.50 for treated. I also need double-sided slats which is a lot more work. I also need to take a closer look at that youtube channel as I'm wary of how on earth I will get concrete piers level myself when I get round to the same project. Hi daiking, The fence timber is only rough sawn - not planed. Planed, although much nicer, would easily have doubled the price and, if I'd gone for larger 25 x 50mm slats the price would have been over £3.00. Also, because of the quantity, my timber merchant gave me a discount. Levelling the concrete piers was a little tricky as I don't have (or have access to) a laser level and had to rely on my trusty 1.8 metre Stabila. Because of the number of piers - three rows of four, all are spaced apart less than the length of the spirit level which meant I was able to check each pier with three of its neighbours. That gave me a good Idea that I was in the right ball park. I knew that if I needed to tweak the timber frame that, if necessary, I could use spacers to make subtle height adjustments. In the end, that wasn't necessary. Your other option is to ignore the problem entirely and invest in a set of these: StrataRise MULTI-LEVEL Decking & Flooring Support Pedestal - 15 pack Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan52 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 7 hours ago, daiking said: That's cheap as I can't find anything much below £1.50 for treated. I also need double-sided slats which is a lot more work. I also need to take a closer look at that youtube channel as I'm wary of how on earth I will get concrete piers level myself when I get round to the same project. A tool as simple as a water level, £17 in Screwfix, will be your friend. You set your 4 corners using the water level then string line in between. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daiking Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 2 hours ago, timsk said: Hi daiking, The fence timber is only rough sawn - not planed. Planed, although much nicer, would easily have doubled the price and, if I'd gone for larger 25 x 50mm slats the price would have been over £3.00. Also, because of the quantity, my timber merchant gave me a discount. Levelling the concrete piers was a little tricky as I don't have (or have access to) a laser level and had to rely on my trusty 1.8 metre Stabila. Because of the number of piers - three rows of four, all are spaced apart less than the length of the spirit level which meant I was able to check each pier with three of its neighbours. That gave me a good Idea that I was in the right ball park. I knew that if I needed to tweak the timber frame that, if necessary, I could use spacers to make subtle height adjustments. In the end, that wasn't necessary. Your other option is to ignore the problem entirely and invest in a set of these: StrataRise MULTI-LEVEL Decking & Flooring Support Pedestal - 15 pack Tim. Probably just going to buy some premade to be honest. It’s a lot of work as we want double sided for privacy. Put efforts into painting it ourselves to save a bit. 1 hour ago, Declan52 said: A tool as simple as a water level, £17 in Screwfix, will be your friend. You set your 4 corners using the water level then string line in between. I appreciate your optimism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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