Sheds

[Mel]

This may be an unfair stereotype but I suspect that there will be a fair amount of shed related knowledge on this forum.
We have a typical wooden shed; it came with the house we moved into about 4 years ago so I have no idea how old it is. The walls and roof are in reasonable condition but the wooden floor has rotted and collapsed, particularly down one side.
We lifted the carpet tiles covering it in one corner to investigate yesterday. The joists and boards were rotten. However it appears that there is a concrete base below all this. We live on a hill with the ground rising behind us. This is a field and water runs off it towards the lower properties. The back lawn is frequently sodden in winter.
So do you have any recommendations for replacing the shed floor? Bear in mind that we are rubbish at the simplest DIY, so keep it straightforward. Can we just use the concrete base as a floor. Everything in the shed is either on shelving or in plastic boxes.
Many Thanks
Mel

 

[Buckman]

If you dig a trench behind the shed on the hill side and on one side for run off, lay down some netting, fill the netting with rubble you will have a French drain. I have used this method quite successfully and it works well.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Mount the shed bearers on strips of DPC (damp proof course)That will isolate them from the concrete and stop the moisture wicking up through the timber. In addition I would really soak the bearers in something like Creokote ( the modern substitute for creosote which apparently is nasty stuff)

 

[Dustydog]

Are the four wall lower frames ok?

If yes , then one by one you could slide these composite joists under the shed. Then screw the lower frame sections to the joists. Finish off with a new timber floor or bathroom grade (green) 18 mm or 22 mm.
You haven’t said what size?
It may be cheaper and easier to buy a new shed and mount it on composite or concrete joists. Plus the Buckman drain system

 

[Mel]

We have only excavated one corner so far but if the lower beams are rotting then it may well come to a new shed. If not then we will treat the lower beams to get a bit more life out of it. We wondered if a few wooden pallets with stuff in plastic boxes on top and the rest on existing shelving so off the floor would mean it not being necessary to replace the wooden floor.
Like the idea of a Spanish drain but there is not much room between the shed and the face that isn’t concrete

 

[Buckman]

Never heard of the Spanish drain? Is it similar to the French drain?

 

[Hutch]

Ours has gone sideways, back wall has rotten through, the floor has gone the same and rock base washed away, so now a new 8ft x 8ft rectangular shed needed, new base, and 14 wooden panels at £55 each needed. Thankfully concrete posts. I hate gardening, the other shed, 8 X6 thankfully is ok.

 

[Sam Vimes]

What are the walls resting on?

If your concrete base doesn't have a damp proof membrane under it anything you put on it will get soggy.

Using pallets to raise things off the concrete is not a bad idea.

 

[Hutch]

What are the walls resting on?

If your concrete base doesn't have a damp proof membrane under it anything you put on it will get soggy.

Using pallets to raise things off the concrete is not a bad idea.

Plastic shed bases.
Shed base

 

[Mel]

Never heard of the Spanish drain? Is it similar to the French drain?

Apologies. The builder who did our extension called the set up you described Spanish Drain. Which is what was in my head when I read your post. Perhaps our builder was not well travelled 😂

 

[Mel]

Ours has gone sideways, back wall has rotten through, the floor has gone the same and rock base washed away, so now a new 8ft x 8ft rectangular shed needed, new base, and 14 wooden panels at £55 each needed. Thankfully concrete posts. I hate gardening, the other shed, 8 X6 thankfully is ok.
View attachment 8930

Ours looks in better nick than yours. So ours may yet be salvageable. How about you have a ruthless clear out of both sheds and you may only need the one. It is well known that stuff in sheds multiplies when you are not looking. Then you can put a nice bistro table and chairs on the smaller one’s base; perfect for evening summer vino.
😉