Archive for September, 2009

I’ve done the back of the shed now (in stealthy shiplap), but spent most of today in a happy, contemplative stupor packing all my stuff into the shed… I took Clint Eastwood’s garage in Gran Torino as my benchmark – I love that movie, and it’s sad, but the garage is one of my favourite parts of it. I can’t fit a 1970′s Ford Gran Torino in there, but I don’t think I’ve done too bad.
I’ve managed to get everything that was in the old shed, plus the contents of under the sink (mostly car stuff – axle stands, t-cut etc), under the stairs (tools, drill bits and more car stuff). Very happy with the whole Santa’s grotto feel of it.
Plus (as you can see in the second photo) I love the way it’s hidden away in the sleek modern box… It’s kinda like visiting one of those minimalist houses you see in magazines, opening a cupboard and seeing a great pile of every day sh*te just fall out all over the floor (Kids toys, dog bones, wires, teenagers clutter – you know; the sort of stuff which always seems to be missing from these houses)- of course, it’ll be a while before the rest of the back yard looks like a clean, minimalist box, but I’m working on it

Exterior is just about complete now – I have to finish off the rear and side (I have some shiplap panels kindly donated by my father-in-law) which will make the shed look quite normal and boring from these angles (this is how I want it – it’s kinda “stealthy”) – means burglars hopefully won’t notice it from the back entry.
Only other exterior job is to smooth off the roof edge and fit the “splashproof flashing”

The cladding is now all on, and I finished up the roof more tidily. Working on a multi-level deck to integrate it into the back yard more snugly.
Sorry can’t take better pics, but I’ve got the washing out now(!)

I was working from home this morning – freezing cold in my back room (as always) staring out the window at the sunshine and shed. Thought to myself – why did I build this thing anyway?

So I took my lunch break and went to Argos

The cladding’s still not done yet so I’ve been very careful not to include the exterior – which’ll hopefully come at the weekend.

Rain stopped play unfortunately just as I was getting into the groove this afternoon. Can’t believe it’s my building under there! So glad I decided to go with the cedar now – shiplap would never have looked this slick. The wood is so easy to work and gives such a clean, sharp finish it’s untrue.

Am considering cedar cladding my volvo – it’s boxy enough…

Realised that last comment mightn’t make sense without seeing the problem itself – here it is. The problem is that the felt at the top (and back) of the roof isn’t long enough for the straight, horizontal front-to-back solution I think I’d prefer… I’d welcome any opinions you may have.

Cedar cladding arrived today while I was at work. My son answered the door but they wouldn’t help him carry it through to the back yard (Boo! you know who you are!) So my wife and family were effectively trapped by the 4.8m long planks which stretched literally from the front door to the back door of my house.

If you think (like me) that it looks pretty damn lovely, you should smell it! Can’t wait to fit it (although it will be the weekend before I get the chance). In the meantime I’ve got to decide how to finish the sides and back of the roof… In my hurry to lay the felt I didn’t leave enough overlap to cut it horizontally and maintain a clean line from front-to-back so debating whether to lay more felt on top or cut it diagonally, trying to maintain an even height from front-to-back. What do you think?