Garden Retreat

[MeoMeo]

Hiya,

First post on here, thought it best to put something up rather than highjack other posts. Mind, reading the other posts, apart from helping in part with my project, it has been an inspiration for me (and the girls) to take on a house project together

Project: Garden Retreat - Office & Shed
An L-shaped garden office and shed to be developed.
The office will be insulated and be an idea area for us girls will have computers, desks, sofa.
The shed will be were we turn our ideas into a reality so will have a workbench and house tools also other 'junk'.
Given our day-to-day commitments, we (4 gals) decided to break down the projects into stages:
1. Clear-out+ Foundations + Base; 2. Walls + Roof; 3. Windows + Doors + Electrics and 4. Interior + Outside Decking + Lights + Security.

Sketched Plan:



Stage 1
Will write up more on this stage.
We have got to point now with the cold and winter months (and family commitments) we can't do much until the weather improves. We have got to the point now were we have put in the foundations, concrete blocks, wooden frame (with insulation) and put on 18mm plywood.



We did cover the area with two large tarps, but water got in hence the damp patch showing on the left hand side. We let it dry out on a clear day and applied two coats of oil-based sealant (Barrantine??). We have covered it again now but not sure what else we can do.

[Q] We really could do with some advice on: Water damage/protection for the next few months.

Tx

 

[James Martin]

I take you you want to try and stop your plywood base getting wet ? Those cheap blue tarps are a bit rubbish. Ok for a shower, but not for long term. Get yourself a roll of Damp proof membrane from somewhere like screwfix. About £25. and roll it out over your ply. Either staple it down around the edges, or weight it down with some bricks and blocks. You might ger a bit of condensation, or sweating through it, but being ply it will dry out, and the membrane will protect it untill you can get back on it. Go Girls

 

[MeoMeo]

Thanks James. Will consider it as it is the only option as those tarps are utter useless. Will pop over to screwfix or toolstation at the weekend and pick up some DPM. Rather staple it around the edges, then will put the tarp back on. Need to arrange time with the girls as we've got more important things on our minds - shopping

Looking out the window this morning and that garden looks bogey! Hope the ply is okay. Again thanks!

 

[Notch7]

Thanks James. Will consider it as it is the only option as those tarps are utter useless. Will pop over to screwfix or toolstation at the weekend and pick up some DPM. Rather staple it around the edges, then will put the tarp back on. Need to arrange time with the girls as we've got more important things on our minds - shopping

Looking out the window this morning and that garden looks bogey! Hope the ply is okay. Again thanks!

Ive used dpm as a temporary covering on my shed, it never got covered as the shed is being extended with a garden office / cabin in front. Its been like that for 3 years and stayed dry inside.

The key with a roof is to have the dpm supported on boards which stops puddles.

If you spend time on it, you will find it will stay totally dry. Be careful its well slippery when wet though

 

[MeoMeo]

Thanks for the advice!!

We were thinking of putting down battens down on the ply and stretching the DPM over them to give an airgap for the ply to 'breathe'. Do you think that would work? Or should I just put it directly onto the ply?

 

[Ian H]

Direct. I have a pond liner on mine, works a treat

 

[MeoMeo]

Thank for the advice!

We went out and got some DPM and Tape (double and single sided tape) over the festive holidays (not quite what we wanted to do, rather spend money on the sales ).

We all got really sad after we took off the tarp (which was doubled up). We got this horror:



The weather over the next few days is looking dry (and cold) so we are going to leave it uncovered. After a few days, we will cover it with the DPM. We are all upset about this damage, we get emotional, so more than others (lol), we are thinking now that we will need to pull these Plywood sheets up and put down new ones. Just our luck!

Any thoughts from you guys would be gratefully appreciated x

 

[ktuludays]

From your pics the ply doesn't look too bad. I'd let it dry out over the next few days then cover it until spring. Then uncover and re-assess. No point jumping the gun just yet.

 

[big-all]

are you aware off height size and proximity restrictions to avoid the need for planning

 

[MeoMeo]

are you aware off height size and proximity restrictions to avoid the need for planning

Hiya. Yes. We have a Lawful Development Certificate for the build - which we have had the Council BR rep come out and re-assess and he has confirmed in writing all is far within permitted.

 

[big-all]

excellent good luck with your build

 

[MeoMeo]

Hiya all,

So with the good weather now we have decided to get back to finishing this project off this year.

We lifted off the wraps and we found mold and discoloration on the Plywood. I have attached pictures.





Some of the ply have mold on the top and some have not. Some of the ply we have noticed the mold has spread down the edges/sides. Some of the ply we have noticed have turned discoloured - turned black (is that mold?). Noticed one of the ply has 'flaked'.

We thought about using a weak solution of beach and scrubbing the surface, wash and let it dry in the good weather. Some of us are arguing on using bleach on wood, some of us saying that it would need to kill the mold so will need to be a stronger mix, and then we argue some more about what would happen with a strong mix... we just argue!

Sanding is the other 'craazy' option we came up with!

We rang up a few merchants. Some said to replace the plywood! Other merchants said it is okay - just wipe it with a brush.

Want to ensure this mold does not become problematic later on (years). Can someone please give us advice on what we can do? Thank you!!

[EDIT] Just wanted to add, the ply will be covered with another layer - so for the shed area we are looking at a PVC flooring and the Office we will put down laminate.

 

[foxhole]

Brush off , you could scorch it black (heat gun or blowtorch)which will kill anything and also acts as a preserver .

 

[MeoMeo]

We wouldn't know how and where to begin - us girls and a blowtorch - disaster waiting to happen! The only thing going through the girls mind would be lets torch it and call out the firemen

We would appreciate any other thoughts from other people before we make a decision. We don't want to replace the plyboards as that will be expensive. We want to get this project done before the winter comes in and that is not far off. Thanks in advance! x

 

[mctav]

Can`t you lift the ply and turn it over if its okay on the underneath?