ShedSpotLatest information about Garden Sheds, Aviaries, Carports and Garages!

No matter how tightly you secure your shed, wasps seem to make their way in and build their nests. They’re ugly and they can sting repeatedly if disturbed.
Wasps do serve a purpose in pollinating plants and removing other pests that can be destructive to your plants, but we don’t necessarily want to share the shed with them.

Wasps like to establish their nests in spring and make their nest by ingesting wood to create a paper-like substance to build the walls. They will remain in residence until autumn.

If you find a nest that has been abandoned, leave it alone – once abandoned, wasps will not return.

Pesticides and insecticides are readily available at any hardware store and can be sprayed on the entrance of the wasp nest. When you do this, make sure there are no children or animals in the area as the wasps will be understandably angry. Another alternative is to burn the nest, using a torch or lit stick set fire to the nest, being careful not to allow the fire to spread to any surrounding wooden structures. Ensure the area underneath has no dry grass and leaves that can catch fire.
Keep a hose handy just in case.

If the nest has managed to grow to a large size without you noticing it, consider calling in a professional. A full nest in peak season can contain up to 10,000 wasps – and if they’re unhappy about the eviction notice, that’s a lot of angry wasps to contend with!

The backyard shed has traditionally been the domain of the male of the house. It is such an important part of their world that they have even named a group after it “Men and Their Sheds”.

Television shows centred around backyard goings on have proven popular over recent years. Shows like Burke’s backyard and Backyard Blitz have been informing us who to look after our gardens, while shows like Home Improvement with “Tim the Toolman” show us what not to do with tools!

While women need to talk out their problems, a man needs his space to think and they certainly make full use of their sheds, spending hours in there “thinking”.

According to the Brisbane Courier Mail (04/09/2009) many “sheddies” have had second thoughts about buying new tools to use in their sheds due to the global financial crises but some have taken advantage of the government’s economic stimulus package to update their equipment – which in turn saves stretched household budgets by enabling those jobs around the house to get done for a little less.

Many men install fridges, TVs and stereos in their sheds and when their mates come around they often retreat to the shed, leaving the women and children to themselves in the main house.

Backyards and sheds are an essential part of the Australian lifestyle and provide a valuable contribution to our entertainment needs, household finances and even relationships.

That’s our story anyway, and we’re sticking to it!

A concrete foundation is certainly more permanent, but you may want to move your shed or take it with you if you’re in a rental property.

If you decide on a timber foundation, choose a treated timber so that it’s not easily damaged by rot from moisture and is not attractive to white ants. Depending on the size of your shed, start by laying 2 or more skids – this is to keep the base off the damp ground. These should be 4×4 or 6×6. If you can, use bricks or blocks underneath the skids to give your shed even greater protection from the damp ground.

Lay your joists (2×4 or 2×6) at intervals of approximately 25”. Using ¾” tongue and groove ply board, nail to each joist with 2 nails in each board. Do this before the floor has been exposed to the weather as it gets harder over time.

If you decide to have a concrete foundation, make sure you choose the correct location for your shed because you’ll be stuck with it! Don’t place it in a low point in the yard where water can pool and flood your shed.

You can hire a mixer and make the concrete up yourself which can be a bit of fun, or have premixed concrete delivered and poured, then all you have to do is level it.

Before you pour your concrete – do you need a ramp to access your shed? Just consider trying to lift your mower over the lip every time, or moving storage boxes and furniture in and out – just something to think about.

If you have an existing shed and you don’t use all of it, you can turn that space into some extra cash.

Are there units nearby where people might be pushed for space? Someone near you may be looking for some storage space, but wants to have things close by. You could rent out the entire shed in the case of unused furniture.

Sometimes people downsize but can’t bear to throw anything away, or children leave home but don’t take their stuff. A local shop owner may need some extra space for a large freezer but doesn’t have the room on the shop premises.

These days, people are coming up with lots of ways to make money and some do it selling product, but storage can be a problem for them. They’ll need something with handy access and protected from the weather.

Of course, you will need to make sure that your shed is leak proof and has regular pest control, and that you aren’t breaking any laws or regulations!

Don’t forget the garage or carport either, especially if you live close to a big city where parking is difficult to find, and expensive. Somebody may be very happy to pay for a regular parking space!

Your new Colorbond shed requires little maintenance. In most cases just a regular wash with water will suffice. If you get regular rain then you don’t need to do anything, but for those panels that are not reached by the rain or in drought areas, you would be wise just to give your shed a bit of a hose down every six months or so. Typically, areas that will need some attention from you will be your shed door (s) and under eaves and gutters.

If you live in a coastal area, even a number of streets away the marine salt can still affect any metal, so a more frequent regular hose down will help to prolong the life of your shed.

If a simple hosing does not clean off all the dirt, for example bird droppings, wash the panels with a solution of warm water with pure soap and nonabrasive kitchen detergent. Gently apply with a soft cloth or sponge to prevent shiny spots. Rinse thoroughly to remove all detergent.

NEVER use abrasive or solvent-type cleaners such as turps, petrol, kero or paint thinners.

Minor scratches are best left alone – touching up can make it look worse than it actually is. When, in a few years time you consider repainting your shed, after a good clean (as above) paint directly over it with 2 coats of a good quality water-based exterior acrylic paint.