Open Shelter for bikes - will this frame even work?

ydrol · Post by **ydrol** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 10:30 pm

Hi - hope this is OK to ask here :

I was encouraged to part with my trusty Asgard bike shed due to it taking up a third of our courtyard garden after a house move.

I'd like to build an open lean to / Shelter for the bikes in a tighter location freeing up the courtyard space and something in wood might look nicer than a bike tent.
(bikes will eventually be chained to loop in existing patio tiles)

Is below feasible? and if I use a frame with c16 timber what size is needed to span the front (2.4m).
What size c16 do I need?
Is c24 better?

Disclaimer - would be my first ever outdoor woodworking project - so any glaring errors - let me have it!

I'm thinking cost might be an issue!

Happy to take advice on a better frame - the important bits that I cant move are the front(blue) and the roof.
The back and sides can change as needed.

PS Forgot to add - the "roof" will be right outside kitchen window so final result has to look relatively pleasing!

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I'm going for a bigger version of somthing like this [youtube]bSYm2L3FNjQ[/youtube]. But no central post (not sure that works for a bike shed TBH) , no ply at the sides, and possibly no front door if roof provides suitable shelter from rain as I want to minimise condensation.

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big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 10:58 pm

is it in a corner or fully open apart from the back??
whats it backing onto ??

ydrol · Post by **ydrol** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 11:06 pm

Hi - More or less in a corner.
The back will be a shared fence panel (maybe one inch away) - but not attached.
The side is 3.5 ft of concrete - as the main garden is on the upper level. This will be on the lower level

I'm limited in depth due to the steps.

It will eventually replace the tarp

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dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 11:09 pm

Would one of those plastic storage trunk/mini shed things work? Okay if you can slip the front wheel out on QR hubs. Something like thishttps://www.diy.com/departments/keter-store-it- ... oreId=1199

DWD

ydrol · Post by **ydrol** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 11:20 pm

Thanks, The biggest keter (Store it out - ultra shed) looks a tad too deep but not quite long enough. - I've got anti-theft skewers on the main bike so a pain to take off! Also I do use bike a fair bit (no car) so want to grab it an go as much as possible.
Still it's a good point to keep looking at ready made solutions (that will fit in that space and look decent).

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:51 am

How about this as a solution https://www.sheds.co.uk/rowlinson-6-x-3 ... -shed.html

DWD

ydrol · Post by **ydrol** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:22 am

Thanks DWD, That is the kind of thing I'm looking for - but that's a tad too deep at 3ft/91cm.
That's why I want the extra length so the bikes can be slightly staggered / offset so take up a bit less depth.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:50 am

Did you see the 6' by 2' version? https://www.sheds.co.uk/oren-6-x-2-ship ... -shed.html A bit pricey but it depends if you have all the kit to make your own and these appear well made and will fit your space securing two bikes well. Some wood is a bit hard to get at the minute.

DWD

ydrol · Post by **ydrol** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 11:34 am

Funnily enough in this pic the bikes are a tad bit over 6'x2'. Though I suspect that is the exterior size of the shed and the interior is smaller?.
However aligning the bikes to be less than 6ft will increase the depth due to handlebars , saddles and hubs touching.
Also having a bit extra space for other bike accessories and tools would be handy.

The black guard rail is 73cm from the fence.

The black bike is my regular cheapo bike and the blue bike is the bike I use when I've signed up to do something I might regret! (must inflate those tyres)

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dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 12:21 pm

I have to say that I would knock up a decent shelter easily as I have all the tools to do the job. The problem you have is that the back wall is a fence panel so you cannot take a lean-to approach and your store will need four support legs. Have a look at these for fixing to the slabs https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/met ... ys2-265554 widely available on eBay. Fix the four posts and then follow your plan to firm them up and a roof should be easy enough.

DWD

ydrol · Post by **ydrol** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 2:29 pm

Thanks DWD. Any suggestions on what timber to use for the frame - I was going to go for treated C16 2x4 for everything except the main front support "lintel". I suspect that might need to be something more substantial to stop sagging?
Though your bolt downs look like they are for 3x3 - so maybe that is better all round (including lintel).

I have a few barely used DIY amateur type tools! Skilsaw, multitool, impact driver, drill driver, SDS drill etc. and was good at trig in school - lol! Anything obvious I'm unlikely to have?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:28 pm

I would over-engineer it as I always do expecting a tornado. I was thinking 3 by 3 fence posts for the main uprights, 4 by 2 for the cross rails, and 2 by 2 for the braces and roof frame. You do not want it too wafty. You should get by with those tools.

DWD

ydrol · Post by **ydrol** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:58 pm

Thanks DWD. A couple more questions - how do I join it together :) Nails or screws, ring shank screws, spiral shank ? I't will be subject to some expansion I guess? And should I PVA all joints ?
I read that nails are recommended for timber construction but many YouTube videos seem to use screws?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Sep 30, 2021 5:22 pm

I would use screws and if necessary a few metal joining brackets. Pva is no good as an exterior glue as water reactivates it. Pilot holes for all the screws to stop splits.

DWD

ydrol · Post by **ydrol** » Sat Dec 11, 2021 11:22 pm

Thanks DWD - I went for an acrylic roof , originally because it'd be a bit lighter and more weather proof but it also lets more light into this area.
It was a bit shorter than the length I originally wanted (2m instead of 2.4m) but it was half price - and still long enough for the bikes alone.
I've also widened the cut near the handrail since these pictures were taken. It's a right pain to cut though!
I'll be replacing the kettlebells with ground anchors soon!