At Tiger, our Eric has been prowling around for decades, making sure our sheds and summerhouses are up to scratch. Thanks to years of accumulated knowledge, he’s created a long list of expert advice to make your Tiger building the beast – sorry, best – it can be. Here are two dozen of his top tips:
Make sure base is firm and level and has set before assembly of the building. Any movement under the weight of the building or uneven base areas may result in challenges with panels twisting or doors sticking in the frame.
Make sure base area won’t hold water. If the bearers become saturated, water is likely to track up into the floor and walls of the building.
Ensure the base isn’t positioned too close to any surrounding walls or fences. If too close, there may be excess levels of water splash-back against the building, reduced ventilation to dry the exterior, and could result in damp in the surrounding walls. You also won’t be able to correctly treat the building each year to maintain the waterproof coating.
Taking the time to check through your components before assembly will aid a swift and efficient build process.
If your floor is not square, you can measure the panels to check that they match up to the corresponding side of the floor. If they do, it may be that the panel has simply been knocked out of alignment during transit. You can resolve this by tapping the floor at the corners to straighten it out again.
There are lines of nails across the floor panel where the floor boards have been secured to the bearers. These can be used as a guide to ensure that you secure the base rails at the correct points to penetrate the bearers below.
Before nailing the wall panels together and fitting the roof, check that panels are standing square. An indication of this is the alignment of the door(s) being square in the panel and any overhang of the roof of the roof being equal on all sides of the building. Square things up before securing parts together to prevent issues down the line.
If at any point the roof panels do not align correctly or the door does not open/close properly, this may suggest that the building is not sitting square on your base and has become twisted. To resolve, one or more corners of the building may need lifting slightly to straighten it out. Once square, you can secure the roof panels. If you are having trouble with this and need extra advice, please refer to our Online Help Guide.
Don’t set your felt too low when positioning the first strip as you will find that you won’t have enough to cover the roof. You will only need an overlap of around 3 inches and will then have enough to cover with the felt supplied.
The Bargeboards are generally slightly longer than the roof panels. However, you can cut them down to be flush with the edges of the roof if you would prefer. To do so, hold the boards up against the gable ends and cut before securing them into place.
To prevent scratches on the glazing while hammering in the pins, you should leave the protective plastic on the panes until fitted when using styrene. You may also wish to use a piece of thin cardboard or similar to stop the hammer coming into direct contact with the panes when using glass.
Ensure panel and glazing is dry before applying sealant. If the parts are wet, the sealant may not take and won’t provide an effective seal.
Ensure nothing is in contact with the exterior of the building such as plants, trees, or items leaning on the walls to limit the risk of water ingress.
Treat the building both inside and out to prevent water ingress and any mould linked to condensation inside.
Check sealant on windows is complete and intact to prevent leaks.
Lubricate metalwork regularly to prevent rust and prolong functionality.
If the lock is sticking or won’t work smoothly, check that it hasn’t become warped with timber movement by loosening the screws slightly. If lock doesn’t work when building is received, check for any treatment build up in the mechanism by gently taping with a hammer to loosen any dried treatment inside.
When furnishing or decorating the building, think about the intended use and what will give the most out of the building. Will it be a multi-use space or have a dedicated purpose?
If you have specific furnishings in mind, always check the internal dimensions of the building to ensure items will fit inside the framing for the walls.
If using the building for storage, think about appropriate storage solutions like storage boxes and shelving with labels to prevent issues finding or accessing items and help to keep the shed tidy.
If storing items in the shed, think about frequency of use for them. You may want to put items with frequent use closer to the door than those perhaps only used once or twice a year.
Allow for ventilation through the interior of the building to prevent soft furnishings becoming damp.
When fitting insulating materials, ensure the timber can move and breathe to prevent undesirable movement and damp.
If screwing items to the walls of the shed, secure to the framing rather than the cladding.
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Choose Klarna in checkout to apply for a finance option. 10% deposit required as standard (excluding Pay In Three). Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may negatively impact your financial status and ability to obtain credit.
REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE
Cash/purchase price: £1200. Deposit: £120. Total amount of credit: £1080.
Rate of interest: 9.9% p.a. (fixed). Duration of the agreement: 24 months.
Monthly repayments: £49.58. Interest: £109.91. Total amount payable: £1309.91.
The Representative APR: 9.9% APR Representative.
Tiger Sheds is a trading name of Woodlands Home And Garden Group Limited (reg. address: Calverley Lane, Leeds, LS13 1NP) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA FRN 914564) and acts as a credit intermediary and not a lender, offering credit products provided exclusively by Klarna Financial Services UK Limited. Please note that Pay in 3 instalments agreements are not regulated by the FCA. Finance is only available to permanent UK residents aged 18+, subject to status, T&Cs and late fees apply. Klarna.com/uk/terms-and-conditions
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