Hi everyone. Never posted to this forum before but I need some advice/help. I started making an outdoor cabinet for the pool stuff lying around. As I went along, the project got bigger than originally planned. Now I have run into some problems because of this. I am not a builder by any stretch of the imagination so please take that into consideration when you see my project and hear my questions lol. First of all, Here's the roof of the top part. I decided to make one side lift up for more storage space and now I am not sure how to shingle it. I have the black paper and shingles and need to know how to do it so it still opens but also protects the whole top. Here's a picture of it:
Ok, second question. For the cabinet, there is a top and a bottom. When it's finally put together it will be on the heavy side. I was thinking about putting brackets so I can sit the top part on and just screw it to the brackets. That way if I want to move it I can take it apart and it won't be so bad to move. Good idea or no?
And finally, this is a two-parter. This will be outside all year round. I don't want it to rot out. It will be covered with a large tarp during the winter months. To protect the bottom of the legs is there anything I can use? This will probably sound stupid but I was thinking of something like cleats they used to put on the bottom of shoes lol. Is there anything like that to hold it that little bit off the cement? And finally my neighbor said he has some left-over siding that I can use if I want. There is only enough for two sides. Not sure if I want to do that though. The front will have doors with shutters on them for decoration so asthetically I don't think it would be the best but if it would protect it better, then so be it. I'd rather the thing lasted than looked pretty lol. Thanks for any help!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: hjvagar,
Congratulations on your first project. You have asked some important questions. In no particular order...... I would not make it to take apart. You yourself indicate that it will be out 24 x 7 x 365. So no need. Rot is definitely a concern. I might build a pressure treated platform to sit this on. It should not be in direct contact with the ground. The siding is an interesting thought, but since the nails will penetrate the siding and the wood and poke out into the inside of your storage facility, probably not a good idea. Unfortunately you are going to be faced with similar problems nailing shingles to the roof as the nails will most likely stick into the inside. Your hinge placement also poses a slight issue keeping things water tight. While you can shingle right up the the hinge, you need to have something over the hinge to prevent water from getting in. Any shingle you place there will get brittle with the exposure to the elements, and then opening and closing the lid will most likely hassen the failure of what you put there. Soooo.... I would place it on a p/t platform, probably paint it (match your house), make it permenant, and I still have to think on your roof....... welcome to the boards!
You won't know if you can do something if you don't try.
Thank you for responding so fast! There is no problem with the nails sticking through as I lined the whole inside with a second layer of wood with about 1/2 inch space between them. (Had no choice as I used nails too long to begin with - as I said I'm no carpenter!) Just for a little extra info, I have caulked all the nail and screw heads with silicone caulk to help prevent rusting (used galvanized but figured the extra couldn't hurt) and I also caulked the seams. I was thinking about the bottom legs. I have seen these heavy plastic things - they aren't blocks, not sure how to describe them - that you can put under the legs of furniture to raise it up. Might that work? My only fear with that is if a heavy enough wind came along it might all topple over even though the cabinet is pretty heavy!
I am afraid that i do not know of the plastic feet that you speak of. You will want to keep your structure off the ground to avoid contact and rot. Do this however you feel best. To me a p/t platform would work, but that is not the only option. Since you have doubled up the walls, then you could side it. Shingles or vinyl. Did you double up the roof? I think that will be your biggest challange you face, Keeping that hinge water tight. I am still thinking on that one.
You won't know if you can do something if you don't try.
Just wanted to reply and let you know. I figured out how to do the top part. I bought a length of a vinyl runner and I'm just going to cut it to lap a little over where the hinges are. Then I can just shingle the rest of it. I will shingle down the vinyl so it won't show a lot but it will cover the hinge part. And as far as preventing the bottom from rotting, this guy at the local hardware store said to just buy 4 of the 1" high outdoor tiles and put one under each corner. Thank you again for your help!
I know your not going to like what you hear, but your design has soom flaws. None of this building can be less then 6' or more to the ground. If it's to close the sidings going to just rot out. Just setting it on 1" blocks is not going to cut it. I see you used 2 X 2's instead of 2 X 4's, there going to crack and there's just not enough surface area to nail or screw to to support it. There's no support where you think your going to install the hindges, just OSB, which is not going to hold a screw. Make a trip to a place that makes sheds or at least sells them. Take a digital camera with you take some pictures and see how different your design is from one that works and make some design changes.
joecaption
Posts: 10965 | Location: Halieford VA | Registered: Jan 31, 2004
As to using vinyl for the roof to cover the hinges, consider using rubber pool liner the same liner that is used in inground decorative garden pools. It is resistant to sunlight deterioration and for the amount you need it should be cheap but stand up to the elements better than vinyl. This liner is the same as that as car & truck inner tubes are made.
I also think the roof is too narrow as it should extend beyond the sides to offer more protection to the sides and have less chance of leaking to the interior.
As to legs consider mounting it on 6" black pipe which is threaded on both ends and screwed in 3" to 4" round plates which can be screws to the bottom of the the stucture and add an additional plate to each pipe to act as feet and give it more stability. These plates have a threaded center to receive 3/4 or 1" pipe and 4 screw holes for fastening. I've seen them holding awnings to a porch and in similar locations. This might help you know what I'm referring to.
You might also consider mounting it on casters, heavy ones with 4 to 6" wheels which would allow you move the cabinet more easily.
I have to agree that the choice of wood is not the best for outdoors as it doesn't stand up to the elements well and will likely absord the moisture from the air and swell. If it does swell, screws and nails will lose their holding power. Plywood though more expensive is far more forgiving in this and will stand up better when you protect it properly.
Good Luck!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Simply Me,
Thanks for the comments. Everything is already screwed together. The bottom frame and the main framing for the top part is all two by fours. I realize the outside wood is not the best but it was all I could get to work with. I plan on priming it with an oil based primer to help protect it. As for the bottom part, that will not have any siding on it. Just the top cabinet part which is about 3 to 3 1/2 feet off the ground. The bottom is just a frame with shutters attached all the way around with the front ones opening up. It's only like that to store the plastic containers of chlorine, etc. They don't need to be inside, just wanted them out of sight. As much time and effort that I have put into this thing, I may just turn around and waterproof it completely - just haven't decided exactly how. Thanks again.
Thank you so much sweets! Will have to go get some of those and give it a try! I was so happy. I went to Home Depot yesterday and got some wood from the oops bin. I got 2 beautiful pieces that were originally one big one but just cut in 1/2. I took the doors I had already made off and made new ones out of this and used it for the backing for the bottom and put it on the peaks as I'm not sure I would have had enough of the siding to cover it all anyhow. Then I went to the other hardware store and found 2 gallons of the oil based primer that is tinted in a color not too far off the siding I have in THEIR oops bin. Got them for $3.99 each! So hopefully by next week this thing will finally be done! Will post a picture when it is! Thanks again everyone!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: hjvagar,
Sweets, just had to come back and say thank you, thank you, thank you! I went and bought those, drilled holes and put them in. They work perfectly! I just made sure that I didn't screw them all the way in and had big enough ones. The are about 1/2 inch sticking out and holding it up beautifully! Thanks again!
