Thread: Old timber post shed restoration advice requested

G'Day Chris, I've sent an email to a bloke on the forum to have a look at your project as he may be able to assist....He's a top tradie with a very good rep...Cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by Widman

So a few questions, if you don't mind:
1) Am I crazy?

No

Originally Posted by Widman

2) Anyone know of a tradie that would do such work in the Adelaide area? I'd love to get a quote and/or advice from a professional ...

I did grow up in Adelaide but no longer there. Happy to give an opinion. Most of my peers are probably not on the tools anymore but if someone comes to mind I'll let you know. I left in the 90ies

Originally Posted by Widman

3) Pouring a concrete footing for a reasonably high stone wall up against a buried, fairly ancient wooden post - good idea or bad? I feel like sealing the moisture into the wood with concrete might make it rot faster?

I agree. Pouring concrete around wood is not a brilliant idea. As the wood rots it will become loose in the concrete.

Originally Posted by Widman

4) How to go about tying said stonework to the post in the corner? Or better to remove post entirely?

I would remove post or cut it off at the ground / finished floor level and remove what is in the ground. Pour your footing continuous.

If you leave the visible part of the post in you would need to secure brick ties to the post in each direction of the wall to make it a good corner. Retaining the post would only be for aesthetics. Depends what look you like.

Some soils in Adelaide are extremely reactive so good advice on footing sizes should be sought. Up around Golden Grove I have seen house footings as much as 1800mm deep by 450mm wide with all the associated reo

Originally Posted by Widman

5) How to go about lifting posts/supporting roof, while removing rotted timber as needed from the base of posts and splicing in new timber, or stonework?

This is one I have considered for an old shed of mine. I had considered removing old post in ground and using a heavy duty stirup set in concrete to hold up the post. Jack it to right height before you cut it as you may not want to have a long stirup leg sticking out of the ground.

Feel free to ask more questions

Thanks to Crowie for giving me heads up on this thread. Rwbuild will be here later toight and may chime in with some other thoughts









Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Hi Chris (Widman)

That's a nice old shed and I can see why you might want to keep it. BUT if you're looking to put solar panels on the roof, you may need to contemplate a total rebuild. i.e. a whole new shed.

I'm no expert on solar panels but I think the structure should be up to solar panels. The shed had stood the test of time with the exception of sinking. Through wind and rain it is still there.

It maybe that you need to strengthen it in some areas but personally i don't think a rebuild would be needed unless you had the extra cash and wanted it 'just so'

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

I'm thinking that the shed may not be strong or sufficiently rigid enough to support the weight and wind load of the solar panels and the people climbing over the roof to install them.

I'm also thinking that the shed may be much younger than the house, dating from when the property started to acquire motorised machinery. But the iron sheets probably have the manufacture date painted on the underside.

You wont know the condition of the posts below ground level unless you expose them. We had a similar situation on one of our properties.
Here is what we did:
1 Temporary tombed the beam beside the post.
2 Put a post hole digger down against the side of the post.
3 Checked post for rot below ground.
4 If rotten, dug second post hole on other side of post.
5 Cut post off at ground level.
6 Second cut about 50mm above first.
7 Levered remaining butt back and forth between the two post holes, lifted out with chain and jib.
8 Cleaned out post holes (now one hole).
9 Bolted heavy duty gal saddle to sides of post, extending down into hole remaining 100 mm from bottom of hole.
10 Filled hole with concrete to ground level.
This all took place about 20 years ago. Shed is still standing happily today.
Hope this helps.

My 2 bobs worth ...... too big a job, so dismantle complete shed and build new one..... I'll take all timber & iron off your hands for free..... problem solvered

Originally Posted by Tonto

My 2 bobs worth ...... too big a job, so dismantle complete shed and build new one..... I'll take all timber & iron off your hands for free..... problem solvered [emoji814]:

I'll go us halves 😉

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art