ian
How it all began..
I have always built things. From as early as I can remember it was Sticklebricks, then Lego then Airfix then wood.
My ongoing need for a shed is probably rooted in this need for space to create things but also in the deep seated memories of the smell of my Grandad's shed.
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When we moved to our new house several years ago, I wanted a shed that I could store all my stuff in but that would also allow me to work in when I wanted to. The challenge (as I'm sure is often the case) is that we don't have a massive garden so space comes very much at a premium.
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We agreed that we had an 8ftx8ft square which we could spare for the job and so I set about looking for a shed to fit.
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The problems I encountered in trying to source a shed to fit my needs were manifold and common in most of the sheds we viewed:​
"I want a better shed."
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They were too dark inside.
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For the floorspace they took up, there wasn't much room.
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They were poorly constructed from the cheapest materials.
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The roofs were too low.
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The floors were flimsy.
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They were all ugly.
The problems with most sheds...
Finding the solutions...
Prototype 1
Lots of space, better light, clinker-built & solid.
We created Prototype 1 to fit 'into' the hedge. It used the available footprint really well and we built it on pressure treated bearers to make sure the floor wouldn't decay.
The greatest revelation was how much extra storage it gave us.
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By storing smaller stuff like paint tins and car maintenance stuff on shelves in 'the roof' it created enough room for 2 benches and shelving units.
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The Problem: because it was built with a single layer of inexpensive 10mm softwood cladding, when the knots in the wood shrank in the sun, it started to leak.
Prototype 2
Introducing Three-ply cladding
In Prototype 2 we overcame our little leak issue by developing our three-ply cladding which created a completely water-tight room.
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It also introduced the innovation of having the waterproofing on the inside with it's associated benefits:
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No longer would the cladding need to be treated
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The waterproof layer doesn't decay due to weather action and is protected from puncture.
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You only see beautiful wood cladding.
We kept the inexpensive corrugated polycarbonate in order to meet a price point. The disadvantages of this approach were that the corrugation held dirt over time and looked ugly.
Prototype 3: The ühut 888
Curved Polycarbonate Rooflight
The smooth, curved polycarbonate skylight creates a much better silhouette and prevents dirt from gathering in the ridges of the previous prototypes.
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Also, the addition of the black membrane clamp both front and back prevents the waterproof sandwich being punctures at all.
The ühut 888 2018
Up to 44mm thick Three-Ply Cladding & massive 5.5m² skylight.
By using 19mm thick, 150mm wide tanelised planks for the outer cladding, the uhut has become a substantial and more rigid structure.
It oozes material quality and enables us to confidently screw the entire structure together. This means that (as opposed to most other sheds) we don't use any nails or brads in the build ensuring that all our joints stay nice and tight.
The ühut 888 2019
Up to 44mm thick Three-Ply Cladding & massive 5.5m² skylight.
Better use of tanelised wood.
Hardwood exterior ply front & back.
Unique recycled ühandle & interior surface mounted rimlock for better security.
The ühut 688 2019
Same ühut build quality and light.
Just a smaller footprint - 6' wide x 8' long.
Better use of tanelised wood.
Hardwood exterior ply front & back.
Unique recycled ühandle & interior surface mounted rimlock for better security.
The ühut 2020
Sweating the sustainability
Increase in use of carbon storing materials.
Greater longevity
Even lower maintenance requirement
Use of novel waste materials
Self-build design
Reduction in material use
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The ühut 2021
Focus on usability
Removal of need for central arch.
Phenolic resin coated front and rear for more longevity.
Even lower maintenance requirement
Self-build design
Introduction of optional windows
Introduction of 4 metre long ühut
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