That's real progress. Sensible to wait for proper flue fittings - wriggly tin is a pain to flash. Will you tile behind the woodburner?
Building a Shepherd's Hut
- Thread starter Broch
- Start date
Yep, I can imagine it is, and the place being waterproof is a high priority
- that and rodent proof!I'm putting a fireproof/insulating panel behind the burner. There's no way a stove can be fitted with 300mm type wall spacing in a small hut. Some of the commercial fits I've looked at have had about 10mm! - I'll aim for a bit more than that
Yeh, sorry
- my build plans were thwarted by other people's needs!However, I'm down in the wood tomorrow to get the log burner in place then, on Wednesday, I hope to get the flue installed.
Yeh, sorry
However, I'm down in the wood tomorrow to get the log burner in place then, on Wednesday, I hope to get the flue installed.
LOL!!
I wasn't ( unintended pun... ) badgering you..
Just saying I'm enjoying the process and am wondering how the internal design may turn out?
Spartan , simple and serene?
or
Modern , multi use and modular??
The idea at the moment is to camp in there initially to get a feel for space and where we want to put stuff. We'll use our camp beds and table plus the camp kitchen unit.
However, the current thinking is that I will build two single beds in the far end, away from the log burner, that can be bolted together as a double. We'll have a small folding table and two chairs next to the larger window and a simple work surface with a sink and gas burner under the smaller window. I'm going to put a small water tank (200L or so) uphill from the hut that I can fill from the truck and a soak-away for waste water. And that will be about it.
So, relatively basic and homely rather than 'modern'. There'll be an axe or two, oil lamps, book shelves, an enamel kettle/coffee pot on the stove and then whatever we feel fits. We have loads of 'steam punk' bits and bobs but I think we've decided we're not making it a SP den
You've probably realized I've no idea yet - we'll see where fancy takes us.
However, the current thinking is that I will build two single beds in the far end, away from the log burner, that can be bolted together as a double. We'll have a small folding table and two chairs next to the larger window and a simple work surface with a sink and gas burner under the smaller window. I'm going to put a small water tank (200L or so) uphill from the hut that I can fill from the truck and a soak-away for waste water. And that will be about it.
So, relatively basic and homely rather than 'modern'. There'll be an axe or two, oil lamps, book shelves, an enamel kettle/coffee pot on the stove and then whatever we feel fits. We have loads of 'steam punk' bits and bobs but I think we've decided we're not making it a SP den
You've probably realized I've no idea yet
- we'll see where fancy takes us.
Are you putting the log burner near the door? I hope you have an alternative escape route in case of unintended accident with it.
A thing that happens rarely but does happen.
Many years ago, I had a friend who lived in a converted horse box happily for many years, until his Woodburner dropped some un noticed hot coals on the wood floor, they had rolled off the hearth plate he'd put down to protect the floor. He almost didn't make it out, and got severely burned. It always makes me nervous when I see wood fires near the main exit door as his was.
I'm sure that it's crossed your mind though.
It's a grand job so far, and I'm deeply envious of your land, and your skills.
Love the project. Can't wait for the finished thing!
A thing that happens rarely but does happen.
Many years ago, I had a friend who lived in a converted horse box happily for many years, until his Woodburner dropped some un noticed hot coals on the wood floor, they had rolled off the hearth plate he'd put down to protect the floor. He almost didn't make it out, and got severely burned. It always makes me nervous when I see wood fires near the main exit door as his was.
I'm sure that it's crossed your mind though.
It's a grand job so far, and I'm deeply envious of your land, and your skills.
Love the project. Can't wait for the finished thing!
Yes, with a door at one end (as opposed to on one side) it's the only practical place to put the log burner I'm afraid. However, both windows (half way down the hut) are capable of being used as an exit (the larger one particularly) and I have already bought a fire extinguisher that will be kept at the 'bed end' of the hut. You're right though, it is something that needs to be taken seriously in a wooden hut.
The burner I'm putting in has a glass door so there's less temptation to use it with the door open which, in my experience, is when all the spark and falling log problems occur.
The burner I'm putting in has a glass door so there's less temptation to use it with the door open which, in my experience, is when all the spark and falling log problems occur.
Nearly there now!
I've fitted the log burner and installed the flue and carried out a test burn. I had to vacate the hut for a couple of hours to let it burn out as the place was unbearably hot!
Other jobs: made and fitted a step (why didn't I do that at the beginning? it would have made life a lot easier!), fitted the window handles and bolts, and a load of little finishing tasks inside and out - I don't think they'll ever be finished.
I've started clearing the site of all the debris so, as soon as I've finished that, I'll take some final 'outside' photos.
I've fitted the log burner and installed the flue and carried out a test burn. I had to vacate the hut for a couple of hours to let it burn out as the place was unbearably hot!
Other jobs: made and fitted a step (why didn't I do that at the beginning? it would have made life a lot easier!), fitted the window handles and bolts, and a load of little finishing tasks inside and out - I don't think they'll ever be finished.
I've started clearing the site of all the debris so, as soon as I've finished that, I'll take some final 'outside' photos.
That's coming on a treat Broch!
I can only imagine the satisfaction you'll get, from waking up on a cold morning, knowing you've built the shelter around you.
I can only imagine the satisfaction you'll get, from waking up on a cold morning, knowing you've built the shelter around you.
Look marvellous!
Now, if you'll just let me know the "What three words" location I'll take up residence as a squatter!
Now, if you'll just let me know the "What three words" location I'll take up residence as a squatter!
This will be my last post on this for a while! (promise )
We've slept down in the hut a number of times now and will be doing so again this week. It's blissful, serene, quiet and in a different world!
However, after the first night we realised we weren't happy using our camp kitchen, water from a jerry can, and throwing waste from a bowl out in the shrubs. I was going to build a purpose built kitchen/sink unit but the missus had the bright idea of seeing if we could find something ready-made I could convert. To some people this will be sacrilege, but we found an Ercol oak dresser being sold by a local house clearance guy for less than it would cost me for the wood. The top part has made a nice shelf unit and the bottom I've inset a sink unit in. The steam-punk tap is temporary; I've not found a tall, single supply, tap that doesn't look 22nd century
I've run a drain out to a soakaway and put a water tank higher up in the wood that I can fill from the track.
It's all looking a bit more 'twee' than I imagined (I would have gone for the pioneer log cabin look) but it's 'our' hut not mine and I'm happy to compromise.
Still to make the beds (two singles that can be fixed together to make a double) so we're using our camp beds with mattresses on top for now.
)We've slept down in the hut a number of times now and will be doing so again this week. It's blissful, serene, quiet and in a different world!
However, after the first night we realised we weren't happy using our camp kitchen, water from a jerry can, and throwing waste from a bowl out in the shrubs. I was going to build a purpose built kitchen/sink unit but the missus had the bright idea of seeing if we could find something ready-made I could convert. To some people this will be sacrilege, but we found an Ercol oak dresser being sold by a local house clearance guy for less than it would cost me for the wood. The top part has made a nice shelf unit and the bottom I've inset a sink unit in. The steam-punk tap is temporary; I've not found a tall, single supply, tap that doesn't look 22nd century
I've run a drain out to a soakaway and put a water tank higher up in the wood that I can fill from the track.
It's all looking a bit more 'twee' than I imagined (I would have gone for the pioneer log cabin look
) but it's 'our' hut not mine and I'm happy to compromise.Still to make the beds (two singles that can be fixed together to make a double) so we're using our camp beds with mattresses on top for now.
That looks so good Andy, must be really satisfying relaxing in it now.
As for the tap, that really fits in
As for the tap, that really fits in
That looks excellent
It's going to be a delight to see it in the snow later on too.
I like what you did with the dresser; very practical, looks 'right', and it's a substantial enough piece to be sound storage too.
It's going to be a delight to see it in the snow later on too.
I like what you did with the dresser; very practical, looks 'right', and it's a substantial enough piece to be sound storage too.
That looks great! - I'd keep the tap personally, dosn't look out of place and fits in well i think
and anyway why have you a pot of coffee on top of your TV!?
and anyway why have you a pot of coffee on top of your TV!?
