Is this shed saveable or beyond repair?

Oakeshott

So we recently bought our first house and we inherited this shed in the garden. It's got a big hole in the roof felting, but worse it seems like the roof has some structural problems. Would you guys say it's beyond repair? And if not what do I need to get from B&Q this weekend to be able to fix it? 

TIA

flashg67

shed roofs are often just OSB board with shed felt nailed on. Just refelting the worst parts will help initially. Roll of felt and some galvanised nails will do it. Ideally replace a full shed width, rather just patching it.

Doozergirl

It depends on how long the hole has been in the roof.  It wouldn't take all that long to start rotting the frame where it's exposed, and then potentially the floor too.  

There's already a significant bow in the roof.  You need to do a bit more investigation as to whether there is rot.  

Oakeshott

I’ll take some pictures of the floor, but generally it seems in decent condition considering the nature of the problem. 

Doozergirl

If there's no rot then it can be mended, though a wonky roof isn't going to help any felt lay flat, as you can see!  The roof structure probably needs a bit of help.  

stuart45

Looks like a flimsy build shed and the roof is spreading causing the felt to split at the top. When buying felt it's worth getting the premium grade, as the cheap stuff most sheds come with rips easily.
Looks like an attempt with a few bits of batten has been made to stop the roof spread.

Section62

Oakeshott said:

Would you guys say it's beyond repair? And if not what do I need to get from B&Q this weekend to be able to fix it? 

No, I've repaired a lot worse, and if you want/need a decent garden shed of that size it will cost you more to buy a new one than the cost of the materials to make this one better, and the new one probably won't last as long.

The end with the door looks like it has gone out of square - I'd guess because the base has dropped a bit on one side. That it turn could be part of the problem with the roof.

If it were me I'd plan to dismantle the shed down to the panels (roof, ends, sides, base).  Wash them to remove the algae and soil, inspect for rot & repair, then make sure the panels are 'square' by measuring the diagonals and correcting if necessary. I'd probably put some extra nails into the weatherboards where they have started lifting.  Make sure they have dried well, then treat the external faces of the ends and sides with a decent solvent-based treatment like this - https://www.toolstation.com/barrettine-wood-protective-treatment-5l/p48655

Use two coats and make sure it is soaking in well, particularly in any 'softer' areas.  I'd recommend solvent-based because you don't know what it has been treated with in the past and with older timber you need really good penetration.

For the roof, I would make it more rigid by adding three lengths of 3x2 CLS timber to each half of the roof - one top, middle, and bottom - running lengthwise alongside the existing 38x38(??) pieces which are completely inadequate on their own.  Fix them by screwing down through the roof boards - having stripped off the existing felt and countersinking the screw holes.  Treat the new timber with the same stuff you've got for the walls.

Check the underside of the floor panel for rot, and treat the 'bearers' after letting them dry well.

Then you'll have a good-as-new shed ready for reassembly and refelting.  I suspect you'll need to do something about the base the shed is standing on, so post some more pictures when you get to the stage you can see what you've got.

in_my_wellies

It depends what you will be using the shed for.

My smaller shed is so wonky the door doesn't fit and strong push would knock it over but as it's only used for plastic stuff (plant pots, trays, netting, etc) I'm not bothered. I did successfully re-felt the roof 3 years ago so it's dry but it was hard to find solid wood to nail into. I treat it with shed stain which covers a multitude of sins

My larger shed houses bikes and garden tools and needs to be secure, hence, more effort goes into maintenance 

I agree with Section62 - it very satisfying to renovate wooden stuff and after a good stain it really does look like new! 

stuart45

Section62 said:

Oakeshott said:

Would you guys say it's beyond repair? And if not what do I need to get from B&Q this weekend to be able to fix it? 

.  I suspect you'll need to do something about the base the shed is standing on, so post some more pictures when you get to the stage you can see what you've got.

The base might be the cause of the issue of the shed roof spreading.

Section62

stuart45 said:

Section62 said:

Oakeshott said:

Would you guys say it's beyond repair? And if not what do I need to get from B&Q this weekend to be able to fix it? 

.  I suspect you'll need to do something about the base the shed is standing on, so post some more pictures when you get to the stage you can see what you've got.

The base might be the cause of the issue of the shed roof spreading.

That's my impression - one or both of the long sides has dropped, pulling the two halves of the roof away from each other. (Combined with the roof timbering being inadequate to start with.)  Someone has tried to tie the two together - but too late, or not effectively enough.

Not difficult to repair though.

twopenny

While agreeing with everything that's been said the first thing that occoured to me was the base.
If you buy a new shed I guarantee when you took this one down you'd find that the base needs doing as well.
So ££s extra.
I kept a shed dry and watertight for 40yrs. My grandmother put it in xxx yrs before that.
Unless you are lucky enough to have the cash, now is the time to save your money and use your time to fix stuff.
Perfectly doable. When you show people round your new house are you going to show them the inside of the shed? Unlikely. 
Choose your method from the above, paint it a pretty colour and forget for a few years