Use the dimensions that
are on the techincal
details documentation for
your specific building to
workout the required
dimensions when laying
your solid base.
Do not forget about the roof
overhang when chosing your
building location. Keep in
mind where the roof will finish
and how you will maintain
the building.
BASE DIMENSIONS
2230mm
2140mm
1485mm
265mm
FLOOR PLAN
Door Gable
FOOTPRINT
OF BUILDING
(Approximate measurements)
Flag Stones
Sharp Sand
50mm deep
CONCRETE BASE
75 mm of Concrete
laid on top of
75mm of
hardcore.
FLAG STONES
Slabs laid on 50mm
of sharp sand.
m
m
0
5
1
Concrete
75mm deep
Hardcore
75mm deep
When thinking about where the
building and base are going to be
constructed ensure that there will
be access to all sides for maintenance
work and annual treatment. This
building should be situated at least
2 metres away from any structures or
obstructions (such as fences, buildings,
trees, laundary lines, electrical wires etc).
We recommend that areas around
playhouses have a soft surface such as
play bark or grass.
All garden buildings must be
built on a level, flat base to be erected correctly.
BUILDING A BASE
OPTIONAL PRESSURE TREATED BASE
You are not required to build a base if you have
purchsed our pressure treated base option.
1172mm
2637mm
1465mm
2105mm
Tongue
&
Groove
Overlap
Outside
of
building
Outside
of
building
CLADDING STYLE
Overlap:
This style of cladding is
very traditional and uses rough
sawn timber.
This gives the panels their
unfinished look and helps the
building to blend in to it’s
natural surrondings. When the
wood has dried through hotter
weather knots may become
loose, which is natural. Overlap
is an economic solution for
lower impact use.
Tongue & Groove:
This style of
cladding allows the timber to
interlock giving greater strength
to the building. It also creates
a smoother finish and continous
lines throughout the panel. Due
to the natural movement of
wood the lines between tongue
and groove panels may not
marry up.
PANEL ORIENTATION
It is essential to ensure that the panels of your
building are in the correct orientation. Assembly
in the wrong orientation may lead to water
ingress and deterioration.
BOARDS OVER HANG THE EDGE OF THE FLOOR
In most cases the lower edge of the panels
overhangs the floor of the building and the panel
is fixed to floor with screws through the frame on
the inside of the panel.
PRODUCT MAINTENANCE CHECK LIST:
Wooden Sheds / Playhouses / Summerhouses
Level Base:
maintaining the building.
Seal The Windows:
Use a silicone sealant on the inside and outside of the windows as soon
as possible after assembly is a strong way of sealing the windows.
Annually Treat The Building:
Treat your building after construction with a good quality water
resistant treatment. Repeat this process annually inside and out.
The Building Must Not Be In Contact With Anything:
Overhanging hedges or trees must be cut back regularly as a branch
Regularly Check / Replace Damaged Felt:
Check the felt regularly. Any damaged felt must be replaced.
Lubrication:
Use a suitable oil to lubricated all moving parts, such as hinges, for
continued propper use.
(Note that you dont need to treat the item if you received a pressure
treated building).
TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE
Pre-Assembly:
Q: What type of base should I use?
A:
You must lay a solid flat / level base. Failure to do so will result in your building fitting together
incorrectly. We highly recommend a properly laid and flat and level concrete or flag stone base (see Building a Base section of this instruction
document).
Q: I have glazing / fixing kit missing. What should I do?
A:
Firstly check that all of your building’s parts are there by laying them
all out on the ground. Check between the panels / larger parts as the glazing comes banded together and is placed between the panels, along
with the fixing kit, for safer transportation. If they are still not found please visit our Support Centre - www. gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/help
Q: What tools do I require?
A:
Drill with 4.5, 3 and 2mm drill bit / Hammer / Spirit Level / Measuring Tape / Screwdriver (Phillips) / Stanley
Knife / Wood Saw / Step Ladder.
Q: Are tower playhouses freestanding?
A:
We recommend that tower playhouses are positioned on a flat / level base raising the legs
away from ground moisture. Please read the PLAYHOUSES: PROTECTING PLAYHOUSE TOWER LEGS section of this document for more details.
Q: Are my window & plain panels interchangeable
?
A:
On apex buildings the window & plain panels are interchangeable where they
are the same size or make up the same size panel as the opposing wall with more than one part.
Q: Can I have my personnel door on the other side of my building?
A:
Yes.
During Assembly:
Q: How are the windows fixed to the building
?
A:
This process depends on the individual building. Please read the instructions to find
out which method your particular building uses.
Q: Which way do the joists run
?
A:
This process depends on the individual building. Please read the instructions to find out which way the
joists run.
Q: My building seems a little flimsy
?
A:
Your building won’t reach full rigidity until fully assembled so do not panic.
Q: Construction seems tricky
?
A:
Take your time and read the instructions thoroughly. These buildings should be constructed by two people.
If in doubt seek professional help.
Q: The felt seems a little tight?
A:
To reduce waste, to help protect the environment and reduce costs for our customers we only supply the
required amount of felt or roofing material.
Q: My building isn’t going together properly, it is twisted.
A:
It sounds like you are building on an uneven surface. You must build
on a flat / level base for your building to fit together correctly.
Post-Assembly:
Q: Why is there a gap around the doors?
A:
During the year the wood of your building will shrink and expand, which will create a gap
around you building’s doors. This is natural.
Q: Why is there a gap around my playhouse door?
A:
This gap is to stop finger trapping and is an EN71 testing requirement.
Q: Why does my playhouse have holes in the back panel?
A:
These holes are for ventilation and is an EN71 testing requirement.
Q: My building is not water tight around the windows. A:
These products have been designed as an affordable solution to
most popular light domestic uses and we do not state that they are water tight. Use silicon sealant around the windows to improve the water
resistant qualities of the building.
Q: My building has developed a leak
A:
Use silicon sealant to stop the leak and make sure that your building is not in a damp area and if
necessary move it and replace the damaged boards.
PLAYHOUSES:
PROTECTING
PLAYHOUSE TOWER LEGS
We strongly recommend that the legs of
all of the platforms in the tower range of
playhouses should be kept off of grass
and soil and out of moisture.
The minimum protection needed is to be
treated annually with a water repellent
treatment.
Alternatively covering the lower leg with
roofing felt or damp proof course will help
prevent water penetration.
Placing the tower legs on a solid base,
preferably concrete or flag stones, will
help prevent water penetration.
When fixing
WINDOW CLOAKING
STRIPS
over two glazing panes
make sure not to pierce the
glazing beneath.
Use a piece of
CARDBOARD
to
protect the glazing when fixing
WINDOW CLOAKING STRIPS,WINDOW
BEADING
or
WINDOW CROSSES.
To reduce wood splitting
BLUNT ALL
NAIL
and
PANEL PIN POINTS
by hitting
them with a hammer before fixing
window parts.
In hard to reach areas when
glazing and fitting
CLOAKING STRIPS
try using a hammer and 6” inch
nail to fix the nails and pins.
When fixing
WINDOW BEADING
get
your nails or pins fixed in the
beading away from the glazing
before final positioning.
TIPS ON GLAZING YOUR BUILDING:
1
2
3
4
5
For Queries and Help please access our Support Centre: www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/help
