Planning a Japanese inspired garden shed

realzed · April 02, 2024, 04:02:38 PM

Willa has a friend?!

GRadice · April 02, 2024, 08:15:31 PM

Yes! Stella. They are pretty good buddies. Stella is 10-1/2 years old and the very best dog.

GRadice · April 15, 2024, 10:49:01 PM

Small update.

Well, it turned out that one of the windows wasn't square enough and couldn't be fixed. It was fine during test fit but I must have skewed it while clamping during glue up. I sawed it apart and was able to save the kumiko lattice and I'm making a new frame for it.

I also was able to find some new old stock Japanese copper gutters and hanging brackets for a good price. I think I can make the other few gutter accessories such as end caps and a downspout for a rain chain myself. That will be fun.

And I finally, after many weeks and emails with the manufacturer, have the rest of the roof panels and ridge caps in hand and have maybe one more day to finish the roof, with my wonderful neighbor's help.

Sorry, no pictures this time.

aigheadish · April 17, 2024, 06:50:07 AM

Copper gutters should be pretty!

GRadice · April 20, 2024, 06:08:32 PM

Finally, finally got everything for the roof and finished installing it today. Just before it started to rain.

I can't tell you how happy I am to have this done after so many weeks of delays. And no more ladders!

GRadice · May 17, 2024, 10:47:14 PM

I finished the window sash. I had to remake one of them since it was out of square so that took awhile. On to the gutters and doors.

GRadice · June 09, 2024, 09:32:27 PM

One of two half round copper gutters is up. The gutters and brackets are from Japan, although some of the pieces I was miraculously able to find locally because "I know a guy who knows a guy" who had them left over from an unfinished project. I had to solder together the 5 ft gutter sections using some splice/adaptor pieces. I'm had to learn copper sheet metal soldering for that. I'd give myself a C- for esthetics, but the seams do hold water.

The brackets are unusual because they insert into the ends of the rafter tails. I think they are a nice sculptural detail. The round end caps add a decorative detail, too. The rain chain is a classic design called "crocus flower."

wrelacji · June 10, 2024, 04:02:46 AM

Installing the copper gutters, which you partially acquired through local contacts, is an impressive endeavor. Although the aesthetics of the solder joints might not be perfect, the key is that they are watertight and functional. The unique Japanese brackets that insert into the ends of the rafters, along with the decorative round end caps, add architectural charm. The classic "crocus flower" rain chain not only serves a practical function but also enhances the visual appeal of the installation. Regular maintenance, cleaning, and monitoring the condition of the gutters and solder joints will ensure their durability and aesthetic appeal for many years, while the naturally patinating copper will add character to the entire setup.

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GRadice · June 12, 2024, 09:26:23 PM

I got the other gutter hung today. And I tested the rain chain.

https://youtube.com/shorts/dQZKL9X8qM4

GRadice · June 28, 2024, 09:59:00 PM

Working on the two sliding doors now. More gorgeous CVG Port Orford cedar.
There will be glass behind the front lattice and another lattice behind to backstop the glass. The hip board takes advantage of a lovely 12" wide board with a little ripple figure. Door rails and stiles will be double through mortise and tenoned, wedged. The pix give an idea of what they will look like.

GRadice · July 03, 2024, 09:16:21 PM

And with the lattice done and dry fit to the frame. Ready for glue up tomorrow.

GRadice · July 06, 2024, 08:59:01 PM

Glued up and set in the doorway before trimming to fit. I think it will just need 1/8" or 3/16" taken off the top.

I fussed a lot over what lattice dimensions (bar width and number of horizontal and verticals) to use to complement the windows. The doors are about twice as tall and wide as the windows and the rails and stiles are double the width. The door bars are 1/2" wide vs 3/8" on the windows and the proportions of the open spaces look about the same. I'm happy with the result. After fitting the door I'll make the stops I'll rinse and repeat for the other door, then order the glass.

GRadice · July 17, 2024, 09:36:09 PM

Both doors are now fit. I'm very happy with their motion. I still need to add their weather stripping and their glass (glass should arrive next week) which should smooth out the movement even more and buffer their stops against the posts.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Lv5XlKzfe-w

GRadice · August 17, 2024, 11:06:15 PM

I've made a potting bench for the shed. The design program was to have free standing bench rather than built in against the end wall by the window so there would be side light, use up scraps from the shed build and from my hardwood stash to keep the cost down, be sturdy, and have two shelves for storage.

Western red cedar 4x4s for the legs, Douglas fir construction lumber for the rails. The top has madrone, butternut, Oregon white oak, eastern white Oak, cherry, and sycamore. The three border boards on the top are giant chinkapin, an uncommon hardwood from the Pacific northwest. The top is colorful now but I think it will look better when it turns brown/gray with time and use.

I'm keeping the bench outside until I finish the floor. Don't know when that will be, maybe this winter.

GRadice · August 26, 2024, 10:08:52 PM

Incremental progress. I finished the doors by installing the glass and pulls. Next up making the three panels that go above the window and doors.

GRadice · September 29, 2024, 05:36:40 PM

I finished the panels for the transom spaces. They are fit but I still need to install the trim.

GRadice · October 05, 2024, 04:47:29 PM

Panels are trimmed out. BTW, every wood surface you see here was hand finish planed. Didn't seem to me like a lot of work when I was doing it one piece at a time, but it does now!

This finishes all of the woodworking for the shed except for the steps and the floor. Seems like a good place to stop. I'm going to take a break for a few months as our rainy season is about to begin. I hope to get back to it in the spring.

aigheadish · October 07, 2024, 03:21:01 PM

This really looks great GRadice! You should be very proud of yourself!

GRadice · February 23, 2025, 04:35:16 PM

Sometimes life throws you curves. My wife and I have decided to move from Oregon to Bloomington, IN. We are buying a house there now and plan to migrate in early June.

Long discussions about what to do about the still incomplete shed. It looks now like I will be dismantling it and taking it with us. Movers we have consulted say it will fit in the moving van along with our household goods and my shop stuff as long as I can break it down into pieces that three men can lift. I'm planning how to make that happen now.

Planeiron · February 25, 2025, 08:25:56 AM

Wow, the dismantling, moving and re-raising would make an interesting thread, if you have the time. The phoenix frame. Good luck with the move!

GRadice · April 28, 2025, 10:29:54 PM

Time to catch up. We bought a house in Bloomington on April 2. We listed our current home on April 3 and accepted an offer on April 8. We will close on May 20 and move on June 4. So we are in packing mode.

I started dismantling the shed two weeks ago. First to come off were the metal roof panels. That was a matter of having my wonderful neighbor volunteer to remove the galvanized nails from the clips that held each panel on. I labeled the panels as they came off. Then he de-nailed and stripped the weather barrier.

Next came the roof decking and ceiling boards. Those were screwed down so it was a simple matter to unscrew them. I also labeled them so each board can go back in the same position. The only glitch here is that about 10-15% of the screws twisted and broke. I think those were the Grip-Rite brand screws. The GRK screws were much, much better to drive and to remove. Lesson learned.

I removed the weather barrier from the walls and unscrewed the plywood sheathing. No problems there. I also removed the doors and windows.

Today another friend came over and we removed the wedges and pegs. I was worried how that would go but it turned out to be simple. Just screw a 4" GRK screw into the end grain and use a pry bar and blocking to lever the wedge or peg out. Easy-peasy. The frame is still solid enough for someone to sit safely on the roof beams.

The rest of this week I'll spend restacking and organizing the removed parts for packing and shipping. I'll also remove the shachi sen wedges so that the barge boards and floor beams can be separated.

Saturday is scheduled for taking down the frame itself. I have a crew of 6-7 guys and it should take us half a day. Fingers crossed.

I don't have a lot of pictures of the process. Not much to see, just pulling nails and unscrewing stuff. Here's where I am at the end of the day today.

aigheadish · April 29, 2025, 07:21:39 AM

We'll welcome you to this side of the country Gary! I hope you like humidity. You'll be closish to Cedarman too, I think.

GRadice · May 01, 2025, 09:54:22 PM

Thanks!

The shed frame is stripped of everything except the subfloor and floor joists, which I'm leaving to have a stable platform for ladders. I loosened the barge board joinery but the boards are too heavy and awkward for me to remove by myself. Helpers arrive Saturday morning for taking everything apart.