Need insight on building project please

**leighcat** · 08-04-2010, 08:23 PM

I bought this house in April. I need to fix a small section of the workshed roof which is an added structure attached to the outside wall of my house. The walls also need to be replaced because along the bottom where the wood meets the concrete, it is water damaged. I was thinking I would like to turn the shed into an actual useable room with a/c in it if I am going to repair it. It has a roof over it and The carport kind of wraps around the shed and there is a small area of the carport which is too narrow for the car but perfect for a dog kennel. So my plans were to repair the roof, take off the walls, replace them with new walls, insulate, put up drywall boards, put in tile, and finish the ceiling. It has a lot of potential and could probably be turned into an efficiency or a room with a bathroom sometime down the road. Here is my dilemna- what do I do so that the bottom of the wood doesn't rot again? Is there something I have to put between the wood and concrete? I was going to do vinyl siding all around. What do I do to keep water from collecting there again?

**Russ** · 08-04-2010, 08:33 PM

First thing I would do is figure out how to get the water away from there. Slope the ground away from the outside of the building would be a good start.

Then I would use Pressure Treated lumber for the part in contact with the concrete.

I kind of have an idea of what you can put down, but I'm not sure what they call it. Give me some time to search.

**Russ** · 08-04-2010, 08:53 PM

I "think" this would work. Page 2 on the right hand side.
http://www.dow.com/PublishedLiteratu...romPage=GetDoc

Not sure where you would buy it.

**leighcat** · 08-04-2010, 09:15 PM

Thanks Russ! And that would work to keep the part where the wood meets the concrete from having water seep in? Or would I have to do block walls? The concrete pad is larger than the actual building. Should I have a contractor come out and look at it? I could try to find one to give free estimates but I would probably do most of the work myself.

**Russ** · 08-04-2010, 09:22 PM

Can you take some pictures? I could probably advise better.

**leighcat** · 08-05-2010, 07:28 PM

Im sending you a pm with my facebook link so you can see my albums. It won't let me link pictures from FV directly from my computer.

**Russ** · 08-05-2010, 07:51 PM

I found the Styrofoam sill seal at Lowes
Shop 3-1/2" Foam Sill Seal at Lowes.com

Use this between the pressure treated wood and the concrete.
PT wood, even when sunk in the ground should last 20-30 years.

You still need to get the pooling water away from the house.

**leighcat** · 08-05-2010, 08:45 PM

Thank you Russ!!

**arocbuild** · 10-08-2010, 03:24 PM

were you thinking of hiring a contractor?

**Pianolady** · 10-10-2010, 10:34 AM

Just a word of caution, check your zoning and permit requirements, especially when changing a space from a shed to living space. If it's close to the property line, you may have problems....and this is just one possible issue of many.