Which of these timbers for a shepherds hut?

[Youngstu]

Hi. 

I'm planning on building a shepherds hut on a bale trailer in my woodland. I'm going to be getting some milling done this year and ideally would like to build it from as much of my own timber as possible. Just wondering about suggestions for which timbers would be best for framing, exterior cladding and internal cladding.

The home grown options that I have include oak (lots), beech (enough), cherry, ash, birch (some and much of the ash and beech is smaller diameter).

I'm planning on building the shepherds hut in place without any intention of it actually going anywhere (but it can if it needs to;)

Any thoughts greatly appreciated

 

Stu

[Big J]

All of your timbers will result in quite a heavy shepherds hut. Best bet for cladding is western red cedar as it's low density and stability means it will work well for a mobile structure. I'd go with lightweight but strong softwood structural timbers too. Douglas fir or Lawsons cypress would be ideal.

[gobbypunk]

Hi I agree with Big J about the cladding but I would 2x1 ash for the frame traditionaly frames were made from ash , buses, showman wagons , shepherds huts , all had ash framing , I wouldn’t use beech outside but spalted beech for some internal furniture would look ace ,resin coat a worktop of spalted beech stunning and long lasting , do post some pics of your build good luck with it 

Cheers Mark

[Graham w]

Hi Stu

 

I think you have a great selection of timber lined up for your build (people started using softwoods because we used up all the hardwoods)

 

Weight should not be much of an issue if the chassis is a bale trailer. I would recommend oak as a tough outdoor cladding thats more than strong enough for framing. Ash as above a traditional framing timber. Cherry or the heartwood is hard and could make good flooring, Beech also makes good framing, floorboards and panelling.  

 

Im doing a run of birch panelling and i will let you know how i get on!

[Youngstu]

Thanks for your suggestions guys. Some good things to bear in mind. 

 

[woody paul]

Use what timber you have to it's best.

But Shepard's huts were built for farmers / large estates for there Shepard so built cheap most of them my old boss has a couple of old ones 1940 _ 1960 both softwood frame's on top of oak chassis and softwood clad.