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DH wants a new shed: expects me to build it with him

256 replies

Tripewriter · 20/03/2025 09:41

I'm in my 60s, not particularly fit and never one for more than fairly basic DIY. My DH trained as a carpenter many years ago and is still fit and strong, a couple of years younger than me and retired. I can paint a room and shift furniture if required, and I do what I can to help him carry heavy stuff around, or hold one end of something while he does quick repairs, but I've never been interested in hard physical work. I have other skills and have earned my own living over the years.

He wants to demolish an ancient, leaky shed and build a bigger, better, high-spec one with insulation and electrics. He approached a friend, currently working as a carpenter, for a quote. The friend reckons £15k, which is about twice the price DH had expected to pay. So now, apparently, we are building his shed. I've worked with DH on small projects (a bit of fencing, installing new gates, creating paths) before now and we don't work well together. He's painstaking (and therefore slow) and constantly frustrated that I'm not as strong or fast as he is. He measures a dozen times before cutting or placing anything: my role is usually to stand there in the cold wind, holding bits of wood or paving slabs, in discomfort, with him yelling at me not to move. I can do it for a couple of hours at a time, but not for days on end.

We've just had a big row this morning, with him telling me that when you're a couple you work together on these things and help each other out. He cited the fact that the other day, when my car (which he often borrows) was playing up, he drove behind me to my garage and then gave me a lift home afterwards and a lift back to pick the car up. This, apparently, means that I now have to reciprocate by spending a fortnight labouring several hours a day for him. I can't believe he actually said that with a straight face, but he did. He also said it would be good exercise for me.

I'm not going mad, am I? This is totally unreasonable, isn't it? I suspect he's in shock at the cost of it all.

OP posts:
HellsBalls · 20/03/2025 09:53

All you need to do is hold things while he screws it all together. You are not going to be clambering around on the roof. Once the superstructure is up he’ll complete it himself.
If the panels are too heavy then rent a trolly, but my experience is they are light enough to be easily moved by two people.

Theforestonthehill · 20/03/2025 09:52

I'd help my DH build a shed if he asked, even if I wasn't going to use the shed. Both in our 60s

DenholmElliot11 · 20/03/2025 09:50

Build a shed! At 60! I'd have just laughed and moved on.

Just laugh, say no and that you don't want to hear any more about it.

lifemakeover · 20/03/2025 09:49

I don't think you are being unreasonable, but I don't think he's unreasonable for wanting to not spend £15k on a shed and for looking for cheaper alternatives.

Presumably he's buying something 'off the shelf' that will then need to be put together like giant flat pack furniture? Like this kind of thing https://dunsterhouse.co.uk/garden-sheds/workshop-sheds/page/1?sort=price-desc

Are there any younger, fitter members of the family or family friends that might help instead? Any teens/young adults that could do it for a bit of cash?

saveforthat · 20/03/2025 09:48

Hasn't he got any mates that can help him?

SatyrTights · 20/03/2025 09:43

Do you want or need this new shed?

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