## Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Pent BBQ Shed. This structure is designed to provide shelter for your outdoor cooking equipment, offering protection from the unpredictable British weather while maintaining the ventilation required for safe BBQ use.
**Key Features:**
- **Pent Roof Design:** Sleek single-slope roof directs rainwater away from the cooking area (rearward slope)
- **Open Frontage:** Maximizes airflow and ease of access
- **Compact Footprint:** Ideal for patios and decked areas
> **⚠️ CRITICAL SAFETY WARNING:** This building is made of timber. While designed for BBQ use, you must maintain safe distances between heat sources and the wood. **Never** leave a lit BBQ unattended. Ensure you have a fire extinguisher or water source nearby.
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## Tools & Materials Required
Before starting, ensure you have all the necessary tools and the complete kit contents.
### 🧰 Recommended Tools
- **Drill / Driver:** With Phillips and Pozidriv bits
- **Tape Measure:** (5m minimum)
- **Spirit Level:** Essential for the base and walls
- **Step Ladder:** For roof installation
- **Stanley Knife:** With hook blades for cutting felt
- **Claw Hammer:** For tacking felt
- **Wood Saw:** (Only if trimming is required)
- **Square:** To ensure corners are 90°
- **PPE:** Safety gloves, goggles, and sturdy boots
### 📦 Materials Checklist
*(Check against your specific delivery note)*
- **Floor Panel:** (Pressure treated bearers usually attached)
- **Wall Panels:** Back panel, Side panels (Solid), Side Panels (Open/Framed)
- **Roof Panel(s):** OSB or tongue & groove sheets
- **Felt / EPDM:** Roof covering roll
- **Fixing Kit:**
- 50mm Screws (Panel assembly)
- 70mm Screws (Corner framing/heavy joinery)
- 30mm Nails (Felt tacks)
- **Trims:** Corner strips and roof fascias (bargeboards)
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## Pre-Installation Requirements
**The Golden Rule:** *A shed is only as good as its base.*
### Base Preparation
Your base **must** be firm and perfectly level. If the base is un-level, the screw holes will not align, and the roof will twist.
**Recommended Base Types:**
1. **Solid Concrete:** Best for fire safety
2. **Paving Slabs:** Laid on a sharp sand mix
3. **Timber Frame:** Only if resting on a non-combustible area
### Fire & Positioning Safety
- **Clearance:** Leave at least 600mm around the shed for maintenance and airflow
- **Placement:** Do not place directly under low-hanging tree branches
- **Wind:** Orient the open face away from the prevailing wind if possible to prevent smoke blowing back in
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## Step-By-Step Assembly Instructions
### Step 1: Floor / Base Section
1. Lay the floor panel on your prepared base
2. Place your spirit level on the floor (check both directions)
3. **Check Squareness:** Measure diagonally from corner to corner (A to B and C to D)
- If A → B equals C → D, the floor is square
- If not, tap the corners until the measurements match
**Time Estimate:** 3–5 Hours (2 People Recommended)
### Step 2: Wall Panel Assembly
*Tip: Do not fully tighten screws until all walls are standing to allow for slight adjustments.*
1. **Back Panel:** Position the back panel on the rear edge of the floor. Have an assistant hold it
2. **First Side Panel:** Bring in a side panel. Align the corners so the frames flush up against each other
3. **Fixing:** Using the 50mm screws, screw through the upright framing of the side panel *into* the framing of the back panel. Use 3 screws per corner (Top, Middle, Bottom)
4. **Opposite Side:** Repeat for the other side panel
5. **Front Sections:** If your model has partial front returns (side wings), install these now, screwing them into the side panels
6. **Secure to Floor:** Once walls are square and aligned, screw down through the bottom base rail of the panels into the floor bearers
### Step 3: Roof Installation (Pent Style)
1. **Identify Orientation:** The Pent roof is higher at the front and lower at the back to allow water runoff
2. **Lift & Place:** Carefully lift the roof panel(s) onto the wall assembly
3. **Alignment:** Ensure the roof overhang is even on the sides and back. The front may have a larger overhang (canopy)
4. **Fixing:** Screw down through the roof panel into the top framing of the walls. Use 50mm screws spaced approximately 300mm apart
5. **Support Beams:** If your roof has a central support beam (purlin), ensure it is slotted correctly into the pre-notched gaps in the side panels before fixing the roof sheets
### Step 4: Felt / Roof Covering
1. **Roll Out:** Roll the felt out across the roof
2. **Cut to Size:** Leave a 50mm overhang on all edges
3. **Tacking:**
- Start tacking from the **center** of the lower edge (back) and work outwards to smooth out wrinkles
- Space tacks every 150mm
4. **Corners:** Fold the corners neatly (hospital bed fold) and tack secure
5. **Adhesive (Optional):** For extra protection, use felt adhesive along the edges before tacking
### Step 5: Trims and Finishing
1. **Corner Trims:** Screw the vertical wooden strips to the external corners of the shed to hide the panel joins
2. **Fascias (Bargeboards):** Attach the timber fascias to the front and side edges of the roof. These sandwich the felt overhang, keeping it secure and watertight
3. **Finials:** If supplied, attach diamond finials to the center of the fascia boards
### Step 6: Ventilation & BBQ Features
1. **Vent Grills:** If your kit includes dedicated air vents, install them high up on the side or back panels
2. **Heat Board (Highly Recommended):** If you plan to push a BBQ close to the back wall, install a fire-resistant backboard or heat shield (cement board or stainless steel) to the internal timber wall
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## Critical Alignment Checks
Before calling the job done, perform this 5-point check:
1. **Base Level:** Is the bubble still in the middle?
2. **Roof Fall:** Pour a cup of water on the roof. It should run off the back immediately, not pool
3. **Squareness:** Do the walls look straight to the eye?
4. **Rigidity:** Give the structure a firm shake. It should feel solid
5. **No Exposed Sharp Screws:** Check inside for any screw tips poking through the timber
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## 🔥 Fire Safety Protocol
> **CRITICAL FOR BBQ SHEDS**
1. **Heat Clearance:** Keep the BBQ at least **300mm** away from any timber wall, even if treated
2. **Ceiling Height:** Ensure there is at least **1 meter** clearance between the cooking surface and the roof timber to prevent heat buildup and scorching
3. **Floor Protection:** If you have a wooden floor, use a **fire-retardant floor mat** or metal sheet under the BBQ to catch hot fat or embers
4. **Carbon Monoxide:** Never fully enclose the front of this building while cooking. It is designed as an open-fronted shelter
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## Troubleshooting
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---------|----------------|----------|
| Gaps between panels | Base is not level | Pack up the low side of the floor with shims/slate pieces |
| Roof doesn't fit | Walls are not square | Loosen corner screws, push walls into square alignment, re-tighten |
| Water inside | Felt damaged or not nailed securely | Check felt for tears; apply bituminous sealant to overlaps |
| Structure wobbles | Floor not screwed to bearers or ground | Ensure floor is anchored. Add diagonal bracing if necessary |
| Smoke buildup | Poor airflow | Move BBQ closer to the opening; install additional rear vent |
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## Maintenance Guide
To ensure your BBQ Shed lasts for years:
- **Immediately:** Paint or stain the timber with a high-quality wood preservative. Pay attention to the cut ends of the timber
- **Annually:** Re-apply wood treatment
- **Seasonally:** Check the roof felt for storm damage. Clear leaves from the roof to prevent rotting
- **Cleaning:** Remove grease and fat splashes from the timber immediately to prevent staining and fire risk
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## Quick Start Summary
**Build Order:**
1. **Base:** Lay floor panel. **MUST BE LEVEL**
2. **Walls:** Erect Back Panel → Side Panels. Screw together at corners
3. **Front:** Attach any front framing or return panels
4. **Roof:** Lift roof panel on. Ensure high side is at the front. Screw down
5. **Cover:** Apply felt. Tack down. Trim excess
6. **Finish:** Add corner trims and roof fascias
7. **Treat:** Apply wood preservative immediately
