Building a shed!

[Creamcracker]

One way or another I need a decent sized shed in my backyard, it will be both for storage and for my woodwork projects (I'm going to build a small boat next.) We've looked at the pre-built ones which are delivered to your door and the more I look at them I find them to be costly and poorly made. Ideally I'd like one that measures 12 X 16 but then I have to apply for a building permit etc, etc.....if I keep it no bigger than 150 sq ft then no permit...... build what I want etc. So a self build could be 10 X 15. Just wondering if anyone has any observations about the size and if you've built a shed yourself? Any pics would be appreciated.
Philip

[toypusher]

I have a 12 x 20 prebuilt that is of decent quality, but you are right that I could have built one for the same or less money and it would have been better quality. But, we did what we had to at the time.

I think that doing it yourself it a good bet, just if you are not 100% sure of how it should be done, then find someone to help or read and plan well before beginning. A good foundation is one of the most important things.

[bdosborn]

I built a shed a while back. I used a shed kit I got from Lowes.



I think ours is around 8x12, but I can't remember for sure. I would definitely get as large a shed as you can fit as they seem to fill up quick. I was NOT happy with the quality of the wood that was included in the kit. Now I know where the warped, cracked 2x4s go that no one will buy at Lowes, they put them in the shed kits! Also, the instructions on how to assemble the shed were weak (I don't care what the plans say, don't sheath the frames on the ground!).

I would just buy shed plans with a materials list instead of a kit if I did it over. And just like a teardrop, it took 3 times longer to build then I thought it would.

Bruce

[asianflava]

This is the 10x16 shed that I built back in TX, I used a set of UcanDo plans from Lowes. When I was pricing out the materials, I found that Hardee Board was only 3 or 4 bucks more than regular wood per sheet. I used that because termites are a problem in TX.

I chose that size because it meant less cutting and waste, I used boards cut to the size I needed. I "customized" it by adding a 5ft door on the gable end. I can get stuff in and out without having to move the lawn tractor every time.

I also built it taller so that I could put a loft over where the tractor was parked, and have enough headroom when I hoisted the car's hardtop up for storage. Actually, that was a mistake that worked out for the better. I didn't see that the plans called for a 6 1/2ft height instead of 8ft.

[48Rob]

Once you get into a reasonably large shed such as you are considering, it is often worth pricing a small garage, as in the end, the cost will be less per square foot.

Rob

[southpennrailroad]

I was in the process of building a barn type shed when I was with my girl friend B4 we split. The shed was a 12x12 but what I did was get the ceiling area to jut outward over the door by about two feet. This was to give room for overhead storage and still not be considered a two story shed. Therefor no permit was needed.

Now if I was to own a wooded lot I would actually be up grading from my 6x10 and living in a shed as I was building this w/o Mr. Government bothering me. Will they say anything about a overhang. It would actually keep the wet from at the door. I installed some loose french doors as a door. Never got finished. Plans are all in my head. and she is stuck with a half finished shed.

[digimark]

We had this shed built two years ago. 12'x12', insulated, 110V and 220V electric, windows, lights inside and outside, with a concrete pad that was 13'x15'. (They had extra concrete, so they wanted to know if we wanted a bigger pad...) That was a huge mistake -- when it rains the water would hit the pad and run under the shed walls. We had to spend another huge chunk of money to get gutters and waterblocks/sealant installed. But now that it's done, it's nice. I've worked on some carpentry projects in there, including my trailer cabinetry. We still need to put in some padded flooring that will stand up to sawdust and be easier on my feet/legs than the concrete, and we need to install A/C and heat so I can stand working in there when it gets brutally hot or cold.

[Creamcracker]

We had this shed built two years ago. 12'x12', insulated, 110V and 220V electric, windows, lights inside and outside, with a concrete pad that was 13'x15'. (They had extra concrete, so they wanted to know if we wanted a bigger pad...) That was a huge mistake -- when it rains the water would hit the pad and run under the shed walls. We had to spend another huge chunk of money to get gutters and waterblocks/sealant installed. But now that it's done, it's nice. I've worked on some carpentry projects in there, including my trailer cabinetry. We still need to put in some padded flooring that will stand up to sawdust and be easier on my feet/legs than the concrete, and we need to install A/C and heat so I can stand working in there when it gets brutally hot or cold.

That looks like the quality shed I want to build. I'm probably going to put mine on a pea gravel pad rather than a concrete pad...that way I'll put in a wood floor.
Philip

[tk]

Considering my experience building a 12'6" strip canoe and a 17'6" ply and glass over frame kayak, I would recommend minimum two feet each side of boat (width plus 4', length plus 4') as a minimum working space. I may be raining on your parade here, but I kept bumping my butt into things and I thought I would have plenty room. Maybe you can scale it out and position boat corner to corner.

Best,
Tom

[ReneeRash]

You guys all have such nice sheds, that I have shed envy. ;-) I have a really old shed that needs replacing and I guess I'll be doing the work myself. The kits seem too pricey to me and I can't afford to have someone else build it. You can buy those pre-made plastic/fiberglass sheds but they're just so ugly and too small for my needs. I'll have a look at Lowes and see if they have any plans that would be suitable. Congratulations on your nice handiwork guys! Thanks for your tips too.

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[ReneeRash]

You guys all have such nice sheds, that I have shed envy. ;-) I have a really old shed that needs replacing and I guess I'll be doing the work myself. The kits seem too pricey to me and I can't afford to have someone else build it. You can buy those pre-made plastic/fiberglass sheds but they're just so ugly and too small for my needs. I'll have a look at Lowes and see if they have any plans that would be suitable. Congratulations on your nice handiwork guys! Thanks for your tips too.



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[Judeyramone]

As 48rob says, sheds approaching a certain size lose their price advantage over a garage pretty quickly. At various lumber yards I worked at, customers would often buy 12' wide shed packages 14', 16', or even 18' long. The advantage being that a "non-permanent" structure (one that is not built on a cement pad or foundation) could be erected w/a permit. However, at those sizes, a bare bones garage package could have been bought for less money.

This is my 14x18 "garage" (actually, it's technically a pole barn), which I built for $5,000 (plus gutter installation, which was part of the price when I had them installed on the house). Getting a permit can be easy enough for a homeowner, depending on location. You might be able to get a permit with little more than a couple sketches.

[48Rob]

Man!

I could live in that!

Rob

[southpennrailroad]

As 48rob says, sheds approaching a certain size lose their price advantage over a garage pretty quickly. At various lumber yards I worked at, customers would often buy 12' wide shed packages 14', 16', or even 18' long. The advantage being that a "non-permanent" structure (one that is not built on a cement pad or foundation) could be erected w/a permit. However, at those sizes, a bare bones garage package could have been bought for less money.

This is my 14x18 "garage" (actually, it's technically a pole barn), which I built for $5,000 (plus gutter installation, which was part of the price when I had them installed on the house). Getting a permit can be easy enough for a homeowner, depending on location. You might be able to get a permit with little more than a couple sketches.

I could live in that!

[BILLYL]

As 48rob says, sheds approaching a certain size lose their price advantage over a garage pretty quickly. At various lumber yards I worked at, customers would often buy 12' wide shed packages 14', 16', or even 18' long. The advantage being that a "non-permanent" structure (one that is not built on a cement pad or foundation) could be erected w/a permit. However, at those sizes, a bare bones garage package could have been bought for less money.

This is my 14x18 "garage" (actually, it's technically a pole barn), which I built for $5,000 (plus gutter installation, which was part of the price when I had them installed on the house). Getting a permit can be easy enough for a homeowner, depending on location. You might be able to get a permit with little more than a couple sketches.

I could live in that!

Hey I live in that

Bill