Anyone here build their own shed/workshop?

I'm planning on building a huge 50x60 block garage but that's not going to happen soon. I need storage asap for tools and other stuff, so I'm planning out a wood frame shed build. About 8x16, and probably 12ft high so i have room for a loft area for additional storage without using more square footage of my yard.

just curious if anyone has done this, if so, post pics! So far for the lumber and most of the materials, im looking at 600ish bux which IMO isn't bad. Beats getting a storage unit, I'd pass 600 bux in a heartbeat renting a storage unit!

 

<p>&nbsp;6X6 posts. 4 corners, and one in between each corner post.</p><p>2X4 nailers every 2 feet on the sides, and T-111 siding.</p><p>2X8 or 2X10 headers on both sides of the 6X6 posts, and one on the outside bottom as a curb.</p><p>coat anything that makes contact with the ground with roofing tar. roof can be done many ways, we use pre fab trusses. and then pour a concrete floor.</p><p>we have built over 50 like this, from 8X16 to 80X120 35 foot tall.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>no pics of any of them, but if you want i can take some of the interior of my shop here at the house.</p>

 

1. You just know 8x16 will be too small....
Thoughts:
Building permit needed?
Square footage requirements?
Some places if built on skids = not taxed.
Does it have to be "hurricane proof?" Poles would be stronger.
Can you use a storage trailer or shipping container?
I bought a 30' travel trailer to use for storage for $200. Delivered and still on wheels so no property tax on it.
For a rough cost, I built an 8x8 deck only. 4x4 treated, 2x4 treated and 2x6 treated for about $200.
I've seen old mobile homes also used for storage or work shops.

 

When i get home ill post a rough drawing i drew up in google sketch-up of my whole property, within the next year plans are to build a huge 50x60 block garage/workshop, as well as the 2 car attached garage, as well as another 30x30 detached garage. Thats why i dont want to go TOO big on the shed because once all that stuff is built, i plan to turn that shed into a mini pool house type thing, when i build a pool. Haha

but yea, of you can take pics of yours whenever is convenient for you, that would be great! Thanks for the tips also!!

 

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>first pic you can see the spacing of the 2X4 nailers.</p><p><img alt=" photo DSCF0456.jpg" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e261/tjctransport/DSCF0456.jpg" style="height:580px; margin-top:-0.166667px; width:435px" /></p><p>here is the connection of the headers to the 6X6 corner posts.</p><p><a href="http://s41.photobucket.com/user/tjctransport/media/DSCF0455.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e261/tjctransport/DSCF0455.jpg" /></a></p><p>and headers to the 6X6 posts in the center of the span. notice the &quot;hurricane blocks&quot; we use between the headers at each truss to stiffen things up .</p><p>headers to 6X6 is with lag bolts, everything else is with ring-shank nails</p><p><a href="http://s41.photobucket.com/user/tjctransport/media/DSCF0454.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e261/tjctransport/DSCF0454.jpg" /></a></p><p>back wall header</p><p><a href="http://s41.photobucket.com/user/tjctransport/media/DSCF0453.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e261/tjctransport/DSCF0453.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://s41.photobucket.com/user/tjctransport/media/DSCF0452.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e261/tjctransport/DSCF0452.jpg" /></a></p><p>i would say since you are only going 8X16, you can most likely get away with 4X4 posts .</p>

 

Nice pics, Tom. Looks like the "mud daubers" found a home on one of the posts.
Do you have to use "hurricane clips" or rafter ties to fasten the trusses/rafters to the headers? I know in VA we do and pretty sure in FL.

 

<p>yea, no mater what i do those little buggers always seem to find a way in. but they do not bother me so i leave them be. usually only one tube per year.</p><p>hurricane straps for a stick build yes. since that was put up as a pole barn, they are not required. but we do use them on each truss. the blocks between the headers at each truss are another one of our &quot;overkill features&quot;.</p><p>more of our overkills:&nbsp; each post gets sunk 6 foot instead of 4, sits on a concrete footing in a 36 inch hole, is drilled and has 1/2 inch rebar in a cross pattern at the 3 foot mark, and then the hole is poured full with 4,000 lb concrete and pinned to the slab.</p><p>all electrical circuits get 1 size larger wire than is called for.15 amp circuits get 12 gauge wire, 25. amp circuits get 10 gauge wire. and only 3 outlets on a circuit instead of 6. and 220 circuits only get one outlet or hardwired unit per breaker.</p><p>and because of all our &quot;overkill features&quot; the building inspectors know how we work so they just show up and sign off without doing any real inspecting because they know we do not cut any corners.</p>

 

Nothing wrong with that "overkill", Tom.

 

<p>the first one we did around 35 years ago had all the inspectors baffled as to why we would go above and beyond what was called for instead of doing as little as possible with the cheapest material you can find. our response was because we want these buildings to outlast us without recall.</p><p>after the first 2-3 we started getting recommendations from the inspectors as builders, and built a few for the inspectors too. now we are all pushing 60+ we no longer do this type of work, instead we supervise and try to teach the young ones who want to learn how to do it rite.</p><p>unfortunately doing it rite is not politically correct anymore. everything these days is as fast and as cheap as you can.</p>

 

Like you say, fast and cheap is not the best.
Big thing around here is "Amish Built". Fast and cheap but, not the best workmanship. Many of their products are baaaad. I looked at a garage for a guy. He was wondering why the overhead door wouldn't seal right. Opening was off 1 1/2" top to bottom in 7'. Also metal roof was not started square. Walked away from that one...

 

Funny, the Amish make the best wooden spoke wheels. My dad buys them for his cars out here in CA from them in PA I think?

 

The Amish custom built mine, had it pre-inspected, delivered it and set it. I couldn't even touch their price with just the materials alone. The only thing I had to do was put in the wind storm anchors. BTW Before you put the first thing in it, pump spray two coats of Thomson water seal over the inside, as they will rot out from the inside out.


The shed shown in the pictures, wouldn't pass code here, walls have to be studded sixteen inches on center and strapped to floor and roof trusses.

 

The shed shown is of "pole" construction, a bit different than "Framed".
A lot of places are adopting the "International Building Code" to standardize construction and eliminate confusion. Similar to the NEC (electric code), an area can strengthen the requirements but, not weaken them.