Question Regarding Materials List For Shed

[wildbill23c]

I have always enjoyed building small projects which required hardly any materials. I have recently got the idea of building a shed for storing lawn/garden equipment in the winter. However, I'm kind of stuck as to how to go about making up a materials list for a project this large.

So far what I've come up with is making a drawing and including all the studs, rafters, etc. then just adding those up to get the number of 2x4's I need. Then for the sheathing that's where I kind of get stuck as well.

Some general information as to coming up with a materials list would be greatly appreciated. I can build stuff, just have never had any experience from the very beginning in the planning phase for how much materials I need.

I plan on having a 48" wide door on one end, but I'm not sure if I want a regular door, or if I want to do a wider opening to install an overhead type roll-up door for this purpose.

I think the overall size will end up being about a 16' x 20', and have a standard 8' high ceiling. I plan on eventually finishing the interior so I have room to work on equipment in the winter.

 

[rburke65]

You might want to pick up a magazine that they carry at the checkouts at HD or Loews or a book store on DIY projects.good luck.

 

[Thumper68]

Making up a materials list is easy, just do as you said and do a drawing including all the studs, jack studs, cripples etc...

Count them up and add 10%. For the sheathing if you have a 16x8 foot wall you are going to need 4 sheets 16/4 = 4

Or total surface area divided by 32 ( the area one 4x8 sheet covers) + 10% for waste.

Sill plates should be green treated.

On a side note I tend to over order on things like 2x4's, 6's I just like to have extras around, you can never tell when a knot or split will be in a bad place, then there is also bracing, you always need a few extra.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Plus if you figure you need say 20 2x4 just go ahead and get 24. You can always return what you don't use and you never know when you might need an extra fro something during construction, like squaring up the walls to install the rafters for example.

 

[wildbill23c]

Making up a materials list is easy, just do as you said and do a drawing including all the studs, jack studs, cripples etc...

Count them up and add 10%. For the sheathing if you have a 16x8 foot wall you are going to need 4 sheets 16/4 = 4

Or total surface area divided by 32 ( the area one 4x8 sheet covers) + 10% for waste.

Sill plates should be green treated.

On a side note I tend to over order on things like 2x4's, 6's I just like to have extras around, you can never tell when a knot or split will be in a bad place, then there is also bracing, you always need a few extra.

Thanks, I thought I was on the right track as far as the list, just wanted someone with more knowledge to help with my answers. I appreciate your help. Its starting to make a lot more sense as I start drawing things out. I would rather have a few extra materials than not enough...and I never return the unused materials I just keep them as I end up using them on some other project at some point LOL.

Plus if you figure you need say 20 2x4 just go ahead and get 24. You can always return what you don't use and you never know when you might need an extra fro something during construction, like squaring up the walls to install the rafters for example.

I always figure for extra materials, at least in the small projects I've done its easier to have extra materials than try and stretch them HAHA. I end up using the extra materials somewhere else around the house at some point.

Thanks for your help I really appreciate it.

 

[Voi]

I have always enjoyed building small projects which required hardly any materials.

I plan on eventually finishing the interior so I have room to work on equipment in the winter.

I'm not sure to what degree you're emphasizing reducing the amount of material used, but I have seen sheds here in western South Dakota built with what would essentially be "advanced framing" but using 2x4's. Advanced Framing using single top plates, studs on 24" centers, single stud corners as well as some other differences from traditional framing.

It normally uses 2x6's so I'm not really sure of where one would starting using traditional framing methods when using 2x4's. But for sure I've seen the three characteristics in the previous paragraph.

There are also the T1-11 panel sidings that are sheathing and siding in one.

One shed I'm thinking of took it to the extreme. Built a 12x12 shed with a single sloping roof. 2x4 on 24" centers, single stud corners and single top plate (rafters line up directly over studs so single top plate works). Math worked out that the extra T1-11 he needed on the taller sidewall was one sheet cross cut into thirds. Cut the longer sidewall studs from taller pieces and used the scrap for ladder style framing on the overhangs.

He used 2x4's for the rafters and it did survive a really bad blizzard we had but I wouldn't do that personally, especially in Idaho. Of course you have 16' wide plan anyways.

Again, not sure how much you're emphasizing material reduction. I used to do a lot of wood working and always enjoyed coming up with cut lists that maximized material usage.

 

[wildbill23c]

I'm not sure to what degree you're emphasizing reducing the amount of material used, but I have seen sheds here in western South Dakota built with what would essentially be "advanced framing" but using 2x4's. Advanced Framing using single top plates, studs on 24" centers, single stud corners as well as some other differences from traditional framing.

It normally uses 2x6's so I'm not really sure of where one would starting using traditional framing methods when using 2x4's. But for sure I've seen the three characteristics in the previous paragraph.

There are also the T1-11 panel sidings that are sheathing and siding in one.

One shed I'm thinking of took it to the extreme. Built a 12x12 shed with a single sloping roof. 2x4 on 24" centers, single stud corners and single top plate (rafters line up directly over studs so single top plate works). Math worked out that the extra T1-11 he needed on the taller sidewall was one sheet cross cut into thirds. Cut the longer sidewall studs from taller pieces and used the scrap for ladder style framing on the overhangs.

He used 2x4's for the rafters and it did survive a really bad blizzard we had but I wouldn't do that personally, especially in Idaho. Of course you have 16' wide plan anyways.

Again, not sure how much you're emphasizing material reduction. I used to do a lot of wood working and always enjoyed coming up with cut lists that maximized material usage.

I was planning on everything being 16" on center as that's how everything else on the property is framed. I don't plan on cutting any corners, everything my grandfather has ever built on the property has always been build to be heavy duty. I'm tossing around the idea of using 2x6's for the framing and using 2x4's for the interior walls if I ever decide to divide it, which at this point I'm leaving it open inside.