84 Lumber shed kits

[fdtrucks]

Anybody have any experience with using an 84 lumber shed kit? I have seen what Lowes and Home Depot offer and 84 looks to have a much better product than them. The kits from the other stores look pretty flimsy (84 uses 2x4 and is 16" stud spacing, the others are 2x3 and varied stud spacing from 20"-24").

I have looked at going off a shed plan, and even made a couple sketches. The only issue I run into is the purchase price for all the lumber. I was quoted $1,500 for a 12'x12' gambrel with upgraded flooring and roofing materials from 84. When I made a materials list for other plans and sketch ups, it was just north of $2,000, and that didnt include hardware, screws, nails, etc. Savings in materials has me leaning towards getting a kit and is why I am curious about others experiences. I know I may not get the most premium lumber, and may want to add to the kit some since, like most guys on the forum, I like to overbuild a bit. But I do not see that making up a $500 difference. I also have to keep in mind its a shed for the next 3-5 yrs (move around a lot being military) not my dream garage.

Oh, to satisfy the extra questions, 12x12 is what I am going for since it is the biggest I can go without having to pull a permit. With a loft, it will more than cover my needs. Tuff shed is nice but overpriced. Not looking for a pre built one cause that would require taking down the privacy fence on one side.

 

[wasfuzz]

Check with some of the local lumber yards that build sheds/horse shelters/etc. We had a 12 x 15, 2x4 const 16" OC with tin roof and siding over OSB built and delivered for $1400.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I have an 84 Lumber shed that came as a kit that I put up at my dad's house. I bought it in 1998 and put it up. Back then the kit cost about $1000, but that included thicker plywood for the flooring, upgraded roofing shingles, two windows and better door hardware. I bought the barn roof style shed. I don't know exactly what you call that style, but I chose that style because the roof was taller and I wanted the space up top for a loft like you. The shed I bought was 10x12.

The kit was delivered on a flatbed truck. The wall/ceiling joists were pre-fabed together using 2x4 construction so that we could put the rough framing up quickly. For the rest of it, we had to cut everything out of the full panels and pieces that were in the kit. The T1-11 was used to make the siding and the doors. It used real plywood for the floors and ceiling. They provided real drip edging for the roof, as well as tar paper and upgraded shingles. The windows have screens in them, and they use a rotary style handle to open them up. It even came with gable vents that we put in.

The only things not provided in the kit was the base to put it on, (we used cinder blocks and 6x6's to create a frame work to put it on), a combination lock to lock the door, the roofing nails to install the roof, and the paint to paint it. Other than that, it came with everything we needed to build the shed.

Over the last almost 20 years, the shed has held up very well. It was easy to build, had great instructions for cutting and installing everything, and still looks great! The only thing that has really been wrong with it, is that I didn't prime all the sides of the trim boards before I put them up, and a few of them got rotten at the bottom where water has splashed up over the years. My dad actually cut away the rotten parts of the trim boards and replaced them with new pieces, primed all around and painted.

I don't know if the shed kits 84 Lumber puts out today are the same as the ones they had 20 years ago, but if they are made of good materials, I would say you can't really go wrong with one.

And as wasfuzz said, you might be able to just buy one and have it delivered for the same price, or maybe a few bucks more, than doing it yourself. In my case, I could have done that back then, but I was 20 years younger, and I wanted to build it myself so I could learn how to do it.

Good luck! And post pictures of the shed no matter which way you decide to go!

Jim

 

[6PTsocket]

Anybody have any experience with using an 84 lumber shed kit? I have seen what Lowes and Home Depot offer and 84 looks to have a much better product than them. The kits from the other stores look pretty flimsy (84 uses 2x4 and is 16" stud spacing, the others are 2x3 and varied stud spacing from 20"-24").

I have looked at going off a shed plan, and even made a couple sketches. The only issue I run into is the purchase price for all the lumber. I was quoted $1,500 for a 12'x12' gambrel with upgraded flooring and roofing materials from 84. When I made a materials list for other plans and sketch ups, it was just north of $2,000, and that didnt include hardware, screws, nails, etc. Savings in materials has me leaning towards getting a kit and is why I am curious about others experiences. I know I may not get the most premium lumber, and may want to add to the kit some since, like most guys on the forum, I like to overbuild a bit. But I do not see that making up a $500 difference. I also have to keep in mind its a shed for the next 3-5 yrs (move around a lot being military) not my dream garage.

Oh, to satisfy the extra questions, 12x12 is what I am going for since it is the biggest I can go without having to pull a permit. With a loft, it will more than cover my needs. Tuff shed is nice but overpriced. Not looking for a pre built one cause that would require taking down the privacy fence on one side.

It has been a long time since I looked at the 84 lumber "kit" but as I recall it used to be a set of plans and enough raw material to build it.. Not really much of a kit. Check out what you get in their kit.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[kbs2244]

Also check around for people the will build one and deliver it.
Sometimes fully built, other times they bring it in a knocked down condition.
Most towns of any size will have 1 or2 "shed builders."
It can be cheaper since hey build at their site.

 

[6PTsocket]

Also check around for people the will build one and deliver it.
Sometimes fully built, other times they bring it in a knocked down condition.
Most towns of any size will have 1 or2 "shed builders."
It can be cheaper since hey build at their site.

My neighbor just had a knocked down shed brought in. They had it done in a few hours. Looks good.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[6768rogues]

There are Amish and Mennonite businesses here that build sheds. They build it, paint it, and deliver it to the site with a very reasonable price.
If it were me and I wanted to assemble it myself, knowing that in a few years I would be moving, I would buy a cheap kit and add a few more boards and fasteners to beef it up. Your buyer will not give you a dime more for a better shed.

 

[bpjr]

I ordered a kit that was supposed to be delivered in two weeks and paid in full. After no delivery they kept giving me excuses and more delays. After two months I asked for a refund. That took another two weeks and lots of hassles with the manager to get my money back. Will NEVER do business with 84 lumber again.

 

[shelteredV]

I built 6- 10 x 10 84 Lumber sheds for a client about 20 years ago. They were scattered around their property, some by the water, some in the woods, ect. I went by there about 3 months ago and they were still standing! At the time, they were by far the best bang for the buck, and I would guess thet might still be.

 

[glider]

Also check around for people the will build one and deliver it.
Sometimes fully built, other times they bring it in a knocked down condition.
Most towns of any size will have 1 or2 "shed builders."
It can be cheaper since hey build at their site.

Was in this field for many years. A 10'x16' with a roll up door. Would have $1600 in material. Take about 20 hrs. labor plus a few hours to deliver. When you are about 10 behind you will start raising your price.

 

[captain14]

My dad and I both bought and built 84 lumber sheds kits 8x8 and 8x10. We built them in 93-94?

Both are still doing well since at that time since they included real plywood for the floors
T1-11 for the walls, OSB for the roof and 20 year shingles. I have looked at the kit contents recently but would be concerned with any substitutions for the walls or floor with OSB.
Any moisture is wicked into the panel and it goes downhill from there.

We both built the shed on concrete pier blocks with doubled 2x8runners on top.
The shed floor was built on top of the runners so the siding is never in contact with the ground. Another existing shed on my dad's property was built on a concrete slab and we have had to replace lower sections of the T1-11 due to rot and constant dampness.

 

[phillyzj]

I just built an "84 lumber kit". It wasn't really a kit, more just a material list that they have in their computer that populates a bunch of materials. I ended up doing a modified version of their kit using vinyl siding, upgraded flooring, and upgraded shingles. My local 84 was pretty good to work with, the lumber wasn't the greatest, lots of twisted 2x4s. definitely a learning experience.

I mixed 84's design with this one:https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1...A-Shed-Free-Shed-Plans.pdf?848273109749345476 and am happy so far.

 

[fdtrucks]

Update. After moving in, lots of small projects painting rooms and hanging up the wifes pictures and such, I have finally gotten started on the shed. I ordered a 12x12 gambriel kit from 84. I added in extra pressure treated lumber for the floor, windows, and upgraded the roofing material. Delivered with tax was still cheaper than anywhere else, and cheaper than designing my own. I have the site pretty much prepared. I got lucky with a pretty level area, worst drop is 6" over 12'. I killed off the grass with a commercial level round up. Side note, get your round up off amazon. You can get it much cheaper than what you would at a big box store, plus the active ingredient glyphosphate salt is at 73% vs the stuff at the store at max is 5%. I will do my best to take pics along the way. Harder said than done sometimes. The plans are super simple so I hope to progress quickly. My only issue is getting air to the backyard. I need to see ho many neighbors have air line I can borrow. I have 3 50' sections and barely get into the backyard from where my compressor is located. I really dont want to drive every nail by hand either lol.

 

[fdtrucks]

Like my last post, a lot has still been happening around the house. I have the shed built other than a few minor items. I still need a ramp, finish the workbench, shelf and pegboard above the workbench, loft, frame out and install windows, and run electrical. The kit delivered with upgrades and tax was still far below any other option. However, I don't think I will use the "brackets" for the gambriel roof if I was to do it again. In theory, it sounds easy, no miter cuts, attach the brackets, and it all goes together seamlessly. In reality when building at the end of summer, the sun and heat cause the thin gauge metal to warp easily depending on the time of day your building. It was a pain in the *** to get the studs to keep square. If I were to do it again, I would order the same kit as its the cheapest way to get the lumber, but I would build traditional walls with headers and footers. Lay out a template for the trusses and build them all on the ground and stand them up each truss as one piece. Not assembling each portion in the air. Nevertheless, its just a shed.

 

[Koldham]

My father and I just finished a 24x32 garage kit. They were pretty generous with the materials as i had enough leftovers to build a small storage shed add on for my chicken coop. some of the framing boards were pretty warped but there was enough extra that if i was careful how i cut, coudl amek it all work. there was even some extra 2x4 set aside fro bracing. The garage door, windows, and entry doors seem pretty solid altho they were builder grade.

 

[fdtrucks]

They were very generous with the materials. I was able to build the work bench out of all the extra. I am just a bit shy on plywood for the top. I have some useless scrap to burn, and still a lot of useful pieces stored inside the shed to do random projects with. I only had about 2 or 3 boards overall that were junk. Luckily it was trim boards and not any of the dimensional stuff. They gave me way too many bundles of shingles. They doubled what I needed, luckily I didnt get charged for the overage.