Building the Cub Cadet Garage. Finally it's Done

[lolaetype]

I decided to build a small shed/garage for the Cub Cadet. Slab dimensions are 7'X7'. Taking the stud wall into account that more than sufficient for the mower and yard stuff I don't want in the garage or outdoors. The plan is (actually I have no drawn plan, I'm winging it) to frame it with a 6'walls, wood sheathing and vinyl siding to match that on the house, and a peaked-shingled roof. Double 2'-6" door inthe front.

I poured half the slab yesterday. I'm doing it in two parts for convenience and it's easier, for me anyway, to finish the slab that way. Dowels through the one side of the form that I removed this morning and 6X6 WWM for reinforcement. I mixed 14 60 lb. bags of Sakrete, one at a time in a wheelbarrow, that took about 90 minutes. Easier for my 75 year-old back to handle 60 lb. bags, and the per lb. cost is the same as 80 lb. bags.

 

[Bill Bowman]

As a fellow "old guy", that's a lot of Sakrete to be hand mixed by hand. Don't over do it.

 

[lolaetype]

Good advice, Bill. It was actually much less effort and when much faster than I anticipated.

 

[Bill Bowman]

Keep us up to date as you progress. Should be a nice little project.

 

[CraigStu]

Can you go up to 7ft on the wall height? 6 may be enough but I know that getting up off my garden tractor under my closed in deck is a bit of a twisting exercise that my neck doesn't like.

 

[CraigStu]

I just checked back to your thread and actually read your screen name. OK, now you have to fill us in; 'lola' as in sports racers and formula cars and 'etype' the most famous of all Jaguars?

 

[Glemon]

I decided to build a small shed/garage for the Cub Cadet. Slab dimensions are 7'X7'. Taking the stud wall into account that more than sufficient for the mower and yard stuff I don't want in the garage or outdoors. The plan is (actually I have no drawn plan, I'm winging it) to frame it with a 6'walls, wood sheathing and vinyl siding to match that on the house, and a peaked-shingled roof. Double 2'-6" door inthe front.

I poured half the slab yesterday. I'm doing it in two parts for convenience and it's easier, for me anyway, to finish the slab that way. Dowels through the one side of the form that I removed this morning and 6X6 WWM for reinforcement. I mixed 14 60 lb. bags of Sakrete, one at a time in a wheelbarrow, that took about 90 minutes. Easier for my 75 year-old back to handle 60 lb. bags, and the per lb. cost is the same as 80 lb. bags.

I have a Cub Cadet too, it lives under a cover and I am hoping to build a shed this fall, a little bigger, one side for garden stuff and the lawn tractor (to get it out of the garage) and the other side for a little hanging out space away from the house.

Good Luck with the Project.

 

[lolaetype]

I poured the second half of the slab today. 15 bags this time.

The most recent pour is on the left.






Those Harbor Freight concrete finishing tools I bought maybe 30 years ago continue to pay dividends.

 

[lolaetype]

I just checked back to your thread and actually read your screen name. OK, now you have to fill us in; 'lola' as in sports racers and formula cars and 'etype' the most famous of all Jaguars?

Thirty years ago The Boss bought me (actually endorsed the purchase of) a 1969 E-Type 2+2 for Father's Day. We started restoration and as the UPS truck became a familiar sight at the curb, she soon named it Lola because, as the song from the play and movie Damn Yankees goes, Whatever Lola Want's Lola gets. I sold that car and a few years later bought another E-type and we call it Lola as well. I just like the sound of "Lolaetype, it just rolls off the tongue.

And FWIW, Eric Broadley founder of Lola Cars, did name the company Lola because he really loved that song. At least that's what his secretary told me.

 

[jmiller_2308]

Almost 30 years ago I built a "shed" for my cub cadet that was 9x10 with reclaimed window on the south side so that I could also use it to harden off plants in the spring. Like you, I built it to complement the house which meant a shingled hip roof and stucco. The shed had electricity for lights and an automated exhaust fan to keep it from getting too warm. Being as large as it was I was able to use a reclaimed garage door that I cut down to 6' wide and added a man door to be able to get in and out without having to open the big door.

What I learned:

• I liked the garage door when getting the cub in and out but that necessitated the need for the man door which was equally liked whenever I wanted to get in there for something other than the cub. I thought about adding a garage door opener to it but never got around to that.
  Having your two smaller doors should limit any issues you may have keeping the area in the swing path clear of obstructions to a minimum but you may also find that having two doors will be a bit of a pain keeping them open as you drive in and out. Perhaps think of ways that you could anchor the doors open should the wind be blowing. Or, if you like the idea of a garage door add some more height so that you can get all the hardware in.
• Electricity - add it if you can! It is nice to have lights and the opportunity to plug in everything from battery minders to tools you may need to use when in the shed or just near the shed.
• Dual purpose with the greenhouse and lawn equipment meant I should have actually made my shed bigger. For just lawn equipment I suspect you will get by with 7x7 since you are only parking the cub and likely hanging garden equipment.
• You will like having a concrete vs wood or dirt floor but be prepared to sweep from time to time.
• Consider how and where you will store other outside stuff. The windows I had really messed up the amount of wall space I had to hang things. I was able to build a shelf over the garage door to store pots and other such things but was stuck with a barrel for long handled implements. I much prefer a French cleat system over struggling with the barrel.
• MICE DAMN MICE! I couldn't keep the buggers out of my shed so hopefully you can find a way. On a few winters I stored motorcycles in the shed in addition to outdoor stuff and those buggers chewed up the covers and deposited bits in all kinds of places. Luckily for me they didn't eat any wires or upholstery. If you have electricity in the shed you could try to use a sonic mouse deterrent in addition to poison.

My shed is gone now as it was removed 10 years ago to make room for the shop addition. In the shop addition I carved out and framed in a 8x8 space to be the new shed again using a cut down garage door for outside access and a man door from the shop for inside access. I have a larger 48" zero turn now and the 8x8 with garden tools is just big enough and the 8' high ceiling is again just tall enough that hanging long handled tools isn't an issue.

 

[MushCreek]

Don't keep us in suspense- New Cub Cadet or vintage? I have three- two Originals and a Model 70.

 

[Notgrownup]

I’m a modern Cub cadet but lately I’ve been thinking of building a dedicated spot for it. I want to convert my 12x24 lean to shed into a true addition to my shop. It’s really in bad shape with rotting Mo wood anyway and needs tearing down. I may use this as inspiration.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I’m a modern Cub cadet but lately I’ve been thinking of building a dedicated spot for it. I want to convert my 12x24 lean to shed into a true addition to my shop. It’s really in bad shape with rotting Mo wood anyway and needs tearing down. I may use this as inspiration.

The machine shop portion of my shop is a 10x26 shed roofed add on and it has been just the right size for those types of machines and such. There is also a 3x4 toilet room incorporated into the area just to the right of the microwave.

 

[captain14]

So how do you feel today after moving and hand mixing all the bags?

I’m following your build.

Just a thought and it’s been talked about in other threads, if you use T1-11 for siding you have to watch out for moisture wicking up and rotting the bottom of the panels. Someone actually used either 2x8,10,12 boards for the “bottom course” with a bevel and “Z” flashing. to shed water.

Prime everything that will be exposed to weather.

 

[lolaetype]

So how do you feel today after moving and hand mixing all the bags?

Just fine, no aches, pains, cuts, bruises, contusions or dry rot.

Don't keep us in suspense- New Cub Cadet or vintage? I have three- two Originals and a Model 70.

I'm thinking around 17 years old. I bought it from a guy who flipped mowers 4 years ago. I called, we decided on a price, but when I got there he said he was reluctant to sell it to me because, according to him, the electronic blade brake didn't work. Everything else worked so I convinced him to sell it to me for $200. Turns out the mower didn't come with an electronic blade brake which probably explains why it didn't function. I got it home, replaced the wheels and tires, tuned it, changed the oil, belts and blades and it's performed great.

It's the special Mercedes-Benz edition; they just made a handful of them.

 

[MushCreek]

My technique for mixing concrete is this- I play the 'old man' card at the big box store and let them load the bags in my truck. At home, I back the truck up to where I'm working. I cut the bags in half with a trowel on the tailgate so I'm only moving 40 lbs. at a time. I bought a cheap used mixer and use that to mix 'em and dump them in place. Weather permitting, the bags of concrete stay right in the truck until I use them.

Nice CC; looks like new!

 

[lolaetype]

Prime everything that will be exposed to weather.

I'm planning on vinyl siding over sheathing. I was thinking about painting the sheathing with exterior paint, but thenI remembered I have two gallons of Drylock waterproofing paint for masonry and concrete walls that I have no need for. I wonder how that would work for protecting the sheathing. Thoughts?

 

[larry4406]

I'm planning on vinyl siding over sheathing. I was thinking about painting the sheathing with exterior paint, but thenI remembered I have two gallons of Drylock waterproofing paint for masonry and concrete walls that I have no need for. I wonder how that would work for protecting the sheathing. Thoughts?

I would install a standard weather resistant barrier (WRB) vs Drylock on your sheathing.

Vinyl siding, over Tyvek, over sheathing, over studs. Use z-flashing at bottom to get the water past the edge of your slab.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I'm planning on vinyl siding over sheathing. I was thinking about painting the sheathing with exterior paint, but thenI remembered I have two gallons of Drylock waterproofing paint for masonry and concrete walls that I have no need for. I wonder how that would work for protecting the sheathing. Thoughts?

I used 15 lb felt paper (tarpaper) over the OSB sheathing on my shop before adding vinyl siding. I came from an old school carpenter family and it was commonly used before house wrap.

 

[larry4406]

I used 15 lb felt paper (tarpaper) over the OSB sheathing on my shop before adding vinyl siding. I came from an old school carpenter family and it was commonly used before house wrap.

Yes felt paper was used long before Tyvek came around.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Yes felt paper was used long before Tyvek came around.

It also works great for layout lines for hanging vinyl true by using a silver pencil.

 

[JohnX14]

If I were building a small shed like this and it was close enough to grade, I'd double or triple the PT bottom plate, and I'd wrap the bottom with a Pvc water table. And start the sheathing above that. Lots of small details on how to do that.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I decided to build a small shed/garage for the Cub Cadet. Slab dimensions are 7'X7'. Taking the stud wall into account that more than sufficient for the mower and yard stuff I don't want in the garage or outdoors. The plan is (actually I have no drawn plan, I'm winging it) to frame it with a 6'walls, wood sheathing and vinyl siding to match that on the house, and a peaked-shingled roof. Double 2'-6" door inthe front.

I poured half the slab yesterday. I'm doing it in two parts for convenience and it's easier, for me anyway, to finish the slab that way. Dowels through the one side of the form that I removed this morning and 6X6 WWM for reinforcement. I mixed 14 60 lb. bags of Sakrete, one at a time in a wheelbarrow, that took about 90 minutes. Easier for my 75 year-old back to handle 60 lb. bags, and the per lb. cost is the same as 80 lb. bags.

That's a lot of backbreaking labor. The most I've ever mixed by hand in a wheelbarrow was 5 bags for the ballast barrel for my tractor, and I decided that was my limit by hand. I have easy access to borrowing a mixer for anything over that.

The slab looks good. I need to set a bunch of chain link fence posts this spring, so I'm planning on having a pallet of Quikrete delivered and use what I need for the posts, then use the rest to pour a small pad just outside the rear garage door where I keep my mower and other yard equipment, probably a 7'x6' pad.

 

[Notgrownup]

Just fine, no aches, pains, cuts, bruises, contusions or dry rot.


I'm thinking around 17 years old. I bought it from a guy who flipped mowers 4 years ago. I called, we decided on a price, but when I got there he said he was reluctant to sell it to me because, according to him, the electronic blade brake didn't work. Everything else worked so I convinced him to sell it to me for $200. Turns out the mower didn't come with an electronic blade brake which probably explains why it didn't function. I got it home, replaced the wheels and tires, tuned it, changed the oil, belts and blades and it's performed great.

It's the special Mercedes-Benz edition; they just made a handful of them.

Love it

 

[lolaetype]

Some progress:



I decided to move the shed over 18" which necessitated dowling in and pouring another 18"X7' slab (7 bags of hand mixed sakrete). I have no plans or any kind of drawings. I'm entirely winging it

 

[Bill Bowman]

That's a pretty good start. I'm sure that you're going to find the space between shed and house will come in handy. Maybe trash cans, etc.

 

[larry4406]

Extend that existing house roof over the space between house and shed. More concrete there at the former planter beds.

 

[Ford52PU]

Love the Mercedes edition CC. Well done!

 

[lolaetype]

All done except for a bit of trim painting. I think the blue door adds a nice touch.





I haven't yet built the door, hence the Harbor Freight sourced tarp. I want to keep the critters out until I get back to it week after next. I'd never messed with vinyl siding before; pretty easy stuff to work with, especially on a smaller project like this.

 

[lolaetype]

Done, finally. Snuggled up next to the detached garage.

 

[Viper98912]

Looks great! Nice job

 

[JuncleJohn]

Great job.

John

 

[captain14]

Great looking shed.

What else are you planning to store inside?

Looks like there is some room on the right side.

 

[Hooked]

Very nice!!

 

[atch]

If you haven't yet dealt with the door hold open issue go see the folks who sell the pre-made garden sheds. They use factory made gizmos that work extremely well.

 

[drokihazan]

My dad is 77, and if he mixed 30 bags of concrete and hand poured those two perfect slabs, I'm pretty sure he'd be in the hospital for two months.
You're unbelievable. Go get 'em, man, you're setting an example I hope to live up to.

 

[lolaetype]

First, thanks to all for the good thoughts. We had some heavy rain and none got inside so I guess the weatherstrip on the doorss does it's job.

What else are you planning to store inside?

A partial gallon of muriatic acid. In it's original plastic bottle then two sealed trash bags and then in a sealed 5 gallon pail that once held chlorine tablets. That ought to keep the fumes from trashing everything metal in the shed.

Then I moved all the garden sprayers and sprinkler stuff in there. I'll soon build a shelf to hold spare lawnmower blades, belts and other parts.