5x10 Shed Build

[drbooshkit]

I found some very helpful information in this forum as I am researching for upcoming shed build. Figured I would share my plans and progress here in case it helps others -- or in case you all can offer me your experience! I haven't done a shed or garage per se, but what I am attempting feels simple and I'm competent with all the tools and trades to make this happen. Attaching image of the design I made in CAD. The biggest decisions so far were: 1) gravel base vs concrete (going gravel so it can be moved if needed later)... and 2) floor joists as 2x4 or 2x6... currently leaning towards 2x4 since the span is short (12" or 16" OC?). Span is 58". I am planning on 2x4 rafters as well 16" OC. The skids are 4x6 PT, as are the gravel perimeter.
Any feedback or sanity checks are welcome.
Question I have: would you use PT 2x4 for the sill plate? or regular OK? Plan to use LP SmartSide for speed of build. Floor is 3/4 PT plywood.

 

[mike93lx]

The bottom wall plate doesn't need to be PT as it will be protected from tbe weather.

At that size 2x4 will be fine everywhere and 16oc is well more than plenty.

On the floor blocking, I would just place it where you will have an unsupported seam.

5x10 is an odd size, but since lumber can be bought in 10 and 12' lengths, planning we'll should minimize waste. Sheet good usage won't be super efficient

 

[drbooshkit]

mike-- thank you for the input on this one, that's a big help.
5x10 is indeed strange! I am replacing an old 4x6 shed and maximizing the footprint I can build in the constrained space.
Absolutely on the sheet usage, it's not ideal. For floor and roof deck, I can buy 3 sheets and "waste" a lot (i.e. sit around for 3 years before I have another useful project) or nest 2 sheets with length offcuts... still on the fence on that one.
You make me think again though about the 5' sides, that might be some slim pieces of the 48" T1-11 (or LP SmartSide) -- i will mock that up. Anyone know if there's a spec minimum width you'd rip a 48" siding panel to?

 

[mike93lx]

mike-- thank you for the input on this one, that's a big help.
5x10 is indeed strange! I am replacing an old 4x6 shed and maximizing the footprint I can build in the constrained space.
Absolutely on the sheet usage, it's not ideal. For floor and roof deck, I can buy 3 sheets and "waste" a lot (i.e. sit around for 3 years before I have another useful project) or nest 2 sheets with length offcuts... still on the fence on that one.
You make me think again though about the 5' sides, that might be some slim pieces of the 48" T1-11 (or LP SmartSide) -- i will mock that up. Anyone know if there's a spec minimum width you'd rip a 48" siding panel to?

If you do the 5', I'd probably use a 3' and a 2' with framing spaced accordingly. Your 1' wide offcuts will give you your soffit material

 

[mschoo92]

Nice shed design! What do you use for your CAD?

If you haven’t done the gravel base yet it may be worthwhile to plan adding some hardware cloth or chicken wire around the perimeter of the shed and buried into the gravel in an “L” - that’s supposed to help keep anything out from living underneath.

I haven’t built a shed but recently built a gravel foundation and moved an existing 10x12 to it, I added trim boards underneath to block any critters but am thinking of adding the wire as added protection! Had a couple groundhogs living under it in its previous location and their dirt mound created a constant wet spot on the flooring.

 

[nadogail]

The OP's idea is certainly possible to build, my wonderment is, Why so small?

 

[bdbecker]

The OP's idea is certainly possible to build, my wonderment is, Why so small?

Can we just assume that the OP knows his needs and what will work in his situation (budget, lot configuration, local ordinances, etc.)?

 

[CraigStu]

Read the 2nd line in post #3.

 

[mike93lx]

Read the 2nd line in post #3.

Whats the fun in that?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I built a little 5x12' shed recently. You can check it out here:

Tote Shed

My most ambitious carpentry project to date..... My wife wanted a new shed for her Christmas totes and other misc ****. I decided to take this one on as I couldn't find anything I liked, and I sure wasn't impressed with the quality of the commercially available units. I built the thing on a...

www.garagejournal.com

I'm not against small sheds (obviously), but keep in mind you will be loosing 7" on length and width of floor space to your wall framing. With that in mind, I'd double check what you're storing to make sure your dimensions work. Everyone thought I was nuts for building so small, but the fact of the matter is my shed is packed pretty darn full all the way up whereas most people have a tall shed with a bunch of misc **** on the floor and a ton of empty air space above it.

 

[JeepYJ]

Use 2x3 lumber for wall framing if you want a little more interior space. You could probably go down to 2x2 lumber for such a small shed.

 

[drbooshkit]

Wife and I have laid the perimeter 4x6 and excavated down for 3.5” - 4” of gravel (3/4” chip). Delivery tomorrow of gravel. Probably overkill, but used Simpson inside corner brackets and 5 1/2” screws on each side. Before laying in the gravel trench, I did paint the bottoms and sides with Woodluxe. The wood is still a bit wet but I figured I can leave the top face of the timbers open for the season to let water get out there. I really wanted to seal the sides and bottom before they got covered forever. I am hoping that having the gravel on the bottom instead of bare ground will also prolong life.
Finally, way overkill, but pinned the sides down with 48” x 1/2” rebar , two places on each side. She is never going anywhere lol !
Three weeeks until shed construction. My best bud from Texas is coming up for two days. It’ll be a fun sprint. Just ordered all the lumber for delivery $1900. A few hundred more expensive for the local family lumber yard and that’s fine with me.
Also finalized the design for the door. Got some lovely bronze hinges finished in espresso brown.
Still in search of a good door handle …

 

[drbooshkit]

Exterior. It will be the LP Smartside T1-11 with 8” OC, which isn’t shown.

 

[mike93lx]

Exterior. It will be the LP Smartside T1-11 with 8” OC, which isn’t shown.

I just sided my 16x16 with those smartside panels and have another 8x8 with it. They're very consistent and they last a long time.

Are you using them as sheathing or on top of sheathing?

 

[drbooshkit]

I just sided my 16x16 with those smartside panels and have another 8x8 with it. They're very consistent and they last a long time.

Are you using them as sheathing or on top of sheathing?

Was planning to use it as single sheathing + siding. Mostly for time and cost.

 

[drbooshkit]

I built a little 5x12' shed recently. You can check it out here:

Tote Shed

My most ambitious carpentry project to date..... My wife wanted a new shed for her Christmas totes and other misc ****. I decided to take this one on as I couldn't find anything I liked, and I sure wasn't impressed with the quality of the commercially available units. I built the thing on a...

www.garagejournal.com

I'm not against small sheds (obviously), but keep in mind you will be loosing 7" on length and width of floor space to your wall framing. With that in mind, I'd double check what you're storing to make sure your dimensions work. Everyone thought I was nuts for building so small, but the fact of the matter is my shed is packed pretty darn full all the way up whereas most people have a tall shed with a bunch of misc **** on the floor and a ton of empty air space above it.

Thank you for sharing your build. Looks tidy!

 

[drbooshkit]

The OP's idea is certainly possible to build, my wonderment is, Why so small?

Very small yard where we live.

 

[drbooshkit]

Nice shed design! What do you use for your CAD?

If you haven’t done the gravel base yet it may be worthwhile to plan adding some hardware cloth or chicken wire around the perimeter of the shed and buried into the gravel in an “L” - that’s supposed to help keep anything out from living underneath.

I haven’t built a shed but recently built a gravel foundation and moved an existing 10x12 to it, I added trim boards underneath to block any critters but am thinking of adding the wire as added protection! Had a couple groundhogs living under it in its previous location and their dirt mound created a constant wet spot on the flooring.

Great idea to make a flange on the wire and bury that a bit. Will do that.
I use SolidWorks for CAD, I get access through work. Great tool.

 

[mike93lx]

Was planning to use it as single sheathing + siding. Mostly for time and cost.

It'll work fine.

I had a 10x10 at my last house that was a cheap kit, but used smartside for sheathing. I never painted it and it was holding up fine after 6ish years of new England winters

This is my current build https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/pool-shed-build.540649/page-5

And the 8x8 (this thread is a bit of a shitshow)

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/small-shed-floor-framing.505685/

 

[tool_scrounge]

Still in search of a good door handle …

hmmm..,a few come to mind.












Etsy and other places on the web have some creative door handles.

 

[NightSky]

What will be the height as well as pitch of the roof?

 

[drbooshkit]

What will be the height as well as pitch of the roof?

4:12 roof (or just a degree under). With a front wall height of 91 1/2" The idea behind the front wall height is this will let me use a single 96" tall siding panel, even on the tallest wall. (Disregard the placement of that window, it's out of date.)

 

[DGersic]

If you haven’t done the gravel base yet it may be worthwhile to plan adding some hardware cloth or chicken wire around the perimeter of the shed and buried into the gravel in an “L” - that’s supposed to help keep anything out from living underneath.

Yes, do this. I didn’t when I built my shed, and it was fine for several years, but then something tried to move in to the space under the shed. I had to dig a perimeter trench and install hardware cloth to evict it. Would have been easier to do before putting the shed up.

 

[mschoo92]

Great idea to make a flange on the wire and bury that a bit. Will do that.
I use SolidWorks for CAD, I get access through work. Great tool.

Nice, thought it looked familiar! I use SolidWorks too, have a license through work and I also have a “maker” license for around $50/yr that is nice to have on my home laptop for tinkering/printing projects.

 

[drbooshkit]

Gravel day! Not too bad. Pretty stones after a quick rinse.

 

[drbooshkit]

Lumber arrived yesterday. I am solo getting ahead by constructing the platform and floor. I used PT 2x4, 16” OC, with a blocking for the seam. Used my new Milwaukee 30 degree nailer on this with galvanized 3 1/4 (3 per connection). ((Made myself practice toenailing after this). Then for good measure, applied some Simpson 90 degree brackets. I only had #9 SDS screws instead of the 1/4” SDS , but I think they will be okay seriously though it will be reassuring to have that extra hardware if this needs to be moved from the skids.
I have one more piece of plywood left to screw down and cut. Then going to sand and paint the edges with a handsome brown trim wood luxe.
My buddy is coming over this weekend. Two days to build the shed! I don’t think making the floor was cheating , just giving us a fighting chance.

 

[drbooshkit]

Lumber arrived yesterday. I am solo getting ahead by constructing the platform and floor. I used PT 2x4, 16” OC, with a blocking for the seam. Used my new Milwaukee 30 degree nailer on this with galvanized 3 1/4 (3 per connection). ((Made myself practice toenailing after this). Then for good measure, applied some Simpson 90 degree brackets. I only had #9 SDS screws instead of the 1/4” SDS , but I think they will be okay seriously though it will be reassuring to have that extra hardware if this needs to be moved from the skids.
I have one more piece of plywood left to screw down and cut. Then going to sand and paint the edges with a handsome brown trim wood luxe.
My buddy is coming over this weekend. Two days to build the shed! I don’t think making the floor was cheating , just giving us a fighting chance.

Anddd for those sharp of you to spot it, yes I did a double rim joist. lol. I ordered 10x of the 10-foot sticks, so I had enough to “just double it” since I was I was on edge about 2x4 vs 2x6. This thing isn’t going anywhere.

 

[drbooshkit]

Finished decking. A few spots on the plywood i decided to glue down a layer.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I'm sure you will be fine but I would have used 2x6s for the floor.

 

[JohnX14]

Looks good so far, and for that size the 2x4's are fine. My only "question" is what will make themselves at home under the shed. My next door neighbor has a shed up on blocks, and fortunately it's only rabbits under there. The construction looks fine.

 

[drbooshkit]

I'm sure you will be fine but I would have used 2x6s for the floor.

Definitely could do 2x6 for peace of mind. However I can say now the 2x4 are just fine. It’s the small 58” overall width (effective span is 47” after taking the 4x6 into account).

 

[mike93lx]

Been all day... Let's see the walls!

 

[drbooshkit]

Been all day... Let's see the walls!

I know, right? My friend is coming over tomorrow for the weekend … Saturday fun begins. I just snapped a plate chalk line just for something to do…

 

[drbooshkit]

While waiting to begin framing, I found a few things to do. 1) painted the floor and outside edges (good family fun!). 2) found some wire mesh laying around and trimmed to size with flanges ready to install (thanks @mschoo92 !) 3) the lumber delivery ended up breaking the 1x6x16’ LP trim boards during the drop, so they gave me three new ones. So why not add a skirt trim around the entire platform? Wasn’t planning on it but now I have ample material (and full length for the fascia’s too).
With the Z flashing I still have 1/4” below the deck, so i could do that install now and then have a ledger board for the siding install. Any objections to nailing down the “skirt” trim and Z flashing now?

Also in other news, ordered the sandstone coin g-floor. Going to be a sharp finishing touch. But the brown is fun for now.

 

[mike93lx]

The siding needs to be raised off rhe Z flashing a bit, so make sure you have some spacers on hand to ensure that.

 

[drbooshkit]

The siding needs to be raised off rhe Z flashing a bit, so make sure you have some spacers on hand to ensure that.

I have a box of popsicle sticks I could use to raise off siding — what do you think?
Also, I saw one picture where the siding was shimmed out at bottom to kick it out a bit. Thoughts ? Picture update attached. Wife helped me pin the skirt trim. Nice ! And very glad to install that wire mesh during the process. Left the **** sides attached only with screws so can be removed if necessary.

 

[captain14]

The siding needs to be raised off rhe Z flashing a bit, so make sure you have some spacers on hand to ensure that.

I’ve seen someone using carpenter pencils for a spacer for the Z- flashing and siding. Keeps it even higher than popcycle sticks. .

 

[mike93lx]

I believe lp calls for 3/16 spacing... Confirm that

I used a couple composite shims, but they don't like to stay in place and can get frustrating

 

[drbooshkit]

Thanks for shim tips.
Here’s the floor… just waiting for the next fun.

 

[mike93lx]

You didn't fill the screw holes??

Kids today...