Am I Nuts? (Building a Shed)

[mopar440_6]

Ok guys, wife says I'm off my rocker but I think it makes sense so I figured I'd get a couple more opinions before doing something stupid.

Currently, we have a small, big box store, metal garden shed. When we bought the house it was nailed onto a half rotted 2x4 base topped with MDF. When we built my shop last year, I transferred the metal onto a proper PT 4x4 base. Dimensions are 10'L x 7'8"W x 6'H (peak). The metal is only slightly more structurally sound than tin foil and the walls are so short we can't even stand a rake or shovel up against the walls. We usually just cram everything into it for the winter and hope it doesn't fall apart.

Wanting something slightly more organized/usable, I priced out framing, T1-11 siding, and steel roofing based on HD/Lowes consumer prices (I should be able to get contractor prices through some friends) and came in just under $500. I figure once I include hardware and trim, worst case would be right about $600 + labor + a case of beer. The finished shed would be the same 10'L x 7'8"W footprint but would have 7'-7'6" walls to the ceiling and would be sturdy enough to hang things from the walls and rafters.

The wife pointed to the ad in the local paper and said we can get a 10'x12' Amish shed for $1100 tomorrow since she thinks I'm underestimating the cost to build on the base I have and thinks I'll never finish the project. I think the factors she is missing are: delivery is not included in that price and to be kosher with the township (I asked them about this before), I would have to get a land use permit for a new shed but I can "repair" my existing one sans permit as long as it is not a permanent structure (read: no concrete foundation or electric).

So, would you build your own shed or is the wife right and I'm nuts and should just cut a check to the closest place that will drop off a new shed?

 

[ratdoggy]

Your wife just might know you better than we do
I bought a shed myself because I knew I'd never finish it

 

[woodrail]

OK, it's getting stupid cold out. Call the Amish, let them do it. Then take the $600 you saved not building the shed and get something for your shop.

(See what I did there? )

 

[kaymccampbell]

I built 4 and bought the 5th from the Amish. Unless you love building sheds and intend to pound the new one up over a weekend, see the Amish.

 

[doubleot]

I paid to get mine built.

Call the Amish

 

[Locker537]

For the size and price you are talking about, I'd probably buy one as well.

I'm about to roof an 8x16 shed I've been building for the past month and am not looking forward to the weather

I don't regret it though, given I wanted the project, am learning, and saving a lot of money compared to buying one.

...and you get to buy lots of tools

 

[VoodooCLD]

I really wanted to buy a shed, however my house is in a small lot neighborhood with fences everywhere so there way no way to get one in to my backyard. So i bought a kit (pre-cut everything) and it still took me and a friend a month of working on the weekends to get it finished. I'd definitely just buy one already built. Spend your DIY time on getting the lot ready and then painting it real nice.

Picture is of my 8x12 Heartland Stratford

 

[maxpower_hd]

I would go with the 10x12 and lie and say I built it on the old floor sans permit.

 

[aka Larry]

At that price, unless you just want the experience of building your own, go with the Amish. Your wife being happy is just a bonus, and you can thank me later.

 

[ilovevocs]

Did you price trim? Your number seems like you stopped after the siding. Trim adds up fast.

Built vs. bought depends on your skills. Most of us men seem to over estimate our abilities and the amount of time it takes to complete a project of this scale on your own.

scratch built doors? - I think store bought doors look like dog $hit on a shed.

I'm finishing #2, its work but I enjoy it. I would go bigger if you can as it isn't much more work.

Don't buy a kit shed they are a joke. If your descent with a circ saw and measuring tape you can stick frame one faster than the kit. I helped my neighbor assemble a shed kit from lowes, still lots of work, crappy materials, poor design IMHO... cheap cheap cheap.

If its your first shed I say buy a set of plans with a complete material list and door drawings. For the few dollars the cost its well worth it.

 

[casmurbax]

To the OP, aren't the Amish in your backyard? or close to it? I see the kids leaning on the fence overlooking I-81 watching the cars go by when I go to Carlisle for the swap meets.

OR

you could just skip the middle man and go find some Amish guys to "repair" yours......

 

[cdestuck]

I take pride in all that I do at my home and with that I would never buy a prebuilt one but look around at sheds and look at books on sheds. Pick and choose what you like and build your own. You can forever look at your job, be proud of it and possibly gain some great experience in building it.

 

[mike93lx]

I love building stuff, but if the $1100 10x12 you quoted is quality, i wouldn't even think about building one. The time savings alone will be substantial.

 

[RWorth]

I've always built my own, but I don't think I could build a 10x12 for 1100 bux. they must be milling their own wood. I'd go for it.

 

[James-W]

I wouldn't hesitate for one second to get one from the Amish. You will have a really nice shed to put your stuff in, the wife will be happy that you took her advice, and you will not have to screw around in the cold trying to work on it. So what is there to think about???

 

[kmkalf]

Just built a 12x16 12 foot tall shed this summer, between me and my 10yo son, with a few hours help from my brothers it took a full week from dawn to dusk, plus a few weekends after that to finish. I saved $2k but in the end it isn't worth it for the time I lost doing other things
edit: don't know why the pic is upside down. Shows normal in my gallery

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[RVDan]

I'm about $900 into an 8x8x8. About half of that was framing, sheeting, and roof. The rest was vinyl siding, corners, j-trim, soffits, facia, and gutters. I got the doors for free or it could have cost as much as a kit from the hardware store.

 

[Muzzy]

Obviously the correct answer is 30' x 50' pole barn.

But back to the topic at hand, if you need the storage this winter, its probably better to buy one. Otherwise, building it yourself will be a great spring project, with a whole winter to either plan or talk yourself out of it.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ This.

BUT, wifey might not go that big, so don't get greedy.

Have the Amish build a . . . . 30' x 40' pole barn !!

 

[Tim37]

For about 1500 you can get a 20' shipping container. No labor just a funky smell ��

 

[TerryH]

Nothing but junk on the pre-made market around here so I built my own. If the Amish building is good quality, and I figure it probably is, I don't see how you could go wrong for that price.

 

[jshillin]

When I moved into my house in '08, I needed more room and didn't have any time. I picked up a shed from Timber Mill out of Greencastle and it has treated me right. It's 10'x12' and I want to build a bigger one in the near future, but it has more than served me well so far. I have no problem suggesting you pick up one.

 

[kspwski]

Sounds like the masses have spoken, but I'll offer my experience. I built a shed this summer with construction similar to what you are describing. Mine is a 9'x4' lean-to that sits on some pre-existing concrete. I decided to build because I wanted the experience and because of the custom size.

I saved money if you don't count my time. I spent about $650 on the shed after everything (framing to trim/paint) and I was given the window. It's built stout, but with basic, economical materials and the design turned out to be surprisingly material efficient. I did darn near all the work myself and it took me a couple months with a couple dedicated weekends.

So to answer your question, buy it!

 

[mopar440_6]

Did you price trim? Your number seems like you stopped after the siding. Trim adds up fast.

Built vs. bought depends on your skills. Most of us men seem to over estimate our abilities and the amount of time it takes to complete a project of this scale on your own.

scratch built doors? - I think store bought doors look like dog $hit on a shed.

I'm finishing #2, its work but I enjoy it. I would go bigger if you can as it isn't much more work.

Don't buy a kit shed they are a joke. If your descent with a circ saw and measuring tape you can stick frame one faster than the kit. I helped my neighbor assemble a shed kit from lowes, still lots of work, crappy materials, poor design IMHO... cheap cheap cheap.

If its your first shed I say buy a set of plans with a complete material list and door drawings. For the few dollars the cost its well worth it.

Guess I left out some information. I'm an engineer by trade so making plans and drawings happens in my sleep. In fact the walls, doors, and trusses were already sketched up on the drafting table to do the rough quote and will get CAD drawings to do final estimates if I proceed. I've got all the necessary tools already from remodeling our first house. Skills wise, my only deficiencies are plumbing and drywall of which this building will have neither. Cost and time are generally the limiting factors for my projects and although I'm sorely lacking on time at the moment, cost is the bigger roadblock.

The numbers I put together include soffit, fascia, etc. Only other trim would be some 1x3 around/on the doors which is included in the pricing. No shed kits, just stick framing it and building the doors and trusses from scratch too. I've got room to work in the shop and a nice level floor so the only work outside would be assembly, siding, and roof.

To the OP, aren't the Amish in your backyard? or close to it? I see the kids leaning on the fence overlooking I-81 watching the cars go by when I go to Carlisle for the swap meets.

OR

you could just skip the middle man and go find some Amish guys to "repair" yours......

Very much in my backyard. I drive by two different prefab shed sales places on the daily commute, I know of two others within a 20mi radius, and I only work 30min from Lancaster. I've also got the crew that built my shop on the line but they're likely too busy to do a job this small.

Obviously the correct answer is 30' x 50' pole barn.

But back to the topic at hand, if you need the storage this winter, its probably better to buy one. Otherwise, building it yourself will be a great spring project, with a whole winter to either plan or talk yourself out of it.

The correct answer is that the shed exists to keep all of the yard hand tools, patio furniture, pool stuff, and kids' toys out of my 50x60x14 shop.

Just in the rolling ideas around/planning phase at the moment so not an immediate need and might be a spring project unless I can do all of the construction and framing in the shop like I mentioned above.

^ ^ ^ This.

BUT, wifey might not go that big, so don't get greedy.

Have the Amish build a . . . . 30' x 40' pole barn !!

See my sig line. The wifey already approved nearly double that when we bought the house. We're just both getting tired of hitting our heads and knocking **** over trying to get to the yard tools.


All that said, it sounds like the general consensus is to just buy the darn thing and spend my time elsewhere. Guess I'll have to get some hard numbers and check out the quality of the prefab stuff locally.

 

[mx500]

My neighbor had one built for about $4000. 8x12. partially on my lot. township ordinance is 10 feet off lot line. builders were good and seemed legit.

 

[maxpower_hd]

We have a couple of places here that build and deliver some really nicely built sheds. They aren't really prefab they way I think of it. they are simply stick built some place else and delivered. One company builds the walls and roof ahead of time and builds the floor on site. They are excellent quality products but not priced any where near your Amish option of $1100.

I think my 8x12 was nearly double that price to do myself.

 

[NUTTSGT]

You already have a 50x60x14 shop, so I say go in a different direction. Put a lean-to overhang on one side (pool side) and enclose the back area behind that O/H door.



You'll gain a bigger shed that can have an outlet and lighting, more shop space, when they weather is nice and/or a place to put the grill for those summer family get togethers.

 

[MikeF2316]

If you're going to buy a kit, look at the "plastic" ones. Some are just junk, warped plastic pieces that snap together, but not tightly, and others look like they'll last 100s of years.

 

[Oceandweller]

Yall are darn lucky to be so close to the Amish.. I would defer to the Amish as well if I could on a shed. Down here with the humidity and rain we can't do much wood outside. Steel stays pretty cold and is hard to insulate, just another reason to go Amish Happy thanksgiving. 1500 for a shipping container but the problem with that is having to transport it, grade it out, etc. probably comes closer to 3,500 all said and done.

 

[redmondjp]

OK this may not be the right place for this, but if you do decide to build your own shed, here is an awesome idea:

Build one exterior wall, one that is accessible from the outside, anywhere from 6" to a foot thick, using either staggered 2x4s or 2x_ studs. Why? To hang your commonly-used yard and garden hand tools in. Then you have doors in the siding so you can easily access them from the outside. If you really get crazy, you can build thick doors on beefy hinges so stuff can be hung on the inside of the door as well. Or you can use sliding siding panels AKA barn or closet doors for access.

This way, your shed can be crammed completely full of stuff, that you don't have to get through in order to get a shovel or some pruners. Plus it utilizes that space between the studs that is so often wasted.

 

[bucktruck]

I built this for about $1200 including paint. Took me about six months of nights and weekends. It's 11 x 8, built on pier blocks with 2x10 floor framing. It doesn't leak, and after three years, the door still closes with no binding, so I guess I did something right.

 

[TractorJeff]

Sheds and small outbuildings are selling like hot cakes around here right now!
Most are built in Tennessee and trucked up here. Dealer delivers it to your place, sets it and you sign off that its OK. A little North and you can get an Amish built one also!
I'm cheap and build/repair pretty much everything. But if I had a wife that is willing to sign off on $1100 and all I have to do is fill it with junk. I would be down at the Town Hall getting a permit!

 

[bczygan]

Wife is nuts.

Build it and make it much bigger. Who will know?

Build it like standard house construction but use a 12/12 pitch roof or a Gambrel one.

Bill

 

[PhantomEB]

I like to build my own stuff too, but if someone can do a better job for same or less....it's a no brainer for me.

 

[timbitca]

A shed that size around here cost about 2k. If I had the opportunity to buy one for 1,100-1,200$ I would jump on it. Just for the sake of saving the labour.

 

[bad_idea]

I built my 8x16. Cost me about the same to build myself as I could have bought one. I didn't go crazy with materials, but it is built much better than the prebuilt ones around here. I'm happy I did it myself, but it was a lot of work. Took about a month of weekends. That was with contractor grade tools. If I could have gotten a quality build at that kind of price, I would have jumped on it. Much less work that way.

 

[rburke65]

Had the Amish from the Sugar Creek area install one on my property years ago. I looked at there models, made a few changes and it took them less than 2 1/2 hrs to erect the pre made walls on my pad. Love it.

 

[-Brent-]

I really wanted to buy a shed, however my house is in a small lot neighborhood with fences everywhere so there way no way to get one in to my backyard.

Places like TuffShed (not sure about the Amish, I can only assume) assemble on site as well. They could've brought my whole shed through a fence gate, if needed. The walls and door were already built and painted. They assembled the metal base, built the roof and shingled it.

That's what you get from lots of shed companies, especially if you custom order it.


And, I'd go with your wife's thinking. While building a shed isn't all that hard, the little extra was worth it compared to the time it takes to build.

 

[CSRPenFab]

I've got a 10x12 8' high Tuff Shed on order from our local dealer. Ran me about $2.5k with some upgrades like transom windows and a coated floor. Just waiting for our pool construction mess to be complete before Tuff Shed comes and assembles it on site.

It's not really my shed, it's being termed my wife's "Menustruation Hut", the anti-thesis of a "man cave". It's a place for her to store all her crafting and holiday decorating **** to keep it the heck out of my garage!

 

[Bluedodge]

I built my 8x16. Cost me about the same to build myself as I could have bought one. I didn't go crazy with materials, but it is built much better than the prebuilt ones around here. I'm happy I did it myself, but it was a lot of work. Took about a month of weekends. That was with contractor grade tools. If I could have gotten a quality build at that kind of price, I would have jumped on it. Much less work that way.

I also built my own 10 x 16. Sturdier than the pre-built ones available locally from the Amish. Shingles and siding to match the house. 8x7 garage door, one pre hung steel man door, and a double hung vinyl window for light. Turned out pretty good, had about $1800 into it including the slab which I mixed in a HF cement mixer, but it's done right.