Backyard Pole Shed Build

[KevinH]

Hi all,

I've been on this board for a few years, always reading about everyone's buildings that they've constructed. I've learned tonnes and I'm now going to put this knowledge to good use.

A little background: We purchased this property in 2009. The house needed lots of updating, and the yard was, well:

The house also had an electric forced air furnace, which cost between 700-800 a month for heat in the winter. We don't have natural gas at the road, so I had a geothermal system installed. Afterwards, the yard was a mess so I purchased an old skidsteer with a Wisconsin gas engine (circa 1962) to clean up the property:

The property slopes quite a bit in the back, but I managed to level out a spot for the shed on the east side of the backyard, which is also the only spot that is far enough from the septic bed and with no geothermal lines buried underground.

I'm planning an 18x24 building. I have the 6x6's, I found second hand trusses with a loft (saved over 50% retail), and today I picked up the OSB - also 2nd hand at $4 a sheet. Did I mention that I am going to do this as cheaply as possible?

Anyways, I'll try to update as I go along, but I may forget a few steps here or there. My goal is to have this structure up (not necessarily finished) before the snow flies in December. And yes, I'm doing everything myself.

Here's the pad (ignore the big mess behind):

 

[K2sno311]

Looking like you're off to a great start... and by the way you pay attention to detail, I imagine it will turn out great no matter what materials you use.

Best of luck to you in this project!! keep us posted

 

[xrdad]

Subscribed...

looks like a project I'm contemplating... skid steer included!

 

[theoldwizard1]

The house also had an electric forced air furnace, which cost between 700-800 a month for heat in the winter. We don't have natural gas at the road, so I had a geothermal system installed.

Okay, your first set of question !

What did the whole geothermal system cost you ? What does it cost you to run it in winter ?

Did you have to make any changes to the duct work and does the unit take up much more space than your old force air furnace ?

How many wells and how deep ?

 

[KevinH]

Okay, your first set of question !

What did the whole geothermal system cost you ? What does it cost you to run it in winter ?

Did you have to make any changes to the duct work and does the unit take up much more space than your old force air furnace ?

How many wells and how deep ?

Geothermal cost just over $20K. However, our gov't had a rebate thing going on, where they gave me $10K back just for installing it. It costs the same as it did to heat/cool our last place, which was 1100 sq. ft. This house is just over 2700 sq. ft.

The unit itself is about twice the size of a high efficiency furnace. Here's a picture of it:

No wells. They ran 3300' of pipe in 3 6' deep trenches that went from west side of the front driveway, down the west side of the property, then back east towards the old garden shed.

 

[volvo]

Are you planning room for that golf cart for when you have time for a quick 36 between projects?

 

[KevinH]

I do love to golf there, but not surprisingly haven't had much time the last couple of summers to get out.

 

[jteam]

Subscribed! My back yard slopes down as well. I am looking forward to watching this build.

 

[KevinH]

I picked up the trusses finally yesterday. I was able to borrow a float from my brother in law, and got them home.

So I plan on prepping the area a little more today, staking out the exact locations of the posts and if everything goes well, perhaps drilliing the holes. I hope to have the posts in by the end of this week.

 

[KevinH]

Yesterday I got a little bit done. I had to move the trusses from the driveway to the backyard. I have a small Kubota tractor that I recently purchased from my mom. So...

Then I staked out the area, cleaned it up a bit and moved some of the woodpile back for some elbow room. The purple stakes are for the posts, the pinks ones are for the top of the (eventual) concrete pad. Yes, I live with 4 females.

I then rented a post hole auger for the Kubota. I put on the 9" bit, and started on the holes. 2 hours later and 1 1/2 holes done, I called it a day.

It looks like the teeth on the auger are completely worn, so I called the rental company this morning, who offered to replace the teeth and gave me a couple extra days to get the job done at no cost. I'll get back at it today...

 

[KevinH]

Finished the holes and got the footings in today. After I replaced the teeth from the 15" auger that was included and sharpened them with my angle grinder, the auger went in like butter.

Hopefully I'll set the posts tomorrow.

 

[KevinH]

Posts are in! Just in time for the rain that is supposed to come through tonight.

First thing this morning:

I had to return the auger and pick up a couple of 20' posts for the 'end walls'. I wanted the trusses tied in. I also picked up a yard of screenings for around all the posts. I had a couple little helpers today:

This is where I am right now:

 

[jteam]

That is some nice progress so far! The Kubota is sweet. That is the perfect size for a homeowner with "heavy lifting" to be done. What model is it?

 

[KevinH]

Yeah, I love the little Kubota. It is a BX2230.

I worked on framing the posts in today. I got the bottom stringer on, and then tackled the beams. It took a little longer than I had liked, but trying to lift the 2x10's and level them is a little cumbersome with one person. I got the lag bolts in on the west wall, but I ran out of time for the other three walls.

The building sits really low on the northeast corner, but it should be ok.

 

[hudsoncustom]

KEV!!!

Never thought I'd see you on here! Great job on the work so far! The used materials will save you a boat load for sure!

I built a 24x36 in my back yard about 6 years ago...there's a thread here somewhere!

Can't wait to follow along! Let me know when your first garage kegger is, I'll have to fly out and re-live some old memories...

keith

 

[KevinH]

Sounds good buddy. I just looked at yours....I knew I should have gone bigger!! Lol

 

[p_mori7]

Nice work so far ! What did you pay for the little Bobcat ? Does it work good ?

 

[KevinH]

Nice work so far ! What did you pay for the little Bobcat ? Does it work good ?

I don't have the Bobcat anymore. I only used it for regrading after the geothermal and got rid of it as soon as I was done. I bought it for $1500, not running. The engine was an old Wisconsin VF4D with a magneto. I could tell that it had compression and fuel was good, so once I replaced the condensor and points, it fired right up. I used it for a year and a half, replacing parts as needed and sold it for $4000 when I was finished with it.

 

[Olf]

hi kevin have you no fear that your wood-post rotting in the ground?
gruß olf

 

[KevinH]

Olf - No, not really. The posts are PT and I set them in screenings, which doesn't hold water. Perhaps over many years they may deteriorate, and if that happens I can always replace them.

 

[KevinH]

Well, I've had my first real set back. Up until now, I've been planning on having two doors at the front of the building, and a man door off to the side. However, I forgot to take into account the window in the centre of the gable end for the loft area. The post was in the way. So, then I started thinking about just putting one door in and running a beam across the front, but I didn't like this structurally.

After speaking to a friend of mine who is a builder, he suggests that I move the centre post over about 2 feet, have an offset 10' door to the one side. Then run the door header over the 10' span. So, I dig.

 

[KevinH]

Yesterday afternoon I poured the footing for the centre post and got some of the framing done.

 

[KevinH]

Yesterday I made some progress. I repositioned the center post for the door at the front of the shed. I then finished up most of the framing and installed the rest of the lag bolts. I then tackled the trusses.

This is not a one man job, but, with some redneck engineering I fashioned a lift of sorts with the tractor.

Second truss:

At the end of the day yesterday:

 

[KevinH]

I'm getting tired - not used to all this manual labour! I managed to get all the trusses up today, and I have 5 in place now. Hoisting the trusses was a little tricky.

First I set each one on the beams upside down.

Then I tied off the truss, and lifted it 1/2 way with the tractor.

And I pulled it the rest of the way with the rope I had tied off.

After getting all the trusses up on one end, I strung two ropes across the length of the building to prevent the trusses from falling down when sliding them across the beam. By this time I was pretty exhausted, so I only managed to do two of them.

Where I am at now.

I'm looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow and I'll get back to it Monday.

 

[hpw]

Before you get to far along and run out of room, load the rest of your trusses
standing vertically(leaning to the other trusses so they won't fall over). Then you can slide them into place after they are all up. But that will be easier said then done if you are doing this entirely by yourself. After looking at you pictures again, it looks like you may already be doing this, can't really tell.

Something to watch out for, the way you have the truss inverted in the first picture, it has a tendency of pushing your walls out or putting a bow in your beams, more so since you don't have any braces on them.

wished I was close, would love to help out, I enjoy "little" projects like this.

 

[KevinH]

Thanks for the tips hpw. I can use all the advice I can get on this project. I did hoist up all the trusses today - they're leaning against the far truss and post.

As soon as I read what you said about the walls bowing I ran out and checked, but both walls appear to be fine. Never thought of that.

 

[KevinH]

Bad news.

Someone called the city and complained about the shed. An inspector came by, and asked that I file a permit. So I went there today, and there is a whole bunch of red tape that I have to wade through. I'm a little disappointed that someone (not my neighbours!) felt the need to call the city on me.

So, I have a bit of backtracking to do. The really bad news is that I may have to shift the whole building over or apply for a variance.

I will resume to update this thread once the project gets back on track. Let this be a lesson to everyone else - its not worth the hassle!

 

[CodeRedZ]

Sorry to hear about your luck, hopefully you can get the permits taken care of.

 

[JPorkins]

Dang! It was really coming along too, will be waiting for the next update.

 

[richtersrodz]

That *****. Hope you don't have to move it. I was enjoying the pictures and the progress. Good luck..

 

[Thedoc14]

Just typical, of a do gooder getting in the way of you enjoying your own property.

 

[jteam]

Its always possible that someone from the Inspections office was chasing the little white ball and got sight of your work. Hope you can get it straightened out without moving anything. I am looking forward to seeing the progression.

 

[KevinH]

Just to post a little update. I am well on my way with the building permit - probably another 7-10 business days. It does look like I will have to move the entire stucture - 5 feet to the west and about 7 feet towards the rear of the yard (to maintain the required 15' from the septic lines).

So I've been trying to decide how to tackle this job. At first I was thinking that I would build the new structure over the current one. Then try to slide the trusses over to the new structure. However, I think I'm leaning towards dismantling the current structure and starting from scratch. So, I'm looking into having a proper jib crane built for the tractor that can move the trusses more effectively and safely.

I'll keep you posted....

 

[KULIWOBBY]

Did you know about this 15' set back in the beginning?

 

[KevinH]

Yes, which is why it is too close to the property line. Considering hindsight is 20/20, I should have moved it back and over at the beginning....

 

[KevinH]

I made some (un)progress today. I managed to take down the entire building in a day. A friend of mine very kindly loaned me his bucket truck, and I removed the trusses very quickly.

After the trusses were down, I disassembled the rest in a couple hours. Back to square one.

 

[I90wrench]

That *****!!

 

[nomuffintop]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. You will see forward progress before you know it! Stay positive

 

[Kalstar]

Permits can be a real "erection" killer. Sorry couldn't help myself.

I guess the silver lining was you didn't get it finished before the inspector came knocking.

 

[KevinH]

Yesterday I picked up the permit and talked to the inspector for a bit. Then I went home and tried to prep the "new" area, but with all the rain we've been getting, it quickly turned into a muddy mess. At any rate, I managed to move some of the materials around and staked out the general location of the building. I think I'm going to call this build the "Deja vu Build"

I'm hoping the weather dries up a bit so I can start on the groundwork....