Building a Shed

[bubba]

Hey guys, My mom is buying some land(3 1/2 acres) and planning on building a house on top of the hill. There is a mobile home on the lower part of it right now. We've got some stuff we are gonna have to store while she is building the house cuz we will be living in the mobile home until then. We are talking about some kind of storage shed/garage that we could buy/build behind the mobile home. I'm thinking like a 12x18 or 14x18 building, probably built on a slab. I think I could build it myself, because we wont be doing any plumbing or heating or electricity to it or anything...just a plain-jane storage shed. Concrete slab, 2x4 construction, vinyl siding, lathing and tin roof, no insulation or anything at the moment....just a single garage door(probably 8x7 or 9x7).

I'm just wondering if it would be cheaper to look into just buying one of those pre-built sheds, or if we would come out cheaper building it. Any tips?

 

[jimvannoy]

Around here you can buy one of those 20x20 covered carport type things for around $795.00 installed. It's a metal roof with metal studs. You can then put whatever type metal, wood, or vinyl siding on it you want and pour a slab after it's built. I built one that was 30x40 that way for about $5000.00 total. Roof/studs was $3500.00 installed and the other 1500.00 was for siding, misc materials, and concrete with me doing the work.

 

[Keizer]

Hey guys, My mom is buying some land(3 1/2 acres) and planning on building a house on top of the hill. There is a mobile home on the lower part of it right now. We've got some stuff we are gonna have to store while she is building the house cuz we will be living in the mobile home until then. We are talking about some kind of storage shed/garage that we could buy/build behind the mobile home. I'm thinking like a 12x18 or 14x18 building, probably built on a slab. I think I could build it myself, because we wont be doing any plumbing or heating or electricity to it or anything...just a plain-jane storage shed. Concrete slab, 2x4 construction, vinyl siding, lathing and tin roof, no insulation or anything at the moment....just a single garage door(probably 8x7 or 9x7).

I'm just wondering if it would be cheaper to look into just buying one of those pre-built sheds, or if we would come out cheaper building it. Any tips?

Being a building contractor, if you called me and asked for a building that size, I would simply tell you that I don't build that small. The reason is, exactly what you already stated. I could not build it cheaper than what the home improvement stores sell them for. Plus, I would never build something as cheap as those buildings you buy at the home improvement stores. Those structures are total garbage IMO, and will not stand the test of time. Not to mention, don't stand in one during heavy winds!!!

If you want to have a storage building on your property that will look good and last.......then build it yourself. But, it will cost you more. If it were me, I would pour a 4" slab with footings below frost level with anchor bolts. To keep costs down, and since you have no plans to heat it, I would stick frame the walls with 2x4's. With a 12' clear span, you could easily build some quality trusses on the ground with the pitch of your choice. Build one truss, and use that first truss as a pattern for the remainders. With that span, the trusses could also be built with 2x4's.

Basically, you will save money buying a pre-built structure, but will sacrifice quality IMO.

 

[bubba]

So what do you guys think I would be looking at spending for the materials for a project like this?(Approximately of course) If I did it on a 4" slab with 2x4 framing.

 

[bobthecop]

You can go to Home Depot, tell them what you are wanting to build and they will give you a materials list and price. An accurate estimate for free.

 

[IanF]

Basically, you will save money buying a pre-built structure, but will sacrifice quality IMO.

I agree. We built a 10x10 build-on-site "kit-shed" with pre-cut parts. It gets the job done, but I would have built it with heavier framing than 24" o.c. studs.

Depending on where you are, the slab will likely cost you far more than the cost of the shed regardless of whether you buy a pre-fab, stick-build it yourself, or have it built. My mother's husband was dead-set on a slab for their shed, but due to code restrictions they are stuck with a 12'x14' building... They were still getting quotes for the slab at around $3000. It's just so small that no contractor wants to bother with it.

 

[Will67]

I would look into a shipping container (used) they are 10x10, 10x20, and 10x40. Security would be top notch too.

It would not require a slab, but you could put one down anyways to keep the muck from being tracked in.



Also when your are done with your build you could resell it.

 

[jimvannoy]

I agree. We built a 10x10 build-on-site "kit-shed" with pre-cut parts. It gets the job done, but I would have built it with heavier framing than 24" o.c. studs.

Depending on where you are, the slab will likely cost you far more than the cost of the shed regardless of whether you buy a pre-fab, stick-build it yourself, or have it built. My mother's husband was dead-set on a slab for their shed, but due to code restrictions they are stuck with a 12'x14' building... They were still getting quotes for the slab at around $3000. It's just so small that no contractor wants to bother with it.

For a 12x14 storage shed I would just buy bags of Quickcrete and mix it myself.

 

[mhoffm911]

I think in this situation that I would be looking into the storage container also. Of course if you are in a warm climate where you can build all year, than it could be the difference maker.

 

[bubba]

Well, The thing is that i'm probably gonna be living in the mobile home myself after my mom builds her house. So i'm thinking it would be nice still to have somewhere to store yard supplies, lawn mower, etc even after the house it built. Plus I figure even if and when she decides to rent or sale that section of property, that building will be there for the good anyways.

 

[1320stang]

Man, that $800 car port is the way I'd go. I built a 12x16 shed for some people a couple years back, they could get one for $2500 from HD but they knew I'd do a good job and could use some extra $$. It ended up costing me $2300 to build and I didn't paint it. But it was far better than one of the store buildings. Those same buildings are now pushing $4500.

 

[cj7jeep81]

I've been kicking around the idea of doing something similar, but if I do I'll probably build it like a small pole barn. I'd probably just put gravel in for the floor as it would just be used to store yard equipment. Another option for the floor is to make a wood floor, using pressure treated lumber for the joists and plywood/OSB for the floor. If you go that route, I'd put down a few inches of gravel first to keep it off the mud.

 

[bubba]

Another option for the floor is to make a wood floor, using pressure treated lumber for the joists and plywood/OSB for the floor. If you go that route, I'd put down a few inches of gravel first to keep it off the mud.

Yeah, I had pondered on that too possibly. Doing like a "skid" foundation, i think thats what they call that. Would doing this be cheaper overall than doing a slab? And would it be ok to do it on say a 12-14 foot wide 18' long building?

Thanks for the tips guys.

 

[Franz©]

Think NotA building.
Sponsored by Better Crates & Cartonsthe favorite magazine of AmeriKa's homeless since the Clintons came to the Whitehouse

Not taxable
No permit required
Completely portable

 

[kbs2244]

Frantz has the argument againt a concrete floor.
Taxs. (As well as a lower up front cost.)
Check your local rules.
Around here, if it is movable (even if it takes a Cat to do it) it isn't a "perminet" inprovment and isn't taxable.
Put a slab under it and it becomes "perminet."

 

[bubba]

So how do you guys think would be the best way to go about framing a skid for say a 12x18 building? As far as how to set up some kind of foundation, what to use for the "skids" and how to space those, and what to use for the floor joists? I've tried searching around on the net, but most sites i've found doing a demo on a skid has a smaller shed like not over 10ft at most. Any help, or tips where I may refer to for this?

 

[Franz©]

12 x 20 x 8.5 high I can do.
NO concrete floor, but there is no reason it couldn't sit on a concrete slab.

Mine is mostly steel, sidewalls got changed today to fiberglass panel because I got them CHEAP.

My total build cost will be under $200- not including my labor.

Start looking for either I beam or square tube guardrail for the base skid.

 

[bgarrett]

Home Depot and Lowes sell 4X6 treated wood that will serve very well as a skid, bevel the ends

A shed is generally just a roof with two legs and is attached to another building