How should I pay for a storage shed?

[Bennylava]

I've got a little 14x14' concrete slab in my backyard that came with the house. I think there used to be a dog pen there or something. Kind of convenient, since I'm in need of a storage shed. So here's a few questions about sheds:

1. How cheap can I get out? I need something that's not open to the elements. So probably two doors that open outwards. I'd like it to take up the whole area, cause I want the maximum possible storage. But I understand it may not be the best thing I can do. Electrical only needs to come from 80 feet away, and I just need one outlet and one overhead light.

2. Cost of building it myself, vs paying someone to build it? I'll buy all the materials, but I'm not sure I want to build it. Building buildings isn't really my thing. Not my idea of a good time. But I'll do it if the savings is high enough. Since I'm paying for all the materials, I guess all we're talking about is the skilled labor of having someone else do it.

3. How about a shed kit? Just buying something that gets delivered in boxes. Then putting it together or having it put together. Anyone ever done this?

Thanks!

 

[jh87]

I’m a fan of DIY construction, so I’d say build it yourself. The last shed I built for a friend was 12x16 and with the assistance of my friend, a 60 something man with a bad heart and his 5’ tall 75lb wife, we managed to build it in a day using t1-11 siding and pre-made trusses. Had it half shingled before it started getting dark and my friend decided to call it a day. I lent him my roofing nail gun and he finished roofing it and painted it himself the next day.

 

[matt_i]

In various parts of the country I see sheds pre-made sitting in lots on the side of the road waiting to be sold. I have also seen them on trailers apparently out for delivery.

Seems like several of the box stores either have demo models sitting outside or the kits for them. No idea how much cutting of materials is required for the plan. Maybe you could buy an older demo model and figure out how to transport it.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

Depends on how much you value your time I guess. There are small companies and big box stores that will sell you a shed and deliver it the next day. Instant shed. But you'll pay twice what you would if you did it yourself. I think the same goes for skilled labor to build it for you..twice the cost, if not more, for labor.

I personally, would do it myself. You'll be able to design and build the shed to your exact specs. and configuration. Your savings on labor will be considerable.

 

[lonestardiver]

As a note, some of those pre-built shed places that sell them on payments have a clause in the contract that allows them to com onto your property to remove it if you fail to make a payment or a series of payments. This includes removing fences and such to do so.

Being your situation is a square pad, it looks like a custom job is in order. If you have the ability and some help, DIY is likely the way to go. In some cases, a few of those shed companies can design and build onsite....for a fee of course.

 

[lonestardiver]

What about HOA rules and City permits?

If those are in play, then those are other cans of centipedes and scorpions the come into play.

 

[CraigStu]

I was looking 6 months ago and did a quick walk around at both HD and Lowes. One thing I noticed was the wide range of prices for say a 10x12 or close. Then I walked inside them. It didn't take long to see why one was 70% higher price.

 

[readhead]

As a shed seller I’ll ask a few questions. Is the concrete pad actually usable? Is it level? Do you want the concrete to be the floor? If so, what about water? Are you ready to build the shed the size of the pad or cut down the pad to fit the shed? Are you fixated on this pad or would it make sense to build it somewhere else?

Next question is what is your time worth? Everyone will say “ I could build it for half the cost of a prebuilt shed”. Shed builders buy material by the truck load at a much lower cost. Let’s talk about an 8x12 ranch style shed. That shed, with no frills can be built by one guy in about three hours, prepped and painted in one and roofed in less than an hour. Of course the builder is adding some profit and there is tax and delivery to pay.

There is nothing wrong with the DIY approach if that is what you enjoy but you will spend more money and time. A lot of people don’t have the skills or time to make a shed so they come to me and I provide a solution for them.

I sell to a lot of businesses and government departments that don’t want to deal with building something. The most amusing and more common sale is the wife that comes in and orders a building because she can’t get her contractor husband to build a shed in a timely manner.

Consider all the options. DIY, big box kit, build on site by a shed company or have a prebuilt shed delivered and just move in. There is a solution for you there somewhere. Be careful about kits from the box stores. Make sure you understand what is and is not included in the kit. You will not have any control over the quality of the material and you are still going to have to put everything together. Be very careful with Tuff Shed. Their best talent is advertising. I’ll leave it at that.

 

[JRC3]

One option is to buy a used shed if you can find one and someone locally who moves them. A year ago I had a guy come and move a 8x12 from a friend's house and sit in my back yard behind the garage. It was a cool thing to watch too. On my end he did it via remote control because I had some obstacles to deal with. The charge was $300 plus mileage totaling $312 for everything.

 

[CoogarXR]

I've done both a kit and a pre-built. The kit was cheap and rewarding to accomplish, but it took me a while, and I made mistakes that bothered my OCD for years, lol. The pre-built was sooooo nice. It just came on a truck, and they plopped it right down on my slab and it was done. I had to do the wiring, obviously, but that was fine. Yes, it wasn't cheap, but it was nice to go from no-shed to shed in like 30 minutes.

 

[driftpin]

I know you're in TX. readhead gave you some good advice. You can get a lot more shed for your $$$ by looking somewhere besides TuffShed. Yes, they're convenient, you can see them at the big box store, but there are better quality sheds out there.

If you want one to-last, look for one having the Florida Miami-Dade County Product Approval certificate. These are for over-150 mph gusts.

I bought a 10' X 20' steel-frame, Hardi-Board sided, vapor barrier wrapped, standing seam metal roof premanufactured unit from this company: https://www.larkbuilders.com/

Not cheap, but I expect that it will out-live me (I'm retired). Mine has a OH roll-up door at one gable end, two windows, and I spec'ed no passageway exterior door, just a roughed-in opening, so I could install my own impact-rated (again, Miami-Dade County Product Approval) fiberglass door. I had an electrician feed if from a buried electrical service, 100 amp main disconnect and a branch circuit, w/both 120 and 240 outlets inside, w/LED lighting. I contracted for a concrete pour for it, the pad is the floor. The building came on a flatbed and a crane placed it. No, not cheap, but all-done with permits, very-sturdy (steel frame, not wood) and it was the largest the local zoning code permitted. I have a Pioneer mini-split, for those humid FL summers.

You can look at the website and see what they offer, for a comparison to what you could build, or what you could buy. The guys living in areas where there aren't the regulations we have in Florida about wind resistance could build something much-cheaper, but less-durable. You may decide you don't need such a sturdy structure, but it's permitted, inspected, wired, and serves my needs well. Even the structural inspector was impressed when he saw it. The same company offers a variety of shed options, mine was at the high-end, for a pre-manufactured building.

This site may assist you in understanding about the Miami-Dade County (FL) Product Approval process: https://www.engineeringexpress.com/wiki/whats-difference-ter-miami-dade-noa-fl-product-approval/

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, it all depends on what you already have invested in tools, materials, physical strength, knowledge and other intangibles.

I can't say more because I have neither walked the job or in your shoes.

Good Luck and Best Wishes.

 

[jhelrey]

I built my own. Wasn't much $. Got it the way I wanted it.

 

[metaleltr]

Given the existing concrete pad I would lean toward a steel carport style building that could be anchored to the existing slab.

 

[Higgins]

Here in TN was looking at a 12x24 shed. There was a BIG difference in pricing. Ended up going with a local Amish group. They built the shed in their "Factory" and trucked it to our location. The workmanship was outstanding. Pricing was the best, and as a "Veteran" received a discount and a handshake!!

They provided metal roofing as standard, and their material was far superior than what I could purchase locally. So, at 73, this was a no brainer, as I have larger projects to tackle!

 

[Skiff Builder]

As a shed seller I’ll ask a few questions. Is the concrete pad actually usable? Is it level? Do you want the concrete to be the floor? If so, what about water? Are you ready to build the shed the size of the pad or cut down the pad to fit the shed? Are you fixated on this pad or would it make sense to build it somewhere else?

readhead, you bring back memories. Mid 80's, built custom, on site board and batten sheds NJ. Only 1 out of a 100 customer provided slabs were ever near any good.
None square' wrong size (too big) and most were pitched even though they were told exactly what was required. I used to adjust the height of the corner posts to get the top rail level. Extra work but not too bad on a B+B. Most of our builds had wood floors- 3x4 rough on 24"centers. 1x10 rough planks for everything else. I could build/roof/stain a standard 12x16 in a day! Nothing prefabbed or precut.
Our outfit was selling 6-8 sheds a day 6 days a week. About 8 subs building. 4 semis a week of fresh cut lumber out of Vermont.
Those were the days.....

 

[jshillin]

I normally build my own, but when checking the price of building materials vs a nice mennonite built shed, it made absolutely no sense in my building one myself. I went and picked out the everything I wanted and got a good deal. I'd definitely check around before doing anything and when checking around, go look at how they are built and just don't go with the cheapest price.

 

[rayra]

I'd wait a few months for the economic decline to bloom, materials demand will drop, material prices will drop, labor costs will drop.

 

[dmcintosh]

I looked earlier this year and it was about the same price for materials to build a 10x12 as it was to have one delivered. And I got 6 months at 0% to lay it off. Saved me time so it made sense for me.

 

[nateo]

I'm about to do one of those stupid step over a dollar to save a dime things and go dismantle and move a cheap tin garden shed.

Pros: The price and size are right. Once complete it'll get the mower, tiller, and all the garden hand tools out of the shop.

Cons: I'm betting every fastener is rusted, panel is bent, and I'm going to run out of swear words by the time all is said and done.

 

[jhelrey]

^ I gave one away for free. Bunch of guys did that. Would have been faster for me to smash it with a skid loader and put the metal on the curb for free.

 

[rossddvm]

I have built my own to get exactly what I want, cost more that a cheap prefab but was much better and custom to what I wanted. One shed I bought was a 8 by 8 from a local lumbar yard that had employees build sheds in their spare using cull wood from the yard. It cost less delivered than I would have paid in materials and was well built. By cull wood I mean 2by4s with a bad end cut to 6 foot or 2by6's with a bad edge ripped down to 3 inches. Stuff they couldn't sell as was but there was good usable lumber for something like this with a little work.

 

[Bennylava]

I'm about to do one of those stupid step over a dollar to save a dime things and go dismantle and move a cheap tin garden shed.

Pros: The price and size are right. Once complete it'll get the mower, tiller, and all the garden hand tools out of the shop.

Cons: I'm betting every fastener is rusted, panel is bent, and I'm going to run out of swear words by the time all is said and done.

Sometimes a job like that is just a good roll of the dice. Could turn out to be real easy or something, might get lucky on this one. Every once in awhile you expect something to be a pain and for some reason it isn't. Then again those are somewhat rare.

^ I gave one away for free. Bunch of guys did that. Would have been faster for me to smash it with a skid loader and put the metal on the curb for free.

Was speed a concern? When someone else is doing the work and it's not in my way, my attitude is usually something like "Take your time! "

Anyway while I do need a shed, I'm only planning on living in this house for about 2-3 years. I just need a bigger place for all the things I wanna do/have inside my house. After reading this thread, I'm questioning whether I should just skip the shed and rent a storage building. We've got a decent shed builder around here, goes by the name of Ulrich Barns. But by the time they build the thing it'll come out to something like $3k. Maybe more.

So maybe it'll be cheaper to just rent some self storage. And not have to put up with more government theft/extortion. Excuse me, I mean taxes. Naturally these thieves want you to give them more of your hard earned money if you simply want a shed on your property.

 

[nateo]

Sometimes a job like that is just a good roll of the dice. Could turn out to be real easy or something, might get lucky on this one. Every once in awhile you expect something to be a pain and for some reason it isn't. Then again those are somewhat rare.

Well step 1 went OK, I dismantled the shed in about 4 hours working quietly by myself (incidentally my favourite way to work). The substantial pieces are in OK shape and I only had to cut off a handful of fasteners. On the plus side I also get to haul away a freestanding hammock frame that was in the shed and some pressure treated lumber that pretty much make up the price I paid, so so far I think I'm ahead. I'm sure to fall waaay behind by the time I have it back together, though.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, The cost versus value equation always plays a part of the answer for me. When I have lots of time seems to be when I don’t have lots of money.

Because I have done several jobs where I put all my earnings into investments in tools, I now can load into my van enough tools and equipment to quickly nail or screw together a shed. If I don’t have to take my generator to the job I can also load enough lumber to frame a 8 x 16 with a flat roof. The siding will be on the next load.

I have not been asked to build a shed lately, which suits me just fine.

 

[Bennylava]

What about building a shed out of some kind of reclaimed scraps? Maybe materials could somehow be had for cheap? Granted it may not be very pretty but... the wife can just get used to it! I'll at least paint it all one color.