Shed or Garage?

[lojim]

So I have been looking at a lot of ideas on this site and some others. Currently I have a 2 car garage that is great for working in. The problem? I have too many toys. I want to get the ATV's out of the garage and have a place to put the pop up camper. Additonally, if I could move the MG elsewhere when other projects come up it would be great.

What I need? I really had to decide if something I wanted was really something I needed. I have made a list:

1) I want the ability to open the pop up inside whatever I end up with. The reasoning is for drying it out after camping when it's wet (yes it can dry outside but what if it is raning there too?) and also for getting it ready for the camping season or for winter storage. Having it inside will also prolong how long it will last. The pop up is 6'6" wide, 4' high (closed), and 15' long (closed). Fully open it is 6'6" wide, 8' high, and 20' long.

2) The MG OR the ATV's. Right now all 3 ATV's and the MG are in the garage. The MG is a 'tinker' project. I work on it when there are no other projects to do so getting it out of the garage when I can would be nice. The MG is 5' wide, 4' tall, and 13' long. Out of the 3 ATV's 2 are used only on trails. 1 is small enough to fit anywhere in the garage and is used to get the mail or plow the driveway in the winter. The other 2 are 'smaller' (a 350 and 250) with the biggest one being 7' long, 4' wide, and 4' tall (rear box).

3) This space I need will only be for storage. No power, No water. I have my current space that I will still use for projects - the new space will just be used to give me the space to work on the projects.


Size to take into account:
The only location that a storage building would work on my property is next to my house. The township has a set back of 5' off the side marker line, and 10' from any other structure. The community I live in has a set back of 14' off the side marker line, and 10' from any other structure. My house sits 34' from the side line. I can get permission to use the township set back instead of the community set back. With permission the widest I can go is 19'. Without permission I can only go 10'

The house is 40' long. My wife told me the storage can NOT be longer than the house. The biggest I can convince here is about 30'.

Footers: my frost line is 48". Footers for a building need to be 12" below the frost line. A 'shed' does not require footers. A building is considered a 'shed' if it had a built floor that supports the walls.

The building can not be over 1000' sq feet.

height restriction of 15' overall.


I know that is a lot of information - but I wanted to give the background so I don't have people telling me to 'build big' or 'run electric.' I am looking at 2 different directions. The first is to buy a shed. The second is to build a shed. Both options would have a wooden floor and a garage door for access. Both would be placed on a packed stone foundation.

I got a few quotes on a 12' x 28' 'barn roof' shed. They have 9' of height because of the roof but only 6'2" walls. The door is a 9' x 7' garage door. 12' is a wide as they can pull on the roads around here without an ******. Min cost: $4500. Sample picture attached.

I also played around with Google Sketch. I know I could build the structure - but how much would I need? 16' x 24' would work. That is with 8' walls (16" OC), pressure treated floor (12" OC), 2x6 rafters, 9' x 10' roll up door, and all the other pieces. Material cost around $3200 (yes that is all materials plus 10% and tax). GS image attached. The 'boxes' in the pictures are the pop up opened, the MG, and ATV's - I played around to see what combinations would fit.

The question: which way would you go and WHY?

 

[JMURiz]

I would build the structure you show in the Sketch-up drawing, seems like the best way to go and isn't that much $$ investment.
A 16x24 building would be awesome.

One question, how large is the property and is the county zoning going to give you fits? Just wondering. I live in a place where the largest garage can only be 550 sq/ft and a 150 sq/ft shed...so I'm always making sure you are allowed to build what you need.

Best of luck and be sure to post progress, I'd love to see the final outcome/decision.

 

[lojim]

I have a 1/2 acre. 'Outbuildings' can not be more than 1000 square feet - no matter if it is a garage or a shed. Also, you can't cut down more than 40% of the trees on your lot. The location for the build only has 1 tree on it - so I meet all regulations if I go with that plan. The county zoning is easier to deal with than the community rules. But normally the community will allow anything as long as it falls withing the county regulations.

 

[nate379]

I'd build and also run electric for lights. Believe me.. it ***** trying to grab stuff out of a shed at night with a 1/2 dead flashlight at -30* when it's pitch black. Even 1 light bulb would be awesome at that point.

I'm figuring around $4000 for a 16x16 shed with 9ft walls all said and done. Few lights/outlets and vinyl and roof to match the house. Roof pitch will match the house too.
Going to put a smaller door though. Biggest thing I need to put in there is a yard tractor.

 

[lojim]

I know that is a lot of information - but I wanted to give the background so I don't have people telling me to 'build big' or 'run electric.'

The cost of me running electric due to permit cost and running electric from the opposite side of my house (where the box is) is higher than I want to deal with for storage. If it's really that dark and I need to be in there I can turn the lights on for the ATV's or in the Popup (has battery). No need for electric.

 

[nate379]

Gotcha.

I don't have to worry about a permit with mine and it's only about 100ft of wire so it's not too bad on the price (~$200)

 

[TRC51]

I had the same dillema. I already have a 2-car, but too many toys with more (hopefully) on the way. I just got tired of the clutter. I started out with the thought of just getting a 20 x 12 shed, but that was really tight with just a car in it. Then I decided to go 24 x 12, which would allow me to have a work bench in the back. But, it wouldn't fit my other toys (motorcycle, snowmobiles, ATV's etc.). So, I went with a 32 x 12. Plenty of space, but my father made a point that I wouldn't be able to get anything around the car when it was parked in the garage. If the car were in full project mode, whatever was behind it would be stuck back there. So I went with 32 x 14 and added a set of side doors at that back (keep in mind, this is still a shed... but maxed out). Well, I got the cost estimates from three companies and it was over $8K.

Deep breath....

Sooooo, for the fun I priced out a 24 x 24 garage kit from the local lumber yard. $4,500 with siding and everything. Another $4K for the pad. ($8,500 got me a nice 2-car garage). But then I needed storage... I am now up to a 28 x 24 garage with the back 8ft being an enclosed 8 x 8 interior shed. See pic attached.

Point of the story... you might be able to get a real garage for the same price as putting in shed... and have a lot better space. But be careful you don't end up like me. Now I am in pipe dream mode of radiant heat and lifts. Good luck in your decision.

EDIT: BTW, that $4k for the pad I was quoted was for 48" footers and 5" pad for a 24 x 24. I have the same requirements as you do for frost, property lines and area. Wife would also not let me go longer than 30ft long... but wider seemed better.

 

[nate379]

That is a helluva deal for a garage. My Dad built a 26x26 with 10ft ceiling last summer and it was right around $12k with him doing ALL the work and the OSB was $1 a sheet (works at an OSB plant).

Nothing fancy, just a few outlets and 6 lights. 2 9ft doors with openers. Couple windows and a people door.

We are putting OSB up on the ceiling and walls this week actually since I am here in Maine.

 

[TRC51]

That is a helluva deal for a garage. My Dad built a 26x26 with 10ft ceiling last summer and it was right around $12k with him doing ALL the work and the OSB was $1 a sheet (works at an OSB plant).

Nothing fancy, just a few outlets and 6 lights. 2 9ft doors with openers. Couple windows and a people door.

We are putting OSB up on the ceiling and walls this week actually since I am here in Maine.

I agree... I was not suprised about the garage package... but I was about the pad and foundation. I called like 20 people though. Prices ranged from $4 - $6K. To be honest, I am probably not going to go with the package. I have to use 2 x 6 construction if I plan on heating it (per code). The latest design is pretty basic, so I am going to just try and put it all together myself and have someone do the trusses for me. To be honest, I think this is going to run me about $10K before I start putting in electric and other stuff.