Storage shed suggestion needed

[MichaelP]

I'm thinking about putting a storage shed in my back yard. Probably, around 10'x12' or 12"x16". Do you think buying a prefabricated one with installation (something they sell at Lowes, etc) would be a good idea? I guess wood would be a better option, but I'm open to any suggestions.
Would I need insulation to keep it dryer inside (no plans to heat it, and I'm in WI). Will it make sense financially to have it built instead of buying a prefabricated one? It's going to be in the woods, so rodents and small animal protection is needed. I'm going to keep small yard machinery, maybe lumber, tandoor, steel angle and leftovers, etc. there to unload my workshop as much as possible.

Any preferences re: brands or construction details?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thank you.

 

[PCustoms]

Unless I had some time crunch, I can't imagine "installing " a cheap prefab shed.

Any reason you can't build your own? Paying a carpenter to site build one likely doesn't make sense. You can probably find a good shed dealer, but from what I've seen you pay a pretty penny for these where building your own is a lot cheaper.

No, insulation does not keep a shed dryer.

 

[mike93lx]

I've built a couple sheds recently, a 8x8 and a 16x16. Prefab would have been about 2-3x what I spent on materials and not built as well, but probably adequate.

Do you want a build project or just to have it be done?

 

[MichaelP]

I don't have much time or any prior experience in building framework, etc. from the scratch. Besides, I don't have anybody who could help me hauling lumber, etc. I guess I could handle it after retirement when my free time is unlimited, but now it'll be hard.

I checked a few pre-made sheds, and cannot agree more on the poor craftsmanship and inflated prices.

 

[PCustoms]

I don't have much time or any prior experience in building framework, etc. from the scratch. Besides, I don't have anybody who could help me hauling lumber, etc. I guess I could handle it after retirement when my free time is unlimited, but now it'll be hard.

I checked a few pre-made sheds, and cannot agree more on the poor craftsmanship and inflated prices.

I feel like this is sort of a cliche, but are there any Amish or Mennonite shed dealers near you?

If I couldn't build my own the one around here would be on my short list, as they build good, sturdy sheds.

Note: I say this is a cliche as "Amish" sheds are sold all over and some are pretty much a scam selling the same junk you get at a box store

 

[mike93lx]

I don't have much time or any prior experience in building framework, etc. from the scratch. Besides, I don't have anybody who could help me hauling lumber, etc. I guess I could handle it after retirement when my free time is unlimited, but now it'll be hard.

I checked a few pre-made sheds, and cannot agree more on the poor craftsmanship and inflated prices.

Definitely look for an Amish shed builder.

Tuff built sheds (sold at Home Depot and I believe elsewhere) seem decent quality

 

[bas157]

I'd look at a bunch of local shed dealers, if there are many near you. Compare quality of them, double bottom or top plates, stud spacing and size (I've seen some built with 2x3 instead of 2x4 studs!), rood design (plywood gussets or just those metal plates they hammer on?
Compare price as well as quality, no idea if you can negotiate prices on sheds or not?

I ended up getting a slab poured and built my own with help of family members, but you did mention not really an option for you. Mine ended up being a little more expensive compared to store bought, but its on slab which made it more expensive and I was able to build it how I wanted it.

 

[thammel]

I have a 12x16. I had amish builders make it and match the siding etc exactly to my house. They delivered it and placed it on a pad I had poured. I did run electricity to it and also did insulate it. Keeps the temperature swings down. I bolted it to the pad and placed fine mesh chicken wire around the bottom periphery to keep animals from nesting underneath. 12x16 is a great size. Now all my yard equipment is in there and out of the garage.

 

[MichaelP]

May I ask you to take a few photos of your shed, please?

 

[LeeG]

I built a 10x12 mostly in an afternoon. All wood framed with a slant roof. I don't have to worry about snow, so that figured in to my build. I can dig up some photos of the whole build process.

 

[Skellyii]

A friend and I bought Tough Sheds directly from them about 10-12 years ago. We had them painted to match our houses. I built a packed gravel base and they installed it on it. I moved two years ago, and the shed was still in great condition, no rot, no critters.

I want another one, but I'm having problems getting it approved by my HOA.

 

[LeeG]

Here's a post of my build. Hopefully it gives some guidance.

 

[BCreekDave]

If animal invasion is a worry consider Hardiie board siding as an upgrade.

 

[MikeC55]

I built this with only a chop/miter saw, circular saw and cordless drill. Total cost was a little under 4 grand for 10' x 15'. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/shed-build-construction.244568/page-11#post-10879795
Lots of other ideas in the linked thread.

 

[CraigStu]

Whether you build it or buy it, I think that I'd rather work w/ wood doing the inevitable mods to seal it up to keep critters out.

 

[Prospecter]

If you have no experience, a shed is a good project to develop skills on, and any information needed is on YouTube University.
It would be difficult to buy a shed that will keep out rodents.

 

[240sxguy]

I wanted to do it myself but the time factor was a big problem. I ended up with a Tuffshed from home depot. I live on the edge of the woods, this is the 2nd year it's been up and no rodent problems yet. Build quality is good, better than some of the "Cheap" amish built units. The more expensive amish built ones were nicer IMO, however a lot more expensive.

 

[MichaelP]

Great tips and links. Thank you, guys.

I looked into Tough sheds. One main thing I like there is the galvanized steel base rails. I would much prefer to avoid any wood contacting the soil and either rest the shed on concrete columns above the ground level or use something (like the galvanized steel) that is not going to rot in a few years. I realize that I or the shed itself will eventually rot too, but...

 

[Rc_Guy]

We have 2 sheds from this company, we bought one of them about 9 years ago and the other about 7 years ago, I could of built sheds but for the price included delivery, in my opinion, I didn’t care about the extra money instead of spend a month of weekends building a shed.

The sheds are very well built, at least they were when I bought them.

 

[mike93lx]

Great tips and links. Thank you, guys.

I looked into Tough sheds. One main thing I like there is the galvanized steel base rails. I would much prefer to avoid any wood contacting the soil and either rest the shed on concrete columns above the ground level or use something (like the galvanized steel) that is not going to rot in a few years. I realize that I or the shed itself will eventually rot too, but...

Wood shouldnt be on the soil anyway. You do either piers or a stone base that drains.

Ground contact rated pressure treat will last a very long time when kept off the ground

 

[Caa311]

I have a 10x16 I built in 1988 in high school! Just now replacing the t1-11 and need to do the roof. Almost no love given. Moved one time to my now rental property. Power and lights half loft. Built many a race bike in that shed and some of the best times of my life with my brother and friends. I'm going to take measurements and replicate it at my shop for storage and lawn equipment.

 

[captain14]

When my father and I built my shed kit from 84 Lumber 30+ years ago, we built it on deck piers to keep it above the ground. My father built his shed the same way the year before. The piers keep the siding from wicking moisture from the ground and concrete floor.

My only regret is we didn’t add hardware screen underneath to keep animals out.

 

[Missouran]

Built a 10x16 a few years ago by myself.

Cost about $2500 with Smartside, interior sheathing and insulation.

 

[Joe Reed]

Great tips and links. Thank you, guys.

I looked into Tough sheds. One main thing I like there is the galvanized steel base rails. I would much prefer to avoid any wood contacting the soil and either rest the shed on concrete columns above the ground level or use something (like the galvanized steel) that is not going to rot in a few years. I realize that I or the shed itself will eventually rot too, but...

If you don't want to build it yourself I'll cast another vote for Tuff Sheds. I bought an 8x12 at least 12 years ago because I wasn't retired and didn't want to spend all my spare time for a couple of weeks building my own. Took them about 3 hours to build it on site.....put down & leveled concrete blocks for the galvanized joists. The only thing I did was paint it since I already had paint to match the house (it was already primed).

It's still as solid as the day it was built. No door sag...still operated perfectly. no rot anywhere, latch/lock still perfect. Bought mine from Home Depot. Tuff Shed since opened their own store near me, but that wasn't an option back then. I don't know if prices or options are different if purchased direct or from HD.

 

[thammel]

Here's my 12x16 just after delivery.

Tom

 

[MichaelP]

I have uneven terrane. What would be a smart way to prepare foundation for Tough shed (currently looking into 12'x16' tall wall model)? The entrance will be from the lower side of the hill slope (probably, about to 2ft difference between the front and back side of the shed plus some side-to-side slope).

As far as I understand, keeping the front end raised is better than trying to bury the back side in terms of drainage. But this will create a need for some kind of ramp at the entrance. What do you think would be the best approach to making a foundation for the sloped terrane?

 

[BurtEggley]

Here you can buy prebuilt Tuff Shed or kits. The difference is you can control the quality of the build if you do it yourself. Not all the people who assemble them pay attention to detail, while some dealers are very good at it. Mine is from the mid 1990's and the lower part of the siding is just now beginning to need replacement. It is on the to-do list this year.

 

[mike93lx]

I have uneven terrane. What would be a smart way to prepare foundation for Tough shed (currently looking into 12'x16' tall wall model)? The entrance will be from the lower side of the hill slope (probably, about to 2ft difference between the front and back side of the shed plus some side-to-side slope).

As far as I understand, keeping the front end raised is better than trying to bury the back side in terms of drainage. But this will create a need for some kind of ramp at the entrance. What do you think would be the best approach to making a foundation for the sloped terrane?

I would likely install three rows of concrete piers (sono tubes) then place 4x6 on them for the shed fo sit on. Probably 4 piers in each row

 

[driftpin]

No, not as-inexpensive as doing it yourself, but definitely a well-done premanufactured building: galvanized steel frame, permeable membrane house wrap, 3/4" siding under Hardi-Board. It has a metal roll-up OH door on one gable end. The roof is standing seam steel. PT footer boards, gable end ventilation, shear wall panels, impact-rated exterior door, and a 100 amp service, underground from the house. The building is designed to withstand 180 MPH gusts, we are in a HVHZ here in So. FL (high-velocity hurricane zone). I have motion lights added.

getting some needed storage

I don't have the time, or the ability on my own to get some quick storage, by making my own. The zoning restrictions are keeping me from making something myself. I'm going with a pre-fab 10' X 20' steel-framed, 3/4" plywood-sheathed, Hardieplank-covered gable ended building with a roll-up door...

www.garagejournal.com

This builder is in GA, so probably too-far for you, but perhaps someone closer to you has something comparable. This was the largest building zoning code would allow as a 'shed.'

 

[cliffcharb]

I’ve had good luck with multiple pre-built sheds lasting 30+ years in Florida. Nothing fancy, 24” stud spacing for walls and rafters and thin metal siding & roof. These are wood floors with 4x4 rails sitting on blocks. All have held up just fine in hurricanes.

My current shed houses all the lawn equipment and was pre-wired with lights and an outlet. It was tucked in the back corner of my property and as long as I kept my door shut it was rodent proof.

I’d look around at local shed builders and understand it’s just a shed. The only beefed up shed I’ve seen is my uncle’s, who lives directly on the east coast of Florida. 2x6 framing on 12” spacing. This was required by the municipality.

 

[grissom]

Delete

 

[grissom]

Where is here? I have never seen a Tuff Shed sold as a kit for a homeowner to assemble

Here you can buy prebuilt Tuff Shed or kits. The difference is you can control the quality of the build if you do it yourself. Not all the people who assemble them pay attention to detail, while some dealers are very good at it. Mine is from the mid 1990's and the lower part of the siding is just now beginning to need replacement. It is on the to-do list this year.

 

[ATC]

Can it be a shipping container?

Sheds have more than doubled in price since Covid. Makes me sick. Paid $4500 for a 12x24 building a couple years before Covid, and now the same thing is $10,200

A 8x20 shipping container is $2600 delivered. The 40 footers are only a grand more.

 

[driftpin]

Can it be a shipping container?

Sheds have more than doubled in price since Covid. Makes me sick. Paid $4500 for a 12x24 building a couple years before Covid, and now the same thing is $10,200

A 8x20 shipping container is $2600 delivered. The 40 footers are only a grand more.

My jurisdiction doesn't permit sea-tainers to be used in residential properties as permanent sheds. You can use something like that if there is a building permit issued for the site, but it must go bye-bye once the permit is finaled-out and is closed.

Strangely, I was speaking to a friend who was a civil engineering manager for another municipality. He lives in the same city as I have a single family dwelling. He did get a permit for a shipping container to be used as a permanent shed, nearly 40 years ago. I spoke w/him yesterday, after a memorial service for a local. He said he was getting ready to remove the shipping container, and I advised him that if he was thinking that he could replace it w/another, he needed to check with the Building Dept. and zoning about that because once a legal, non-conforming use is removed (his shipping container used for storage on a single family residence (SFR) plot, he will need to conform to the current code, or attempt to be granted a variance.

 

[Model A Fan]

I don't have much time or any prior experience in building framework, etc. from the scratch. Besides, I don't have anybody who could help me hauling lumber, etc. I guess I could handle it after retirement when my free time is unlimited, but now it'll be hard.

I checked a few pre-made sheds, and cannot agree more on the poor craftsmanship and inflated prices.

How long until you retire?

As for sheds, building one yourself will give you flexibility in what you want. The materials will be better and it will cost you less in the long run. The pre-fab ones are done cheaply and with as little material as possible...enough to get an engineering stamp or whatever they need. Look at the rafters. It is usually two 2x4s cut at angles and joined in the center with a "plate" thing, but not a real plate. More like a perforated piece of metal with the ends nailed down. You'll have 24" studs or something really wide and they material will be OSB with a foil (maybe) along with a cheap siding. It will feel cheap, sound cheap, look cheap, and not cost cheap.

There are MANY books on building a garage/shed/outbuilding. Check over a few and see what you like and then follow their directions.

I'd go bigger and do the 12x16. I built an 8x10 at my parent's house thinking it would be big enough. Once you get stuff in, there's not room to move easily as you've got stuff on the walls and floor (lawnmower, outdoor chairs, tools, etc.).

 

[ATC]

My jurisdiction doesn't permit sea-tainers to be used in residential properties as permanent sheds. You can use something like that if there is a building permit issued for the site, but it must go bye-bye once the permit is finaled-out and is closed.

Strangely, I was speaking to a friend who was a civil engineering manager for another municipality. He lives in the same city as I have a single family dwelling. He did get a permit for a shipping container to be used as a permanent shed, nearly 40 years ago. I spoke w/him yesterday, after a memorial service for a local. He said he was getting ready to remove the shipping container, and I advised him that if he was thinking that he could replace it w/another, he needed to check with the Building Dept. and zoning about that because once a legal, non-conforming use is removed (his shipping container used for storage on a single family residence (SFR) plot, he will need to conform to the current code, or attempt to be granted a variance.

He needs to swap them on a Sunday and paint it the same color as the old one that evening...

LoL

I'm glad I don't live somewhere that strict.

 

[driftpin]

He needs to swap them on a Sunday and paint it the same color as the old one that evening...

LoL

I'm glad I don't live somewhere that strict.

Three counties, and > 6 million residents, and that's before counting the visitors/vacationers.

FL has one of the most-strict building codes in the USA, because of the HVHZ (high velocity hurricane zone) districts.

 

[jkuro]

Put an opened box of Mothballs in the shed. You will never have a critter problem.

 

[finn]

I built an 8’x10’ thirty years ago at our cottage, then put a 10’x12’ addition on it a couple years later using plans from Menards.

Positive was that I saved some money. Negatives are that I wasted a lot of valuable vacation time, and I wish I had made a better base. It served me thirty years though.

My neighbor had one built by the contractor who built his house. Much nicer than mine, but it cost a pretty penny.

If I was to do it again, I would contract with the local Mennonite group who specialize in small sheds. Not exactly cheap, but they’re more substantial than the Tuff Shed at Lowes, etc.

Be careful if you hire a shed builder, though. It’s an easy business to get into and thus attracts crooks. A guy two counties over got busted last year for taking money without delivering products.

My brother in law bought one of those Kentucky built sheds you see in sales lots all over Northern Wisconsin and had a local guy turn it into a small cabin. He’s happy with it.

 

[Bert_]

I've built 2 "portable" buildings. An 8x12 with a vertical treated 2x8 that sits on the ground. A few months ago I built a 24x32 that is built on 4.5" well pipe sitting on a gravel pad.

Neither have a floor or any concrete. They are stick built walls.

I'm happy with the finished product and definitely happy with how much they cost to build.