Wood sheds

[Legion Prime]

Since I'm not a fan of my parents wood storage system of some dimensional lumber on the ground with the wood on top and a tarp tossed over it in winter I started poking around the net. I found plans for a "modular wood shed" from the EPA's Burn Wise program (whatever that is).
http://www.pgairquality.com/uploads/WoodShedDiagram-Color.pdf
I've made minor modifications to it and started this week to build one and have almost finished it. We went through a cord of wood last winter so that freed up enough room for one of these sheds and once filled from the remaining wood I should have opened up enough room for a second one. Since my little brother is visiting next week I hope to finish them both this weekend so he can fill them while he's here. LOL
So the first change I made was rather than lag bolts I went with structural screws. I also sized down from the 6" the plans called for because paying extra for longer fasteners that are going to stick out the other end of the materials is just silly.

So I laid out the 4x4s, the 2x6s on top and fastened them together.

Then after trimming the 6' 4x4s to 5'6" and repeating the assembly for the other side I then stood them up. After spending probably a good half hour measuring, making sure the uprights are plumb, measuring some more, moving one side or the other and then repeating the whole process I was ready to start connecting them . . .

. . . or so I thought. Turns out the Spax fasteners my dad had in the shop were interior screws and NOT rated for pressure treated wood. So not wanting to have to rebuild these in 2 or 3 years, off I went to the local hardware store that luckily had exterior framing screws that were rated and I began connecting the two halves.

The next day I got a handful of 1x4s, the 1/2" CDX for the roof and some flashing. This was all I had time for before I had to head to work though.

Work was productive though in that a coworker who spent a couple decades in the construction business told me to pick him up when I got up the next day and he'd come over and give me a hand. So having a second pair of hands was very useful and saved me a LOT of time especially in getting the roof on.

Fortunately he had done roofing and I had picked up a piece of flashing for the top edge of the plywood roof (the plans called for painting it with some sort of roofing primer, I'll pass) and we were able to use some shingles that were in the garage. Almost made it too, after doing the first two rows with some 3 flap shingles that were loose we found the rest of the loose ones were perforated for doing ridge caps, no bueno. 2 more shingles and we'd have been done today.

So that's where thing stand at this moment. I plan on getting another 1x4 and using it to put one more board on each side and then taking a pair of 2' 2x4 scraps and cutting an end at a 45 and using it to further laterally brace the outer 4x4s to the 2x6s on the shorter side. That side will be facing away from the side of the garage and I don't want to block off that side too much as that would complicate filling them. I also want to reinforce the plywood roof with 2x4's top & bottom (underneath he roof) with the snows we get up here in northern MI. Other than that I'm pretty happy with the progress to date. I do think for the next one I will go with 3/4 CDX for the roof as the 1/2 just seems flimsy. Tomorrow I plan to run out and get the materials for another shed +1 1x4 for the first and pick up 2 more packs of shingles which will finish off the first shed and be plenty to cover the second.

 

[larry_g]

Do you realize that in some areas there are rules about storing firewood? http://www.cityofdearborn.org/news-...irewood-storage-ordinance-created-in-dearborn

I don't know if this applies to you, or what your areas rules are but be aware.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[TractorJeff]

Dearborn restriction is wood on the porch!
OP is making Rickets for storage outside.

 

[FTWingRiders]

Looks good! I’ve been meaning to do the same before the Wood I split just rots in the pile I tossed it into!! LOL! I only burn in the fire pit in the backyard, and not in the house, so it’s never been a priority... maybe I’ll tackle it next week... thanks for posting!

 

[Legion Prime]

Thank you Larry, I am nowhere near Dearborn but I appreciate the heads up nonetheless.
Thanks FTWing, I had planned to do it since last winter but the rain in spring is just miserable up here and the house doesn't have AC so the prospect of going out and doing ANYTHING sweaty without a cool home to return to is especially unappealing. But this week had been pretty nice so I got to it. We have a wood stove in the house but I usually only light it off when the temps dip under 20. Running it does make a difference in how much oil we go through in a month though.
I wanted to cover the shingling too but was just too exhausted to last night. The shortest roofing nails I could find were 7/8" which would leave in the neighbourhood of 1/4" sticking out. At 6'6" I hit my head enough that the prospect of a roof filled with them was not an option. I was going to cruise craigslist for some metal roofing to toss up there but my friend that helped me told me that construction adhesive would work with the shingles that were in the garage. I figured that if in addition I sank nails where the 2x4's were I'd be in good shape so that's what we did. I don't think EVERY tile has a nail in it but the ones without are a definite minority. I'm finishing up the top edge with a continuous bead along the flashing to prevent water intrusion. I had to buy more shingles and they of course are not cheap ones but a one time expense for shingles that will match the garage and house? Why not. This morning before work I ran into town and got the materials for the second shed and the last bits to finish the first. I went with 5/8 for the roof and we'll see how that pans out without reinforcement. If I get time to work on it tomorrow I ought to make some real progress having all the materials on hand already. I'll make sure to get pics of them once they're in place as well.

 

[larry_g]

Dearborn restriction is wood on the porch!
OP is making Rickets for storage outside.

The more important thing is;

Under the ordinance, firewood can be stored in a rack or structure that is raised only nine inches off the ground, a decrease from the previous 18 inches.

A lot of areas have a minimum clearance height under the wood storage. It's purpose is to prevent easy access to varmints that want make a home in the wood. It's just good practice even if not law.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Legion Prime]

Well the bottom of the 2x6s are mounted 3.5" above the bottom of the 4x4s. the 2x4s on top of the 2x6s that support the 1x4s should be about 9" above the ground with this design with the actual firewood itself another 2.25" above that. I also plan to put pavers or bricks under each of the 4x4s which should add an additional inch or two so I think I should be in good shape. Thanks that's something I hadn't really put too much thought into, luckily the designers of the plans seem to have done so.

 

[Legion Prime]

And they're multiplying.

The 5/8" CDX I got for the second roof is MUCH better. While putting on the shingles I noticed almost no flex but we'll see when it gets a load of snow. I took the ends I cut off the 10' 2x4s (2 4' lengths) 45'd one end, marked where to trim the opposite corner and used them to brace the outer 2 4x4s. These guys are pretty solid and believe it or not during assembly the 4" structural screw did seem to be make a noticeable difference over the 3 1/8 ones I accidentally got for the first one. They're both pretty solid now regardless but until I got everything tied together I did notice less side to side wobble in the 4x4s. The second one is not done being shingled because I ran out of construction adhesive and I have work tonight so I'll get back onto it tomorrow. My brother and I tried to move the first one into place but it was a bit much for just the two of us, I will get pictures when they're in place and hopefully at least 1 of them loaded up.

 

[malibu101]

And they're multiplying.

The 5/8" CDX I got for the second roof is MUCH better. While putting on the shingles I noticed almost no flex but we'll see when it gets a load of snow. I took the ends I cut off the 10' 2x4s (2 4' lengths) 45'd one end, marked where to trim the opposite corner and used them to brace the outer 2 4x4s. These guys are pretty solid and believe it or not during assembly the 4" structural screw did seem to be make a noticeable difference over the 3 1/8 ones I accidentally got for the first one. They're both pretty solid now regardless but until I got everything tied together I did notice less side to side wobble in the 4x4s. The second one is not done being shingled because I ran out of construction adhesive and I have work tonight so I'll get back onto it tomorrow. My brother and I tried to move the first one into place but it was a bit much for just the two of us, I will get pictures when they're in place and hopefully at least 1 of them loaded up.

Are you gluing the shingles down??
Looking good and should be functional for the use for a good long time.

 

[larry_g]

I would suggest that you put a couple of boards across the back wall, for two reasons;

1. it will help keep the structure from racking over time.
2. unless you have nice neat uniform pieces of wood the stack will want to lean. If you stack it correctly by pulling out the bottom of the rick and then pile it so that it leans toward the back it will stay in place. I've had straight stacks fall toward me when removing some so now I always lean toward the back.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Legion Prime]

Yeah Malibu, the shortest roofing nails I could find were 7/8" which would leave them sticking through under the roof. In an attic whatever, where I'm going to be loading and grabbing wood from fairly often that's not satisfactory. I've been gluing them down and driving nails in where the roof is supported by the 2x4s. I paid attention this time and every shingle has at least 1 nail in it and that construction adhesive is some ridiculous stuff once it sets so we'll see how they fare.
Thanks for the advice Larry, I actually modified the plans adding in some leftover sections of 2x4 diagonally as bracing between the 4x4s and the 2x6s. I've had both bracing diagonally between the 4x4s and even covering the back with an additional piece of plywood suggested to me. I want to keep the back fairly open because the front will be facing the garage. I normally shovel between the garage and the wood pile in winter as it's less to shovel and being in between the pile and the garage it gathers less snow and less gets blown in. That backside facing away I still want to keep fairly open so that when we get wood delivered we can just toss it straight in rather than walking around the sheds, trees & chopping block etc. Time will tell though, if the structure starts deforming I may have to add additional bracing and just deal with it. I do appreciate brainstorming though, if any issues do arise I like having an idea or two in mind already. Regardless this should be a HUGE improvement over the current pile that's little more than an orderly stack on the ground.

 

[Legion Prime]

So I got both sheds completely finished today (with the exception of the additional bracing for the 1/2 roof). My brother and a friend of his helped move the first into place and the 2nd next to where I want it.

They had started loading it up when I left for work and it looked like they were only doing 2 rows so we'll see how much they actually got in it. Tomorrow I'll be checking that out, maybe they even got the second one moved into place. Either way the driveway's clear and I'm well on my way to having our firewood ready for winter.

 

[Legion Prime]

And I'm done for the year. The sheds are in place and all the wood loaded. I'll have to start scrounging as the second one isn't even half full though. Yes I know they're a little uneven and I didn't get any pavers under the 4x4s which they definitely need. For this winter they'll work fine and I'll pick them up and get something levelled out to support them in the spring.

 

[Legion Prime]

And I'm back for modernifacations part deux. In the shed on the right in the above photos my brother and his friend loaded up the firewood two deep. There is significant bowing in the 1x4s (surprise surprise) so I'll need to stick an extra 2x4 in under each side.

I'll have to wait till spring for that shed but the other one is less than half full. So with a pair of pry bars, ye olde grande thumb detector and just a dash of swearing I managed to get them in on the shed on the left.

I could only get three screws in between the two 2x4s owing to the aforementioned wood but I'll toss in another 5 come spring when I do the other shed.

 

[Pathfinders]

Nice, but what is the wood for?

 

[Legion Prime]

We have a wood burning stove in the house that we burn it in during the winter.