Shed building tips and tricks

jeepinmatt

jeepinmatt

#1 WEBWHEELER
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Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Location
Stanley, NC
Gonna build a roughly 20x24 shed for storing firewood and maybe a tractor or a few implements. Current plan is about a low slope (2-3:12) single pitch roof with a gutter at the back, 4x4 posts at ~8ft tall in the back, 12ft in the front, and a little loft area for storing boards and other miscellaneous crap I don't need to keep. Probably will put side and back walls on it. Definitely an open front, and built in a hillside, so no option for pull through.

Any handy tips, must haves, things you wish you had done, methods and things to avoid, etc. ?
 
I'd plan for a steeper pitch. It'll help keep leaves and pine straw from accumulating.

I'm assuming you're going to do posts? Any plans for a concrete floor? If it's going to have a floor, you can do a turn down slab and stick frame cheaper and faster than posts.

You're on your own with mud daubers and carpenter bees. Paint should help with the borers.
 
No way I would use 4x4 post @12'. 6x6 all way around if it were me. I put up a 24x24 and used metal trusses w/ 4/12 pitch. Had it up in 2 days. Dug holes, set post and Bolted trusses together. Then used tractor to set trusses on post, installed 2x6's and metal roof on second day.
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89wrangler said:
No way I would use 4x4 post @12'. 6x6 all way around if it were me. I put up a 24x24 and used metal trusses w/ 4/12 pitch. Had it up in 2 days. Dug holes, set post and Bolted trusses together. Then used tractor to set trusses on post, installed 2x6's and metal roof on second day.
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I am subed for some learnin.
@jeepinmatt I to need a new shed or two. I have a container I want to utilize with either one or two sheds either side. I also have considered some sort of knee wall or such over the container to create an instant loft.
@89wrangler I'm interested in the trusses you used. Brand or pictures?
@shawn I'm a blueprint kind of guy. In other words I haven't found anything I can't build off prints. Is there a little nitch industry of able to be purchased plans.....or folks who draw such up for purchase? I'd love a custom plan around my chosen material types. Give a goal and concept to someone to get the critical right. In return get details, angles, and dems. I then put my head down and create........

By the way this is the sort of relationship I am seeking if anybody has some ideas. I want to grow this sort of relationship with a designer or draftsman to create. Warriorwelding is seeking to shift gears and become an entity that connects design/concept to the tangible. I have a few "fields" I really wanna explore.
IE I'm want to build and create more over the heavier equipment repair I currently do.
 
My shed building tip is to not get carried away with the project like I did LOL.

I needed a shed because I could barely walk around in my garage. I went up to House of Stars on 220 to look at buying a shed. I was surprised at how much they wanted for a 12x24 unit. I then decided to build one myself. Then I thought it would be cool to make it look like an old log cabin since I always wanted to live in one. Things continued to spiral out of control. I'm almost done with it.

Edit:. I did not do the foundation and stone work.

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drkelly said:
My shed building tip is to not get carried away with the project like I did LOL.

I needed a shed because I could barely walk around in my garage. I went up to House of Stars on 220 to look at buying a shed. I was surprised at how much they wanted for a 12x24 unit. I then decided to build one myself. Then I thought it would be cool to make it look like an old log cabin since I always wanted to live in one. Things continued to spiral out of control. I'm almost done with it.

Edit:. I did not do the foundation and stone work.

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That’s nicer than the first few houses I lived in. Probably bigger too.
 
I had a sister in law (ex wife's sis) who liked staying with us and wanted to move in so I said no you can't live with us here, so she moved into a shed out back that was not in use. It took me about two weeks to nicely throw her out.
Also, yes on the 6x6 posts and everything will get wet on the 12' open side. And make sure water drains around it, not through it.
 
drkelly said:
My shed building tip is to not get carried away with the project like I did LOL.

I needed a shed because I could barely walk around in my garage. I went up to House of Stars on 220 to look at buying a shed. I was surprised at how much they wanted for a 12x24 unit. I then decided to build one myself. Then I thought it would be cool to make it look like an old log cabin since I always wanted to live in one. Things continued to spiral out of control. I'm almost done with it.

Edit:. I did not do the foundation and stone work.

View attachment 309359

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I just need somewhere to put firewood, not a house made out of firewood! :D

But I would like to build something just like that but about twice as big on my land for my parents to live in a few years down the road.
 
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jeepinmatt said:
I just need somewhere to put firewood, not a house made out of firewood! :D
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If thats really it - then a cheap and easy option is one of the Harbor Freight "portable shed" things.
It's basically a shed-shaped tent with a metal pole frame... wit ha coupon can be had for something like $160. I got one just for storing the lawn equipment, 4runner top, tires etc, and for the money, it does the job fine. It isn't fancy and look cheesy, but you have a solution set up in a day.

I just realized the one I got it much smaller than you mentioned. However they have a "carport" that is basically the same, but bigger and longer.
 
drkelly said:
My shed building tip is to not get carried away with the project like I did LOL.

I needed a shed because I could barely walk around in my garage. I went up to House of Stars on 220 to look at buying a shed. I was surprised at how much they wanted for a 12x24 unit. I then decided to build one myself. Then I thought it would be cool to make it look like an old log cabin since I always wanted to live in one. Things continued to spiral out of control. I'm almost done with it.

Edit:. I did not do the foundation and stone work.

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View attachment 309361
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I was waiting on the Jed, Granny, Jethro, & Ellymay, to come running out!:D
 
There are lots of sites that sell house/garage/shed plans, and will modify plans for additional cost. They're usually permit-ready plans from what I understand. I have a few bookmarked somewhere......
I checked most of them out a long time ago, realized they didn't have what I wanted, and then hired an architect to do something more interesting. Now I've spent a few years trying to find someone that will build it without disappearing off the planet or quoting me more than my house is worth because they work on high end stuff.
 
Fabrik8 said:
There are lots of sites that sell house/garage/shed plans, and will modify plans for additional cost. They're usually permit-ready plans from what I understand.
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That's what they tell you, but that does not make it true. Went through that before.
 
jeepinmatt said:
I didn't even notice the list of other types. That's pretty much what I'm looking for.
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Me neither!
This place is better then Mr. T and the gang.....
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
I am subed for some learnin.
@jeepinmatt I to need a new shed or two. I have a container I want to utilize with either one or two sheds either side. I also have considered some sort of knee wall or such over the container to create an instant loft.
@89wrangler I'm interested in the trusses you used. Brand or pictures?
@shawn I'm a blueprint kind of guy. In other words I haven't found anything I can't build off prints. Is there a little nitch industry of able to be purchased plans.....or folks who draw such up for purchase? I'd love a custom plan around my chosen material types. Give a goal and concept to someone to get the critical right. In return get details, angles, and dems. I then put my head down and create........

By the way this is the sort of relationship I am seeking if anybody has some ideas. I want to grow this sort of relationship with a designer or draftsman to create. Warriorwelding is seeking to shift gears and become an entity that connects design/concept to the tangible. I have a few "fields" I really wanna explore.
IE I'm want to build and create more over the heavier equipment repair I currently do.
Click to expand...

Here is the link to where I got my kit. prices are on the website, $4.95 sq ft for complete kit. Also the truss info is there.
https://www.stroudsbuildingsupply.com/pole-barn-kits
 
awheelterd said:
General Barn and Utility Shed Plans

I stumbled on this University of Tennessee ag dept website when I was doing some she'd research a few weeks back. Decent looking plans for anything you might want to build.
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orange150 said:
T4166 is exactly what I'm looking for.
Machinery and Supply Storage Plans

Thanks for the link!
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89wrangler said:
Here is the link to where I got my kit. prices are on the website, $4.95 sq ft for complete kit. Also the truss info is there.
https://www.stroudsbuildingsupply.com/pole-barn-kits
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Glad I looked in here. Those are now saved. I saw something like those pole kits recently and wondered who they might be. Now I know.... Thanks.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
Thanks....I knew of one or two established metal truss builders.
Pm me any pros or cons if you feel like it. I'm genuinely interested feed back. I would appreciate it greatly. I am considering a venture.
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No cons on the components at all. Very simple build. I wish I would have known about those trusses when I built my shop. Only con is I went 12 foot between the post to get my 24' and wish now I would have went 10' and 30' length. That is on me though. Getting ready to add a 12' lean to on the side for more storage and then put metal on three sides.
 
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