Build a Large Storage Shed/Barn for under $1500 taxes in.

[betamaxman]

Shot with KODAK Z712 IS ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA at 2010-04-17

Shopping around, buying cull lumber from HD, (selecting the best from the pileetc ), and buying from the habitat restore fro as much material as I could find. I was able to build and side this 10X14 shed with a full 5 foot high loft for under $1500 taxes in.
It has a sturdy g&t board floor, and I next plan to add a work counter.
First I used 12 30lb bags of gravel and placed some free patio slabs on top for the double 2X6 rails on which to place the frame for the floor.

As you can see the board floor makes a sturdy platform on which to build on.


The walls.

Applying OSB sheathing.


Shingleing the roof.

House wrap.


Sidding applied.

Inside looking from front to back. Note stairs for loft not built yet, so using step lader to access it. Stairs included in stated cost. Please excuse the mess.

Shot at 2010-04-17
And last the loft. Wife and kids allready have it full. Not to mention boxes from things I bought mentioned on rfds.

The walls are only 7 feet high and the ceiling is dropped to allow more head room for the loft. I bought the siding from the habitat restore for $50. It was white so I painted it with exterior latex the color shown at HD $30. Vinyl paints quite well and holds the paint better than wood.
So this is my shed/barn hope you all like it as much as I did building it. I still have to do something with the eaves and want to also add gutters (also considered in the costs as for new not used material).

[betamaxman]

Some more pics.

[deltone]

Nice job OP, looks good.

[okaywithme]

Very nice! Would you like to come build one for me next?

[jason9945]

Impressive!

[CaptSmethwick]

That is truly impressive, OP - you do good work!

How are municipal authorities out your way? Here, they can sometimes be persnickity about trusses and elevated floors for structures above 10 sq M.

[hello99]

Looks great!

I did not know you can paint vinyl?

Why the t&g floor planks? What size where they? Were they cheaper than plywood?

[Pete_Coach]

Nice job.
Question, did you require a permit, (or do you require a permit) for a structure so large? Any problem getting one? Did you have to get approval from the neighbors?
Where I live you do and then it may be a problem for something so large, high especially. How high is it, 13 or 14 feet by the looks of the ladder in the shed and you said there was a 5 foot loft too. So you have a 10 ft by 14 ft by 14 foot high structure in an urban back yard.

[realcanadian]

So there are no concrete foundation posts/piers? Do you think you'll have any problems with frost/ground freezing?

[betamaxman]

Looks great!

I did not know you can paint vinyl?

Why the t&g floor planks? What size where they? Were they cheaper than plywood?

Thanks everyone;
Yes vinyl seems to hold the paint very well. So well that when I had a problem in the dash of my 85 montecarlo I simply grabed a seat belt holder and had exterior paint color matched and used that to touchup the dash. After ten years it is holding up better in the car than the dye that is sold for that purpose at auto body shops.
The groove & tongue boards are the standard 5 to 6 inches cna't remember exactly and it was slightly more than 3/4 inch plywood I was going to use. I liked the boarded floor look better. I stained them and plan to strip the barn this summer of it's contents and paint or stain the interior walls and ceiling white, then add white peg board where ever I want it. Not sure how much that will add to the cost though.

[betamaxman]

That is truly impressive, OP - you do good work!

How are municipal authorities out your way? Here, they can sometimes be persnickity about trusses and elevated floors for structures above 10 sq M.

10 X 14 was the limit I could build however there was no limit mentioned on height, I guess there aren't many sheds with lofts. But as I said the floor of the loft is lowered in the 7 foot walls so that the ceiling is just over 6' 2". Good enough for me and my 5/7 height. If I was taller I would likely have to come up with a different plan. The authorities seem to differ with each municipality, and subdivision. the barn is just arround the 13' mark, not counting the base, no problems with the neighbors.

[CaptSmethwick]

10 X 14 was the limit I could build however there was no limit mentioned on height, I guess there aren't many sheds with lofts. But as I said the floor of the loft is lowered in the 7 foot walls so that the ceiling is just over 6' 2". Good enough for me and my 5/7 height. If I was taller I would likely have to come up with a different plan. The authorities seem to differ with each municipality, and subdivision. the barn is just arround the 13' mark, not counting the base. It is around the 13' mark not counting the base. and no problems with the neighbors.

Great! I envy those rules - 10x14 is a good size and, frankly, more reasonable than the 10 sq M rules here.

[betamaxman]

So there are no concrete foundation posts/piers? Do you think you'll have any problems with frost/ground freezing?

The concrete slabs shown in the pics (six in total) are each sitting on 2 bags of gravel, about 4-5" deep under each slab (patio stones would also do) the slabs are good and thick and of a hard concrete. The rails are of two presure treated 2X6 nailed together and the floor joices are nailed to the rails. I finished the barn last fall and it has withstood last winter and is still level, but it wasn't a very cold winter. However it will be very easy to relevel it if need be anyway. I fould a load of gravel for $100 and spread it around after the fact. I am looking for something to use as skirting around the base. Thinking of vinyl saw foot fastened upside down, easily removed on for releveling.

[betamaxman]

Great! I envy those rules - 10x14 is a good size and, frankly, more reasonable than the 10 sq M rules here.

I hear your pain.
Have to confess, I have a mini home in a park, not a home in a subdivision, so regulations are governed by the park (mr. layhey jokes to follow) owner as well as the municipality. My neighbor exceeded the limits and built a 10 X 16 no loft and they are not bothering him either. A buddy of mine lives in a large house in a subdivision and he has more limitations than I. But he can build a garage if there is room on his lot, and I would love that. So we have decided to keep the mini home, perhaps moving it out to the country on a foundation some day and have my garage as well.