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JustCallMeMittens t1_j14bnv4 wrote

Is this shit your job?
This post is so meticulous with beautiful photos and concise information. The shed is fantastic, but you already knew that.

What I’m blown away by is the sheer quality of this post. I mean, 160 photos? Most of them with captions? Who does that?

Thank you for taking the time to put this together for the sub. I feel like I should be donating to your Patreon or something.

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Reddit-username_here t1_j14ejna wrote

You know it's the real deal when he takes all those shingles off to replace the drip edge that got a nail hole. I would've put some silicone around that shit and called it a day lol.

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CivilTax00100100 t1_j1983mi wrote

Seriously. This is meticulous. Imagine if they built an actual house. It would be petabytes of documentation and info lol

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Architect_of_Sanity t1_j1ayouc wrote

I would too and it would have nagged me until the day I sold the house and moved. Then occasionally my asshole brain would remind me how I fucked up that drip edge and took the lazy way out.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j14bxcb wrote

Hahaha, thank you

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Tabula_Nada t1_j14tzih wrote

Really - this guide is so thorough and helpful!

Is there anywhere you think you could have saved costs (including giving up any options or even a slight decrease in quality) or do you think this is about as good as it gets? Besides the aforementioned lock. Different materials, over-engineering, etc.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j152dn8 wrote

Definitely.

First of all, I paid a lot more for the lumber in June/July than I would if it were happening now. Lumber prices came down a lot from 2021 into 2022, but they're continuing to drop. I was paying about $6 per 2x4 and $25 for 7/16 OSB, and I think that's more like $4 and $15 now.

Secondly, I think a little bit of cost could be saved by buying in bulk. I was kind of figuring each step as I went, so I really only bought things one step at a time. If were to make a list of everything beforehand and order it at once, I think there'd be a discount there.

As for making design changes:

I think the easiest first step would be simplifying the framing. I could have built the walls with studs at 24" instead of 16", used a single top plate on the walls, and put the rafters directly on top of studs. I probably didn't need to use two king studs on each side of the double door, I probably didn't need a solid sandwich header above the door and window on the load bearing walls. Making all those changes would probably cut the framing step costs by 25-30%, and I imagine it would still be plenty strong for the size that it is.

I chose to sheath the walls with OSB, then use a vapor barrier, then put on siding, but a person could also just put the siding directly onto the studs, especially if they weren't planning on heating or cooling it. I think most people would consider that good enough for a shed.

On the subject of choosing not to heat or cool the shed -- if a person decided up front they didn't were never going to heat it, that would save money on roof vents and the ice and water shield on the roof.

Removing the windows would save a lot of cost -- first, there's the cost of the windows themselves, but there's also costs from extra framing, extra trim, all the flashing tape, etc.

The double door could be simplified a lot. A 2x4 box with just a piece of siding on it would probably be good enough. Maybe one cross support in the center, and a turnbuckle diagonally to prevent sagging. Plus those hinges I used cost about $30 each, and I needed 6 of them. I could have just used regular shed door hinges -- I think those cost closer to $30 for a complete set.

One relatively small thing that would have saved me money is nails vs screws -- I chose to do all the framing and sheathing and everything using #9 "GRK Multipurpose Screws". Those are special screws that are approved for use in framing, and cost like 15 cents a pop as a result. I wanted to do screws because it gave me the chance to take things apart and redo things. All the pros use nails, which are cheaper and probably better suited to framing anyway. Heck, I probably could have bought a framing nailer and used framing nails and still ended up paying less than how much I paid for screws.

There are probably other things I'm not thinking of, but those are the things that spring to mind.

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stefanica t1_j159b56 wrote

Those are good screws though! I'm a really cruddy DIYer but I use them for (almost) everything. They do seem a bit pricy, but eh.

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kreesperez t1_j17ff35 wrote

Did you consider buying a pre hung door and frame instead of building your own? You can find good deals on them.

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Tetragonos t1_j158nhp wrote

And not just cat tax, but like cat tax like they just got audited and are paying back cat tax.

Also I have seen houses put together with less skill and care than this shed.

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djphatjive t1_j16sq3a wrote

He has pie charts and shit. Wtf?

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JustCallMeMittens t1_j16ukmg wrote

My project plans look slightly different.

For example, I have one phase of construction and it’s called “Shed? [Y/N]”

While I may not have 3D models, I feel I can convey the same ideas through scattered sheets of paper with eraser rips and lashing out at others.
If you require access to the reference materials, the majority have fallen behind the workbench so we’re both fucked.

Cost is three times whatever estimate I give.
Project duration is calculated using a similar nuanced algorithm.

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Skaddict t1_j14ba0n wrote

That shed is built better than my house!

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j14bz7d wrote

thanks!

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shinypenny01 t1_j16d6sz wrote

In fairness, he might just have a shit house ;)

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lazyalam t1_j16if0p wrote

I too, shit in my house.

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Spillmill t1_j16rj04 wrote

I shit everywhere these days - can’t really wait. Work is the best though - free TP and paid for my time!

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onetimenative t1_j14g4e4 wrote

Beautiful work .... this is like those text book instructions on how to build a shed in your back yard ... excellent build and a very satisfying series of images to follow it .... and a bonus to show how much it all costs and how and where the major costs come from ... amazing!

What people should realize too is the unpaid labor that went into this. Because you did it yourself, you saved money, but you spent your time and energy, which costs money elsewhere, so that is always a cost we all ignore.

If you had hired someone or a contractor with a small team to do this, you could have doubled or tripled your budget. And it wouldn't have been as nice or strong as what you built.

I know because I'm a self taught construction / renovation worker. I worked in the business a little and gained enough knowledge and skill to be able to build and renovate every house, cottage and garage I own over the years.

Your little shed is not a little shed as it is a ton of work over many hours using skills, knowledge, mistakes and experience acquired over years. You should be proud. This was very satisfying to watch and see ... thanks and keep up the great work.

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1-760-706-7425 t1_j15tr1v wrote

> What people should realize too is the unpaid labor that went into this. Because you did it yourself, you saved money, but you spent your time and energy, which costs money elsewhere, so that is always a cost we all ignore.

Yes but OP also gained experience through the process and honed their skills. This is a benefit we all ignore.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j15vjcu wrote

Yes! And it was such a valuable learning experience for many different skills -- framing, shingling, doors and windows, all sorts of stuff. It really was like learning how to build a house in miniature. I feel so much more comfortable tackling something like finishing a basement.

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snowe2010 t1_j16k0tc wrote

>If you had hired someone or a contractor with a small team to do this, you could have doubled or tripled your budget. And it wouldn't have been as nice or strong as what you built.

oof. probably not. We got a shed installed at the end of 2020 and it cost half this amount, with a lot more of a foundation (that we built) and the shed being larger. Tuff Sheds are built really well too. They just bring it in pieces and assemble on site. Took them less than 2 hours...

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nobleman415 t1_j17d06q wrote

Tuff shed (Home Depot) and Heartland sheds (Lowe’s) are made of vastly inferior wood and craftsmanship. OPs shed is sturdy AF and well built.

I know because I could not get one installed, no exterior egress and therefore neither company would allow workmen in due to insurance (assuming criminal or accidental issues). That meant I would just get the kit and build it myself, as the helper to my friend who is a general contractor.

I am literally installing it now. The roof would have been on today, but rafters were mis-cut.

While you may think your shed looks nice, bear in mind your labor KNOWS how to hide every mistake, especially if you are not out there measuring for yourself. I would wager that your shed is absolutely not plumb within 1/16”, which OPs is. it doesnt have the siding OP used, nor is the roof as strong. Unless you put on vapor barrier and ply yourself, you only have cheap ass OBX on the studs. The trim, lumber, OBX etc is mostly crap, which is why the kits are so cheap. I’m not even sure it is fit for burning. We found multiple issues with the boards being ‘off’ quite a bit, warped, etc. OPs shed will last decades… unless you reinforced your own - because the tuff shed folks didn’t - it will have issues in a few years.

I’m saying all of this assuming you were not checking the work with your own tape.

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snowe2010 t1_j17dq10 wrote

It’s plumb perfectly, because we built the foundation to within a sixteenth of an inch. Seeing as how OP didn’t bother to lift theirs at all, it most definitely will be more resistant to weather. In regards to cheaper materials? Sure, but you don’t need to overbuild a shed. I watched them install the entire thing, and yeah it’s just as strong as OPs. No clue why you think the roof wouldn’t hold as much weight. Rafters are pretty standard.

Also no clue why you mention Home Depot or Lowe’s in there. Tuff Shed isn’t owned by them and we didn’t go through HD.

Unless there’s something magical about OPs wood, it’s the same stuff as in any shed. Nice try though. Continue to recommend people wasting tens of thousands of dollars on something that should most definitely cost half that. OP built something strong, but wasted a lot of time and money and I guarantee it’s not outlasting our shed or any other prebuilt, especially with it sitting directly on that slab.

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ProjectPatMorita t1_j1igmp4 wrote

Yeah, nothing you're saying is wrong at all, but you're gonna get pushback just based on the nature of this subreddit.

Tuff Shed is a perfectly reputable company and OP himself said he bought lumber from the same stores the person you're replying to claims is garbage lol. And if the integrity of the build is all you're worried about with a pre-built one you could just spend a fraction of the money on reinforcing, insulating, and getting better siding.

I totally get the argument that DIY is great invaluable experience, that's fine, but there's no point pretending that projects like this aren't WAY more expensive to do yourself.

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snowe2010 t1_j1o18do wrote

Yeah, it’s pretty funny to argue like that because there’s a reason big companies make so much money. It’s because bulk discounts save a shit ton of money. Arguing OP saved money in any way is just ignoring reality. It doesn’t matter if the materials are different or not, they’re gonna last just as long. I love DIYing stuff. Like I said. We built the foundation completely by ourself. It was better than any contractor would ever build it. We were able to buy the materials in bulk so we saved a bit, probably not as much as a contractor though, but due to the hours put in I’m pretty confident we did a better job (we didn’t do it ourselves because we wanted to but because of bad planning on our part). It felt good to learn how to lay foundation properly.

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EdgarsChainsaw t1_j14swem wrote

Damn. Throw up some insulation in those walls and I know a few people who would rent that.

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BeavertonBum t1_j145mt7 wrote

As someone who has built sheds and have been accused of having them professionally built, I applaud you. Looks excellent!

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sarnold95 t1_j145ljy wrote

This is so well done. Great job! How much experience do you have building? I built a shed by myself for my goats and it was pretty rough looking compared to this, but I obviously was just throwing it up for my goats to get out of the weather. I’m assuming you either have an engineering background or construction background.

For the interim you can grab a solar light for the inside. Like $30 on Amazon.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j14bog6 wrote

Thank you! I have a mechanical engineering background, but no construction experience. Anything that looks like it was a good idea either came from watching youtube videos, or was a suggestion from my father (who is a retired teacher but was/is an unpaid volunteer handyman on nights and weekends).

The solar light is a great idea. Thanks for the suggestion!

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sarnold95 t1_j14c4sd wrote

I could tell as soon as I saw the spreadsheet breakdown and solid works rendering that you had to have a ME background haha. Great work!

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EMCoupling t1_j156qug wrote

The small machinist rule was also a good indicator 😉

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tysons1 t1_j14mpzs wrote

Impressive. Super impressive. Refreshing to see such thoroughness and competence. 67 year old, handyman (former builder) here. I've always been one for 'doing things right'!

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JoJoPizzaG t1_j14q20i wrote

Damn almost 10k. When did DYI become an expensive hobby? 😡😡😡

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gchance92 t1_j14ts6l wrote

Depending on when OP bought supplies the price could easily be double what most people would have paid pre covid. Lumber prices have come down significantly in the past couple months where I am located.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j14wwn3 wrote

Yeah most of the supplies were bought in June/July. I was paying about $6 per 2x4 and $25 for OSB. :(

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gchance92 t1_j156jcx wrote

Hey not that bad honestly! If you had started this a year earlier those prices would easily be 2x more than THAT! Great job though btw!

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Putridgrim t1_j14qi07 wrote

It's absolutely ridiculous. And if he hired a company to do it they'd charge $400 an hour for labor and only pay the employees $12.50 an hour.

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shinypenny01 t1_j16dk5j wrote

Generally with sheds it’s cheaper to buy pre-build and just get ‘em delivered. Skilled builders in a good workshop can put together a shed much faster than they can in your backyard, and time is money.

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AlphaWizard t1_j18xbrb wrote

Seriously. I paid about half of this for a prebuilt shed that was built to order, and has most of the same specs. Biggest difference is mine isn’t on a concrete slab, but I can deal with the step up into it.

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shinypenny01 t1_j18zkv1 wrote

And the concrete slab is $1k-$2k at most, would still be cheaper even if you did it as well.

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NukEvil t1_j15op5z wrote

That's why I had a shed company build my storage shed for me. It cost me just a tiny bit over $9k for a 12' by 16' with 7 foot walls. And they added a free shelf/work table across the back for giving them a good google review. Why do all the work myself and spend weeks planning, permitting, worrying about costs and materials, etc when I could have someone else do all that for me?

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j16xx40 wrote

You know that thing where you see something for sale and go "I can build that, and for only twice the price!"

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spmcewen t1_j16hheb wrote

I don’t know what lumber prices are like now but in 2020 I paid like $5k for a 12x16 custom shed. Maybe $800 for site prep by a local landscaper. Built offside and delivered. 2x4 construction. Northeast prices. All they had to do was drop it in place, add the copper cupola (added a lot to the price), and install the ramp.

Looking at current prices this is basically what I got and it’s $7700: https://kloterfarms.com/product/12-x-16-t-1-11-garden-special-cape-7113/

Don’t get me wrong, if you like doing this sort of project yourself it makes total sense. But I think the bulk price of materials PLUS labor from a shed company is still going to be less that the price of materials alone from Lowe’s or Home Depot.

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snowe2010 t1_j16k4n4 wrote

same. We also got a shed (tuff shed) in 2020 and it is a 12x10 and cost 4k. We built the foundation ourself and yeah I'd say around 5-600 for that.

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NukEvil t1_j16osyu wrote

I have a cement pad from where the property used to have a pump house sometime before I moved in, so they just anchored my shed to that. Has steel joists, so even less danger of rotting.

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snowe2010 t1_j16oz7h wrote

Yeah I mean OPs shed is beautiful, but they massively overpaid and spent a lot of time doing backbreaking labor they didn’t have to. Bet they learned quite a bit though! Oftentimes that is worth the cost alone.

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tuckedfexas t1_j16lxux wrote

I cant believe the doors snd windows were almost 2k. It's definitely way over-built as well, super great work above and beyond what most people would do

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mrssquish t1_j14dd9y wrote

Nice casestudy! As someone looking to build one soon I found your project very informative and you’re results are great

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Novaleaf t1_j156qed wrote

great workmanship, but some critical feedback regarding the foundation:

  • why didn't you raise the floor an inch or so? If there is ever incidental settling, having a little extra height above ground will ensure it won't flood.
  • it looks like the bottom 2x4 (used as a "plate") is non-pressure treated. is that true?
  • You don't have proper flashing around the bottom exterior of the wall osb. something like your window membrane flashing.

Basically, I am concerned about moisture from untreated wood contact with the foundation, and how close it is to the ground. You did such a great job but it really seems you neglected to consider water damage along the foundation. I hope you live in a dry climate.

EDIT: Here is a kind of blah video, but saying the importance of pressure treated base plates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZAvfCt6IyA Membrane flashing along the outside (under the housewrap) is also important, but a bit less than the plate.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j1591yi wrote

Thanks for the feedback!

  • Yes, in hindsight, I wish I had poured the concrete a little bit taller. It's sitting about an inch and a half above the soil on the uphill side. At the time, my logic was to try and make it convenient for a riding lawn mower to drive in and out, but I could have made it taller and made a ramp...
  • Yes, the bottom plate is pressure treated #2 pine, and there is sill foam between it and the concrete
  • I had no idea that flashing should be put around the bottom of the wall osb. Today I learned! We're planning on landscaping around the shed summer, my backup plan if water becomes an issue is to make a trench around the shed first, filling it with stone, then covering it with landscaping fabric and some wood chips or pea gravel.
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Novaleaf t1_j15x8dl wrote

if it's easy to remove the outer sheathing, you could simply wrap membrane around, ok if it's over the housewrap.

But the most important part is the pressure treated plate. Since you do have that you are most likely good to go. Especially since you have such wide eaves (which is really great, props to you for doing that), which will help keep water away from the walls so probably no problem would ever occur.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j15z98o wrote

Thank you for the insight!

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Novaleaf t1_j18tugm wrote

if you do wrap membrane around, be sure that it extends below the floor, wrapping the outside of the osb and your foundation. More than 2 inches would be ideal, even if that means digging down a little.

Again though, the lack of membrane might not impact your shed's lifespan much, just that it's "supposed to be done" due to water splashing and wicking up. Your choice of exterior sheathing looks like splashing wouldn't be an issue anyway.

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vorxaw t1_j14msa4 wrote

wow, thats a well built shed! great work!

One question, what made you decide on the elevation of the slab. My initial thought would have been to make it a few inches higher just for rain/snow/ponding-water/etc given your area looks pretty flat. But I donno, interested to hear your thoughts.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j14omv4 wrote

Thanks! At the time, my logic was to keep the uphill side of the slab low enough that a riding lawnmower could conveniently drive in and out. In hindsight, I wish I had gone just a little bit higher. My backup plan if water becomes an issue is to make a trench around the slab with crushed stone, put some landscaping fabric over that and some wood chips or pea gravel?

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rbooris t1_j1529sm wrote

Ok so aside from the awesome job you did, how much did it cost you to have the furry inspectors on site supporting you throughout the project ?

The do not seem to appear on your cost list.

Did you bribe them with food?

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j154551 wrote

The cost in food was definitely worth it, and you're right that I should have included that in my breakdown. Honestly I was just happy they gave up a corner of their yard for me to work in :)

From their perspective, I dug a giant litterbox, built a giant cat tree, then covered it all up and took it away :(

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rbooris t1_j15frw3 wrote

I can understand their perspective, from lots of hope to cruel reality !

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9babydill t1_j14v8ey wrote

better looking than my house 🫣

still wondering where the infomercial product placement is at because this project was too clean. Well done 👏

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j14xyuf wrote

"This shed has been brought to you by the cleaning power of ShamWow. When I need to clean a surface, I reach for the convenient and powerful ShamWow..."

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Thirtybird t1_j14svng wrote

Very awesome work and thoroughly detailed! I have an old shed in my backyard, and my #1 priority when replacing it is doing what I can to keep out mice (cause they owned the thing when we first moved in). Your double door reminds me of the door on mine, and I know that's how the mice get in - the gap is about the same.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j14xpmp wrote

Yeah I definitely need to figure out a solution to that before springtime. I'm thinking a couple pieces of aluminum tucked behind the sheathing, sticking out in such a way that they cover the top and bottom gaps. Either that or I feed the cats less, and let them sort the mice out :/

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lemonylol t1_j14x1dd wrote

Very nice. Planning to do a garage extension similar to this. My plan is to save some costs by going with concrete piers over a full slab.

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Supperfly17 t1_j15fzsu wrote

Not sure if anyone commented, but your baseplate for the walls, it didnt look pressure treated. Was it? Shed looks amazing. 10x14 is perfect size for that yard. Great job.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j15gywe wrote

Yes! The bottom plates are pressure treated #2 pine, and there is still foam between the plates and the concrete.

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Pamplemousse47 t1_j16znvp wrote

This would have been my question too. Concrete likes to eat untreated wood.

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jk147 t1_j15jmlj wrote

I was like yeah yeah I want to build one.

Then I realized I don't even have a truck.

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Nasquid t1_j14jnrz wrote

Seriously impressive.

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Mxjman t1_j14xeaa wrote

Amazing work. Only bummer is the board and batten.... I HATE board and batten. No matter how much maintenance I did water found its way in and rots the Battens on my laat house...... but you did amazing! Just try to make those battens water tight

4

chance__ t1_j14gvh2 wrote

Looks great! When you do run electric to it, make sure you’re correct on needing a grounding rod since it will most likely be a sub panel.

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Alan8564 t1_j14r1nn wrote

That’s a beauty!

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kickbut101 t1_j14yhyr wrote

Damn dude you killed it, nice work

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WestonP t1_j1531nc wrote

Very nice. Concrete pad and all! And here I am just on pressure-treated skids over gravel.

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IFTTTexas t1_j153g2j wrote

come to my house. I need help.

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Stairway_2_Devin t1_j1544le wrote

Thank you for this! I'm turning my shed into an office, and this just gave me a ton ideas/help

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BigDaddyBlackShirt t1_j158819 wrote

Wow! I wish there was a "How To" area in the r/DIY because this deserves to be on it. Great post.

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k9ibis t1_j15c2zu wrote

BEAUTIFUL documentation my friend! Loved the breakdown of expenses as well. The construction quality matches the content!

Really enjoyed going thru this - thanks a ton for sharing

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squigiliwams t1_j15eex0 wrote

I can feel the pride coming off of some of these shots. Damn fine work.

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winnower8 t1_j15im9g wrote

I'd totally crack and beer and say "mmm-hmmm" while looking at that shed.

Beautiful job. So much space for activities. Must of felt nice.

3

katarh t1_j15pqti wrote

Wonderful job, and thank you for sharing! I especially appreciate the quality assurance team doing their inspections throughout the process. You are already paid up in taxes thanks to their excellent work.

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chfp t1_j17elb3 wrote

Awesome cat house! 😸

Kidding aside, great quality work

3

KimCharelsMD t1_j14v76y wrote

why did you post the picture of the level showing it was not perfectly level. Genuinely askin.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j14yci8 wrote

If you're talking about the picture when I was plumbing up the framed walls -- that was the very last corner, and I couldn't get it any more plumb than that without throwing off one of my other walls. I was just happy it was within the lines, even if it wasn't perfectly centered haha

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Whatwhenwherehi t1_j14z1ho wrote

Perfect square doesn't happen.

Yours is as close as you'll ever get unless your pour, grade and everything else was perfect as well. Which is, fyi, impossible.

Great pictures, great work.

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WestonP t1_j153xs2 wrote

> Perfect square doesn't happen.

This. Whenever I'm feeling like my own work isn't as perfect as I'd like, I go look at the sheds on display at Home Depot or Lowes, or look at the framing of a professionally-built new construction home... it's all way worse than what I did for my shed/workshop!

Caulk, trim, and drywall will cover up a heck of a lot, and professionally-built structures rely on this fact quite a bit as well.

Working with lumber is an imperfect endeavor anyway... Despite my best attempts to get pieces that are actually straight and not full of moisture ("KD" stamp doesn't seem to mean much these days), I've had a lot warp/twist/shrink by the time I get it cut and assembled. All within a usable tolerance though. I see the same or worse in other structures I look at.

4

Adum888 t1_j15c9j9 wrote

The next step is obviously a „secret“ Tunnel connecting it to your house

Awesome job mate and really nice documentation.

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Muzzy637 t1_j15m1zy wrote

Oh I can see the ridge vent! I had a shed builder do one for me, and he didn’t install any ventilation in it. Got hot as hell in the summer.

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mynamewassunset t1_j15qz61 wrote

Absolute top shelf post and finished project. So good!

The roof framing photos are particularly helpful to me, reconsidering the amount of bracing for gable end overhang on a greenhouse we hoped to construct. TY

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bwjasperson t1_j15r14y wrote

This is what this sub used to be all about. Great job!

Is this by chance in Iowa?

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jdub75 t1_j15rq1j wrote

Good work!

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Originality8 t1_j15wkgr wrote

This is incredible. I have just started planning my own shed, so this is a fabulous resource, and good motivation!

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guaita t1_j15xkxh wrote

Thanks for sharing! Very educational!

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noybswx t1_j15xmij wrote

Looks amazing! I keep wanting to make one, then life reminds me i don't have the time and energy right now.

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CjSportsNut t1_j15zufp wrote

Thanks for the incredible detail! I am planning to build a shed of similar size to set up as a workshop, and this gave me so many tips i hadnt thought of.

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hymness1 t1_j163fcm wrote

Is this kind of foundation sufficient for parts of the world that the ground freeze 6 months per year? I need to redo my shed and the floor/foundation is the one thing I've no idea how to do. I feel like I'll be able to manage the next steps tho

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NickitOff t1_j1695vw wrote

Very impressive! Overkill was my dads way too! I call it high quality engineering and attention to detail. Seriously though, that's professional status. How much is rent and when can I move in. lol. 👍

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anicepaintingofacow t1_j16fvsy wrote

This is insanely thorough. I've been pondering a similar project and learned a ton. Beautiful job. Thanks for sharing!

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Muserallusion t1_j16h6p1 wrote

This is beautiful, man. And helpful for all of us budding DIYers.

Also:

Solidworks. Excellent craftsmanship. Meticulous documentation— Are you a (mechanical) engineer?

(edit: Nevermind. You already answered someone else. I’m not surprised you have a MechE background. Thanks for the post!)

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DontLook_Weirdo t1_j16i952 wrote

This was so goddamn satisfying.

Thank you.

And very good job!

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j16j4hq wrote

It was satisfying to build, too. Thanks for the kind words!

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thePr0tag0nist00 t1_j16v4k1 wrote

Saved this as I’m building one in the spring! This is fantastic!

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cloneStampArmy t1_j194366 wrote

This is such a gem of a post. This is such a lovingly-crafted piece through and through, from the actual structure, to the photo gallery itself.

Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. I'm super inspired by what you've done.

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JonnyDIY t1_j1a7mxh wrote

Wow I dont think Ive EVER seen a shed built so meticulously. It's like some sort of thesis project 🤣💕 Great job, looked like you had a lot of fun. You must be an engineer at your day job

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babyangelKT_ t1_j1gpgpv wrote

wow that shed turned out VERY nice !

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ragnsep t1_j156ncf wrote

Nice work OP! It seems your shed is set back a bit further than most. Did you have special codes make it that far from the lot line/easement?

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j159h01 wrote

The requirement where I live is 5' away from the lot line and easement, and our utility easement is actually positioned behind that rear fence. The pad was poured at 6.5' off the property line and easement so that the eaves didn't cross the boundary.

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rockonhomieg t1_j165xyn wrote

how do you like your Maverick?

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rpgarry t1_j16s8j2 wrote

How do you have $144. in caulk does that include the house wrap? I'd put a support under the ridge.

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j16v1t8 wrote

It’s crazy how even the small stuff adds up, that’s one of the reasons I wanted to keep track of all the purchases. Here’s everything from the caulk category:

2 tubes of “big stretch” caulk which were used in the installation of the man door and windows for $18

1 tube of APOC roofing cement for $11

5 tubes of OSI Quad Max for all the seams between the siding panels, $62

5 tubes of Lexel for in and around all the trim pieces, $64

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xxAsyst0lexx t1_j171jjw wrote

I love how your cats inspected each step of the building process, lol.

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colinstalter t1_j171nlv wrote

Really nice. Some insulation and a wood stove and you’d have yourself a very fine Fortress of Solitude.

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RedVelvetAss t1_j1777xj wrote

I didn’t think I’d be reading about someone building a shed so late at night, but here I am. That shed is the tits my guy! Laying out the entire process so concisely the way you did makes me want to tear down my shit old shed and start a new.

You have to post about what you do to the inside, I’m too vested to have this cliffhanger.

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fishchipslopez t1_j17810n wrote

This is awesome, very well built and documented. I’m excited for next years update

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NinjaFighterAnyday t1_j17in50 wrote

I would've given up at the 5th or 6th pic and used it as concrete patio.

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an_itch_in_her_ditch t1_j17j0hm wrote

How much did the SDS drill rental cost? For not much more you probably could have bought one .

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j18tynu wrote

It cost $35.09.

Good point -- I looked up that exact model on amazon and it's 179.99. I had no idea they were less than $200.

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m1kz93 t1_j17ph91 wrote

Wow OP really went all out in this project, good job, it looks great.

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chuck914914 t1_j17vibv wrote

Just throwing this question out there..I need a shed too . Now is it Still cheaper to build one with the high prices, or is it better buy one already made?

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upachimneydown t1_j17zok9 wrote

I've tried to scan thru the comments for it, but a layman's question:

Why didn't you make the concrete foundation at least a couple inches above the surrounding turf?

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b34r15h t1_j187tp8 wrote

Fantastic job! And the fact that you're not a professional in this area is an inspiration!

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Bronzethebro t1_j18i8nx wrote

I love your little helper. Looks like they had a blast.

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Minomol t1_j18j63e wrote

Hey OP, first of all congrats, this is an inspirational post, and most likely a post that will provide me and other a lot of help in the future.

Quick question - how is the heat insulation and retention in a shed like this? Not sure where you live, but I would be curious if this kind of shed would be "livable" with 0°C / 32°F outside temperature, with a portable (not too large) electric heater?

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GandalfTheWhey t1_j18jw9c wrote

My favorite part is that you paid the cat tax many times over and barely mentioned them at all.

Great work OP

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Tribaltech777 t1_j18nye9 wrote

Mannn incredible work. I wish I was even 1/1000th as handy as you are. This makes me wanna cry thinking how inept I am with handy/DIY work. And how little time I have for such project which is another huge factor in my life.

On that note, how do you find the time and patience for such an involved project??? Is this your full time job? Where did you learn the skills to do all this??

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Panman6_6 t1_j18rrw3 wrote

amazing work. Great craftmanship.

But shame about the colour!

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ExtensionAdvisor9064 t1_j18t3pz wrote

Incredible! Your shed is better than my house. Thanks so much for posting the detailed pictures and captions, what a great resource.

I’m an aspiring DIYer. 2 questions

(1) it looked like you did not use rafter ties or collar ties. This seems to imply all roof rigidity comes from the ridge clips and hurricane clips at top plate. Is that correct? I would be worried about that but given you were on the roof it seems strong.

(2) any strength in the gable overhang (beautiful btw) seems to come from the end-grain nailed blocking, unless it’s stiffness comes from somewhere else. Is that safe / within code? Are there other ways to do that?

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your project!

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JohnVerSteeg OP t1_j18x4uv wrote

(1) I have one solitary rafter tie in the middle of the shed right now. My intention is to build out a loft at 7.5' across the body of most of shed, and I'm hoping that the "joists" of the loft will provide some of the structure that would normally be provided by rafter ties or collar ties. So far that one board is a champ, though. I didn't feel the budge with my weight at any point.

(2) The 5/8 OSB on the roof provides a lot of strength through tension as well, it's screwed down into both the rafters and the blocking. I worked a lot while sitting and standing on the roof, and didn't feel any movement when putting weight on the eaves. I've never done anything like this before, so I'm not sure if there are better ways, but I've also seen people put the last regular rafter offset from the wall and then have the blocking out to the fly rafter cross over the wall, like this:

https://images.app.goo.gl/oJ2vw4sG1f5tKc3w5

In my head that seems like it would be stronger, especially for distributed loads like snow, but I believe that would not be an issue for an overhang this small.

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ExtensionAdvisor9064 t1_j1ar51z wrote

That all makes sense and very interesting about the fly rafter cantilever. The more you know. Appreciate your thorough answers and sharing. I hope you are an instructor of some sort for a living. You’d be great.

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point_of_you t1_j1sr7hy wrote

Enjoyed scrolling through all the photos, nicely done OP

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