Building a Shed for me and my Lady need advice

[jstark47]

We have a 10 x 16 shed on our property. In winter, there are four motorcycles stored in there as well as a rototiller and a brush shredder. Doors are important. When the shed was new, it only had a side door. The next year we added double doors at the end, which greatly increased flexibility. The bikes are parked three across at the end by the door, and one forward. The lightest bike is parked in the middle of the three - I move that one out, then I can get any of the others out.

We also invested in a fair sized paved area outside the end with the double doors, which gives me a secure place to park a bike when moving them around.

[ibswooft]

Just a thought; front and rear entrance doors. Bring bikes in one door, bring mowers and yard utensils in the other. Might save some scratches.

[pchast]

3000 sounds high. Do a drawing and price the lumber then charge for your time. It will cost more.
I believe my dad paid 2400 for one last year, if that will help.

[Brackstone]

JStark and IB thanks for the ideas! The dual doors are a great idea!

pchast: I know my time will work out to costing me more, but when you don't have the money up front anyway its doing it yourself or nothing. I have to load up a 20 yard dumpster with debris from sheds in the back yard the owner left behind because I don't have the money to pay someone else to do it.

[Flesher]

A couple of years ago I built a 10x10 shed, standing on decking blocks, 2x4 construction 16" centers, including roof trusses, plywood roof and shingled, two windows, double door, 2"x8" decking 12" centers for base, plywood floor, covered the exterior with Smart Panel, and trimmed it out with Pine. No plans just designed it myself and did some research on how to build a roof structure. cost me $1100 CDN and about four weeks time.

I worked on it alone part time and weekends (I'm slow and picky though, I'm sure it can be done faster, my neighbours all laughed at me, saying they could buy a kit and do it in a day - those kits are crappy IMO). Now I've moved to a new house I get to do it all over again, I have to admit I really don't want to, shingling was a b*tch. If I can find a picture I'll post it ...

[ibswooft]

Keep in mind the length of your bike when taking measurements. might be suprised how long some are.

[Brackstone]

A couple of years ago I built a 10x10 shed, standing on decking blocks, 2x4 construction 16" centers, including roof trusses, plywood roof and shingled, two windows, double door, 2"x8" decking 12" centers for base, plywood floor, covered the exterior with Smart Panel, and trimmed it out with Pine. No plans just designed it myself and did some research on how to build a roof structure. cost me $1100 CDN and about four weeks time.

I worked on it alone part time and weekends (I'm slow and picky though, I'm sure it can be done faster, my neighbours all laughed at me, saying they could buy a kit and do it in a day - those kits are crappy IMO). Now I've moved to a new house I get to do it all over again, I have to admit I really don't want to, shingling was a b*tch. If I can find a picture I'll post it ...

Hey Flesher,

I appreciate the advice. Thankfully I won't be doing it on my own. If I was doing it on my own it would probably be a disgrace to shed builders everywhere

I'm the same way you are, while I don't really look forward to doing things like this, I'm very particular, so I want to do it on my own if I can. I agree on the kits too I don't really like that idea personally. I was upset at how much Home Cheapo and other such stores were charging for their plastic sheds. I was hoping to be able to put up something like that temporarily but with the investment you have to make in those it's just not worth it.

[society909]

About 7 years ago I was shopping for a shed to make more room in my garage. I wanted the most storage space I could get for the best price. I also wanted something that would last for years and be very secure. After shopping everywhere in town and getting sticker shock over and over I was seeing the larger ones well over $3000. I stumbled on a place that was selling shipping containers. These containers fit on the back of a simi truck trains ships. Mine is 8 foot wide and 40 foot long larger than the biggest storage sheds they have double doors on the back of them. They are very secure and they will last probably 50-100 years. Mine was bought and delivered for a little less than $2000 a lot cheeper than the largest storage shed. If I ever move I will put all of my furniture in it and have it moved to the new place. Of course I wouldn't put a bed or use it hang out in it it dose get Hot in there in the summer but it is great for storage the floor is strong enough for anything I can put in there. I have heard of someone who put a few of them together and built a house out of them but I don't know if I would do something like that.

[sapaul]

I keep 2 bikes in a 4 x 3 M shed.

Floor bearers are on bricks on level ground. Floor is pine flooring tongue and groove, walls are also tongue and groove pine but thinner. Roof is corrugated sheeting. I made two standard doors and hung them opposite hinges so they swing open from the middle for a nice wide opening. I also put latches on these so when I open the doors they latch back.