If you are in need of some additional usable space, consider the construction of a multi-purpose shed.
The multi-purpose shed comes in many forms. Most commonly, it is erected on site and “stick built”. It’s typically used to store items out of the weather but not necessarily in climate controlled storage.
You can have a 10-foot by 12-foot shed built for you on your foundation for about $3800 by contractors working out of your local home improvement store. You can purchase a kit and build it yourself for about $2800.
Or by purchasing the plans, building supplies, and everything you need you can complete the entire project yourself for about $1000.
The first consideration is to assess your needs and develop a plan. A rule of thumb learned from a local builder pointed to a 10 by 12 barn roof style shed sized for a family of four. This was enough room for the winter stuff to be stored in the attic of the shed and the bicycles and outdoor power equipment on the bottom floor during the summer, and room for all the summer stuff put away for winter and still ample enough room for access to the snow blower and shovels during the winter.
The key to success is a set of shed plans. Be careful not to go overboard in detail and spend too much money on this step. The cost should not exceed $50. The detail on the shed plans should be sufficient for you to see the complex construction parts in a close-up view, but it is not necessary to have a large drawing showing the overall building in a scale drawing. Simplify the project in your mind; there are four walls on a floor, with a door and possible a window with a rafter roof over top.
If you have never done this type of building project, it is one of the easiest to begin with, because the consequences of making a mistake are not serious since it does not have to be airtight or livable. (Insulating is an option)
A 10 by 12 foot shed uses only 10 sheets of plywood on the walls, another 8 on the roof, about 80-two by fours, 5 pounds of framing nails, 5 pounds of roofing nails, two doors for the entrance and about 2 and ½ square of shingles depending upon the roof style. The flooring will require about 3-1/2 cubic yards of cement.
Your shed plans will of course provide you with a list of materials. Don’t forget to include the purchase of tool organizers, home sized racking and shelving and/or metal shelving units.
I took the time to find a couple of links to some shed plans available for download online for an extremely reasonable fee. The best part of purchasing these type of shed plans is that they come with a money back guarantee. I recommend that after purchasing them, you choose one of the bills of materials and take it to your local home improvement store and get prices on the materials so you know the cost in your area. Another hint: go to the home improvement stores contractor’s desk and ask them to gather the info for you. They know the prices best. And before laying out the money haggle about the price a little…at least enough to get them to throw in the delivery at no charge.
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