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/diy/ - Do It Yourself


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2894473 No.2894473 [Reply] [Original]

I want to get a shed in my yard to use as an office since my house is pretty small but I have a ton of land.

Now I am wondering if buying materials and building it myself would actually be cheaper than prefabs.

Obviously there is no upper limit to how expensive and intricate either can be but I'd like to keep it under 8k. The only thing I really care about is having enough room for a desk and for it to be waterproof. Windows would be nice too.

I am a construction worker and have worked on pretty much every part of house building but I'd be doing most of it alone.

I just feel like by the time I buy all the material for a small shed I'll be in the range of 10k anyways since I don't have the ability to bulk buy from cheap sellers like prefab makers.

>pic rel a shed from home depot for 4k that I quite like

>> No.2894474

>>2894473
The pre built will be cheaper the DIY can be built as high quality as you want and built exactly how you want.

>> No.2894489

prefab
I would diy the foundation, lots of insulation. Insulation extending past the perimeter like a dg moat with foam under it. Temperature stability is tough in a small building, so your foundation is the major thermal mass get it away from the dirt, dirt is going to be below 60 fighting that is not easy. Bigger it is the less swing through the seasons more comfortable your building will be, might want to put pipes in it for running/expanding electrical. under floor heating is close to the surface to max transfer but if you use a passive system like solar pool heater you can bury it. a septic system might be a bridge too far.
if you have electricity you want fire protection. if you have lithium you want fire protection. water on the south wall will be warmed by the sun.

>> No.2894509

>>2894489
jesus dude just build the spank shack and put on a fuckin sweater

>> No.2894529

>>2894509
could you make a sweater?

>> No.2894543

>>2894474
I thought so. Not sure how important quality would be for the project. I think as long as I can leave things in there without it being wet it'd be fine. I live in the south so we don't get cold winters at all. Hot summers are an issue but I'd invest in a good window unit.

>>2894489
Foundation is definitely something I want to invest in. Maybe placing it off the ground by a foot or two since we do get floods occasionally. I wouldn't place it too far from my house in order to have an easy time connecting it to the electricity. I also have an outdoor catio that connects to the main house through a cat-bridge. I'd like to connect it to the shed as well so my cats aren't alone while I work.

Good to know I am not crazy about prefab being cheaper. I'd also just prefer not to diy too much of the project.

>>2894529
I'm good at sewing but no good at knitting. Maybe I could make a sweater.

>> No.2894558

>>2894543
Why do americans build on floodplanes?

>> No.2894568

>>2894473
Your main consideration should be time - you must enjoy building enough that you will be okay with dedicating most of your free time for a year on this project. Many would get burnt out doing this while also working construction.

>> No.2894609

>>2894558
Low cost and people like being near water. The real issue is frequency and defendability. If all you need to do is build up some berms and once every other decade put out a few layers of sandbags, it could be worth it.

>> No.2894625

>>2894558
>Why do americans build on floodplanes?
Every country ever does.
it's called "Port cities"
Tokyo used to be like fucking venice.

>> No.2894631

>>2894473
>no upper limit
>under 8k
What?
>>2894558
Because this is where all my homies are at.
It's no big deal, I have my house 6' off the ground and it stays dry.

>> No.2894641

>>2894558
First of all, not every area that can flood is a floodplain.
Second, in areas with very flat topography the floodplain areas may be the last places to experience severe and lasting flooding since they're the only areas with a river or stream or bayou to let the water flow away, and whete there's any pitch to direct surface water there quickly.

Lastly, Americans aren't the only people to have established population centers along rivers that occasionally flood; rivers were the original transportation corridors that served the same purpose as as highways and rail lines before those existed. In areas with sub-tropical and tropical climates they are often still very important since traveling away from them means dealing with nearly impenetrable jungle growth, swamps, etc. and the very real chance of getting cut off by flooding.

>> No.2894665

If a pre built is cheaper its cuz its built like shit

I built an 8x8 playhouse for my neighbors, undercutting everyone was pretty easy

It will be different and slower if you havent built from sitework to finish before. Theres a lot of steps, even for cuck sheds

>> No.2895084

>>2894558
I'm not on a floodplane but we do get strong storms. It isn't a yearly occurance to get flooded but it did happen to me once in the 6 years of living here and it was a pain to try and safe everything my mom has stored in the garage. If I'm going to store electronics and other weather sensitive things in the shed I don't want to have to worry about every storm.

>>2894568
That's the thing. I would be willing to put in the time IF it saved a lot of cash but I just don't think I can save on laborcost and material to make up for the time spent.

>>2894631
>What
I meant that I know there are prefab sheds that can cost me 50k and I could stack out any diy shed to cost me the same but that I have been looking in the range of 5-8k sheds and I'd be happy with them.

>>2894665
>It will be different and slower if you havent built from sitework to finish before. Theres a lot of steps, even for cuck sheds
Fair point. I have worked on every step of the building process but never in one go. I also have no experience with actually planning a shed. I would have looked into finding a plan online and working off of that.

>> No.2895085

>>2894473
a 200sf tuff shed with 2 sun windows, and the wider door cost me $7000 in 2022, it was a 2 month wait, and they built it on site in 3.5 hours.

>> No.2895086

>>2895085
Tuff shed is one of the brands I have been looking into. Are you happy with the product? What have you been using it for?

>> No.2895186
File: 1.56 MB, 4000x2250, Shed2.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2895186

>>2895086
>Are you happy with the product?
yes
>What have you been using it for?
see pic

>> No.2895198
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2895198

>>2894473
I built picrel last summer, almost got it done before the first heavy snow, but didn't want to mess with the vinyl siding in the cold. I want to say I spent less than 7k including the siding that is yet to be install, but not including any tools I bought(I don't include tools in costs for projects unless they are single use). Exterior footprint is 16x10 and interior is 12x10. Probably would have saved 2k if I went with a shingle roof and used wood panels for siding instead of vinyl, and the roll up door was about $500, which could have easily been a simple swing style door

>> No.2895199

>>2895198
why did you give up interior space for a retarded little porch?

>> No.2895201
File: 749 KB, 1284x1428, 2.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2895201

>>2895199
for the
>a e s t h e t i c s

>> No.2895209
File: 1.68 MB, 3072x2304, DSCF2328.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2895209

I built this 10x16 last summer it was about 5k. But i used a lot of simpson strong ties, spax construction bolts and truss screws. It's built with 16" centers and 3/4" treated plywood floor and architectural shingles.

>> No.2895211
File: 1.66 MB, 3072x2304, DSCF2081.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2895211

>>2895209

It's not insulated though

>> No.2895212
File: 1.57 MB, 3072x2304, Rock 1 (1).jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2895212

>>2895211

I also leveled the ground and put a 6" of CA-6 road pack gravel down so it don't sink in the mud.

>> No.2895423

>>2895198
That looks really cool, it's pretty much my dream shed with the loft and porch.

Did you get the plan from somewhere or was it a kit?

How much time did you spend on it approximately?

>>2895209
Also a great built. How weather resistant have you found it to be?

>> No.2895424

>>2895199
why are you so insecure?

>> No.2895425
File: 1.69 MB, 3072x2304, DSCF2047.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2895425

>>2895423
>Also a great built. How weather resistant have you found it to be?

I built it to be well ventilated since my old shed sank into the mud and rotted. It has soffit and ridge vents and i probably over ventilated it for the hot months.

I have been in it quit a bit this winter with a kerosene heater but i plugged off the ridge and soffit vents to try to retain heat better. If it;s in the 40's the kerosene heater can get it about 60*. But if it's a very sunny day with sun coming though the windows it can get it up to 60* without the heater on. If it's colder than 40 i usually don't bother trying to work in it.

>> No.2895428
File: 1.63 MB, 3072x2304, DSCF2092.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2895428

>>2895425

I used 7 foot wall studs. It also has a loft on both ends to store things. If you were to put a drop ceiling in it for an attic and insulate it, i think i could live in it.