I'm debating what to do my backyard shed, thought I'd get some more opinions.

It's a 12'x12' OD wood shed, on a hill. It's got cement block support at the corners, but they've shifted over the years. It's certainly still stable, though. And there's a tree almost right next to it to stop it coming down the hill if it were to ever go that far. On the other side, there's a bunch of wood and junk and water has rotted the exterior plywood, but not through.

The interior was done by an idiot. Or, at least the ceiling. 1/4 ply, put up seemingly without a plan. Someone had the genius idea to put in a carpet, which is seriously nasty. There's water damage or discoloration on one corner inside, which matches the exterior damage. It's got one window, not in the greatest of shape, but it works. There's a decent shape ramp up to the doors, which are in really poor shape and are warped. There is one exterior and one interior set of lights, and one outlet. None work. I get the distinct feeling that it was connected to the house in some fashion some time ago, but hasn't been in awhile. The shed is the required setback from the back fence, and the roof is in really good shape. As is the 'attic' structure.

So, I face a decision: gut inside and out, leaving the framing and roof intact, and start over, or completely tear down and rebuild.

Gutting is obviously going to be simpler and cheaper. I could work in phases - for example, do the walls one weekend, the ceiling the next, etc. Aside from moving stuff in an out of the way, I wouldn't need to store anything anywhere else. I also wouldn't need any permits.

If I gut, this would be my plan (feel free to suggest alternatives):

• replace walls and ceiling with 7/16 OSB.
• replace floor with 3/4 ply
• try to stabilize the two corner concrete blocks
• replace wiring and lights with updated units
• replace the one outlet and add two more. One (first in line) would be GFCI, making the other two likewise
• replace insulation attached to roof, and in walls
• replace outer walls, with what I do not know
• replace plywood doors with 1x6 and 1x4 treated lumber
• replace window, add roof vent
• clear out wood waste and add a french drain on the problem side (same time as exterior refit)

Everything on that list would be done in pretty much that order (except for the doors - either #1 or #2 on the list) over the course of several months as funds allow. All work would be done by myself and possibly my BIL, so no real labor costs would be involved. I figure I could do it for under $700.

The other way to go is to start over. If I do that, I might as well increase the size to 12x16, with a lean-to and a compressor wing. Problem with that is I'd definitely need a permit. I'd also have to increase the setback 5 feet, which I'm not sure is possible with the terrain (5ft is setback up to 144 sqft, which I'm at). I think I'd also be looking at around $750-1250 more to do. It would also involve removing at least one tree.

On the positive side would be the following:

• bigger space - I currently share my tool and work area with junk
• I'd incorporate rafters for more storage
• room for a compressor
• room to put garden stuff outside the work area
• could add more natural light

Neither of these things contain the cost of having electrical run. I'd obviously be able to get that done sooner if I don't sink the money into building one from scratch. We're pretty much at the top of the range for this neighborhood too, so I wouldn't see any of this as equity.

I'd wait and maybe do something later when more funds would allow, but I believe the propensity of the water damage is allowing mold or mildew to form on my tool bags, which can't be healthy to breathe. I should be able to correct this even with just a gut.

So...what say you?

 

I know the thread is pretty to look at, but you can touch it too.

 

Gut it for a fairly low price, see if you are happy with it. If not then next season you build ground up. 12x12 is big, mine is 8x12 and I store nost of my outdoor equipment in it. I built shelves and have hang straps from the rafters.

 

Pictures are easier on the eyes than a long post

 

True. It's not much to look at though.

 

i would tear it down and buy one of these kits...

http://www.jamaicacottageshop.com/

the money and time you will spend piecing it together and may not turn out right, you can buy the kit that has all the cuts and holes and hardware included...and it will look badass... if you catch them on certain sales, you can get the kits for very cheap with free delivery...

my friend build his shed this way and it came out great...

 

Geez. By the time I saved up for that, we'll have moved.

Shed, or a 240SX?

 

awesome.. get the 240 then...

 

Some pictures, finally:









Got in there and really organized all the junk into about 1/4 of the total space. A huge improvement, room to work now.

 

If it were me, I'd start on the outside and work my way in.

First off, I'd get the supports squared away. Make sure its flat and level and the corners aren't going to shift. Shifting leads to gaps which allow moisture and critters in.

If you're planning on replacing the outside walls, I'd go with concrete board. You can get it dyed in any color so you'll never have to paint it and it lasts a lot longer than T1-11 or any other wood siding.

From there, tear out the inside walls. And for the love of God, get rid of the carpet. If you're water tight it probably won't matter too much what you go back with. Do your electrical first though. Its a lot easier to run your wires and install your electrical boxes while everything's exposed. You can worry about insulation after the electrical's in and everything works. Do you know yet where your source is? Is there a cable already run, or are you going to have to run one yourself?

When you get that far, you can decide what you want to do with the ramp. You could easily do wood or metal. Either way, I'd just replace the old one all together. If its already warped, there probably isn't any saving it.

 

The carpet is going to be gone, at the same time we move everything out to do the interior. It's nasty. I'm going to get rid of the problem (the area of wood and debris) first, and then I'll be going to town.

Some pictures after the cleanup (the floor, aside from the corner of stacked stuff, is pretty much clear):

Tower O' Crap (left rear)


Shelves - yet to be organized (left front)


Detailing/automotive cabinet w/ table and clamp rack (right rear)


Router table and power tool storage (right front)

 

i wish i had a shed that big, it would really free up the space of all my crap in the garage...

 

That's a huge shed.

I would see what kind of condition the frame is. If it's good, then just replace the outer siding and plywood.

 

That's the plan, hopefully.

 

 

What are we from?

 

We need a shed, too. I dread the cost. Previous owners had no shed, kept everything in the garage since they only had one car.

 

The sharp corners on the drawer fronts of the router table.

Cochese, break out that router and break those corners!

 

Heh. I actually like them like that. But I do need to rout a pull into the bottoms of each.

 

I got the Rubbermaid Big Max from Home Depot when it was on sale for $299. 7X7.

 

That seems like a good value. Unfortunately, we're going to need something pretty big (to fit a tractor with a 48 inch deck plus other tools), and the man wants wood. Meh, whatever.

 

Rubbermaid also has a 3ft extention you can add onto it for another $200 I think. 7X10 for $500 is a great value. Just be sure the base is solidly built.

 

A sharp edge like that will chip easier and (with hardwood especially) can cause cuts.

 

I have to worry about refining my sliders first.

 

the size of the shed seems fine, it depends on what you're planning on adding to the collection, a little cleaning would open the space up. One thing that I would probably suggest is maybe pouring a conc pad and build a new shed on top of that. this is of course if you're not planning on moving it anytime soon.

 

Decided that experimentation with a chamfer bit, making a face for my clamp and trying out my new D/C separator could all be done at the same time. Success on all fronts.

 

What did you do with that shop vac setup? I have the same one on the right.. the one on the left looks like a home depot bucket with the bucket top shop vac?

 

That's a separator for dust collection. Dust-laden air comes into the separator, only air and the lightest dust goes to the shop vac.

 

It works fantastic, actually. Very little dust went to the vacuum when I was playing around yesterday.

When I make the doors for my pantry (have I posted that yet?) I'll have to see what a heavier load does.

That face was a quick and dirty thing, I'm actually not too happy with the bottom of it. That piece of birch was a whole $.75, and I have at least one more.

 

Sneak peak of what I'm working on now...




Also did chamfer the drawers while I had the bit in the table.

 

Going to do a second spring cleaning this weekend, get some other stuff out of there. May try to finally get that carpet out, too.

Need some ideas to maximize my space for my tools, if you have any.

 

 

Was there a tornado in Kennesaw last night?

 

Cochese shoulda bought a DR Chipper for that mess.

 

Yup. Named Cochese.

Got ambitious yesterday and ripped all the carpet out. I've never been known to do any sort of remodeling or rearranging with any sort of plan or prep. So I started up front, tore some out, and moved stuff around to get the rest of it. Floor is in really good shape, actually, aside from one spot where it looks like it melted. :wtf: There was so much dust and junk in the carpet that I probably gave myself consumption.

Right inside the door is about 10 40g trash bags with stuff to go to the curb tomorrow. The benches and router table got moved to the back wall, as per my master plan. I'm not honestly sure if it will be an improvement, but I have to try it.

Built a shelf over the lawn mower motor and put my golf stuff on it. Before I rearranged everything and got the carpet out (and made a huge mess in the process), it made a enormous difference in my floor space. Planning on making a taller shelf over the folded handle so I can put a couple of plastic tubs.

The final layout of where all the storage junk will go will take a bit of work, but I should have a good idea of what will go where this weekend.

 

Made some major progress this week, despite the heat.



Getting there. Tables where I want them.



New left rear corner. Apparently, they built this thing with horizontal studs. Good lord. Had to engineer up a bypass. Incorporated a bit of storage until I get my next shop project done.



The right rear. Keeping the old clamp rack for now. You can make out the new saw.



The left front. That's my golf stuff sitting on a shelf I made on top of the lawn mower. Huge space saver, and I'm making another shelf in front of that for storage.



The right front. Still needs a bit of work, but you can see the line of thinking. Hmm...need to get some new shelves for my detailing cabinet.



There we go. Much better.



Not bad for the stock Chinese blade. Smooth as a baby's bottom.



There she is, the new addition. Now I have enough room to use it inside if I absolutely had to.



And the miter saw station, it's done minus a little bit of finish work.

Thanks for looking.

 

Good progress!

 

id go the way of re-setting the foundation.
Get those round tubes at home depot and open a hole down 4 feet and pour your concrete into the tube and u got urself a nice f0oundation to start with.

 

I bought a Rubbermaid 7X7 Big Max plastic storage shed about two months ago, and only recently have I finished the construction of it and the base.

I used 16"X16"X4" thick paver stones laid upon a leveled sand base. That took some time to make in this Florida heat, not to mention laying the paver stones.

The construction of the storage shed was easy for two people, and it took about two hours with power tools. I like this thing!

 

Not bad. I'm currently debating adding on. I could use another four feet, but I don't know what the cost of that would be.