Remodeling/Expanding an Aging Shed

[Participant]

This past year I bought a reasonably sized house with very little storage, so I'm looking for  the most cost effective way of making space to store my wife and I's bikes, grill, lawnmower etc.

In the backyard is an small, simple shed. It's at least a few years old and in need of some exterior wok, but structurally sound. I'm thinking my best bet is to drag the shed into a different spot in the yard, blow out one of the walls, and build an addition on it.

Dimensions:
6' x 8' with a roof sloping from about 8' down to about 7'6"
It's on blocks several inches off of the ground. No cement.


My tentative plan is to tear down one of the 8' walls and then build an 8' x 8' addition. It would be on the back of the existing shed, so I would continue the existing slope of the roof down to about 7'.

Anyone here with building/shed experience want to weigh in on whether I'm making the right choice here? Is there some better storage option other than a shed? Would I be better off building a new shed from scratch? If so, anyone have any links to good, simple designs? My problem is that all of the DIY guides I find online are more elaborate than I want or need.

Thanks!

[deborah]

I'm wondering whether you could do this as a two stage process. Blow out the wall of the shed, and put two, three or whatever doors on that side (making it like a cupboard). This means the whole of the shed space is easily reachable, and you can see if it works for you without much cost and effort (you can usually get very cheap or no cost doors second hand). Then do the rest once you have a proof of concept. It might make it harder to drag later, but you could put it into position as part of the first stage and then remove the wall.

[Participant]

When you say add doors on the side,do you mean just leave it as the current size? Or are you suggesting building it out a small amount making basically a large but shallow cabinet?
Thanks!

[deborah]

When you say add doors on the side,do you mean just leave it as the current size?

Yes - but not having seen the shed I was just offering a general suggestion, that would mean that you could still do the remainder of the work easily, and had minimal cost.

[lakemom]

That should work but you may try pricing out premade sheds in the size you need compared to the materials/time to build an expansion.  Another thing to check is what square footage is allowed in your town/neighborhood.  Some have pretty restrictive covenants.  Also keep in mind that if you are building off a prefab that often the lumber is not standard dimensions.  To save costs and make a cheaper product the studs may be smaller than standard as will the sheeting.  But you won't know until you get out there and measure it.

[The Architect]

That should work but you may try pricing out premade sheds in the size you need compared to the materials/time to build an expansion.  Another thing to check is what square footage is allowed in your town/neighborhood.

Generally, 200 sq.ft. is the max an un-permitted structure can be. I think that's an IBC thing, and most jurisdictions in the US use the IBC. Check with your city/county planner's office (they should have it listed on a website somewhere).

[Greg]

That should work but you may try pricing out premade sheds in the size you need compared to the materials/time to build an expansion.  Another thing to check is what square footage is allowed in your town/neighborhood.

Generally, 200 sq.ft. is the max an un-permitted structure can be. I think that's an IBC thing, and most jurisdictions in the US use the IBC. Check with your city/county planner's office (they should have it listed on a website somewhere).

This is true, but many places look the other way for sheds and similar buildings on pier blocks.  If it is an issue, you may be able to get a special permit for the shed.  I find it's helpful to ask questions first... in my City and County they typically try to figure out a way to help me do what I'm trying to do with as little red tape as possible.

[GoldenStache]

I have a 220 sqft  shed *2 (double decker) that the previous owners built to have his MIL move into.  Wife didn't agree so they got a divorce and sold the house (my luck).

If / when I get a new house I will build a similar shed but will pour concrete instead of having an elevated plywood floor.  Unless your current shed is amazing, knock it down and build it correctly the size you want/need.  You can probably reuse 90% of the old shed.  You will be soooo much happier in the long run.  When I pour the concrete I will put in pex tubing and create a simple solar heat source for it.  It will not be warm enough to dance around naked, but warm enough that I won't have to worry about using power tools with numb fingers.   

[paddedhat]

If / when I get a new house I will build a similar shed but will pour concrete instead of having an elevated plywood floor.   

You might tread carefully on this one. Many jurisdictions issue permits and calculate R.E taxes bases on structures with concrete floors being permanent, and those with wood being temporary or portable.