Finished my woodshed..recycled deck

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sportbikerider78

sportbikerider78

Minister of Fire
Jun 23, 2014
2,493
Saratoga, NY
I have been itching to build a woodshed ever since I found this site. I had dreams of a masterfully built shed..however, with 2 kids under too and on one income, I wanted to do it as big as possible and cheap as possible.

I started with 3 skids that this years pellets were delivered on. Cost $0.
I found some old cement blocks around the property. Flattend the area, but did not level the ground. This is on a slope, and I made the structure level, but not to itself. Cost $0
My friend told me he was getting a new deck and was kind enough to drive the big scraps to my house. Cost $0 (well it did cost me a beer)
I laid out the free lumber and found the best pcs. It ended up being about 15' long and 8' deep.
I ordered 10' x 3' sections of metal roofing from Home Depot. Cost $179
Needed extra 2x4x8's and 2x4x10's for metal roofing support. $80
Special star pattern deck screws that can be installed with my impact (best investment ever) $20

This is literally the first structure I have every build myself (no plans and almost no idea what I'm doing) and my intention was to do it on the cheap..purely functional, not pretty, but blend into the landscape as best as possible. So be gentle. :)

20141116_162919.jpg 20141116_163003.jpg 20141116_163302.jpg
 
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I hope your roof takes the snow load. Looks to be a little under built. Is it just sitting on the ground? Any footings? If you get high winds it could turn into an airplane wing and fly, fly fly.
 
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Its going to be full of wood that things not going anywhere... I guess the roof might rip off and fly away if its not secure enough. Slope looks good to shed snow IMO but you better make sure of that.

Deffinetly blends in that thing looks like its been there 50 years. For the cost it can't be beat.
 
The footings could def use some work. I'll take a look at that. I do need to secure it better or add weight to it.

Although, we get lots of wind, this particular spot doesn't get too much. The wind comes down the hill and the extended treeline breaks a lot of the force.

At such an angle, i'm not expecting much snow build up. If it does build, I can always slide some more 2x4x8's under.
 
I bet the snow slides right off at that angle. You can't beat the price.

The thing that stinks about metal roofs (Words from my grandpa) is that "They are either all on or all off!" I bring this up because of how steep that angle is with an exposed bottom.
 
Might want to double up the 2x4 uprights on the four corners, if nothing else some corner braces on the front to stop the front from twisting in a squall.
 
It looks extremely weak and flimsy. It doesn't appear to be secured to the ground, it looks like the wood is on pallets and the frame just holds the roof. I would not have much faith in it standing through sustained 30+ MPH winds. It looks like the wind would just fold it up. Honestly I think you would be just as well served stacking the wood on the pallets and lay the metal roofing over the top of the stacks with some tie downs to secure it.
 
I'm a lot happier with an umbrella when it rains, so you're doing the right thing. And this is V1.0, so learning is the entire point. I used to like fancy expensive umbrellas, but I'm perfectly happy using the ones that are almost disposable and getting a new one every year or two. There are upsides to each school of thought. The great thing is that if you uncover a flaw in the design, it didn't cost an arm and leg.
 
Soundchasm said:
I'm a lot happier with an umbrella when it rains, so you're doing the right thing. And this is V1.0, so learning is the entire point. I used to like fancy expensive umbrellas, but I'm perfectly happy using the ones that are almost disposable and getting a new one every year or two. There are upsides to each school of thought. The great thing is that if you uncover a flaw in the design, it didn't cost an arm and leg.
Click to expand...
Unless it falls on somebody then it could.
 
Good start but you need some more structural support. The current build will be stressed because of the open front and steep angle roof. If you could add a front side roof with supports you could decrease the likelihood of being blown over.
 
Well your never going to learn if you don't try. You will figure out what parts to do better next time after you figure out the problems with this one. In the future, head here first. Tell us what kinda budget you got and pick the advice that suits you. That's the idea of most forums, plus most of us have made similar mistakes in the past. I hope it holds up for you and you prove everyone wrong, lol.
 
Add some 2 ft long "feet" to each post: your wood stacks will add the weight necessary to hold the thing down. As long as you never run ALL THE WAY out of wood, you're good! Experience is the best teacher, looks good.
 
Update about a month later.

We have had 3 snow falls,,,one totaling 8" of powder and many smaller 2" wet snow falls. 40-50mph gusts many nights in a row and she is holding strong. Now, I don't think the shed actually saw the gale force of those because the shed is in the right location to avoid getting all that force.

So far so good. She stands strong.

The moral of the story....any shed is better than no shed. :)
 
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Looks good to me and the price is right. I plan on taking a similar approach... would be nice to have a fancy 'forever' shed one day but if I can cobble something together for free in the meantime, why not...
 
jeffesonm said:
Looks good to me and the price is right. I plan on taking a similar approach... would be nice to have a fancy 'forever' shed one day but if I can cobble something together for free in the meantime, why not...
Click to expand...

The point is that, doing it right and sturdy doesn't cost any more money. You can still use recycled materials.
 
Needs a pic update overflowing with firewood. :)
 
sportbikerider78 said:
No doubt...other things have taken some priority this year. Still have a foot of snow on the ground as well.
Click to expand...
As long as it works, you could always beef it up if you had too but if it help up through this winter you're probably all set.
 
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