phobe

My motorcycles and gear share garage space with a Kia minivan, the owner of which still believes it's the Holocaust and we must save all of our tinfoil, jars, newspapers and crappy old clothing. I'm running out of room so I was thinking about picking up a garden shed to store my toys in.

Anyone have any experience with these things? This is the biggest one Home Depot sells:

Royal Outdoor Products Premier Series - Woodbridge Storage Building - S108-01-001

Any reason I shouldn't get one of these things?

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luvtolean

The key to a shed is a good floor.

They're typically less secure than a garage, and I know more people that get stuff stolen out of their sheds than garages. Other than that, no reason if you don't plan on moving soon.

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luvtolean

See if you can store the apocolypta in the shed, and your toys in half of the garage maybe?

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phobe

That would have to be a pretty big shed. The shed would be a little less secure and have no power... course I do have my generator... and no work bench. We are building a new place which won't be done for another year and a half so it would be nice to have some space until then... then I can sell the shed or whatever.

Currently my 125 is sitting outside under a tarp.

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tigerblade

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Purpdust

What about a Storage Unit?

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seamus

What size house are you building that it's going to take a year and a half?

As long as you have a good foundation, it should work fine. It's not really just a put up and it's cool kind of thing. Storms, snowmelt, bugs, etc will invade your interior if it's not set correctly. By the time you finish setting up the foundation (wood or concrete) you'll have at least another $500-600 in it.

I don't know what your space looks like but you should be able to run power to it fairly inexpensively to run a couple lightbulbs and a small heater so you can work in it during the winter.

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sinfuldragon

When in a pinch I bough one of those cheap tin sheds big enough to fit the bike. It doesn't come with a floor but I built a nice one just big enough to set the shed on it. The bottom frame was able to be screwed to the floor to make it secured. the shed only cost me $200 and the lumber was about $40. It was the least expensive way I could find to keep my bike halfway secure and out of the weather. i didn't want to drop a grand on a shed that I might be stuck with if it didn't sell that I wouldn't need in the long run.

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soon2b954

My friend just picked up this same shed a few weeks ago, very nice piece. Be prepared to spend 3-5 hours putting it together if you have never done it before. As others have said, base is key to a long lasting shed. Concreate slab is best and should be at least 4 inches thick. I will be picking up the Augusta Carriage shed by Royal in the next couple of weeks. It comes with a floor so you can put down on a compacted crushed stone base. Check it out as Home Depot carries it. Also check the PDF on the Royal site, it explains options for bases and how to do it.

ND4SPD

Can't bring up the link for some reason so I'm not sure if it's listed in there or not but don't forget insulation for it also.

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sinfuldragon

Also test for leaks before you put anything in there.
Leaking = pissed.
Leaking after you have it packed full of your stuff that you don't want wet = irate

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CBR929RE

I built one of those 8x10 (really its like 7.5xjust under 10) metal ones a couple years ago. it was like $400 then another $80 or so for the floor frame and maybe $40 for the cable tie down kit (to anchor it to the ground in case of high winds) I had some plywood laying around that I used so I didn't have to buy that.

first I leveled off the ground and set a bunch of cinder blocks down making sure they were level. put it all together in about 5 or 6 hours with a couple friends and my dad. there are a billion screws in that damn thing. its worked good the couple years I've had it.

probably saved money for not having to rent a storage place in the winter.

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phobe

So how have the cinder blocks held up as a foundation?

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Jetbdude

get yourself a trailer

I use mine 95% of the time to store my bike.

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phobe

That's might work even better... mo' money though.

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luvtolean

At the first house I lived in, my trailer was my garage.

Good idea jetbdude, I forgot all about that.

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Jetbdude

Yeah but easy to resale, at the same price you got it for. especially if you have a good one. Try to sell that shed after 2 years.

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phobe

Of course then I'll need a bigger truck.

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gt702

Or build your floor out of treated 2x4's and plywood and bolt a shed to it (metal, plastic, or wood kit). Then either sell the completed shed or move it to the new place. Just be sure to size it to fit onto a flatbed trailer you can rent or borrow. Sort of like a "mobile home" of sheds.

I've seen a few of these for sale on Craigslist

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CBR929RE

haven't had a problem yet. I packed down the dirt where I put them. I can go out with a level and see if the floor is still level if you want.

I think I used 3 along each side, 4 front and back, and maybe 5 in the middle so 15 I think. and then a couple small stacks of bricks along the front and back rails of the floor skeleton because it only attached at the sides and didn't connect front of back.


a concrete slab would be the best but I was really poor at the time and the cinder blocks were easier. but also if you plan to remove it when you move out the slab wouldn't be a great idea.

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MisterMohawk

I just built this shed: Arrow Sheds Estator 10x9 Shed (ES109) and FREE Attic Kit ShedtownUSA ShedtownUSA and poured a concrete slab. If I didn't have access to heavy machinery to do the grading and excavate for the slab I probably would have just used cinder blocks.

As has been said, cinder blocks in your case would probably be fine as you're not going to be there long.

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KF810

Why don't you just throw out all the junk?

phobe

I try... it finds its way out of the garbage and back into the house or garage. I need to wait until she's gone for a day and take a few truckloads to the dump.

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KF810

That's when you say, "Look honey, I've been busy aaaalllll day cleaning! Look at all the room I made for your mini-van!"

Looks like a nice shed, though.

phobe

Fortunately it isn't my spouse... Unfortunately it's her insane grandmother.

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KF810

O.K., that paints a better picture!