Shed Plans

[MillWeld]

I am helping build a 12 x 12 studio/shed for a friend. Does anyone know of a source of free plans for such?

 

[BeezFun]

You'll find lots if you search .gov and .edu sites for places like extension offices and ag departments. Here's some I've gone to. Some are scams to get you looking, then you find out you have to pay a lot to get the rest of the plans. But it's worth digging around.

Building Plans — NDSU
Free Plans and Materials
Free Outbuilding Plans

 

[flusher]

I am helping build a 12 x 12 studio/shed for a friend. Does anyone know of a source of free plans for such?

These plans aren't expensive--$15-25. I built this 10x12 ft saltbox storage shed from store bought plans after looking for decent free plans unsuccessfully.

 

[GLyford]

I am helping build a 12 x 12 studio/shed for a friend. Does anyone know of a source of free plans for such?

What do you want for a foundation and floor?
- Poles, with gravel or slab floor
- Beams on sonotubes or blocks, with a wood floor on the beams
- Floating Slab (slab-on-grade)
- Poured footer and stacked block, with either a wood or slab floor.
These all have advantages and disadvantages for ease of building, durability, and cost.

Is this going to be insulated and finished on the inside?
If so, it's really hard to beat stick framed for cost...though if you're in a termite-prone area, you might have to switch to pressure treat or steel studs.
If not, then pole-building style is probably easier.

What is their preference for siding?
- Barn steel
- T1-11 Plywood
- Shakes/clapboards (cedar? vinyl?)
- Board-and-batten
There are trade-offs to all of these, too.

What do they want for a roof?
- Barn steel
- Asphalt shingles
Do they want a simple gable roof? With or without overhangs on the ends or eaves? How about a 4-sided hip roof? How steep? With fancy details like dormer windows, turrets, gingerbread and whatnot? (I've seen sheds like this done up like a fancy victorian dollhouse...to hold chickens!)

Do they want it all "new", or can they live with a bunch of reclaimed materials and the structure adjusted to fit?

So the real question here is, are they particular about function and appearance, or is this strictly a bottom-dollar structure?

I bet if you nail down a bunch of these particulars and research a little how each of these techniques are done, you'll be 3/4 of the way to a set of plans. A few questions about how much floor and roof beams you need where and you're the rest of the way there, and you can "crib" a lot of that from the other free ".edu" plans out there on the various cooperative extension websites as mentioned.

Give us a few guidelines of what you need and we can help talk you through this...

 

[2manyrocks]

There are several free articles with plans at Family Handyman.

Search | The Family Handyman

 

[beeforty]

Here is a link to plans that are used by a non-profit down in Mexico: http://www.clubrust.com/plans/casita_plan.pdf
It's only 10 x 12 but you could add on easily.

 

[MillWeld]

Thanks, This is going to be a studio/shed for artistic use on part of the owner so lighting is important. Some of the designs in the links will be useful for this. The owner will finish the interior - we friends will do the structural work.

 

[cowpatty]

I 2nd glyford's post. Those are all great questions to give us an idea how to save you some money. Answer those and we'll be glad to help you out

 

[Dirk Lately]

What do you want for a foundation and floor?
- Poles, with gravel or slab floor
- Beams on sonotubes or blocks, with a wood floor on the beams
- Floating Slab (slab-on-grade)
- Poured footer and stacked block, with either a wood or slab floor.
These all have advantages and disadvantages for ease of building, durability, and cost.

I, too, am building sheds (12' x 16' in my case) and wonder about this. I was planning to put the 2x8 floor joists directly on prefab blocks. I don't expect I'll ever need to skid the thing around, so I don't need the whole thing sitting on beams.

Also, I'm building on a gentle slope, so I'll need to prop up one side, I was just going to use 4x4 or 4x6 PT between the blocks and the joists.

Will this work?

Last time I built a shed, I used prefab concrete blocks. Those worked beautifully, but I can't find them now. Should I just use flat blocks?

 

[cowpatty]

Dirk you would be best building on say two skids on the 12' side with 1' overhanging the skids. You should use 4x6's or 6x6's for the skids. That leaves you an adequate 10' span for your 2x8 joists. You would need three or four footings per skid. Preferably four. Sure beats a footing or block for every joist. Make sure to toenail every joist to the skids or use hurricane ties.

Also you can pour footings with post anchors to set your skids on. This will tie the shed to the foundation.