Generator shed

[fatjay]

Finally made some serious progress on the shed for the generator. A couple weeks back I poured the pad, but the weather wasn't cooperating. Finally some nice weather. I put cinder blocks around and glued them down using landscape rock caulk stuff and let it set for a couple days. This weekend was when the real progress was made.

The chimney for my fireplace and furnace protrudes out about 2', so I just extended that out for the generator shed. I poured a 5'x'6 concrete pad with 24" footers using about 100 bags of 60lb quick crete. I used the harbor freight concrete mixer. Poured 1gal of water to 1 bag of concrete, and was an ideal mix.

I put 2x4's around the bottom, then anchored them in with concrete anchors. This stuck them to the block very well. I used the same concrete anchors to anchor the frame to the house, and for the rafters for the roof.

I still need to put one wall up, ran out of day light. The door will be a garage door, but only 3' wide and 6' tall. The hardware is $80 then I'll make my door panels out of plywood. I don't want something that opens out because snow piles up a few feet, and I don't want something that opens in because it'll hit the generator.

The goal is to ultimately stucco to match the house so it looks like a permanent part of the house.

Here's a few pictures of the progress so far.

 

[hr3]

What are you putting in for a generator???,, are you planning on putting in some power ventilation ??

 

[dragoneggs]

Yikes, that's a lot of sacks of cement. Sounds like work! Are you planning to wire into house system? Mechanical interlock at service panel or?

 

[coldsteelva]

I'm no professional builder, but shouldn't there be some flashing where the roofline meets the chimney? Are you planning on installing some venting/fans or are you going to plumb intake and exhaust?

 

[fried1765]

Finally made some serious progress on the shed for the generator. A couple weeks back I poured the pad, but the weather wasn't cooperating. Finally some nice weather. I put cinder blocks around and glued them down using landscape rock caulk stuff and let it set for a couple days. This weekend was when the real progress was made.

The chimney for my fireplace and furnace protrudes out about 2', so I just extended that out for the generator shed. I poured a 5'x'6 concrete pad with 24" footers using about 100 bags of 60lb quick crete. I used the harbor freight concrete mixer. Poured 1gal of water to 1 bag of concrete, and was an ideal mix.

I put 2x4's around the bottom, then anchored them in with concrete anchors. This stuck them to the block very well. I used the same concrete anchors to anchor the frame to the house, and for the rafters for the roof.

I still need to put one wall up, ran out of day light. The door will be a garage door, but only 3' wide and 6' tall. The hardware is $80 then I'll make my door panels out of plywood. I don't want something that opens out because snow piles up a few feet, and I don't want something that opens in because it'll hit the generator.

The goal is to ultimately stucco to match the house so it looks like a permanent part of the house.

Here's a few pictures of the progress so far.

No roof to wall flashing?
No "birds mouth" on the little 2x4 rafters?

 

[fatjay]

There will be an exhaust on the one side with a fan plugged into the generator, if the generator is on, it's blowing. The generator will be hooked up to an exhaust that is piped up to the roof. One guy told me to use a down spout, but I'm not sure that'll work.

The roof isn't done yet, still need to put paper, shingles, and flashing. Was running on borrowed daylight at that point. No bird cuts, I could never get them right, so I used some braces similar to this: Simpson Strong-Tie H1Z Z-MAX Galvanized 18-Gauge Hurricane Tie-H1Z - The Home Depot

 

[fatjay]

Inside transfer switch will go to 6-3 wire out the wall and into the generator shed, which will have an outlet. If i want to change generators, plugs, etc, it'll be easier.

This is the gen: Amazon.com : Durostar DS1E, 8 Running Watts/1 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Generator : Duromax Generators : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[dragoneggs]

Bird block is not necessary but some kind of forced cross ventilation for fresh air sure is... and flashing too if you want it semi dry. Is there a slight slope to the entry way?

 

[EddieWalker]

Interesting thread. I'm not very knowledgeable about generators, so I'll be interested to see how you finish this off.

Are you buying a pre made, pre hung door or are you making your own? The reason I ask is that your single 2x4 will bend on you even with OSB on it. I would add another 2x4 to it, but put it at a 90 degree angle to form an L if looking down on it.

To get your flashing to work with your stucco, you will need to cut a line in the stucco with a diamond blade. I use a 4 1/2 inch grinder to do this. Then your flashing needs to be bent to go into the line you cut in your stucco, then go down the stucco two inches, then over your roof several more inches. I've never found this for sale in the size I wanted, so I bend my own using 2x4's and a hammer. You also need to use really good quality flashing rated sealant in that cut where you slide your flashing into the stucco. If not, water will get in there and cause problems. Nothing else matters when compared to flashing and sealing it.

 

[dragoneggs]

Eddie, I'm sure I am misunderstanding you but to be clear, you mean make a slit in the stucco and slip the flashing 'up' in behind it, right?

 

[LittleBill21]

Eddie, I'm sure I am misunderstanding you but to be clear, you mean make a slit in the stucco and slip the flashing 'up' in behind it, right?

you want the flashing inside the slit cut by the saw, then filled with the flashing sealant, otherwise water can run behind the flashing on the chimney, i also put a bit of a upward angle to the cut.

 

[fatjay]

I'm making my own door. I'm picking up garage door hardware and making my own panels, so it'll lift. That way I don't have to clear snow in front of the door to open out, and trying to open the door in would be pretty cramped.

I was trying to figure out how to install the flashing, thanks for the advice.

 

[buickanddeere]

For a generator shack how about an all concrete structure with a steel roof ?

 

[Ford850]

Nice progress, and I like the idea of making a mini overhead garage door for it. I'm curious though... why did you glue the blocks to the pad with caulk, rather than using mortar?

 

[fatjay]

Landscape block adhesive goes in a caulk gun and is infinitely easier than mortar. I built a wall around my back porch a few months ago using the same stuff. I've also accidentally run my tractor into that wall, and it stopped my tractor dead in it's tracks. Wasn't fast, but wasn't slow, and had some momentum.

I debated doing the entire structure in cinder block. Honestly would have been about the same price. But my back still hurt from the last time I worked with blocks, and cutting them was a pain.

 

[EddieWalker]

you want the flashing inside the slit cut by the saw, then filled with the flashing sealant, otherwise water can run behind the flashing on the chimney, i also put a bit of a upward angle to the cut.

Yes. It's not possible or practicle to try and slide flashing behind stucco. You want it going into the stucco.

 

[two_bit_score]

Inside transfer switch will go to 6-3 wire out the wall and into the generator shed, which will have an outlet. If i want to change generators, plugs, etc, it'll be easier.

This is the gen: Amazon.com : Durostar DS1E, 8 Running Watts/1 Starting Watts, Gas Powered Portable Generator : Duromax Generators : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Can you get a whole house generator from Generac for about the same cost as this one and what you are spending on the building? Where is the economy?

 

[fatjay]

Not sure where you're getting your generac's from, the lowest price I've seen is $3400 for a 16kw. Also I don't have CNG or LP, and don't want to have a tank installed. And my generator cost $427 thanks to numerous mishaps by amazon. It started at 750 at the time, then delivery botched so credit $125. then there was a small dent in the panel, which was cosmetic only. I called and they refunded me an additional $198.

 

[Ford850]

Not sure where you're getting your generac's from, the lowest price I've seen is $3400 for a 16kw. Also I don't have CNG or LP, and don't want to have a tank installed. And my generator cost $427 thanks to numerous mishaps by amazon. It started at 750 at the time, then delivery botched so credit $125. then there was a small dent in the panel, which was cosmetic only. I called and they refunded me an additional $198.

I remember your posts about that great deal. :thumbsup:

 

[fatjay]

Link? All the weather proof ones I've been able to find, the cheapest is $2400 now with a bit more digging, but that's still LP.

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