Roof for my inventory ~ cheapskate style

I’ve been wanting to build something over my firewood for a couple years now. I’m tired of playing the tarp game, and especially the way it looks. Most people would build a shed/pole barn type structure then fill it. I did it backwards but it’ll save me a lot of work. As the title says, “cheapskate style”. The goal is to spend as little as possible, especially in these uncertain times. It all started with buZZsaw BRAD who hooked me up with (36) used 2x6x12 PT boards back in the fall.

A couple months ago I scrounged a few dead/down red cedar poles.


Once I had my piles where I wanted them, I dug the post holes

I then added the sonatubes, and filled them with concrete. I sunk 1/2” bolts into the center to keep the posts in place when it came time to build.

Then I drilled a 1/2” hole in the end of the posts, and set them on the piers with temporary bracing.


Next I started notching the posts with the chainsaw to accept my headers. It’s crude but good enough for a wood shed.

Just keep going down the line, checking for level as I go.


I’m working on the back side notching the posts and installing the headers now. Then I’ll add some more temporary bracing to tie in the front with the back. Then it’s on to gussets, then rafters. I’ll keep this updated as I go. I wasn’t going to make a thread about this project, but Warner called me out on it yesterday.

 

Those are the cleanest post holes I've ever seen

 

Cedar posts...that's gotta smell nice!
What attaches the posts to the anchors? (besides gravity)

 

Just gravity. The 1/2” bolts sunk into the piers will keep the posts from moving side to side. The entire roof structure is going to be 12’ X 36’, with rafters about every 20” on center. Then I’ll sheath the roof with 4x8 OSB, then top it off with shingles. That should be enough weight to keep everything on the ground. If by any chance it does go for a ride some day, I’m sure I’ll have bigger problems than just my wood shed And you’re right, cedar does smell amazing! I ended up with a couple stove loads of cedar cutoffs for shoulder season.

 

Front/rear posts and headers are up, with temporary 10’ long bracing spanning between front and back. Tomorrow I’ll start making gussets. I got a bunch of rough sawn 4x4 white pine from a business throwing it out a month ago, so that’s what I’ll be using for gusset material.

 

Yeah that's what I was thinking about...the whole thing being turned into a big sail...but I think EVW is onto something there...

 

Looks great. If it were mine, and I wish it was, before getting more weight on the posts, I would carefully lift one post at a time, and add a strap or something that could anchor the posts down just in case.
Something to consider maybe
Overall it looks great and will serve you well

 

I think that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Anchor it down in a few spots. I’ve got plenty of extra lumber to do it. Lord knows I can’t drive by an industrial park without scrounging large skids or crates Thanks for the tip Eric VW

 

I hope you got the wife’s permission and she approves.

You’ll be digging not f’n with tarps!

 

She’d rather see me inside scrubbing toilet bowls, but whatever I feel good enough about my daily contributions to the inside chores. I’ve been putting this off long enough and yes, it’s gonna be great to ditch all the ratty tarps!

 

Looks really good Eric. Love the cedar posts. Are you doubling up the "header" on both sides? How much slope will it end up having...ie the pitch? 3/12, 4/12 etc?

Funny as i was at a supplier in Berlin this morning and asked about discounted shingles. They had seven bundles of the same color for $15 each, but that was it. I have suppliers in Meriden and Wallingford i will ask too. I know you need 14-15 bundles.

 

Not much pitch at all. 1/12 I have about the same on the run for my chicken coop and it sheds water alright. I wanted more pitch but miscalculated what I needed when it came to the slope of the hill itself. Ended up with shorter than ideal posts and wasn’t going back to Middletown to get more on my mini vacation.

I thought about sistering 2x6s to double up on the “header” (what would you call it, don’t forget I’m a metal worker not a real builder ) The span between posts is 10.5’ and I was thinking that would be a bit too much for a single 2x6 even with 45 degree braces. I’ll have to scrounge a couple more to double up.

 

Double up the beam (header) with 2x6 (even better 2x12, but you'll get sticker shock if you buy them) Crown (convex edge) up. With double 2x6 over time it may deflect. Have to use rolled roofing as at 1/12 shingles will more than likely leak/seep. Be glad to explain how its done...and do it on the cheeeep of course.

 

When I sister more 2x6’s to the beam(s), I want to overlap the joints of the existing ones, correct? I think I have enough extra laying around to do this. I’m going to end up adding some blocks to the posts to sit the sistered beams on. I doubt there’s an inch and a half of ledge left on the notched posts. Probably just use my sawzall to clean a flat face on the posts to mount the blocks to.

 

Sister the 2x12 over the 2x6. Even if the remaining notch is not a full 1.5" doesnt matter as long as most of the edge rests on it. Looks like there is enough based on your notched cedar pics. This will give you an extra +/- 6" of slope. Rolled roofing a lot cheaper than shingles, and i know how to get it even cheaper!

 

Sorry, I mistyped 2x12 earlier. I MEANT 2x6. Like you said, 2x12 isn’t cheap and would defeat my budget goals. I’m gonna have to stick with the 2x6 I already have. I could nail a 2x4 on top of that to give it a little more slope, although I’m not sure it’s worth it. Also some of the posts were smaller diameter and didn’t have much of an extra ledge at all.

 

Gotcha. Doubled up should be fine. 45* bracing helps a lot in support and stiffening. Roll roofing is 1/4 to 1/3 the weight of shingles. 1/12 slope is okay for the roll roofing too.

 

Thanks for the input. I just looked up rolled roofing and you weren’t kidding. MUCH cheaper. Average $35-$45 for a 3 foot wide x 36’ roll. Looks like it’s a lot faster to install too. I’m into that. The faster I can knock this project out, the better. In a couple weeks my pool is going back up and I have plenty more to do inside the house after that