I’m think I should just build. It will certainly be fun, character building, a lesson, and hopefully the more cost effective path. Can anyone suggest a site to get plans from? There are so many it’s overwhelming
If this something you personally need plans for I’d just buy a pre built. Not meant as an insult just constructing something like a shed is a pretty standard thing unless you decide to get fancy on roof pitch or eave space. How do you want to side it and what kind of roofing materials do you want- does it have to match the house or is t1-11 acceptable etc would be my main questions. Are you worried about it blowing over or snow load? More than happy to draw up a design and materials list and we can coach you through a build.
Totally solid! That right there speaks to why FHC is truly incredible. Hands down the best forum with the best members.... anywhere!
Budget option: a soft "shelter" like Shelter Logic. Had a 12'x20'x8' "CoverIt" for storage while clearing the lot for building . It's been up for 20 years, only replaced the cover last year. ATV, DR Brushcutter, power washer, bike, splitter. etc.....stored. Goes up fast, simple, cheap. It is not as nice or pretty as a DIY hard structure.
Go look at a half dozen of em at the shed dealers, bring your tape measure and phone (pics). Make a mental not of what you like and combine them. It's as about a basic structure as there is but you need to plan, a little bit. select your windows and doors so that you know your "rough opening" dimensions. The rest is obvious. Enjoy your project.
Had one here lasted 3 years at the most. After year two the top started to fall apart dropping white fibers on everything that was under it. I made sure the snow didn’t build up on it because it would have certainly torn under the snow load that I get. Not worth the money in my opinion. Also I thought it was less than eye appealing.
The round top handled snow well since it would slide off. Warner is right IF the top is the lower 9 oz grade with only a 1 year warranty. Our 14.5 oz lasted almost 20 years but a blowdown took care of that. They don't tell you about the lighter grade's durability. We've ordered a new Shelter Coat with the 14.5 oz cover for one of the cars. The warranty is 10 years ( if I make it ).
The round tops shed snow better than what we have. Ours is typical canopy, we're on #2 since the first one had a corner collapse after 2 weeks up due to heavy rain. But I've plenty of spare pieces
I've had a 13x24, used Shelter Logic, heavy cover tent garage for 3 years. I bought it from a friend who was putting up a real garage for his business. He did get a new cover for it before installing ($800 for the shed, new cover and install). I believe he had had it for 7-10 years. It is the regular peaked-roof style and if snow builds up (not often) I take a roof rake and CAREFULLY push up on the fabric and is slides right off. Only use I've had for the roof rake since putting the metal roof on my house (I think I only had to do that winter of 2017/2018). The only problem I have is the ground gets really soft, and where it is situated, it faces the prevailing wind that comes howling down a straight street. Although I had steel cable ties shot into the ground to anchor it, the legs have spread a bit, making use of the roll doors impossible now. If I had had a pad installed, most likely that wouldn't have happened. That isn't a real big deal to me, it still keeps the snow and frost off my truck and has a ton of pellets in it. Suggest I was worried about the looks, but being green, it is less intrusive than some of them out there. It also hides the rusty metal shed that was there (moved the shed over). Picture taken in July 2017 just after it was installed. It should last a good long time (unless I decide to have a real garage built) and was well worth the $800 I spent. Oh, and bonus, One of the few things I didn't need a permit to "build" and I don't get taxed on since it isn't a "permanent" structure.
Soft shelters like Shelter Logic need to be well anchored. They can be a sail in winds over Force 3-5. The company sells anchors for driving into gravel or asphalt for each frame. An average soft garage goes up in a day or two with help.
