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cheap shed construction

nater | Posted in Construction Techniques on September 19, 2006 04:33am

I have a friend that is building a small storage shed, and wants a cheap way to finish it temporarily. Right now it is framed and covered with a cheap tarp. They talked about putting OSB up and painting with a oil based paint, but I told them that wouldn’t last very long. I suggested doing the OSB but covering with heavy felt until they could do something better.

Are there any other options on cheap siding?

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Replies

  1. User avater
    bobl | Sep 19, 2006 04:52pm | #1

    cheap is relative.

    what T111 cost?

     

    bobl          Volo, non valeo

    Baloney detecter    WFR

  2. JJV | Sep 19, 2006 05:02pm | #2

    How big is the shed?  I just built one this weekend and I sided it with T-111.  It was something like $25 a sheet and I used 12 sheets (10x12 shed, 8' walls).  I thought that was pretty reasonable.  OSB won't cut it, even painted, I would think.

     

     

     

    Maybe someday I'll know a little something.

    1. Stray | Sep 19, 2006 05:51pm | #3

      Board and batten isn't that expensive.  I can get rough sawn hemlock or fir for about $0.55/bd'

      So it's competitive $-wise with T111, will last longer, and look better IMHO.

      They could apply a semi-transparent oil stain later on as $ permits if they want to.  Don't have to finish it either, it'll weather a nice gray.  Ithaca, NY  "10 square miles, surrounded by reality"

  3. Stray | Sep 19, 2006 05:52pm | #4

    Sorry, my post above should've been directed to the orig poster....

    Ithaca, NY  "10 square miles, surrounded by reality"

  4. rez | Sep 23, 2006 12:28am | #5

    Economy shed with 7/16 osb at under $7 a sheet can't be beat for cheap.

    And yes despite claims to the contrary osb can be primed with an oil base and topcoated with a latex and get some time out of it before needing to be repainted. Keep it painted tho'.

    However that cheap fix is questionable in respect to the necessity of constant surveillance and the time/labor involved but you said cheap and shed so we don't need brick and mortar.

    And being a small shed it might be worth the few extra bucks for some T1-11 or metal and save the maintenance headache. 

     

    be what's the labor worth

     

    The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

    1. geoffhazel | Sep 23, 2006 02:46am | #6

      Wondering where it's at. Dry or rainy climate?

  5. renosteinke | Sep 23, 2006 02:52am | #7

    I have had unprotected OSB, laid flat on a deck, survive over five years. This was not done intentionally, and the OSB did warp and cup, but it held up better than I expected.

    Nevertheless, when I built my shed, not only did I use T-111, but I primed and painted it! My shed, with a 4x8 footprint and two sets of double doors, cost me $660 in materials.

    1. Abm | Sep 23, 2006 05:43am | #8

      If you know anyone who builds a lot of pole buildings ask them to save their cover sheets for you. Most of the guys around here just cut them up and they go in the dumpster.

       

      If you do go this route they will likely be different colors but they can be painted to match.

  6. Brian | Sep 23, 2006 06:43am | #9

    Steel roofing/siding for pole barns is $48/square (seconds) - permanent and cheap - just 2.5 times the cost of bare osb.

    Rough sawn pine was $0.32 s.f. 4 years ago wet from the mill. (I haven't checked lately)

     

     

    Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
  7. junkhound | Sep 23, 2006 07:19am | #10

    Oh my, on my FAVORITE TOPIC, and to get such comments as

     It was something like $25 a sheet and I used 12 sheets (10x12 shed, 8' walls).

    on a cheap shed thread.!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!  If I'd had another 4 glasses of wine tonight I'd go barf.

    Close to $300 for a shed is like the Taj Mahjal of all sheds!!!! . People got the wrong gauges for what is CHEAP.  

    A 'cheap shed' should cost less than 2 cents per sq ft.  see "cheapest shed yet" thread, I'll let you find it yourself. The 2 cents includes fuel used for machinery and power for the nail gun compressor, nails, etc, or else it would be free. I know at least one family that recyles nails and all hand drive and is even cheaper than me.

    About to build a couple of 200 sq ft sheds for backhoe and dozer (no permits for 200 sq ft or less here) and should cost me less than $2.oo each. Including garage door openers and 10 foot by 10 foot rollup doors!!

    Around here, people who have their garage doors replaced pay $50 to have them disposed of -- go advertise on free sites (craigslist, et. al) and you get all the doors you want, plus openers..  Same with lots of other stuff.

    E.g. foundation - all the free broken sidewalk you want almost anyplace in USA and people bow down and worship you for taking it and not having to pay $75 ton disposal fee, etc.

    Hardest part is the roof (see GM, FHB #90). Took me 35 years to figure this out to get this really cheap myself till I found that vinyl flooring makes a great roof and that the flooring peope are HAPPY to give away odd sized remnants of vinyl flooring - makes great roofing!!

     

    1. rez | Sep 23, 2006 10:39am | #11

      dude,

      you so rock.

       

      be rockin' in the freeworldThe bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

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