Very nice. Planning to do a garage extension similar to this. My plan is to save some costs by going with concrete piers over a full slab.

Yeah most of the supplies were bought in June/July. I was paying about $6 per 2x4 and $25 for OSB. :(

better looking than my house 🫣

still wondering where the infomercial product placement is at because this project was too clean. Well done 👏

why did you post the picture of the level showing it was not perfectly level. Genuinely askin.

I can't believe it's not butter

Really - this guide is so thorough and helpful!

Is there anywhere you think you could have saved costs (including giving up any options or even a slight decrease in quality) or do you think this is about as good as it gets? Besides the aforementioned lock. Different materials, over-engineering, etc.

Depending on when OP bought supplies the price could easily be double what most people would have paid pre covid. Lumber prices have come down significantly in the past couple months where I am located.

Damn. Throw up some insulation in those walls and I know a few people who would rent that.

Very awesome work and thoroughly detailed! I have an old shed in my backyard, and my #1 priority when replacing it is doing what I can to keep out mice (cause they owned the thing when we first moved in). Your double door reminds me of the door on mine, and I know that's how the mice get in - the gap is about the same.

That’s a beauty!

It's absolutely ridiculous. And if he hired a company to do it they'd charge $400 an hour for labor and only pay the employees $12.50 an hour.

Mythbusters used C4 and it removed the problem.

Damn almost 10k. When did DYI become an expensive hobby? 😡😡😡

Credentials: bought a house and refinished the oak floor in 6 rooms and a 2 hallway and it looks good. I had a similar experience. I wanted to play it safe and started with the orbital. After 8+ hours and having barely done 100sq.ft, I became frustrated and worried I wouldn't get done in a reasonable time. Drum sander is the way. Did 5 rooms faster and better looking than it took the orbital to do 1. Belt sander the edges. Always go with the grain! Wear a dust mask.

The best advice I can offer is gently lower the sander as you start moving and slowly lift as you approach the edge. Always go with the grain! You should be moving when it's engaged. I did 3 total passes with 60, 100, and 180. Anything within about 20 grit of those is fine. Belt sander the edges similarly. Start with a room or area that will get seen the least while you figure it out. I'm happy to answer questions.

I appreciate that!

Thanks! At the time, my logic was to keep the uphill side of the slab low enough that a riding lawnmower could conveniently drive in and out. In hindsight, I wish I had gone just a little bit higher. My backup plan if water becomes an issue is to make a trench around the slab with crushed stone, put some landscaping fabric over that and some wood chips or pea gravel?

You're using one of those small DIY mixers that holds like a few bags max, right? You're doing it backward. Spray the sides to wet.
Add in the bag. Dry mix for about 30 seconds. This helps remove soft clumps. Hard ones, you won't get out. Then spray in water slowly until it is what you want.
Let mix like 2 minutes or so.

wow, thats a well built shed! great work!

One question, what made you decide on the elevation of the slab. My initial thought would have been to make it a few inches higher just for rain/snow/ponding-water/etc given your area looks pretty flat. But I donno, interested to hear your thoughts.

Impressive. Super impressive. Refreshing to see such thoroughness and competence. 67 year old, handyman (former builder) here. I've always been one for 'doing things right'!

Seriously impressive.

sugar

If you run your tablesaw into some thick wood while your shop vac is running (on the same branch circuit), you may see the (incandescent) lights dim or even trip a breaker. Sometimes you have a couple of outlets on different branches so you can pull different equipment into different places to help get by for a while.

Usually, your panel has some unfilled spots where additional branches (and circuit breakers) can be added. You might want to "get ahead of the curve" by adding some outlets for your equipment. In that case, get 20A breakers and run the heavier wire for 20A service (it is yellow sheathing instead of white). Get the corresponding 20A receptables which have a little difference in where the prongs go in to remind you. Of course, you can label the faceplate as 20A.

I like having extension cords hanging down from the basement shop ceiling so I added outlets high. My shop area is small and I have machines on wheels that I roll in and out of places. Outlets that are behind benches and tool chests are difficult to use.

Looks great! When you do run electric to it, make sure you’re correct on needing a grounding rod since it will most likely be a sub panel.

Beautiful work .... this is like those text book instructions on how to build a shed in your back yard ... excellent build and a very satisfying series of images to follow it .... and a bonus to show how much it all costs and how and where the major costs come from ... amazing!

What people should realize too is the unpaid labor that went into this. Because you did it yourself, you saved money, but you spent your time and energy, which costs money elsewhere, so that is always a cost we all ignore.

If you had hired someone or a contractor with a small team to do this, you could have doubled or tripled your budget. And it wouldn't have been as nice or strong as what you built.

I know because I'm a self taught construction / renovation worker. I worked in the business a little and gained enough knowledge and skill to be able to build and renovate every house, cottage and garage I own over the years.

Your little shed is not a little shed as it is a ton of work over many hours using skills, knowledge, mistakes and experience acquired over years. You should be proud. This was very satisfying to watch and see ... thanks and keep up the great work.

Thanks, and hope it helps!