New Lumber Storage Shed

Planman1954 · February 21, 2016, 09:23:03 PM

A while back, I mentioned that I planned on building a lumber storage shed. Since buying a sawmill about six years ago, it seemed I always had leftover boards and no place to store the, except in my garage areas:

Trust me, if you own a mill for your own use and not as a commercial enterprise, you WILL have leftovers!
Anyway, so I chose an area near the mill to place the 16'x16' structure. It is right beside an area that will be convenient to load and unload pieces. Here is a photo of my brother helping cut a few small trees in the way:

I began by grading the small area with my old Ford 9n with my box blade. I then set some 16"x16"x4" thick concrete blocks every 8' on all corners and centers. After leveling them up, I set a concrete block on each one. Then I placed a termite shield over each block. I made them from some metal roll stock. It worked fine. Then I placed a 2x6 treated sole plate onto the block system and lined them up to square:

The next step was to place the joist system onto the toe plates. I used 2x8s at 16" on center, with a double 2x8 beam around the perimeter with a beam across the center. I let the joist system float on the sole plates while I nailed the joists together. After squaring up the joists, I nailed them down to the sole plate:

The next step was to lay down the 1x12 floor over the joists. But before doing this, I laid felt over the joists so that there would be a vapor barrier under the floor. The whole idea of the structure is to have a complete surrounding of felt to create a moisture free environment. Here's a picture of my buddy Tim who helped me today of the floor boards being put down:

And here's a photo of the finished floor:

We finished the day by standing up the first of five walls. I plan on updating the project as I go along. It may be a few weeks, as I'm only able to work on the weekends usually on it.

Ljohnsaw · February 21, 2016, 09:36:17 PM

That's great progress. Curious as to how you are securing your floor to your "footings". I would worry about it being blown off your foundation in a stiff wind!

WV Sawmiller · February 21, 2016, 09:38:02 PM

P'54,

Congrats and looking good. Keep us updated. Want to take any bets as to how long it will be before you say "Its not big enough" (They never are).

Be careful and keep on punchin.

Planman1954 · February 21, 2016, 09:50:37 PM

Ljohnsaw....it's not going to blow away...I promise! The shear weight of the joist system bearing on the piers is massive already. Once the thing is loaded with lumber, well...I'm not worried.

Bark Beetle · February 21, 2016, 11:19:18 PM

How are you going to stack the lumber in there, are you going to put up some racks or just stack it on the floor? It will definitely be nice to have a dedicated building for lumber( around here it is always in the way :D)

thecfarm · February 22, 2016, 06:05:04 AM

You can come build me one too. :D

Peter Drouin · February 22, 2016, 07:04:29 AM

Looking good, 8)

Planman1954 · February 22, 2016, 09:24:15 PM

I made the building 16'-8" deep so that 16' long stock will fit. I'm going to put two 36" wide doors on the front with four feet between them. There will be a wall in the center of the building front to back, which will give me support, along with the right and left end wall, for 2' wide racks. There will be three on each wall at 2',4',and 6' above the floor. I can then carry boards through each of the two doors and place them on either side of the aisle in each half of the finished building. You'll get the idea as I go along.

WDH · February 22, 2016, 09:33:29 PM

Looking great. A man needs a place to keep lumber.

WV Sawmiller · February 22, 2016, 09:48:03 PM

P'54,

A suggestion - can you include a small hinged door as a loading chute on one end, preferably the high or most accessible end, that you could raise and slide your lumber in maybe off the forks of your tractor (if you have one) or the end of your truck or trailer? You can then lift inside and on the long heavy stuff just lift one end at a time. Even a 2' square opening or 16" wide if that is your stud spacing, should be big enough to slide most lumber into the shed. Might even build in a simple roller system if not too complicated.

Lots of us are old enough now we avoid lifting a board any time we can and sliding/rolling off forks or a trailer could be a lot easier than carrying them through your doors.

Just a thought - remember free advice is worth what you paid for it.

pineywoods · February 22, 2016, 09:53:48 PM

Planman is a neighbor and good friend. He tends to do things kinda backwards. He built an absolutely beautiful home, then filled it with some of the nicest handmade furniture you ever saw..THEN he bought a sawmill to saw lumber to build a shed to keep his lumber in. Pore mill still sits out in the rain.. ;D

Deese · February 23, 2016, 12:06:53 PM

Very nice Planman! Keep us updated

Planman1954 · February 23, 2016, 04:40:27 PM

Piney must have just driven by! I forgot to put the cover on the mill after I finished sawing the other day...I let it cool down so it would not melt the plastic cover. :D

WVSawmiller: That sounds smart! I did put a lot of thought into the arrangement of the lumber by reading a lot and watching videos of other lumber storage ideas. I think I need to stick the plan! Guess I'll just have to keep myself in shape a few more years as I tote a board at the time into the shed. >:(

WmFritz · February 23, 2016, 05:56:58 PM

That's going to make one fine lumber house, Planman.

Piney, nobody's more backwards then me. I built my mill and then I found the Forestry Forum to figure out what to do with it. ;)

21incher · February 23, 2016, 07:56:13 PM

That looks like it will be a great storage area. The biggest problem with stacking lumber in a shed that I am running across quite often is I always need the peice on the bottom of the stack.

Planman1954 · May 08, 2016, 02:35:24 PM

I've made some more progress on the shed. I hope to post pictures soon. Stay tuned!

Carson-saws · May 08, 2016, 03:59:38 PM

Looks real good. Do I need to take a number?

Planman1954 · May 09, 2016, 07:30:55 PM

Here's a couple of photos I just took. The first is a front view, showing the center wall and the two front doors. This will give me two aisles for lumber to be stacked on each side:

Here's a shot looking up. It shows the felt laid over the stripping which the metal roof is screwed into. This is so that the entire building will be totally surrounded by a vapor barrier (felt):

Planman1954 · September 22, 2016, 04:46:16 PM

After a long HOT summer, it's time to get this shed completed! I've made some progress in the last few days. I hope to have it done by about the end of next week. Slow and steady wins the race....it seems so here.

pineywoods · September 23, 2016, 12:02:28 PM

Looks good..Sawshed next ????

Planman1954 · September 23, 2016, 08:31:49 PM

Actually, I've got a LOT happening at once Piney! I'm trying to get the woodwork shop done at the same time I'm working on the lumber storage shed....so that I can get the Hammond organ cabinet(s) built for the keyboard restorations! And then on to the rear deck...and then to the greenhouse...and then to the pool house....and then ;D

ozarkgem · September 23, 2016, 08:37:17 PM

your not to far from having a 2 chamber kiln.

Planman1954 · September 24, 2016, 10:11:41 AM

Ozarkgem is paying attention! 8)

wvwoodbutcher · September 24, 2016, 01:48:52 PM

That's a fine looking shed planman. Good work.

dean herring · September 25, 2016, 08:22:21 AM

Just finished my shed addition floor yesterday. I can finally get the mill shed organized before my buddy John quits on me. I'm gonna try to post some pictures.