[arcticranger]

I more or less live at HD and see those nice looking storage sheds outside. I've always wanted one, especially the 2-level one with the staircase.

However, a friend of mine now needs a place to live for a bit, hard times. I'm wondering if any type of small outdoor shed, say a 12x12, can be insulated and heated to deal with the harsh winters in upstate NY. I'd think it would be possible to propane-heat a unit with one floor, minimum windows, flat not gabrel roof and stud thickness deep enuf for approx 38" Roxul.

Of course that's just one issue but I'd like whatever feedback I can get on the heating issue. He can shower and **** inside but living with him, uh, no.



This is why it's a bad idea to reach out to old friends until you snoop their financials :biggrin2:

 

[Bud9051]

Good to have a big heart but the details may get in the way of building/buying what you describe.
Check your local codes, often on-line to see what they need for that size building.
Remember, it isn't what you intend to use it for, it is what they decide it may be used for.
Over a certain size may require a building permit and then the requirements take a step up.
The prebuilt HD buildings are often minimal standards and would be difficult to finish off as described, not impossible but difficult. I've never seen one with a flat or shed roof that big.
A gable roof also gives you a space to ventilate to get rid of moisture.

A thought. Have you considered a small mobile home, camper? Not sure how well they would handle the cold, but they are complete. If you built a garage shell to slide it into that would help with the cold and then it is just a garage and not obvious it is living space.

Good luck
Bud

 

[joecaption]

I agree with Bud 100% on this one.
There's always campers posted on Craigslist.
The less expencive ones will not work out in the winter, the pipes and holding tanks would freeze.
Google Tiny house, it's the new in thing.

 

[Nealtw]

I agree with the older camper idea and the heater vents outside

 

[Nealtw]

I agree with Bud 100% on this one.
There's always campers posted on Craigslist.
The less expencive ones will not work out in the winter, the pipes and holding tanks would freeze.
Google Tiny house, it's the new in thing.

No water, just keep the P pot inside. :biggrin2:

 

[Bud9051]

As Joe said, a tiny house is a good idea.

Bud

 

[Oso954]

I think putting a person that “you don’t want to live with” in your backyard is crazy.

 

[arcticranger]

Good to have a big heart but the details may get in the way of building/buying what you describe.
Check your local codes, often on-line to see what they need for that size building.
Remember, it isn't what you intend to use it for, it is what they decide it may be used for.
Over a certain size may require a building permit and then the requirements take a step up.
The prebuilt HD buildings are often minimal standards and would be difficult to finish off as described, not impossible but difficult. I've never seen one with a flat or shed roof that big.
A gable roof also gives you a space to ventilate to get rid of moisture.

A thought. Have you considered a small mobile home, camper? Not sure how well they would handle the cold, but they are complete. If you built a garage shell to slide it into that would help with the cold and then it is just a garage and not obvious it is living space.

Good luck
Bud

144sq ft is the max without a permit. So lots of people have 3-4 of these. Agreed about the HD models and I would need 2x6 stud cavities for insulation. You're right, flat roof is a bad idea.

If the guy does come here I want him near the main house which has been cleared of big trees, we had a tornado 2 years back and massive pines crushed 3-4 nearby homes.

Why shed is better idea:

- I need one down the road anyway


- an RV would not be habitable over the winter


- electric and other hookup is much easier since shed will be close to house.

- I don't want an RV right next to the house

- easy to say he lives in the house not the shed

Yes I am crazy, however his company will be far preferable to the trash that are my neighbors. With Covid-19 they are all getting pregnant. Great timing right? Stimulus package indeed.

 

[Bud9051]

If you decide to build from scratch there are many here who enjoy them doing the thinking and you doing the work, me included.

My last shed was 10 x 16 with 8' ceiling. I made it so the roof assembly can be lifted off and shed can be transported in 2 pieces avoiding height problems.

Whatever you do you will need something to set it on and lots of insulation down there.

Side note, read an article years ago about a building made for Antarctica and -60° temps. They built it with a 24" rigid shell all the way around. The people inside provided enough heat. Fresh air was the only reason they needed any amount of heat added.

Bud
Side note, we have had my dad, my wife's parents, a friend of my daughter's, a single mom with 3 kids, all live with us at some point and I hate to say, the results were not exactly what you/we wanted. Sounds like you are aware of that.

 

[roughneck]

A minisplit heat pump would do the job, one rated for low temperature operation. Something such as a Mitsubishi Hyper Heat or Samsung Max Heat.
Then you wouldn’t have to worry about fuel lines to the shed, or exhaust, or heavy electric service for high amp draw electric heating.

 

[Nealtw]

Home Depot and stores like that have sheds and fence panels built locally a lot of the time. Do some home work and find those companies and have a shed built with some specs that would work better.

 

[arcticranger]

If you decide to build from scratch there are many here who enjoy them doing the thinking and you doing the work, me included.

My last shed was 10 x 16 with 8' ceiling. I made it so the roof assembly can be lifted off and shed can be transported in 2 pieces avoiding height problems.

Whatever you do you will need something to set it on and lots of insulation down there.

Side note, read an article years ago about a building made for Antarctica and -60° temps. They built it with a 24" rigid shell all the way around. The people inside provided enough heat. Fresh air was the only reason they needed any amount of heat added.

Bud
Side note, we have had my dad, my wife's parents, a friend of my daughter's, a single mom with 3 kids, all live with us at some point and I hate to say, the results were not exactly what you/we wanted. Sounds like you are aware of that.

Good stuff. I wonder what the shell material was?

Yea, family, yuk.

On a side note that cathedral ceiling you designed for me did a great job over the winter. So I'll prob be hitting you for more free advice here :biggrin2:

 

[arcticranger]

Home Depot and stores like that have sheds and fence panels built locally a lot of the time. Do some home work and find those companies and have a shed built with some specs that would work better.

Hi Neal, yes my first post started out talking about those and I have the catalogs. Mainly they tend to have particle board walls and small framing. No point in putting those up and having to deepen wall cavities. I'm still looking tho and I do have catalogs.

 

[arcticranger]

A minisplit heat pump would do the job, one rated for low temperature operation. Something such as a Mitsubishi Hyper Heat or Samsung Max Heat.
Then you wouldn’t have to worry about fuel lines to the shed, or exhaust, or heavy electric service for high amp draw electric heating.

Those look good and decently priced. Not sure how they help reduce electric cost since they'd be hooked to my basement panel anyway, right? I'm not gonna run another line from the pole.

 

[Nealtw]

Hi Neal, yes my first post started out talking about those and I have the catalogs. Mainly they tend to have particle board walls and small framing. No point in putting those up and having to deepen wall cavities. I'm still looking tho and I do have catalogs.

Find a crew, just a couple days and likely comparable price.

 

[Bondo]

However, a friend of mine now needs a place to live for a bit, hard times.

Ayuh,..... It's March, nearly April, 'n yer talkin' about winter in this shed,..??

That sounds like awhole lot longer than abit,.....

 

[arcticranger]

Ayuh,..... It's March, nearly April, 'n yer talkin' about winter in this shed,..??

That sounds like awhole lot longer than abit,.....

whatever.

 

[roughneck]

Those look good and decently priced. Not sure how they help reduce electric cost since they'd be hooked to my basement panel anyway, right? I'm not gonna run another line from the pole.

Yes, they get hooked to their own circuit in the breaker panel.
They use much less power then electric resistance heat.

 

[Nealtw]

Yes, they get hooked to their own circuit in the breaker panel.
They use much less power then electric resistance heat.

He would need a sub panel??

 

[roughneck]

He would need a sub panel??

Yes, run a line from the house to the shed for a sub panel for all the sheds electrical needs.