Shed Build

[Red Squirrel]

Started this last year, figured I'd share. It's mostly done at this point, just need to finish shelving inside, and do a more permanent power solution. Right now I have a 60w solar panel on the ground connected to a MPPT controller and a 80ah battery. It's all just sitting on the ground and not really in a proper enclosure.

All the build progress and details are in this thread so it's easier to just link straight to it: https://www.uovalor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6715

But here's a few pics of what it looks like so far:











Also have a time lapse of the build, all the way to the house wrap. Also vlogged the steps after that, toying with getting into vlogging my projects. Time lapse here, and vlogs on same channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJdh_ZhEkXI

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Nice!

 

[lxskllr]

Clever use of homedepot warped wood

<.<
>.>

 

[Six]

Looks nice. You motivated me to build my own, then I watched your video. Motivation gone.

Is that the correct way to install the door?

 

[FreshBross]

Very cool that you mostly did it all on your own, even if it took so long... but still cool!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Clever use of homedepot warped wood

<.<
>.>

Hahaha. To be fair I think that's pretty much everywhere. Home Depot does store it in a climate controlled area so not sure what else they could do to prevent it, but yeah sometimes get the odd 2x4 that is wtf twisted or warped.

Looks nice. You motivated me to build my own, then I watched your video. Motivation gone.

Is that the correct way to install the door?

Honestly not sure. Was my second time installing a door, so kind of just winged it. At one point I did remove it and put it back though, since the frame was sticking out a bit and it was easier to install the border around it if it's flush. I more or less improvised a lot of stuff as I went along.

Ideally I should have also installed it as an inswing door, but I figure outswing makes it easier to bring stuff in/out as it won't be so much in the way. I do need to put a door stop and maybe a way to keep it open for when it's windy.


Most of the reason why it took so long is weather. I started last September and every time I wanted to work on it, I was either at work, or if I was on a day off it was raining. So that was a pain. Ended up just giving up and waiting till winter so that there's less chance of it raining. I at least wanted to get it done to the point that I have the house wrap on so that it can make it through the winter and the snow melt, then continued in spring. Now this year it was a bit the opposite, no rain, just too much heat. TBH working in winter was kinda nice, less sweating and overall I just had more energy to work faster. It's just that when it was 30 below I needed gloves so it made certain things harder.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Looks like a very good job!

Actually appears very similar to one I built. I didn't worry about insulation, but included a couple of windows and cedar shake roofing to match my house. It's still in fine shape after three decades, so yours should last a long time too.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Probably won't insulate the rest, but figured I'd do the parts that I can't get to after. Originally I was thinking of insulating the whole thing and trying to heat it via solar heat or some other renewable source, mostly just to see if it can be done, but I also so the battery and solar and any other electronics don't freeze, but think I'll just build a separate insulated box for that. I'm still trying to source out some large solar panels but it's proving to be tough. They only really seem to sell them down south and the shipping cost is absurd.

Today I finished the shelving. Now if I did want to insulate it would be harder as I would not be able to install the vapour barrier continuously and end up with lot of seams, but I'll cross that bridge when/if I get there. I still have some more electrical I want to do like outside lights etc so by not insulating I don't have to feel rushed doing those things. It's not really a hurry.

Pics of shelves:











Went with a rather simplistic design, but it's strong enough, I can sit on those fine. I made the side ones high enough so I can easily walk under so it does not feel clausterphobic, and leaves plenty of room for things that can just hang off the wall.

Now I need to actually organize everything. I just threw everything randomly for now to get the floor less cluttered. Lot of that stuff is tools etc that won't actually be stored there once it's fully done. That's another thing I need to organize, my tools. They're all over the place, some in the house, some in the shed, some in the garage... That's a whole other project and a half.



Oh and the really crude temporary solar setup:



Eventually that will be in a proper panel, and I'll have some automation to monitor voltage, shut power if it's low, etc. That black box used to do just that, but I moved to a bigger charge controller and battery so not using that box anymore.


Edit: Time lapse of shelves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71AiMyRH36M

 

[Red Squirrel]

Started on the roof solar system. It's rain season so not getting much done but I did manage to get the racking and one panel up. Will have to take it down and readjust stuff and possibly look at rust proofing the unistrut as it's already starting to rust, but at least I'm more or less set now.

Next step will be to wire things more properly as its temporary right now.

 

[herm0016]

looks nice. why cut the brick mould off short?

i just bought a couple of those plastic lifetime sheds. 2 for the price i could build one for. should last a good long time and only take 1 day to put up.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Brick mould?

 

[shortylickens]

WOW!

Thats a nice fuckin shed!

 

[herm0016]

Brick mould?

the trim on the outside of the door, around the edge. it should extend down to the bottom of the sill

 

[Red Squirrel]

the trim on the outside of the door, around the edge. it should extend down to the bottom of the sill

Oh never heard it called that before. Yeah I messed up the measurement when I cut it. I then left it in case I was going to put an edge on the ramp, but didn't. I put a small piece there now. Didn't really want to buy two more pieces so I kinda did a crap fix instead.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Forgot to update this. Solar panels have been fully installed for a while now and are all wired up.



Since it's winter here now we don't really get much sun and I've been having to take snow off them with a long broom, but it's at least producing enough to keep the battery topped up. I will want to put the battery in an insulated/heated box though as it does not have much capacity in the cold. Goal is to eventually put outside lights, maybe even just christmas lights, and have them on a timer or motion sensor, but right now just leaving the inverter on drains the battery faster than the solar can keep up. We only get like 7-8 hours of daylight though.

 

[snoopy7548]

Awesome job. You should do a mini haunted house for Halloween.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That would be so fun actually. Hardly get any kids in my neighbourhood though so it's not really worthwhile. Thought of doing something up front that is easy to assemble/dismantle every year.