I need a recommendation for the most economical means of building a large outdoor storage building, maybe 12x24. What do you suggest:

1. What type of construction/design?
2. Estimated cost (rough) if built on site by others?
3. Can anything reasonably be constructed by one person alone?

Ideally I would have a poured slab insulated metal building with a high roll up door, but that’s not all that economical to me right now. I will be surprised if we stay in our house more than five years before my wife has a serious moving itch so I do not want to get into a financed addition where the cost would be difficult to recover.

I have a 2 car attached garage that we use to keep our two cars and very little storage. Outside I have a small mini-barn that someone built the wood floor framing right on the ground, so it will not last much longer due to rot. It’s probably 8x12 and takes care of the outdoor equipment but leaves little room for storage of random junk in totes, etc. This will be completely replaced by a new building.

My initial though was to have a wood framed building on blocks built on site with an unfinished interior. There would be no plumbing. Most likely there would be no electricity, but that could change at a later date just to get basic 120v. Thoughts on this type of building and rough estimate for cost of a 12x24? I could insulate and do sheetrock work on my own later.

I’m not sure one person could build this alone without considerable experience, so labor to construct would be needed. The truss work seems to be the deal breaker.

I am open to alternatives, such as metal. I would prefer to keep it under $10k. Basically just the cheapest, functional storage building that would still last.

A shipping container?

I think it is doable, but not with that budget. Pour a monopour slab. Probably about $2000-$2500.
Materials will be around $5000-6000k including the truss'. So that does not leave much for labor and roof. My guess is $13-$15k would be closer.
If permits are in the mix you will need to add that. If not, better yet.

Remember, if you sell the place you want something that adds value not detracts.

I'm guessing a TuffShed would be under 10K.

Not sure about how it might suit your needs.

https://www.tuffshed.com/

Here in Florida, there is a company called Superior Shed. They make frame sheds, covered in power coated sheet aluminum with windows, regular doors, or roll up doors. They are portable and brought in by truck, or can be delivered as kits to be built.

I had a 12x20 at my old place and it was great. I could have insulated it, but since it didn't have power, I didn't bother. The shed was well made and very useful. It was installed on leveled concrete surface footings and tied down with 4 hurricane ground screws. Ours had a window in one end, with a people door, and a 10x7 roll up door in the other end.

After installation, I nailed headers to the outside and build a dirt floor pole barn on two sides of it for trailers, lawn equipment, etc. The pole barn section cost me about $650, because I salvaged the galvanized roof from an old shed I took down, but even if I had to buy galvanized roofing, it only would have raised the price by about $400.

We bought the shed used, from a dealer on craig's list, for about $2,200, and it was delivered and installed. I couldn't have built one with materials from Lowe's for that price.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. If you can find someone who is selling one, even if it isn't a dealer, I imagine that for a couple of hundred bucks, you could have it trucked in by a house trailer company.

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A shipping container?

That's what I would do. 8x20 or 8x40 can be had for $2,500 for one that's usable, or $5,000 for one that is practically new.

They have their own floors, and are easily moved. No need for building permits. They can also be modified without much effort.

For example, say you wanted your roll up doors on the side and not use the end doors:

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Originally posted by a1abdj:

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A shipping container?

That's what I would do. 8x20 or 8x40 can be had for $2,500 for one that's usable, or $5,000 for one that is practically new.

They have their own floors, and are easily moved. No need for building permits. They can also be modified without much effort.

For example, say you wanted your roll up doors on the side and not use the end doors:

I'm about 110% certain the wife would say no based on the appearances.

The concrete will be expensive and I'd get estimates on that for your location first. We've had two pole barns, one cabin, one quonset hut, and one concrete block garage built in the last 15 years. These have ranged in size from 12x24 to 30x60 and concrete was always a bit of a shocker.

A quonset hut in kit form relatively simple to build. Bolt some panels together to form an arch. Raise the arch and bolt it to the previous arch. Repeat.

I'm actually looking to build a similar sized outdoor workshop. Although with a wood floor vs concrete because of access.

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I'm about 110% certain the wife would say no based on the appearances.

Do you have Menard's in your area?

They sell post frame kits. If you go to their website you can view them with pricing. You'll have to add the concrete work and labor required for building to get your total cost.

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concrete was always a bit of a shocker.

We finished a 60x40 a few years back. The two garage doors and the concrete work individually each cost more than the building itself did.

Wood flooring on joists is doable sitting on blocks, maybe 1 block above grade.

A neighbor just had a pole barn/garage erected on his pre prepared leveled and graveled spot. 30' x 30' 6x6 treated post. Ten foot side walls. Metal roof and sides. One walk door, one window and an opening framed for a large overhead door but no door included. Double Bubble insulation walls and roof. It has a 2x6 wood belting around the bottom that will serve as a form for a future concrete floor if ever added.

$8700. Labor and Materials. A crew built it in one day, including digging the post holes and setting the post!