Bike Shed Recommendation Needed

I’d stay away from box kits, since you can’t see the quality of the wood inside before purchasing it. And most designs don’t have much headroom for hanging the bikes up and out of the way, they’re designed to be small and hold lawnmower and yard tools.

If you 1.) have time 2.) are even sort of handy, and 3.) want something particular I’d say build your own, or find plans online and hire someone to build it. I spent $10 on some plans from http://www.icreatables.com/, and bought the materials from Home Depot and ABC Distributors. I didn’t have anyone to help me, or any experience, so it took quite a few Saturday afternoons, but I was in no hurry. Four years on, it’s holding up very well. I would guess I spent $1,000 or a bit more on materials and tools. It’s 8×10 with a prehung door.

@kingman762 155931 wrote:

We are moving to a new house and will lose our current indoor bike storage, so I need a shed for the bikes. I’m looking to store my cyclocross bike, the cargo bike (its a Yuba Boda Boda so it’s not huge), the wife bike, and one to two kids bikes.

Any suggestions?

Need more info to make recommendation. Budget? Any codes or HOA restrictions to contend with? How long do you need to to last? How secure does it need to be? Bikes take up more space than you think too.

@Vicegrip 156001 wrote:

Need more info to make recommendation. Budget? Any codes or HOA restrictions to contend with? How long do you need to to last? How secure does it need to be? Bikes take up more space than you think too.

This is Vicegrips idea of a “shed”

@EasyRider 156010 wrote:

Dunno about HOA, but IIRC, Arlington County doesn’t require a permit for a shed that is under 200 square feet. That’s enormous for a “shed”. There is a setback requirement, however.

I didn’t think there was a setback requirement for free-standing sheds. Or is it very small — e.g. 1 ft? We have an 8×10 shed ~ 1 foot from fence line.

Arlington Residential Setbacks

@rcannon100 156024 wrote:

Arlington Residential Setbacks

My reading on page 3 is that as long as it’s an interior lot and the shed is not two stories, Hozn is not going to prison. Appears to be a 1 foot setback requirement.

It’s driving me crazy that the drawings are nowhere close to scale.

@rcannon100 156012 wrote:

This is Vicegrips idea of a “shed”

You say that like it is a bad thing……

Not “organic” enough for me. Kind of like trying to work with new overalls on. You just can’t get anything done until you stop trying to stay clean.

FFC has the same sort of no permit, short setback rules regarding sheds as Arl. If you are handy building one from scratch is a little bit cheaper than buying a pre-made or kit. Be sure to stay in the four foot by eight foot world. Staying with dimensions that work with standard sheet plywood and eight foot 2X4s Makes things easier and keeps the scrap down to a min. An 7X13 footprint is tough but a 8X12 works well with stock lumber.

For pricing. Basic materials list for a 8X12 shed with a 8 foot roof in front and lean too type roof. Very easy to build with basic tools of a circular saw, tape measure, hammer, box knife and no hard angles to figure or cut.

Floor is 3 sheets of 3/4 plywood (2) 2x6x12 (10) 2x6x8
Back wall is 7’x12′. 3 sheets of T-111 (2) 2x4x12 (7) 2x4x8 Save the drops for shelving inside.
Two side walls. Each is 2 sheet T-111 (7) 2×4
Two front walls* Each made from one sheet T-111 and (4) 2×4.
4 foot door. One sheet T-111 and (4) 2×4.
Roof (12) 2x4x12 and 4 sheets of CDX sheathing and (2) 3/4x10x12 pre-painted wood for trim around the edges of the roof.
Roof is 144 SF. You will need 2 pounds of nails 5 bundles of shingles and one small roll of tar paper and a roll of screen to cover the underside of the eaves.
Nails, paint, hinges and lock for the door and what ever foundation is called for depending on the location of the shed. Can add 3/4×4 trim wood on the corners and around the door for looks.

@Vicegrip 156035 wrote:

You say that like it is a bad thing……

Not “organic” enough for me. Kind of like trying to work with new overalls on. You just can’t get anything done until you stop trying to stay clean.

FFC has the same sort of no permit, short setback rules regarding sheds as Arl. If you are handy building one from scratch is a little bit cheaper than buying a pre-made or kit. Be sure to stay in the four foot by eight foot world. Staying with dimensions that work with standard sheet plywood and eight foot 2X4s Makes things easier and keeps the scrap down to a min. An 7X13 footprint is tough but a 8X12 works well with stock lumber.

For pricing. Basic materials list for a 8X12 shed with a 8 foot roof in front and lean too type roof. Very easy to build with basic tools of a circular saw, tape measure, hammer, box knife and no hard angles to figure or cut.

Floor is 3 sheets of 3/4 plywood (2) 2x6x12 (10) 2x6x8
Back wall is 7’x12′. 3 sheets of T-111 (2) 2x4x12 (7) 2x4x8 Save the drops for shelving inside.
Two side walls. Each is 2 sheet T-111 (7) 2×4
Two front walls* Each made from one sheet T-111 and (4) 2×4.
4 foot door. One sheet T-111 and (4) 2×4.
Roof (12) 2x4x12 and 4 sheets of CDX sheathing and (2) 3/4x10x12 pre-painted wood for trim around the edges of the roof.
Roof is 144 SF. You will need 2 pounds of nails 5 bundles of shingles and one small roll of tar paper and a roll of screen to cover the underside of the eaves.
Nails, paint, hinges and lock for the door and what ever foundation is called for depending on the location of the shed. Can add 3/4×4 trim wood on the corners and around the door for looks.

I’d maybe add 3 4×4’s to put the shed on skids so you have the option to move it more easily.