Dave's Wood Shelter

[flyer]

Dave\'s Wood Shelter

I am about to undertake my first major project at our new farm: a wood shelter. Attached is a picture of the site I selected just outside our backdoor, along with 2 1/2 cords of wood waiting for a home behind the site. The site is between two trees; the inside dimension between the trees is about 13 feet.

Here is what I'm thinking of doing, but thought you guys here at TBN might have some suggestions. I'm new to building things like this, but no time like the present to get started. I'm planning on building a simple lean-to based from the two trees: the trees will probably be the lower end of the lean-to roof, and then the roof will rise to two 4x4 corner poles. I'm thinking of leveling off the ground with my front-loader, and then place pallets as the floor of the shelter. Then I'll dig the post holes with a friends 3PH post-hole digger, lay a 3-4" concrete footer/cookie as a base for the posts. The roof will extend from the 4x4's to the trees, then extend behind the trees a few feet. The depth of the shelter will be 6-8 feet, 2x4 or 2x6 rafters with plywood/shingle roof.

Any input is greatly appreciated, otherwise I'll post my progress as I can!

 

[SCB]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

Dave,
If you are going to have a post hole digger at hand, I would advise to use 4 posts and not tie off to the trees. If you nail or lagbolt two 2x4's per side, attached to the posts running front to back (one on top and one on bottom), it will give you support between the posts and also give you something to nail slats to for holding up the rows of firewood. I would also run two 4x4's (one front and one back) left to right on top of the posts. This will give your structure the stiffness it needs and also give you support for setting your rafters on. Set the 2x4 rafters on end to give the needed support for the roofing. I have made many wood shelters. Some from scrap wood at hand and some that will last a lifetime. There are many ways to do it, but this is how I usually do it for one that I am going to keep. And the style looks good too. Make sure you use treated wood for your project so it will last. Have fun and remember to measure twice and cut once.

 

[Egon]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

Think I'd build a free standing structure on skids so that a future move to new location is feasable. Also much easier to build. One of those trees will be not last forever.

Egon

 

[Wannafish]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

Trees...they may not last forever, but while they do last, they will also continue to grow. Within 2 years your roof will be pulling away from the rest of the shelter. Also, the trees sway in the wind and will cause the attachment point of anything attached to them to to weaken. You would be surprised you quickly 16 penny nails will shear in two.

I've gone this route, and am the wiser for it. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

You got some great advice, especially about the not using the trees as support.

You might want to rethink the location in this new perspective of making it free standing or on skids. I really liked the skids idea. Consider the path you will take to bring the wood into the house and the path you use to bring the wood to the wood pile.

Have fun.

 

[flyer]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

Thanks for the advice! It sounds like there's a quorum on NOT tying the structure to the trees. I think I will heed that advice.

Steve - based on your advice, I'm picturing a 4x4 arch, one in the front, one in the back: for each, two vertical 4x4 footed in the ground attached together with a 4x4 at the top. The 2x4 rafters would run between the horizontal 4x4s between each arch. You say I should lay them "on end", but I'm having a hard time picturing that. Should I bevel the rafters (to the angle desired for the roof), lay them on the 4x4s and then toe-nail them? Or miter the ends to the correct angle and then use joist hangers? Any other suggestions?

Also, would 16" on-center rafters be sufficient?

I'm also thinking about your comments about building my own slats for the floor instead of pallets. My only concern here is lumber cost. I definitely want something on the ground for ventilation and to keep the wood from rotting. If I were to build the floor myself, I'm thinking that I would want to add another horizontal 4x4 or 2x4 running left to right between the vertical posts on the front and the back (making the "arch" a "square"), and then run joists front to back at ground level. Then I would place 1x4 or 1x6 decking on the joists.

Oh, I just thought of another feature I was planning on adding, and that is slats on the side for end support of the wood stacks. They would have at least 6" between them to allow air circulation, but hopefully not let the wood fall out.

Starting to sound like a fortress!

 

[RayBee]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

Flyer: ..... Here's my woodshed (nothing fancy) just 6 cedar poles
3 feet deep & concrete backfill, 2x6 plate to receive rafters @ 24 in..
Later I added shed roof on 3 additional posts, ...needed more storage
for trailer. No walls & replaceable wood pallets for floor under 5 cords
of firewood. It's held up for 35 years ...so far /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BigEddy]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

For your floor - use pallets. 3 years from now, it will be rotted out anyway. Lift the old pallets out, drag them over to the burn pile, and drop some fresh replacements in. If you size your shed right you can just drop new ones in. Try to get North American pallets, unless you want to risk importing the Asian Long Horn beetle to your place.

My Wood shed is almost completely built from pallets from my local JD Dealer. Got a few of the long ones (16') stood on edge for the back wall, a few scrounged 4x4 posts for the front , and then some used 2x6's I had lying around for rafters. The roof sheeting came from Gator boxes, which were 3/8 ply back then. (Think they're just plastic on 1x3's now). Total cost $15 for 2 burst bundles of shingles at my local Cashway. All the posts are sitting on 12" round concrete flagstones, gravity makes it stay put. Been there about 10 years now and no worse for wear. She ain't pretty, but the wood's dry. I've got it well hidden behind trees anyway.

 

[flyer]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

RayBee -
Nice shelter. Is that about 16' x 10' ground area by about 4-5' high? I like the overhang also, that looks about 2' or so.

 

[RayBee]

Re: Dave\'s Wood Shelter

flyer: ... The original part (trailer) is 8x16
the shed roof portion is also 8x16 plus 2ft overhang @ 4'-6" above ground on low end.