As a word of experience, design it to look like your house or at least
A house; the next owners can use it for mother-in-law, guest, whatever
and then it becomes a plus. Also, it will attract less objections than
another storage/garage,etc. building. For what it is worth, 20 X 20 is
ridiculously small in your case. It is ALWAYS cheaper to build it
larger now than later. I would also look at the Keystone blocks as a
possibility for the exterior if you could pour concrete in them with
rebar.
..
On Thu, 4 Sep 2003 11:04:48 -0700, "-linux_lad" john at linuxlad dot
org wrote:

Having a home shop in a garage is fine if you only use it once in a while. The
problem is that I have to share the place with four cars, my tool collection, and
all our other junk. I'm thinking that my best option is to build a "shed" in the
back yard and migrate my shop to it. I live in Sacramento, CA, and the city buiding
code is difficult for amateurs like myself to interpret . As I understand it, one
needs a permit for any structure over 150 square feet regardless of the structure's
purpose. Last year, I built an enclosure to my patio with the help of a neighbor who
was a retired contractor who took care of all the bothersome details. He's deceased
now, and I wish I had spent more time learning about his trade.
What I plan to do is build a basic 20' x 20' structure along the lines of a storage
shed and add electricity later when it's time to start using it as an
honest-to-goodness shop. I have all of the tools and equipment neccessary for this
shed project, so my only expenses would be for the materials, plans, and food/beer
for my helpers. For now, it would just serve as storage for car parts and engines, a
big hand tool collection, garden tools, and a bunch of power tools I inherited years
ago. I mostly copy shaker furniture with hand tools and give away to family and
friends, but it's a pain in the ass to use the garage (my current shop) for this.

I know that local codes vary, but I have some general questions I hope someone can
answer:

1) Is a four inch thick slab foundation adequate for this and likely to be approved?
Should. Everything is screwy in Kalifornia though.

2) Am I correct in assuming I can build a plain box (16" OC studs) with a truss
roof, sliding doors and call it good for now?
Design to look as a little house or something attractive.

3) I have calculated the cost of the lumber based on Home Depot prices. The shed
would be constructed of 2x4 studs with no interior finishing and 3/4" exterior grade
sheathing. The roof would be trusses sheathed in OSB and covered in shingles. I plan
to have two (single) sliding doors on north and east sides, and maybe a couple of
plexiglass windows. Is there any reason why this wouldn't be appropriate?
Hard to say w/o seeing doors. Forget the plexiglass windows, They will
break down quickly in UV rays. I learned the hard way.

4) Would adding electricity to the shed (converting it to a shop) a year from now
have any affect on the permit that I built the shop on? In other words, is a shed
divergently different than workshop?
Be careful with your wording; that may/will influence your permit. A
workshop denotes sales, employees, taxes, extra permits for business,
dangerous chemicals, fire ratings and so forth. Call it something else
like a small addition. If it LOOKS like a house, everyone will ASSUME
it IS a house. Until you turn your planer on at 2:00 in the morning.
Put in a standard 200 amp panel.

5) Many codes have a 36" min distance to lot line for residences. The city's website
gives no clue on this rule for storage sheds, but I'm assuming it holds for any
structure. Am I correct or is there a general exclusion for non-occupied structures?
Ask the inspector. Again, remember you will not live forever and you
owe the next owner some flexability. It will KILL the price of a house
if he can't use it.

6) I intend to make the trusses myself. Does anyone have any experience with the
engineered wood beams and trusses? It's possible to buy pre-built trusses here for
about the same as it would cost to buy the retail lumber, but it's hardly a deal if
they suck.
BUY your trusses. A crane and 2 men will put them on in one day
easily. It is amazing. The wierd thing is it was cheaper to buy them
than make them. Go figure.

7) The proposed location of the fundation is 103 feet from the street. Can the
concrete be pumped to the form without the truck mauling my lawn?
Easily. We pumped a tennis court 120' one time. Just went right over 2
other courts. I thought it was a real deal (thinking how it would be
to use a bunch of wheelbarrows).

8) In this type of structure, does the poured foundation have to be inspected before
the walls go up?
Ask your inspector. May be BEFORE and AFTER.

If anyone lives nearby, might I request your assistance in planning this?
Sure. I live in Arkansas but for a retainer fee, plane fees, meals,
etc, I willl be glad to assist.

Best regards to all,