Looking to build a 10x12 shed and would like opinions on the prefab options (Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, Sams) vs building it yourself.

The last time I did one, it was Marginally cheaper to build yourself. I recently bought one for an office and I think it was 11k…12x24 fully framed, on skids, delivered, metal roof and walls, sheathed, doors, windows, ready to add electrical. I think when I priced it out, I couldn't do it for much cheaper and if it was, it was T worth the time invested for me. You'd have to work the numbers now.

Nothing wrong with prefab. Lumber is lumber. It's still built by hand at the factory. Mine was anyway, full 1" thick floors, 2x4 framing, etc

I think there's a lot of personal preference and circumstance that dictates which option is better. I ended up building my own for several reasons. As mentioned by BrazosDog02, the cost for a like-for-like shed from a big-box store is probably slightly cheaper going for it yourself, but I think you can really come out ahead if you're trying to customize it, or go for a nicer shed, like a metal skin.

In my situation, I was trying to use a long narrow space, and couldn't find a good commercial option anyway, so I designed a very long 5x15 metal shed, which ended up being a great use of the space and let me customize it for my use. I also personally really enjoy spending time designing and executing DIY projects and learning new skills, so if the savings is marginal, I'm likely still going to go for it myself. Sometimes, the freedom to configure for my needs even makes up for a little extra cost.

Some lessons I learned:

• The good - Really like metal for a shed exterior. Once you figure out trim, it's easy to cover up corners, and makes for a super durable and weather resistant finish. I used painter's tape to outline where my shed would sit, and spent time playing Tetris with my hardware different ways until I felt like I had the best layout for both storage and easy-access. Definitely worth the time spent. I built in a lot of shelving - especially handy is a set of shelves for 5 gallon buckets of fertilizers, sand, and other landscaping granule bags. I think buckets make it easier to manage when you don't use a whole bag of product. Got my air compressor installed in the back and plumbed over to the garage, so I've got it out of the way and easy access to noise-free air for my tools.

• The bad - I also built my door with metal. It wasn't bad and works great, but I think in hindsight I should have at least picked a standard door size so that I could easily replace it with a pre-fabricated door if I needed to. I also should have made the whole shed longer. I had the space and it would have been easy to do. Have acquired additional tools that would prefer to park out there. I'm sure that's a common regret, so go bigger than you think you need.

Hope that helps - good luck. Let me know if you want me to post some pics.

I put this one up last December. I was pleased with the ease and quality for the price. This is just to store lawn equipment, etc. so didn't need anything special and it's sufficient for that.

It depends on how you choose to build it and what sort of quality you want. Most prefab shed kits are built with 1x3s at 24" OC and sheathed in Hardie Panel. They aren't the sturdiest things around, but all you have to do is follow the instructions.

Reasonably speaking, I would expect a DIY design/build to cost more than a kit, but less than a kit with hired installation labor.

Here's an extreme custom DIY example - I designed and built this for just under $10K:
https://texags.com/forums/61/topics/3300955

What material do you want it to be out of? Wood vs steel vs resin?

In-the-day, school's out summertime decided my 2 boys & gals if interested would build a shed and we all learn something to boot + save money, build stronger to last.

Priced out materials only with exteriors that would need maintenance, e.g. shingles & siding with foundation options conc.slab vs framed on blocks. VERY aware of the summer sweat "equity".

Then priced out a pre-build shed, treated ply-floor, framed on blocks, delivered, all metal exterior.
No future maintenance, no summer sweat.

You know the result, of course
and it's still standing.
Above ground is imperative in our weather and back yard "grading" or lack of.
Maintenance every 5 years = brushing tree debris off roof.

Wednesday, July 19, 1995
Portable Building Outlet HWY 6 Bryan
Morgan Dutch Barn 10x12' V9TACSAN H-1
Front door, rear SH window, treated floor
Delivered & leveled above ground
$1834.84

I've about convinced myself to DIY it. I found the plans below that seem pretty easy to follow. I've priced HD and I think I'll save about $1500 going the DIY route. I'll have to adjust the roof and walls slightly bc HOA wont allow anything higher than 8.5'

https://buildblueprint.com/12-x-10-garden-shed-plans/

Has to be wood per HOA.

Built one with my dad several years and a couple moves ago. Cost about $1300. All in


When we moved to our next home, bought a tuff shed direct from them. Came with 5 year warranty. Cost about $1600 installed.

Both we great sheds, and I wouldn't have traded the time with my dad for anything. I miss thst shed

I've got a 10x10 slab I had poured shortly before the lumber prices went crazy. At the time the plan was to buy a prefab Tuff Shed to go on it, with siding, painted to match the house.

So far, it is still just a slab, and currently pondering having it extended to 10x12.

It is located right next to the pool equipment which has it's own sub panel, so I planned to run electricity to the shed as well. Main use is just to store lawn equipment and what not, freeing up space in the garage and have a small work space in it.

When I got a quote from Tuffshed they were a couple grand higher than HD and Lowes.

seems like they are much better quality than the prefab from HD or Lowes, but maybe i'm wrong

One more data point, just finished an 8x12 with a single slope roof, clerestory windows, extended overhangs, and hardie b&b siding similar to RTT's without the interior finish out (just primer and paint on the interior) for under 3500. Similar tough shed without the design elements I wanted was going to be triple the cost.

Triple?!? exterior finished, but interior rough finished essentially?

Yeah, I've had a similar experience with Tuffshed. Their prices are crazy high.

Care to share some shelving pictures?

I would've built my shed but didn't have time. Overall I'm happy with my "we come to you & build it" shed but the doors are slightly low & occasionally I knock the crap out of my hard head.

I am currently customizing it by adding lofts, shelving & electrical.

You bet.

From the door (about 15 feet to the back wall). I tried really hard to maintain a walkway so you can grab anything small without rolling out all the big equipment:


A better view of the buckets on the shelves (edited with better photo). Ordered the big equipment by how much it gets used - all of it rolls out on casters or wheels:


I had some similar like this on the back wall for paint and lawn chemical storage, but when I moved my air compressor in, I swapped the location of these items and eliminated the shelves. I added this to my FIL's lean-to shed:


Exterior:

I want that!

I'm in Utah, do I need to do anything special with the foundation? Tuffshed guy says that 4-6 inches of gravel will work for this size shed. Some stuff on the internet says to place concrete piers on the corners that go down below the frost line.

MrJonMan said:

---

Triple?!? exterior finished, but interior rough finished essentially?

---

Yes, they quoted around $11k for the size I was looking for without all of the tweaks I made to mine that make it unique.