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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2013 01:35pm
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As some of you know I've built cabins all my life, and I still will, but I'd like to try to market ''Mini-garages''. I made a good living mostly by building small back yard storage sheds, thousands of them. I don't want that hectic pace anymore. I would like to veer away from building cabins. I drive too far and working without a crew , it takes too long for the amount of money I can charge. This new idea would be small 12x16' garages with 8'x 7' overhead doors, built in my shop and transported over the back of my truck, with just the cab sticking out. On site, I would back onto a slab or treated plank floor and set the building down. The truck will have a scissors lift that I will build myself. It will lift the building from under the trusses. Since I know my market quite well, I think I'll be able to make a good profit per building. Since I'm semi-retired I don't need to make sure that I sell enough to make a yearly income. I would offer roofing choice and siding choices. It looks like I would sell these for $3,200 to $3,500 plus $600 to $1000 for a floor. If gravel was needed I'd supply that and leveling for about $500 for 5 yds.
Owen
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Martian
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2013 03:48pm
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Owen, wouldn't that width require a load permit? Would your insurance company cover you for the transport? How would you counterbalance the 8' overhang to maintain good steering control? Would your load be over 13'6" high? I'm sure you know your cost and your market, but I'd think a trailer would be much better for transporting.
I know I moved a 12X 20 garage by jacking it up, screwing 2X10's down the sides, and running 6X6 beams across my trailer and under the 2X10's. It was still pretty shaky and required me to drive really slowly down the country roads. A heavier duty trailer would have been nice, and I wished I'd of had the bottom plate higher off the road surface.
Tom
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2013 04:11pm
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with our car being 15 ft 11 and the truck being 17 ft 4 that would not interest us at all. I also wonder about the actual ease and legality of transport vs stick building on the prepared slab.
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2013 04:57pm - Edited by: OwenChristensen
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Well I've been hauling 12' wide sheds and screenhouses for thirty years, it's done all the time. Permits are cheap. the truck bed is twelve feet long, with long wheelbase and the weight is far less than a one ton is rated for. The four foot overhang isn't a big concern. If I need to I'll get a longer truck. The reason I want to haul it on the truck is to keep the load low and easier to back onto the location. The height is not a problem. On site I'd have the option of lowering the building to clear wires by that foot if needed. A 12 wide with 5/12 pitch is 11' high and with a foot of clearance from the ground it still below most legal wires. I'm mostly worried about price, and how they will sell.
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Martian
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2013 08:15pm
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Sounds like you have all the logistics covered.
As to whether they will sell, or not, I think it would depend on the size being appropriate. I haven't measured cars; so I'm really not sure how applicable the size is. I would think the deciding factor would be the customer's cost of having a larger structure built on site.
Everybody wants as big a garage as possible, and if they could have a 14X20 built onsite for not that much more than your structure, then they will, most likely, go that route. The extra width allows for storage on the sides which is going to be limited in a 12' wide structure. The extra width also possibly negates the need for an additional storage building; so that expense can be rolled into the cost of the larger space. So, I think it all comes down to perceived value and cost.
How good a salesman are you?
Tom
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davey25
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2013 10:56pm
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Way to small..good for minis or smart cars maybe
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 10 Mar 2013 10:18am
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Maybe that's my mistake. Even though I called them mini-garages, I did not figure they would be used for cars. Up here we all have storage sheds. They are used for our fourwheelers, lawnmowers, snowmobiles, tillers etc. Everyone needs storage. In my past I actually got a little more for sheds that size. They were built more simply, lower ceiling, sidewalls and overhangs, and swinging doors. The advantage here is to give bigger all round dimensions and a real overhead door. I couldn't use regular overhead doors with the lower ceiling before. By building in my shop I'll be able to build so much faster than on site. I plan on building two per day.
Owen
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Paul
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# Posted: 10 Mar 2013 04:54pm
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I think this is a good idea. it doesnt sound like it would take much over head. you can market it as master craftsmanship at pre-fab prices lol. my only suggestion would be to contact a few homeowners association in the suburbs and tell them you are willing to custom design sheds to fit their rules and codes. I think the idea of off-site construction would be appealing to them. make sure you have a good user-friendly website and you will do great.
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 10 Mar 2013 08:16pm - Edited by: OwenChristensen
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I'm getting a little old for real hard work, but I have a couple adult kids that can do most of it. One thing, although storage sheds have little regulation, I'd build these to housing codes, 16'' stud spacing , triple plates, ect. That will actually make it easier to hire carpenters that are used to building in a certain way. It does cost more, but I can market the difference.
Owen
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