$11,300 2 Story Home Depot Shed to Tiny House

Waaaaaay back in 1996 my husband and I bought a little 10x16 shed kit to convert to a cabin. We had bought 5 acres recreation property a few years before, it had no electricity, and a steep sketch road in. The shed kit was perfect because all the boards were pre cut, was easier to bring in and just had to be assembled. We added windows, a strong foundation base with a 4’ front deck and got it all up in about 3 weeks. That winter our cabin property got a record snow fall, and turns out… the shed kit roof wasn’t Streep or strong enough. Snow flattened the roof and spread the walls. So the following summer we pulled in the walls, put a steeper roof on and covered the 10x4 front deck area. It was a disaster that turned into a blessing, cause the steeper roof meant we could add a loft. 27 years later a lot has change, and been added on and we’ve developed more building skills and experience along the way, and we’ve been able to bring our kids along on the journey. Which is priceless of course. All that to say, 27 years ago people though we were preeettyy weird for turning a shed into a cabin. Now we’re Cool! 😆. I do have a small channel and hope to film our shed cabin journey sometime soon.

At one of our Home Depot stores, there is a salesman in one of these finished out buildings on the lot during 9-5 hours.

They are really starting to make these "sheds" look more and more like actual tiny homes. I mean for crying out loud, a lot these that I'm seeing actually have a second story with windows at the top and even a porch. What normal shed looks like that? It's almost as if the manufacturers are doing this knowing that more people will try to buy them up for the intended purposes of converting them into actual livable homes while still trying to hide behind the "shed" label. It's such a sly idea. But it works.

I live in DFW with my wife and daughter. There's just too many people here and the cost of living just seems to climb each month. I'm strongly considering something like this here. Currently paying $2,400 for a 2 bedroom apartment with nothing included. It seemed like a waste so long ago when rent was 1400, but now its even more ridiculous than ever.

Build on a concrete slab. You will not have to be concerned about rodents or floor rot over the years. A better insulation factor. The few extra dollars will certainly be worth it. Plus new home buyers will have greater confidence in buying that home. Because not many people like the idea of getting up underneath trying to locate floor rot when they go to buy a home. Then there is also the idea of the home being built better on a solid foundation. Where the home can withstand high and strong wind resistance. Because it is bolted to the concrete foundation. Concrete today has become much more affordable because of pump trucks and other innovative solutions. If you have a lot of time on your hands you can always rent a mixer and do it yourself. Make sure you get help on how to place bolts in concrete. There are many inexpensive methods today.

I just bought a 12x36 cabin from the UPB dealer in Hattiesburg MS. It only took about 3 weeks from ordering to delivery! Thanks for informing me about UPB, they were really great to work with. The building is solid and looks great. Now to finish the interior, insulating the ceiling will be first.

Having a professions run electric($5,000), water($3,000), insulation($2,000), drywall($1,000), flooring/carpet($3,000), AND having city electric($4,000), water($1,000)/sewer($2,000), permits/inspections($4,000) and these are lower-mid range costs. So not counting the physical building, hvac, furniture, driveway, land, insurance, property taxes, etc. you could spend $25,000. Add in everything and I could see the price climb to $60,000-80,000.

A tiny house, or as we call it in Europe, a house.

I'll admit, you gave me some inspiration for an off grid house

Last yr, my son's friend bought this and we wired it for him in a weekend! Elec hot water tank went under the stair landing. Elec Panel was above that with elec service meter on the N end of the building. Circuits went up through upper and lower stair well walls. Toilet, shower, was under stairs, 30" door on rt end. Kitchen cabinets from stair to bathroom door. Wood stove in S. back corner of liv room. Mini/split AC N end, next to elec service. Upstairs big bedroom and sleeper/sofa down stairs for company.

I keep looking at the model near me. I can easily see the second floor as my living space, downstairs would be pantry space. Kitchen and outhouse are external. Totally doable.

$11,300 for the shell and 3x more to make it livable.

If people have to convert sheds to houses, your societies housing market is in a bad way.

Our friend's Tuff Shed roof sagged and walls spread after heavy rains! We pulled the walls back in with come-alongs, Bolted steel cables thru the wall headers, next to each roof rafter with turn buckles in the center for adjusting. Then added an L shaped brace above the ceiling and short vertical 2x4's bracing the center ridge. Building wouldn't have passed a framing inspection as-is but the guys who built the kit weren't framers and there was no inspections out in the country... Glad we caught it in the elec rough in stage!

Under the stair area you could put a washer dryer combo unit. Just a thought

You can buy 2 of these and put them back to back...that would double the square space!

I see those sheds dealerships on the side of the road. They always seem to KNOW someone who can rough in plumbing, electrical or upgrade windows. It's almost like you are buying into a RELATIONSHIP too.

I did a walk through yesterday it was gorgeous

I heard lots of home depots don't show these anymore on their lots. At least not the ones in my area don't. Only 11,000 sounds like a steal.

I thought about getting one of these tiny homes and rent it out for an airbnb type thing for some extra income or converting it into a mancave that I can do whatever I want to without upsetting anyone who lives with me.