I called up our favorite framing team of Gary and Troy Ellis in early January. Business was slow so they thought they could start it by mid February. Last Tuesday Gary called and said they'd be ready to start tomorrow. Holy Crap, I had stuff to do to get ready for this new project.
OK, by now you know something is fishy (or crabby) about this story. Our new house is an 80 sq. ft shed. In our county, you can build a structure less than 100 sq. ft in area without a permit or any inspections—finally a good deal for home builders. This little shed will house all the gardening and other toys, like our generator and chain saw.
I'd formed up the foundation when the driveway was poured in Oct. 2009, so Mike Fitzgerald (concrete guy) poured a little 4" thick pad with rebar and hold downs for the cost of the concrete and some beer. Not a bad deal. I had laid two electrical lines out to the pad and brought them up through the floor in 2" conduit. These are for power out to the shed and power from the generator back to the house. The pad has been sitting there for about 15 months and was as cured as it would get.
The Ellis boys framed out the shed, sheathed it, put tar paper on the roof, hung the window and door, and trimmed them out as well as the frame for the rock siding in two and a half days (5 man days). Those guys don't mess around! Now there's still some work left for me, like a months worth (at my pace). We have to paint all the trim and door, put the wire mesh and mortar bed on for the El Dorado stone (rock) facing, roof the shed (1 square), and hang about 6 bundles of shingles. Master shingle-dipper Nancy is being called back into service, but I think we'll have to wait for warmer and drier weather. Luckily the shingles can go on last.Kala Point requires that any free standing structures (wood, garden or tool shed; gazebo, or green house) match the main house in terms of style and colors. So basically we're building a little doll-house about 3% the size of the big house. Cost will be about $5k when its done, or $62.50 per sq. ft (much like garage construction costs). The main house clocked in at about $200 per sq. ft (not counting the unheated areas).
