Projects

Forester Style Shed 31

Custom Forester Style Shed Size: 12W x 10D EXTERIOR Siding: Hardie Lap Siding 7” reveal Roof: Extended 2ft. and Standard

Posted on April 12, 2022

Rancher Style Shed 35

Custom Rancher Style Shed Size: 12W x 10D This shed traveled all the way to Spokane to be used as

Posted on March 11, 2022

Rancher Style Shed 32

Custom Rancher Style Shed Size: 10W x 12D EXTERIOR Siding: Hardie Lap Siding with 7” Reveal Cedarmill Texture Roof: CertainTeed

Posted on February 18, 2022

Questions & Answers

What sizes of sheds does The Original Mini Barns build?

Standard sizes run from 4×8 at 32 square feet up to 12×20 at 240 square feet, in widths of 8, 10 and 12 feet. Common footprints in between include 8×10, 8×12, 10×12, 10×16 and 12×16. Larger buildings cost less per square foot, since fixed costs spread across more floor area. Custom designing and building is the company's specialty, so sizes and layouts can be adapted to a specific yard or use.

What areas does The Original Mini Barns deliver and install custom sheds in?

The Original Mini Barns is a local, family-owned builder serving Western Washington, working from a shop at 6303 212th St SW, Ste D, Lynnwood, WA 98036. Anyone unsure whether a property falls within range can call 425-398-0566 for confirmation before going further.

Are the sheds delivered pre-built or built on site?

Both, in a sense. Each building is prefabricated and painted in the Lynnwood shop, then panelized so most sections travel to the property and are assembled there, which keeps time and disruption on the property to a minimum. Structures with bare-bones interiors are installed in one to two days; fully finished structures take 12 to 14 business days to allow time for electrical work and inspections.

What can a backyard shed be used for besides storage?

Storage is only the starting point. The Original Mini Barns builds detached offices and studios, home gyms, workshops, custom golf sheds, media rooms, art and crafting studios, garden and storage sheds, ticket offices and retail pop-up shops — and even spaces for practicing hockey shots without damaging the house. The company's position is that all things are possible.

Can a shed be designed online before contacting The Original Mini Barns?

Yes. The 3D Shed Builder allows a style, size and options to be selected and viewed first. Completed projects can also be browsed by style, and a customer need only reference the style and number of one they like when requesting a quote.

Process & Site Preparation

How long does installation take?

Structures with bare-bones interiors are installed in one to two days. Fully finished structures take 12 to 14 business days, because the schedule allows time for electrical work and inspections. Most sections are panelized in the shop beforehand specifically to keep time on the property short.

What foundation is required, and is site preparation included?

The customer provides a prepped, level lot. A well-prepared foundation is essential to prevent settling. For a gravel foundation, the recommendation is 4 inches of 5/8-minus crushed gravel, compacted well and spread one foot beyond the perimeter of the building — the extra foot provides drainage and keeps weeds at bay.

For concrete, the slab should be poured 4 inches above grade and one inch short of the shed's length and width, so the wall can be tied directly to the concrete and the exterior siding draped over the edges, locking out any moisture from entering the floor. Site preparation is not provided in-house, but referrals are available to trusted companies that have assisted most customers over the years.

Can a shed be built on a sloped or uneven yard?

Within limits. Every building sits on pressure-treated 4×4 skids with 4-inch concrete leveling blocks, and up to 6 inches of leveling is included. Beyond that, the ground needs to be brought level before installation, which is work arranged separately with a landscaper. A well-prepared foundation is what prevents the structure from settling and keeps it functioning correctly for years.

How much access is needed to get a shed into a backyard?

Usually very little. Because most sections are panelized and carried in, the typical requirement is an access point 3 feet wide and 10 feet tall, plus enough room to get around the corners of the house.

Materials & Construction

What comes standard on every building?

Every building includes 2×4 Douglas fir studs — 16" O/C floor, 24" O/C walls and trusses — with double top plates, 3/4-inch CDX plywood flooring, 1/2-inch CDX roof plywood, Douglas fir T1-11 vertical slat siding, a moisture barrier in the roof, floor and walls using synthetic roof paper and Tyvek house wrap, a 30-year black architectural composition roof, pressure-treated 4×4 skids with 4-inch concrete leveling blocks, and a 36", 42" or 48" single out-swing door with a keyed lever or T-handle lockable handle and black colonial hinges. Delivery and installation on a prepped, level lot are included, along with a limited 5-year warranty on workmanship.

Will a wood shed hold up in Pacific Northwest rain?

That depends entirely on what it is built from. These buildings are 100% wood, with no inferior, toxic particle board or OSB anywhere — OSB is wood chips and glue, and once it swells through a wet Washington winter it stays swollen. Every building gets a moisture barrier in the roof, floor and walls, 3/4-inch CDX plywood flooring, Douglas fir siding, pressure-treated skids and a 30-year architectural roof. The Original Mini Barns has been building for this climate since 1983.

What is the difference between the Rancher, Forester, Craftsman and Barn styles?

The roof line, and it drives both the look and the price. Rancher is a traditional gable with a 6:12 pitch and the most affordable roof line. Craftsman is also gabled but with a steeper 12:12 pitch that gives more usable volume upstairs. Forester uses a single slant roof. Barn style uses a gambrel roof, which also opens up loft space. Forester and Craftsman run around 10 percent above Rancher, and Barn style around 20 percent above.

Can a storage loft be added?

Yes, and it is described as the best-value addition offered. A loft turns unused roof volume into storage, and on buildings with side walls over 12 feet it also serves as the spreader element required to keep the walls from spreading. Styles with steeper roof pitches — Craftsman and Barn — give the most usable volume upstairs.

How tall are the walls, and can they be made taller?

Standard wall height is 7 feet 4½ inches, and it can be upgraded to taller or specified shorter if needed. Two structural notes carry cost: gables over 12 feet must have manufactured trusses, and side walls over 12 feet need a spreader element such as a loft or 4×4 to keep the walls from spreading.

What does the 5-year warranty cover?

Every building carries a limited 5-year warranty on workmanship. It does not include settling, which is why a properly prepared and compacted foundation matters, and it does not include items covered under a manufacturer's own warranty.

Can a shed be painted to match the house?

Yes. Any local paint store brand and color can be used. The customer provides the paint and the color details early in the process, and the walls are pre-painted in the shop, out of the elements of Washington weather, before installation for an extra charge. Primed whitewood siding can also be requested for anyone who would rather paint it themselves.

Offices, Studios & Permits

Can a shed be finished as a real home office with power, insulation and heat?

Yes. A finished, occupied building typically adds an insulation package, which is essential for any occupied building in Washington, plus an electrical package, an interior heating package, windows, and an interior wall finish in tongue and groove, cabinet grade or CDX. Finished structures take 12 to 14 business days on site, because the schedule allows time for electrical work and inspections. A finished building costs meaningfully more than the base structure, so a full quote is the right basis for budgeting.

Who runs the electrical from the house to the shed?

Two separate pieces of work. The electrical package covers the building's own wiring. The run from the house is contracted separately with an electrician — The Original Mini Barns works with several regularly. It should be budgeted as a third-party cost alongside site preparation and any permit fees.

Is a permit needed for a backyard shed or office?

It depends on size, use and jurisdiction. A straightforward garden storage building requires no permit in most local jurisdictions. An occupied, conditioned building such as a backyard office falls outside the storage exemption and requires a permit in most cases, as does a larger workshop at around 240 square feet. Permit fees are set by the jurisdiction and paid as a third-party cost. Permit-exempt structures in unincorporated Snohomish County may not have heating systems.

What windows, doors and deck options can be added to a shed?

Windows come as picture, single-hung or slider units, with skylights also available. Door options include double shed doors at 36 or 42 inches each, a single or double fiberglass door, and slider or patio doors — the latter two being common choices for an office or studio where light matters. A composite deck, stairs and ramp can be added outside, and roof vents and wall vents can be added for airflow. All of these are quoted individually, since cost scales with the size and specification of the building.

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