Flat Roof Shed/carport?

K

Kris Schaumburg

Well-known member
Anybody have any construction experience or a good site for plans? I have an existing slab and would like to concrete in 6x6 posts around the edges and then frame up a shed/carport that will be sheathed on all sides ground to roof with corrugated metal. Mostly a boat shed. Dimensions about 16 ft wide by at least 24 ft long. Can i span 16 with a flat roof with no supports other than 2x12 beams at the exterior walls? I am outside of any possible snowfall area. thinking 2x6's for ceiling beams. If i could come up with a materials list then i could price and see if this idea is even practical for my current needs.
 
yes you can, BUT, what is code? I would feel better about 2 x 8. I would assume hurricane's have something to say on what can be built and thus insured. (don't want the boat getting hammered inside there do you?)

One thing, I personally would keep 1 side at least 1 foot higher than the other for the water to run off and not puddle which will cause the roof to eventually leak. just my 2 cents.
 
i want something like this but i don't need the height he has going here.
Click to expand...

How will this help you from having your motor stolen...unless the thieves are scared to enter and have the building fall on them???

Seriously, like Eric said, though you don't have to deal with snow load, you do have huricanes to contend with. YOu might want to look into one of those bolt together steel carports, sides are optional, and you may be able to put tap cons into your existing slab to hold it in place.

Chuck
 
Chuck, i was using the above as an example of dimensions and method of construction. I was planning to sheathe the building similar to a carport that you alluded to.

i can't imagine that a bolt together carport with little 1 inch galvanized cee or whatever they use for support is more structurally secure than 6x6's concreted 4 ft into the ground on a 6 ft spacing with doubled 2x12's for exterior beams? Am i missing something there? I am pretty sure the bolt together deals would be in the next parish (county for everyone else) the first time the wind blew. The only item i was somewhat concerned with was whether 2x6's would suffice for roof support? I would imagine that whether the roofing holds on to the structure during a wind event (ie hurricane) would be substantially more dependent on the method of attachment (ie fasteners utilized and spacing of said fasteners in addition to how much overlap is used on the sheating) as well as the gauge of roofing utilized rather than the structural integrity of the interior beams? I will explore the building code further. I was trying to derive a materials list to price out a buildout. When i said flat, i meant shed style (unsure of technical term) rather than a gabled roof. Eric, i was planning to pitch the material at whatever the minium rating was for the corrugated material. I think it would be pitched about 2 ft depending on dimensions.

I appreciate the insight guys, keep it coming. another option was 6ft chain link fence with 3 strand barb wire strung around the top. I figured i'd get more for my money with the building, do to protection from the elements and sunlight. Either option is really more of a theft deterent. I assume any thief could quickly enter either/or if he wanted to.
 
Typical pole construction has the posts on 8ft centers with 2x4 purlins and 2x10 or 2x12 top chord. Like someone mentioned, check with your local township or county on building codes. I would agree with the 2x8 rafters if using 2 ft on center spacing. Another option is to check Craigslist for trusses. I have seen quite a few in my area, but you would have to build around what is available. Also call your local big box stores for truss orders people don't pick up or won't pay for. Most of the time they are just looking to unload special order trusses.

Look up some pole barn building sites. There is a lot of good information out there.
 
Kris

You're PROBABLY fine with what you describe...but hey, I'm a northerner, and an inlander, so I don't have a clue what you are dealing with in huricanes and floods. One thing, though cementing the posts in holds them down better, and may be standard practice down there, up here the standard for pole buildings in to place the post on a cement pad at the bottom of the hole and backfill, as posts rot off faster in cement. I still cement in corner posts when stretching field fence, but not a fan for buildings.

Chuck
 
Put up some "Danger-Electric Fence" signs just to slow the scumbag boat thieves down.
Motion activated lights might not be a bad idea either.
 
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