Agreed. And you come from good decent people... The way the snake was treated. People that love and respect other creatures automatically go high up on my judgement scale.
So nice to find a video that actually goes through the permitting process. So many of these focus on the "pretty" part of building and not the basic how-to part of it. Your uncle seems awesome!
I really honestly enjoy how this guy actually went through the steps you would actually take if you were to tackle this project, the steps he took before even buying material is very accurate, nice to see it.
I have an upstairs deck and built a screen room underneath. It’s everyone’s favorite place to eat during family gatherings. The upstairs deck could also be enclosed with screen to create a sleeping porch for hot nights.
I'm 48 years old and I'm still not there yet but my friend you are living my dream. It looks like you have a beautiful plot of land. this the first video I've seen of yours I'm going to look in and see how much progress you've had done it is March 2021.
Last yr, my son's friend bought a straight wall. 2 story Tuff-Shed 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. His 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!
My house in Phoenix, Arizona was built in 1966. the main portion of the home is 4 x 8 x 16 concrete block, the addition I built is 2 x 8 framing with batt insulation. The exterior walls were furred with 1 x 2 strips, then foil backed drywall around the entire perimeter. I am sure your uncle will guide you correctly in how to modify the existing building to meet your local codes. Paying attention to detail, and going the extra mile will save you later so you do not have to make major changes! Plumbing will most likely be the biggest issue. I love anything house, I will be watching carefully!! Good luck with the endeavor you are under taking!!!!
If it's structurally sound and meets state safety and fire standards, then the shed should meet building code. Zoning is a different story as in most cities, even safe and well built alternative housing structures like sheds and travel trailers are not allowed to be used as dwellings. Municipalities want people to live in conventional houses and apartments so they can maximize property tax revenue and won't issue permits for alternative housing. Big Government is out of control in most places!
Sciencer: you make a couple of assumptions here - different ‘use’ buildings often have different requirements. A shed that would ‘pass’ doesn’t insure it would successfully pass code for a dwelling.
And a great reason that we live in a place that technically doesn’t need a permit at all. We just chose to do it so danner could go through the process.
And this makes so much sense. It's absolutely true. I didn't think about why they would deny a person a building permit, but now it makes sense...(the mighty dollar). Very insightful
@@lakishadm6587 my county just goes by state building code with no building inspectors but you have the environmental sewage inspection permit that is first required to get any building permit. Then if you have electrical that has to be inspected also. So even if a person wants to live off grid to convert a shed they still are required a sewage permit and this can be a huge issue depending on the land situation and what kind of treatment a person wants. I am using composting toilets and those are allowed as a privy but a privy is only for a seasonal residence permit! The county next door does permit a "year-round composting toilet" but that is a very rare understanding by their sewage inspector! So technically any "toilet waste treatment device" in a structure is a privy that requires a permit. But by the state standard if there is no discharge then no permit is needed and legally after a year the septage is no longer septage (and thus no longer discharge). So a person could technically have a composting toilet in their dwelling as long as it is a "continuous composting" system with no discharge for a year minimum. Discharge means any kind of dumping of the septage. But then according to state building standards composting toilets are not allowed as a plumbing code - if you do have a continuous composting toilet that requires plumbing. If there are no pipes but just a toilet "chute" into a composting chamber then that is not considered plumbing - but I suppose it is arguable. I actually talked to the county sewage planner and I realized he didn't understand composting and he said he thought a year-round composting toilet could be permitted but it would have to be installed by some professional designer, etc. This is definitely part of the "mighty dollar" problem because there is no state permit needed for a farm to spread class-A or class-B human biosolids and so composting as a farm is allowed based on the sewage permit standards! So legally you could put the composting toilet in a tent so that it's a shelter and not a structure - and then move the tent every six months. But composting only takes place if the temperature is warm enough - and also people like not having to go outside in the cold. hahahaha. We get very cold climate where I am at. Also a farm building does not require plumbing code but that is only if you get tax assessed as a farm - which requires certain standards like minimum acres or what kind of crops, etc. So it's probably better to just live in a tent without the government micromanaging something they don't understand: Ecological sanitation as composting!! Legally a person in my zoning can camp for seven months a year - with residency established after six months. But to get a street address as a permanent residency then the tax assessor needs to have some kind of permanent "facilities" building permit based on the said sewage permit catch-22. Vermont is trying to pass a law enabling people with composting toilets to actually compost on their land! Why? Someone got shut down on their farm for composting. There is a youtube channel with regular zoom discussions about this situation in Vermont - if that law passes then it would help other states pass the same law.
Building codes, permits, inspections, taxes and fees.... things used by the county and state governments to control what you do on the property that you bought and supposedly own, the government makes a profit off your land ownership. If you buy land there is a property tax you pay(each year)... if you build a house on it... the tax goes up... if you build a barn/garage/shop on it the tax goes up... If you improve the value of any of those... the tax goes up.. all while you had to pay a fee for a permit to even build them in the first place. You have to pay a fee for the inspection... then there is building codes the inspectors follow... which usually equate to having to pay more out of pocket to meet their requirements...
No permit was required to build on our land. We chose to do it so Danner could go through the process. Our local building department is amazing. They are completely centered on people succeeding.
The counter point in favor of building codes is that what you do for yourself is all since and good but if your shoddy work puts guests or the people you sell the house to in forseable danger then we should prevent that.
@@brianzmek7272 Those are certainly not valid reasons allowing any government to deny you the ability to build what you want on your property without interference. Guests and future owners are assumed to have brains of their own. It is not a counterpoint, it is a talking point, and not a good one. Building codes are unconstitutional, complements of the Fourth Amendment. If you have not yet realized what happens when you allow the government a little power, you need to pay more attention. When the same people who mandate the quality of construction levy taxes based on that quality level, you have a certainty that some day no one but the rich will be able to afford even a 500 sq. ft. home! Do not encourage this nonsense.
100% agree and the insurance companies implement most of the codes to make the houses insurable, and I get making structures safe but controlling every little detail down to the stairs and trying to make it impossible for someone to build a house without contracting the work out to someone else is a bit excessive to me. The insurance companies want to prevent hazardous conditions from injuring someone, yes, but they go way overboard with it. If it's OUR property, our money is being paid to build it, then why do they care if my stairway isn't precisely how they say it should be? And why does the government need to profit from my investment, why do I owe them anything for building a house on land that doesn't belong to them? I guess charging for the inspections makes some sense, but the loads of additional fees in some municipalities is just beyond reasonable. They even go as far as to Control the appearance of homes in some cities, even when the materials used have no bearing on safety at all. In ways it just seems that the government are just freeloaders who make money from us in which they are not entitled to, and they want to control every aspect of our lives. But just because the government declares they are entitled to it, that makes it so, who are we to question the rulers of our nation? The whole thing is just out of hand, not to mention to majority of people who take out a mortgage will end up being a slave to whichever bank they finance through, the interest compounds so much that they never get it paid off. This is why so many people are turning to alternative means, though the government tries to outlaw that with these strict ordinances. someday very few people will take out a mortgage because people are getting fed up with being in debt for their entire life.
Construction management and engineering student from birmingham here.. awesome to see your project. Great job with the video. I've found out how it feels putting myself in front of the camera for video projects. Kudos to you for sharing
A little long winded but I'm very interested. I'm also really impressed with your interest in the trades and drive to get this done. I'm all in buddy. SOLD!
Frame along the existing studs 2x8s, sister 2x10 floor deck joisting, run all 100% #12AWG Romex wiring, get a variance to put the structure on a 2x12 framed poured, rebar and mesh reinforced slab foundation pour foundation, vapor barriers in place, a 36" deep dual stacked 4-inch tile trench drainage around the slab, at least a 4° pitch shed roof with minimal 20-year asphalt tiles roofing, T-111 overlay siding, a 200amp Service from municipal power and a 6,000 gallon abs plastic vacuum septic tank, and you got an acceptable Code Variance applications Permit.
When they talk about grading, that is somewhat important because you want the ground around the first ten feet of area around the building to slope gently away. Otherwise the footings and concrete get damp and promote mold and wood rot. He mentions "swales" or shallow valleys to drain water away around the high side. Closed captioning actually called them "swells" , one being the opposite of the other. Also, soil around buildings tends to build up over the years, as much as 6 inches in a hundred years, due to fertilizer, loose dirt accumulating, rotting leaves and such, so you want to make sure the floor stands up proud from the landscaping. Also, the first floor may need more windows. Something like 7 percent of the floor area as window. Also, any bedroom needs an outside door or window of a complicated particular size (allows a firefighter with a air pack through). 24" high opening minimum. You can make the first floor a small studio/bedroom, and use the stairway as is, closed off by a door below to the "storage attic" as last resort and still meet code. If you insulate correctly. Last resort. Might be a quick interim method, with a plan to change upstairs later. They might not notice, but each dwelling also requires a 36" wide front door. If it opens into a bedroom, that meets the emergency egress/rescue requirement for bedrooms too. If you want, call the garage a patio and do nothing to it for a long time. Also, the metal siding you mentioned is a good idea also for fire protection as well. With global climate change that might become a problem eventually in your area. Stairway height clearance is 6'-8" clear, but used to be 6'-6". The studs at the bottom look like almost 3' on center! There are certain advantages to open cell foam in a fairly dry area, in that you can use it between rafters and not have to ventilate the attic, but that is a somewhat new development.
Gary Wheeler, I was thinking the same thing. This shed is at the bottom of a long downhill slope yet the slab supporting it isn’t built up enough to keep serious rainwater out, nor compensate for sod rising over time. My in-ground swimming pool is now BELOW the sod on one side because in the last 16 years since it was installed the sod has built up. I’m not sure how to combat the situation unless I rent a sod cutter and remove the lawn entirely, dig down several inches, then roll the sod back in place (or re-seed and hope the grass seed takes in the hot pool area. I love this shed. I did an in person walk-thru of this style shed at my local Home Depot about ten years ago, and it’s the perfect 2 story camp, guest house, bachelor pad, or newlywed apartment.
@GW Egress has nothing to do with fire personnel getting in. NFPA specifies a second means of ESCAPE. Firefighters will (and should) use their bars and eliminate entrance barriers in seconds. Specifically less than 44” from the floor, minimum 20” width, minimum 24” height, at least 5.7 square feet. Some jurisdictions allow 5sf, or 5sf first floor, 5.7sf second floor. And the secondary means of egress needs to be less than 20’ to the exterior grade.
@@fishhuntadventure : the term residential "egress" windows specifically uses requirements of size and accessibility to allow residents to exit and fire personnel with an air pack to come in and rescue. So there is that...
Great video . You packed a lot of helpful info in just a 21 minute video . Your uncle really knew every aspect of this project . I wish I had an uncle like yours when I was younger . Very well done , Danner. Now I'll have to check the rest of the build.
I like how the guy said if you eliminate the air leaks, you will reduce the moisture issue. Home Depot has those thin foam panels you put in the attic above the soffit to prevent blanket insulation from blocking air passage to the ridge. Since he'll be occupying the attic, perhaps run those panels to the ridge vent you'll be installing. Then use 2" of closed cell Froth Pak from floor to ridge. That should leave an inch or two gap before the drywall. That'll make it air tight and the roof will be ventilated too. You wouldn't be gaining much by bringing the foam flush with the end of the "wall studs". Leave room for wiring etc.
As somebody who lives in an 8x12 shed. I have to say you struck gold with this It’s very large but absolutely falls into the realm of being manageable. I remember cutting sheet rock by grabbing a sawzall blade with my bare hand and screwing it in with a screwdriver just cause I’m so broke. The shed life grows on you but you Sure do have a good network of people there to help you out.
What state are you in that allows you to live in one. I have trying to figure out if Illinois will allow me to build one. If not I am inquiring on other states or counties that have minimal building codes etc. And I am looking at investing into a tuff shed at Home Depot. I am just trying to live a simple lifestyle and I am okay with less
@@lakishadm6587 a prebuilt shed is kind of ideal because really nobody is gonna be asking any questions cause. I mean you can very easily say that you do not live in the shed and that you use it for recreational activities or something like that in a case where it was illegal.. but I’m pretty sure it’s absolutely legal to live in a shed in the USA, but I am also from Texas and have to acknowledge the liberties I am granted instead of others. My only advice is to make sure you have electricity and a window unit if you’re under the sun. And a tin roof will make rain sound like a marching band right above you
@@jakearmstrong4563 you are wonderful! My sister just moved to Missouri Texas. And yes you have the liberties in Texas to live in tiny homes aka sheds. I have been looking for states that do not have strict building codes. I am sooo excited to start living free of what people think is necessary. So would you say no to a tin roof then lol! And you are absolutely right! Thank you so much. I can imagine how much stress and worldly burdens will be relieved. Thank you.
Nice work, Danner. I am looking forward to seeing the other vids on this project. I just bought six acres of unrestricted land in Texas. The land is paid for but I will likely need to use it as collateral to get some structures built for my home and some rental properties. I am a musician and I plan to create a space that hosts lots of musical activity- both entertainment and education.
I don't know why I watch these, but their fun to breeze thru as I live where there's no code!🎉🎉🎉. I also watch ICE engine repair also, just to remember what is was like in the bad old days as I changed both my CJ7 and samurai to EV awhile ago and just upgrade when new reliable tech is avail!
My parents are down the road, Frankewing on 245 acres. If I ever inherit the property I plan to put some Tiny homes and do some AirBnB stuff to pay for the taxes etc.
Congrats Danner!! Well done. Your Uncle was great & your attitude, with regard to meeting code as priority1, served you well. I wish you good luck with the build & will def be checking on your progress. I'm from Tuscaloosa, btw, but lived in Columbia TN as a child. Beautiful land up that way. Blessings
No offense, I asked Tough Shed for the architectural drawings, which I submitted with my permit to construct the shed. The Tough Sheds (the three I bought) have an aluminum trussed floor and don't need a foundation. I raked the ground and used some long levels to check and the Tough Shed guys put it up,
Your freakin Awesome. :) Im planning on building a Tuffshed, and making it a home, and you helped me how to handle the local code enforcement. :) Good Stuff
We have to dig under slab to connect it here. Need about 20 feet of slope away from structure here for code. Here a house needs to be at least 500sq ft to live in. We have to have service disconnect for electric here. Offgrid make sure you can use dc with dc battery back up smoke detectors like from rv or boat. Most code as written say ac with dc battery back up smoke detectors. Gotta go 48" inches here unless you hit bedrock. I like rock wool insulation. Egress window should be big enough for fat firefighter in full gear and yes that is written on building plans.
Very interesting. My family has ran a contracting business here in ohio since I was small. I got a lot of skills pourin, building, and putting on roofs growing up like that. A few of them have passed in the last 5 years. You'd be suprised the good memories you'll make sweating it out building something with your family.
Sorry for your losses, but engineering sounds amazing. It's interesting to hear from experts when you want something done right. Memories though are the best!
I really enjoyed this video, you were very through and I learned just listening and even got a few ideas for my possible upcoming shed to house project. I subscribed and can't wait to see your progress. Just remember to take your time, you're young and have all the time in the world. Bless your heart. Sorry for your loss with your Dad. I know he is with you in spirit. Stay safe and warm.
@@DannerCronise I apologize for the misunderstanding, I thought I remembered you saying he started it and then something happened to him. I am SO glad he's with you and part of resserecting this project! Give him a hug, and cherish your time with him. I wish mine was still around, but I do remember the things we built together. Stay safe!
Unfortunately according to tennessee state law anything that was sold as a shed is considered a ready removable and can't be lived in legally and an electrical inspector can not approve electrical in it if he suspects it is being converted to a home , yet alot of people do it so you shouldn't have a problem , just letting you know it can potentially cause you a headache
It was installed on a concrete slab with proper floor joists and stud size and spacing. They consider it a renovation on our permit (although we are agriculture zoned so don’t technically need that permit). Thanks for the info!
Danner Cronise, I my opinion, since this shed is going to be your temporary residence, you could have save money by buying a big enough travel trailer to live in and park it close to the shed. Use the shed for your equipment for building the house you wanted. When the house is built , sell the travel trailer. You don't have to register it if its not going to be use on the highway. To me, building permit is how the city or county makes money. Aside from the permit expenses, now they are going to charge you more property tax.
But think of all the experience he's getting. That education is worth its weight in gold. Oh sure, he may burn the place to the ground 5 years from now, purposely, but he'll have a lifetime of benefit from the challenges of this project.
As someone who has stripped a house down to the studs and started over, this project seems like more work than it’s worth. For the money and time invested, he could get a brand new shed of much bigger size with the wrap included for likely a smaller investment. I love his spirit and interest. Just think there’s a more cost effective way to accomplish it.
The original shed was $5000 in 2003. We only took off the two lean-to roofs, the stairs, and the metal. Everything else was added - two slabs, framing, roofing, etc. the rest of the structure was used as is and didn’t require any rebuild.
@Audra Starting over is way more expensive than sweat equity. And there’s not much to strip out. I’d remodel that myself! Definitely going to be high value once completed. And bigger isn’t always better - there’s plenty of fine US families that grew up in < 600SF
@@DennisJohnsonDrummer I’m guessing $5-$10 k, but it’s not just the cost of a new shed vs materials to fix the old one. Some people will say it costs nothing but materials if you do the work yourself, but that’s not exactly true. It costs you time in research, funding and preparing supplies and materials, and the time to do the extra labor. Let’s say for instance that he works on this project 20 hrs a week (which I think is an underestimation) for 5 months. If he had applied that same time to a job making $15/hr, that’s already $6,000. Lost time adds up.
Thats nuts re stair laws. As a long legged person ive 100% tripped and fell on shallow stairs i cant even tell you how many times. Id find shallow stairs way more dangerous than taller ones!
So many towns now have a code that requires 1,200 sq ft plus attached garage minimum. These codes are pretty uniform becuase they were put out by the building lobby. I'm living in a house that could no longer be built in my town, 780 square feet.
Yes. It’s really a shame that the building codes have become basically product pushing “laws.” We actually don’t need a permit due to land size and agricultural zoning, but we did it anyway for Danner to get the experience. Our local building officials are AMAZING and we invite them out often.
We are in TN, but since we built Saturn Vs, shuttles, space station, etc…it’s a bit better than that without all the senseless taxes and red tagging inspectors. :)
I'm my state, missouri, as long as the building doesnt have a foundation, and its outside of city limits, you dont legally have any building codes to abide by, and dont require a license or permit to build
to be fair in TN if he was cutting his own trees and making his own wood from them he wouldn't need any of these codes anyway except the electrical and maybe water if he was going to use a provider instead of off the grid set up
@@0Heeroyuy01 yes. Exactly. We want to preserve electrical so we will pull that permit even though we won’t likely hook up to the grid. We can even build with purchased lumber and no permit.
This is great info- good luck on your project; this looks like it is going to be a fun and very informative journey. I wish I had done something like this, when I was your age!
Tuff Shed no longer offers a second floor option (unless you get one of the really big barns), they offer lofts only and the barn style has a head clearance of only 5 ft. Probably because of zoning laws, here in AZ lofts are fine by second stories require all kinds of permitting and inspections.
“All kinds of permitting and inspections” It’s not hard to meet code. The same permit for one floor will cover a second floor. They don’t issue the permit if it doesn’t meet code. So you just draw it meet code, they issue permit. You build it. It’s no black art or mystery.
He is definitely a company man. Just the facts mam! I just want to know what needs to be changed in this barn to bring up to code, compared to the existing codes.
We had primary lines installed 300ft into the property and it’s about 100 ft from the shed. We will still push our off grid, but it’s fantastic to have this back up. Thank you!
You'd have to have a McMansion to warrant a 400 amp service. 200 amp is plenty. I run a 200 main and 90 amp subpanel off of that for the garage, with a 4 ton heat pump/AC and I don't even come close to half of the 200 amp allocation during peak usage.
A VERY impressive video: well organized, informative and motivating. Both you & your uncle are clearly talented. My family can't wait to follow your adventure!! From Austin Texas....
The old diamond head thing might be appropriate where you live but here in Australia, it doesn’t matter what shape the head is, they’re almost all poisonous ☠️ 🤣🤣
We don’t need a variance, because we are zoned agricultural. We have a spring and we’ll be storing rainwater in a potable/non-potable system. Thank you!
So what you're telling us is that if you're in Tennessee you have to meet international building code now? Where can we read the requirements for 'international building code?'
You're Uncle is VERY knowledgeable and you're lucky to have him while you're doing your build.
I was very impressed with how much he knew! I learned so much
Agreed. And you come from good decent people... The way the snake was treated. People that love and respect other creatures automatically go high up on my judgement scale.
@@dsimon33871 Exactly
So nice to find a video that actually goes through the permitting process. So many of these focus on the "pretty" part of building and not the basic how-to part of it. Your uncle seems awesome!
Yes, what a knowledgeable gentleman!
I really honestly enjoy how this guy actually went through the steps you would actually take if you were to tackle this project, the steps he took before even buying material is very accurate, nice to see it.
I would add a small balcony for your egress point upstairs. No better place to watch the sunrise enjoy a morning coffee, enjoy the night sky...
Shhh... don’t spoil it!
I have an upstairs deck and built a screen room underneath. It’s everyone’s favorite place to eat during family gatherings.
The upstairs deck could also be enclosed with screen to create a sleeping porch for hot nights.
Backseat building OMG SHUT UP
Ggu
It won't spoil anything. Especially if you have views, but that can be added later.
What an impressively knowledgeable contractor-he’s like a builder savant! May I find someone like him!
We are out there we just do not need to advertise 😀
I wish all building inspectors had this guy's qualifications.
BC he actually was a builder/ trades person.. better than a book tard
This building inspector is god sent mate.
A inspector , that actually knows and explains whats is what and why.
got to love asking/paying for permission to build / do stuff on your own land !
Well we at least had a choice. In many places that’s not even an option. And they red tag to death.
I'm 48 years old and I'm still not there yet but my friend you are living my dream. It looks like you have a beautiful plot of land. this the first video I've seen of yours I'm going to look in and see how much progress you've had done it is March 2021.
Has there ever been a man more suited for his job than the soil sampling upper body guy? He’s prob the best there ever was!
Haha right! He makes it look way too easy.
Last yr, my son's friend bought a straight wall. 2 story Tuff-Shed 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. His 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!
At first I thought anyone who boasts I'm a journeyman this and master that still doesn't know squat. But this guy really does. Good information.
Mathew Danner sure does know his building code!!
It's his job
@@markschiavone8003 cool
My house in Phoenix, Arizona was built in 1966. the main portion of the home is 4 x 8 x 16 concrete block, the addition I built is 2 x 8 framing with batt insulation. The exterior walls were furred with 1 x 2 strips, then foil backed drywall around the entire perimeter. I am sure your uncle will guide you correctly in how to modify the existing building to meet your local codes. Paying attention to detail, and going the extra mile will save you later so you do not have to make major changes! Plumbing will most likely be the biggest issue. I love anything house, I will be watching carefully!! Good luck with the endeavor you are under taking!!!!
If it's structurally sound and meets state safety and fire standards, then the shed should meet building code. Zoning is a different story as in most cities, even safe and well built alternative housing structures like sheds and travel trailers are not allowed to be used as dwellings. Municipalities want people to live in conventional houses and apartments so they can maximize property tax revenue and won't issue permits for alternative housing. Big Government is out of control in most places!
Sciencer: you make a couple of assumptions here - different ‘use’ buildings often have different requirements. A shed that would ‘pass’ doesn’t insure it would successfully pass code for a dwelling.
And a great reason that we live in a place that technically doesn’t need a permit at all. We just chose to do it so danner could go through the process.
And this makes so much sense. It's absolutely true. I didn't think about why they would deny a person a building permit, but now it makes sense...(the mighty dollar). Very insightful
@@lakishadm6587 my county just goes by state building code with no building inspectors but you have the environmental sewage inspection permit that is first required to get any building permit. Then if you have electrical that has to be inspected also. So even if a person wants to live off grid to convert a shed they still are required a sewage permit and this can be a huge issue depending on the land situation and what kind of treatment a person wants. I am using composting toilets and those are allowed as a privy but a privy is only for a seasonal residence permit! The county next door does permit a "year-round composting toilet" but that is a very rare understanding by their sewage inspector! So technically any "toilet waste treatment device" in a structure is a privy that requires a permit. But by the state standard if there is no discharge then no permit is needed and legally after a year the septage is no longer septage (and thus no longer discharge). So a person could technically have a composting toilet in their dwelling as long as it is a "continuous composting" system with no discharge for a year minimum. Discharge means any kind of dumping of the septage. But then according to state building standards composting toilets are not allowed as a plumbing code - if you do have a continuous composting toilet that requires plumbing. If there are no pipes but just a toilet "chute" into a composting chamber then that is not considered plumbing - but I suppose it is arguable. I actually talked to the county sewage planner and I realized he didn't understand composting and he said he thought a year-round composting toilet could be permitted but it would have to be installed by some professional designer, etc. This is definitely part of the "mighty dollar" problem because there is no state permit needed for a farm to spread class-A or class-B human biosolids and so composting as a farm is allowed based on the sewage permit standards!
So legally you could put the composting toilet in a tent so that it's a shelter and not a structure - and then move the tent every six months. But composting only takes place if the temperature is warm enough - and also people like not having to go outside in the cold. hahahaha. We get very cold climate where I am at. Also a farm building does not require plumbing code but that is only if you get tax assessed as a farm - which requires certain standards like minimum acres or what kind of crops, etc.
So it's probably better to just live in a tent without the government micromanaging something they don't understand: Ecological sanitation as composting!! Legally a person in my zoning can camp for seven months a year - with residency established after six months. But to get a street address as a permanent residency then the tax assessor needs to have some kind of permanent "facilities" building permit based on the said sewage permit catch-22. Vermont is trying to pass a law enabling people with composting toilets to actually compost on their land! Why? Someone got shut down on their farm for composting. There is a youtube channel with regular zoom discussions about this situation in Vermont - if that law passes then it would help other states pass the same law.
I like to see a young man doing something and asking questions to better himself. Good luck on your project. All the best.
Cool, I also live in Huntsville. In the Hobbs island area.
He is a very lucky guy to have a Dad teach him all the steps for this project including permits inspections and to how to use power tools etc.
Smart young man knows what he wants and asks lots of question.I 👍.
What a lad. 10/10 keep on doing what you do and how you do it. Respect.
Building codes, permits, inspections, taxes and fees.... things used by the county and state governments to control what you do on the property that you bought and supposedly own, the government makes a profit off your land ownership. If you buy land there is a property tax you pay(each year)... if you build a house on it... the tax goes up... if you build a barn/garage/shop on it the tax goes up... If you improve the value of any of those... the tax goes up.. all while you had to pay a fee for a permit to even build them in the first place. You have to pay a fee for the inspection... then there is building codes the inspectors follow... which usually equate to having to pay more out of pocket to meet their requirements...
No permit was required to build on our land. We chose to do it so Danner could go through the process. Our local building department is amazing. They are completely centered on people succeeding.
The counter point in favor of building codes is that what you do for yourself is all since and good but if your shoddy work puts guests or the people you sell the house to in forseable danger then we should prevent that.
@@brianzmek7272 Those are certainly not valid reasons allowing any government to deny you the ability to build what you want on your property without interference. Guests and future owners are assumed to have brains of their own. It is not a counterpoint, it is a talking point, and not a good one. Building codes are unconstitutional, complements of the Fourth Amendment. If you have not yet realized what happens when you allow the government a little power, you need to pay more attention. When the same people who mandate the quality of construction levy taxes based on that quality level, you have a certainty that some day no one but the rich will be able to afford even a 500 sq. ft. home! Do not encourage this nonsense.
100% agree and the insurance companies implement most of the codes to make the houses insurable, and I get making structures safe but controlling every little detail down to the stairs and trying to make it impossible for someone to build a house without contracting the work out to someone else is a bit excessive to me. The insurance companies want to prevent hazardous conditions from injuring someone, yes, but they go way overboard with it. If it's OUR property, our money is being paid to build it, then why do they care if my stairway isn't precisely how they say it should be? And why does the government need to profit from my investment, why do I owe them anything for building a house on land that doesn't belong to them? I guess charging for the inspections makes some sense, but the loads of additional fees in some municipalities is just beyond reasonable. They even go as far as to
Control the appearance of homes in some cities, even when the materials used have no bearing on safety at all.
In ways it just seems that the government are just freeloaders who make money from us in which they are not entitled to, and they want to control every aspect of our lives. But just because the government declares they are entitled to it, that makes it so, who are we to question the rulers of our nation? The whole thing is just out of hand, not to mention to majority of people who take out a mortgage will end up being a slave to whichever bank they finance through, the interest compounds so much that they never get it paid off. This is why so many people are turning to alternative means, though the government tries to outlaw that with these strict ordinances. someday very few people will take out a mortgage because people are getting fed up with being in debt for their entire life.
I agree with you 100% America is home of the fee not the free
Construction management and engineering student from birmingham here.. awesome to see your project. Great job with the video. I've found out how it feels putting myself in front of the camera for video projects. Kudos to you for sharing
Had no idea this video was going to be this educational!
A little long winded but I'm very interested. I'm also really impressed with your interest in the trades and drive to get this done. I'm all in buddy. SOLD!
Not long-winded at all. All the bases were covered, and that's extremely important when thinking about venturing into unfamiliar territory.
They're helpful because you are doing it the right way I think. Good job.
Remember digging those sampling holes when you start thinking about fences :)
You must of dug a few post holes in your time
That was a thumbs up comment. Bravo!
lol...rent a powered hole digger, and help for half a day. It's best done two person.
And here is me building multiple extensions on my house without anyone knowing.
Here in Californie I put in my plans with a detached garage and it made building a bit easier, imho.
Looks like a fun project. I did a similar shed for my brother. He lives off the grid now.
Awesome!!!!!
Good luck with your project.
Damn Unc he's The Man!
Frame along the existing studs 2x8s, sister 2x10 floor deck joisting, run all 100% #12AWG Romex wiring, get a variance to put the structure on a 2x12 framed poured, rebar and mesh reinforced slab foundation pour foundation, vapor barriers in place, a 36" deep dual stacked 4-inch tile trench drainage around the slab, at least a 4° pitch shed roof with minimal 20-year asphalt tiles roofing, T-111 overlay siding, a 200amp Service from municipal power and a 6,000 gallon abs plastic vacuum septic tank, and you got an acceptable Code Variance applications Permit.
When they talk about grading, that is somewhat important because you want the ground around the first ten feet of area around the building to slope gently away. Otherwise the footings and concrete get damp and promote mold and wood rot. He mentions "swales" or shallow valleys to drain water away around the high side. Closed captioning actually called them "swells" , one being the opposite of the other. Also, soil around buildings tends to build up over the years, as much as 6 inches in a hundred years, due to fertilizer, loose dirt accumulating, rotting leaves and such, so you want to make sure the floor stands up proud from the landscaping.
Also, the first floor may need more windows. Something like 7 percent of the floor area as window. Also, any bedroom needs an outside door or window of a complicated particular size (allows a firefighter with a air pack through). 24" high opening minimum.
You can make the first floor a small studio/bedroom, and use the stairway as is, closed off by a door below to the "storage attic" as last resort and still meet code. If you insulate correctly. Last resort. Might be a quick interim method, with a plan to change upstairs later. They might not notice, but each dwelling also requires a 36" wide front door. If it opens into a bedroom, that meets the emergency egress/rescue requirement for bedrooms too. If you want, call the garage a patio and do nothing to it for a long time. Also, the metal siding you mentioned is a good idea also for fire protection as well. With global climate change that might become a problem eventually in your area.
Stairway height clearance is 6'-8" clear, but used to be 6'-6". The studs at the bottom look like almost 3' on center! There are certain advantages to open cell foam in a fairly dry area, in that you can use it between rafters and not have to ventilate the attic, but that is a somewhat new development.
Gary Wheeler, I was thinking the same thing. This shed is at the bottom of a long downhill slope yet the slab supporting it isn’t built up enough to keep serious rainwater out, nor compensate for sod rising over time. My in-ground swimming pool is now BELOW the sod on one side because in the last 16 years since it was installed the sod has built up. I’m not sure how to combat the situation unless I rent a sod cutter and remove the lawn entirely, dig down several inches, then roll the sod back in place (or re-seed and hope the grass seed takes in the hot pool area.
I love this shed. I did an in person walk-thru of this style shed at my local Home Depot about ten years ago, and it’s the perfect 2 story camp, guest house, bachelor pad, or newlywed apartment.
@GW
Egress has nothing to do with fire personnel getting in.
NFPA specifies a second means of ESCAPE. Firefighters will (and should) use their bars and eliminate entrance barriers in seconds.
Specifically less than 44” from the floor, minimum 20” width, minimum 24” height, at least 5.7 square feet. Some jurisdictions allow 5sf, or 5sf first floor, 5.7sf second floor. And the secondary means of egress needs to be less than 20’ to the exterior grade.
@@fishhuntadventure : the term residential "egress" windows specifically uses requirements of size and accessibility to allow residents to exit and fire personnel with an air pack to come in and rescue. So there is that...
Great video . You packed a lot of helpful info in just a 21 minute video . Your uncle really knew every aspect of this project . I wish I had an uncle like yours when I was younger . Very well done , Danner. Now I'll have to check the rest of the build.
I wish my relatives had been in the trades! Good luck kid
This is my first time watching your channel, can't wait to see the finished product.
Danner really looks like Joker from Full Metal Jacket. Even has the peace symbol. AWESOME!!! :)
I like how the guy said if you eliminate the air leaks, you will reduce the moisture issue.
Home Depot has those thin foam panels you put in the attic above the soffit to prevent blanket insulation from blocking air passage to the ridge. Since he'll be occupying the attic, perhaps run those panels to the ridge vent you'll be installing.
Then use 2" of closed cell Froth Pak from floor to ridge. That should leave an inch or two gap before the drywall.
That'll make it air tight and the roof will be ventilated too.
You wouldn't be gaining much by bringing the foam flush with the end of the "wall studs".
Leave room for wiring etc.
This is great ! Thank you! 👍👍👍👍👍
As somebody who lives in an 8x12 shed. I have to say you struck gold with this It’s very large but absolutely falls into the realm of being manageable. I remember cutting sheet rock by grabbing a sawzall blade with my bare hand and screwing it in with a screwdriver just cause I’m so broke. The shed life grows on you but you Sure do have a good network of people there to help you out.
What state are you in that allows you to live in one. I have trying to figure out if Illinois will allow me to build one. If not I am inquiring on other states or counties that have minimal building codes etc. And I am looking at investing into a tuff shed at Home Depot. I am just trying to live a simple lifestyle and I am okay with less
@@lakishadm6587 a prebuilt shed is kind of ideal because really nobody is gonna be asking any questions cause. I mean you can very easily say that you do not live in the shed and that you use it for recreational activities or something like that in a case where it was illegal.. but I’m pretty sure it’s absolutely legal to live in a shed in the USA, but I am also from Texas and have to acknowledge the liberties I am granted instead of others. My only advice is to make sure you have electricity and a window unit if you’re under the sun. And a tin roof will make rain sound like a marching band right above you
@@jakearmstrong4563 you are wonderful! My sister just moved to Missouri Texas. And yes you have the liberties in Texas to live in tiny homes aka sheds. I have been looking for states that do not have strict building codes. I am sooo excited to start living free of what people think is necessary. So would you say no to a tin roof then lol! And you are absolutely right! Thank you so much. I can imagine how much stress and worldly burdens will be relieved. Thank you.
Nice old Ford 8n tractor... they're great but be careful they do flip over if you don't judge a hillside carefully! Have a 2n myself.
It’s a Ferguson TO-20 (the tractor Ford copied and lost the lawsuit).
Is anyone going to talk about the fact that the cop scraped the sidewalk with his bumper at 19:48. 😂
very knowledgeable he is
Dude, Huntsville. I'm subscribed based on that alone!
not only that but you are also a grate videographer
Great stuff, Dom from Australia, what a learning curve. You are going to have
Thanks for watching!
Nice work, Danner. I am looking forward to seeing the other vids on this project. I just bought six acres of unrestricted land in Texas. The land is paid for but I will likely need to use it as collateral to get some structures built for my home and some rental properties. I am a musician and I plan to create a space that hosts lots of musical activity- both entertainment and education.
I don't know why I watch these, but their fun to breeze thru as I live where there's no code!🎉🎉🎉.
I also watch ICE engine repair also, just to remember what is was like in the bad old days as I changed both my CJ7 and samurai to EV awhile ago and just upgrade when new reliable tech is avail!
That Danner guy, the building inspector.. he knows his stuff lol would be fun to follow him around for a day or two.
My parents are down the road, Frankewing on 245 acres. If I ever inherit the property I plan to put some Tiny homes and do some AirBnB stuff to pay for the taxes etc.
Not too far at all! We’ll be here!
By far one of the most informative vids on building tiny homes. Only issue...you're not in Florida. Love the knowledge.
The Florida Building Commission can be awful. I dealt with them for a decade writing residential pool codes. Some counties are terrible.
Congrats Danner!! Well done. Your Uncle was great & your attitude, with regard to meeting code as priority1, served you well. I wish you good luck with the build & will def be checking on your progress. I'm from Tuscaloosa, btw, but lived in Columbia TN as a child. Beautiful land up that way. Blessings
No offense, I asked Tough Shed for the architectural drawings, which I submitted with my permit to construct the shed. The Tough Sheds (the three I bought) have an aluminum trussed floor and don't need a foundation. I raked the ground and used some long levels to check and the Tough Shed guys put it up,
french drain all the way across the front and the high side which is low of the hill coming in to the house.
Your freakin Awesome. :)
Im planning on building a Tuffshed, and making it a home, and you helped me how to handle the local code enforcement. :)
Good Stuff
We have to dig under slab to connect it here. Need about 20 feet of slope away from structure here for code. Here a house needs to be at least 500sq ft to live in. We have to have service disconnect for electric here. Offgrid make sure you can use dc with dc battery back up smoke detectors like from rv or boat. Most code as written say ac with dc battery back up smoke detectors. Gotta go 48" inches here unless you hit bedrock. I like rock wool insulation. Egress window should be big enough for fat firefighter in full gear and yes that is written on building plans.
We have about 70’ of fall, the video doesn’t show the slope.
do you have any videos to show the finished build?
We aren’t finish! But binge watch what we have so far!
Very interesting. My family has ran a contracting business here in ohio since I was small. I got a lot of skills pourin, building, and putting on roofs growing up like that. A few of them have passed in the last 5 years. You'd be suprised the good memories you'll make sweating it out building something with your family.
Sorry for your losses, but engineering sounds amazing. It's interesting to hear from experts when you want something done right. Memories though are the best!
I really enjoyed this video, you were very through and I learned just listening and even got a few ideas for my possible upcoming shed to house project. I subscribed and can't wait to see your progress. Just remember to take your time, you're young and have all the time in the world. Bless your heart. Sorry for your loss with your Dad. I know he is with you in spirit. Stay safe and warm.
Thanks! I’m glad you’re liking the project! As for my Dad, he is still with us! In fact, he helped film this video!
@@DannerCronise I apologize for the misunderstanding, I thought I remembered you saying he started it and then something happened to him. I am SO glad he's with you and part of resserecting this project! Give him a hug, and cherish your time with him. I wish mine was still around, but I do remember the things we built together. Stay safe!
Very cool
100 amp service for a tiny house! Golly I must be in the 21st century now! My 4br house from the 1980s has 50 amp service and I never run out!
"Huntsville AL-" Say no more, it will pass son.
Make sure you have 6' 7" above that water closet under the stairs. Good video.
This is wonderfully put together video.
sweet home alabama, plz keep it in the family
…well, in the shadows of Jack Daniels in TN, but we got a leg in both states. Turn it up.
Unfortunately according to tennessee state law anything that was sold as a shed is considered a ready removable and can't be lived in legally and an electrical inspector can not approve electrical in it if he suspects it is being converted to a home , yet alot of people do it so you shouldn't have a problem , just letting you know it can potentially cause you a headache
It was installed on a concrete slab with proper floor joists and stud size and spacing. They consider it a renovation on our permit (although we are agriculture zoned so don’t technically need that permit). Thanks for the info!
That was a great lesson. Glad it was recorded for future reference.
Danner Cronise, I my opinion, since this shed is going to be your temporary residence, you could have save money by buying a big enough travel trailer to live in and park it close to the shed. Use the shed for your equipment for building the house you wanted. When the house is built , sell the travel trailer. You don't have to register it if its not going to be use on the highway. To me, building permit is how the city or county makes money. Aside from the permit expenses, now they are going to charge you more property tax.
But think of all the experience he's getting. That education is worth its weight in gold.
Oh sure, he may burn the place to the ground 5 years from now, purposely, but he'll have a lifetime of benefit from the challenges of this project.
We have a barn 1976 GMC Birchaven on the property. Will be a future project if enough interest out there.
omg that grinding sound when they were checking the ground made my skin crawl
This was great and made me feel more at ease for contacting the county about my own build. 😅
Nice informative video...Loved watch'in new sub.
As someone who has stripped a house down to the studs and started over, this project seems like more work than it’s worth. For the money and time invested, he could get a brand new shed of much bigger size with the wrap included for likely a smaller investment. I love his spirit and interest. Just think there’s a more cost effective way to accomplish it.
@Audra Gibson How much do you think he's spent? How much could one expect to spend finishing out the shed you mentioned?
The original shed was $5000 in 2003. We only took off the two lean-to roofs, the stairs, and the metal. Everything else was added - two slabs, framing, roofing, etc. the rest of the structure was used as is and didn’t require any rebuild.
@Audra
Starting over is way more expensive than sweat equity. And there’s not much to strip out.
I’d remodel that myself! Definitely going to be high value once completed. And bigger isn’t always better - there’s plenty of fine US families that grew up in < 600SF
@@DennisJohnsonDrummer I’m guessing $5-$10 k, but it’s not just the cost of a new shed vs materials to fix the old one. Some people will say it costs nothing but materials if you do the work yourself, but that’s not exactly true. It costs you time in research, funding and preparing supplies and materials, and the time to do the extra labor. Let’s say for instance that he works on this project 20 hrs a week (which I think is an underestimation) for 5 months. If he had applied that same time to a job making $15/hr, that’s already $6,000. Lost time adds up.
Thats nuts re stair laws. As a long legged person ive 100% tripped and fell on shallow stairs i cant even tell you how many times. Id find shallow stairs way more dangerous than taller ones!
So many towns now have a code that requires 1,200 sq ft plus attached garage minimum. These codes are pretty uniform becuase they were put out by the building lobby. I'm living in a house that could no longer be built in my town, 780 square feet.
Yes. It’s really a shame that the building codes have become basically product pushing “laws.” We actually don’t need a permit due to land size and agricultural zoning, but we did it anyway for Danner to get the experience. Our local building officials are AMAZING and we invite them out often.
Northern Alabama building code , ( it has to stand on it's own , no kickers holding up the sides LOL )
We are in TN, but since we built Saturn Vs, shuttles, space station, etc…it’s a bit better than that without all the senseless taxes and red tagging inspectors. :)
New subscriber! Good job demonstrating how to make a tiny house to code! This is going to be so cool!
I'm my state, missouri, as long as the building doesnt have a foundation, and its outside of city limits, you dont legally have any building codes to abide by, and dont require a license or permit to build
to be fair in TN if he was cutting his own trees and making his own wood from them he wouldn't need any of these codes anyway except the electrical and maybe water if he was going to use a provider instead of off the grid set up
@@0Heeroyuy01 yes. Exactly. We want to preserve electrical so we will pull that permit even though we won’t likely hook up to the grid. We can even build with purchased lumber and no permit.
well done! and very entrepreneurial and hardworking!
Oh this is gonna be good
This is great info- good luck on your project; this looks like it is going to be a fun and very informative journey. I wish I had done something like this, when I was your age!
This so crazy I’m looking into building a tiny house and I’m in Huntsville al as well.
he sounds like a weather man 😆
Tuff Shed no longer offers a second floor option (unless you get one of the really big barns), they offer lofts only and the barn style has a head clearance of only 5 ft. Probably because of zoning laws, here in AZ lofts are fine by second stories require all kinds of permitting and inspections.
Well, most tiny house lofts have ceiling heights under 5ft. The average is 30 inches to 48 inches.
“All kinds of permitting and inspections”
It’s not hard to meet code. The same permit for one floor will cover a second floor. They don’t issue the permit if it doesn’t meet code. So you just draw it meet code, they issue permit. You build it. It’s no black art or mystery.
Here in Lane county Oregon free standing structures don't need inspected.
We didn’t need a permit either as it’s agriculturally zoned land. Did it for fun and experience. Our building department is fantastic.
That's a lot of "helpful additions." This project looks like it has the potential to quickly spin out of control, both workwise and costwise.
My last home inspector would have looked at that carport roof and been like "'that's got 5-10 years left don't worry about it!"
He is definitely a company man. Just the facts mam!
I just want to know what needs to be changed in this barn to bring up to code, compared to the existing codes.
You can tell he means business by the tape measure on his hip.
If you cannot get an electrical service drop out there, ask for a variance for a 200-gallon LPG Natural Gas tank for cooking and heating.
We had primary lines installed 300ft into the property and it’s about 100 ft from the shed. We will still push our off grid, but it’s fantastic to have this back up. Thank you!
You'd have to have a McMansion to warrant a 400 amp service. 200 amp is plenty. I run a 200 main and 90 amp subpanel off of that for the garage, with a 4 ton heat pump/AC and I don't even come close to half of the 200 amp allocation during peak usage.
This is the comment I was looking for
A VERY impressive video: well organized, informative and motivating.
Both you & your uncle are clearly talented. My family can't wait to follow your adventure!! From Austin Texas....
Yes, this was surely a very nice quality video.
New Subscriber! Looking forward to watching your progress on this project.
Can you do a "pulldown stair" or circular staircase to get upstairs?
It’s done. See a future episodes.
The old diamond head thing might be appropriate where you live but here in Australia, it doesn’t matter what shape the head is, they’re almost all poisonous ☠️ 🤣🤣
Greeting from HSV! You got another sub, I will be following your project with interest. Good luck on the build!
My God, Spiderman is a carpenter too!
Dude, good job on the production of your series! This looks and sounds very professional 👌
Thank you!
I would also ask if you can get a variance permit to use a 1,000 gallon water tank use for potable freshwater supply.
We don’t need a variance, because we are zoned agricultural. We have a spring and we’ll be storing rainwater in a potable/non-potable system. Thank you!
I loved the old Ford tractor at the end. Is that a 8N or 9N? I learned to drive on a 9N.
It’s a Ferguson TO-20. Very similar to an 8N and many of the parts are the same. We’re going to completely restore it at some point
So what you're telling us is that if you're in Tennessee you have to meet international building code now? Where can we read the requirements for 'international building code?'