10x12 Gable Shed Planning Discussion Summary

Questions Explored and Conclusions Reached

Document created: February 2026

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Project Overview

Goal: Estimate material costs to build a 10x12 Gable shed from Jamaica Cottage Shop plans in Atlanta, GA (30316).

Key constraints:

• Exclude tools and foundation materials
• Use pressure treated lumber instead of hemlock (the kit default)
• Source primarily from big box stores (Home Depot/Lowe's)
• Include conservative overage for mistakes

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Questions & Findings

1. Can I save on sales tax by buying outside Atlanta?

Question: Would purchasing materials outside Atlanta and having them delivered save on sales tax?

Finding: No. Georgia uses destination-based sales tax for deliveries. The tax is based on where goods are delivered, not where they're purchased. Buying from a store in a lower-tax county wouldn't help if delivering to Atlanta (30316).

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2. How much more would a shingle roof cost vs. metal corrugated?

Question: What's the cost difference between the planned metal roof and asphalt shingles?

Finding: Roughly $35-50 more for architectural shingles vs. metal corrugated. Not a significant difference. Metal was kept in the estimate for durability and aesthetic reasons.

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3. What about slate shingles for the roof?

Question: Could slate be used for a premium look?

Finding: Not recommended. Slate would add $3,700-5,600 in materials alone, and the shed's framing isn't designed for the extreme weight (~800-1,000 lbs per 100 sq ft vs. ~100 lbs for metal). Would require significant structural reinforcement.

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4. What are the cedar siding options and costs?

Question: How do cedar clapboard, cedar shingles, and cedar board & batten compare to the original pine board & batten?

Finding:

Conclusion: Cedar shingles are surprisingly cost-competitive with pine while offering superior durability (30-50 years vs. 15-25 years) and requiring no paint/stain.

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5. Should trim be cedar to match cedar shingles?

Question: If using cedar shingles, should the trim also be cedar?

Finding: Yes, recommended. Cedar trim weathers to the same silver-gray as cedar shingles, creating a cohesive look. Pine trim would require paint/stain to match (ongoing maintenance) or would look mismatched. Added cost: ~$480 over pine trim.

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6. Are cedar shingles water-tight without plywood sheathing?

Question: Can shingles be installed over nailers/strapping only, without solid sheathing? The original estimate assumed this "traditional" approach.

Initial claim: Shingles over spaced nailers was a traditional method used for centuries on barns and outbuildings.

Research findings:

• For roofs: Spaced/skip sheathing is well-documented and actually preferred - allows shingles to dry from both sides, extending lifespan.
• For sidewalls: Industry guidance (Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau) assumes solid sheathing + housewrap. The standard recommendation is shingles over plywood + felt paper or housewrap.

Evidence for "traditional" method on walls:

• Found one documented 1920s house with shingles nailed to horizontal strips without sheathing
• References to "open shingle lath" exist but primarily for roofs, not walls
• Could not find authoritative sources recommending this approach for sidewalls

Conclusion: While there's evidence it was sometimes done historically, there's no documentation that it's a good idea or recommended practice for walls. The claim of "centuries of use" was overstated.

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7. What would I see from inside the shed?

Question: If using housewrap, would I have to look at Tyvek from inside? What about shingles over nailers only?

Finding:

User preference: Did not want to look at Tyvek. Plywood sheathing provides a cleaner interior appearance than nailers with visible shingle backs.

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8. Is "strapping" the same as "nailers"?

Question: Terminology clarification.

Finding: Yes, these terms are interchangeable in this context. Both refer to horizontal furring strips that provide a nailing surface for siding.

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9. Would running nailers every 5.5" actually save money or effort?

Question: Compared to using plywood sheathing, is the nailers-only approach actually more economical?

Finding:

Conclusion: Plywood approach costs ~$240 more but is likely faster to install (full sheets vs. dozens of precisely-spaced strips) and provides documented, industry-standard construction. The nailers-only approach doesn't have clear cost or labor advantages.

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10. What grade of cedar shingles should be used?

Question: Cedar shingles come in different grades. Which is appropriate for a shed?

Finding:

Conclusion: No. 2 (Red Label) or No. 3 (Black Label) are both appropriate for a shed. No. 1 is unnecessary expense.

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11. Should I buy a nail gun for this project?

Question: With ~1,540 shingle nails needed, is a nail gun worthwhile?

Finding: Yes, strongly recommended. A roofing nailer (coil nailer) would dramatically speed up shingle installation.

Options:

• Rent: ~$40-50/day
• Buy pneumatic: $150-250 + compressor
• Buy cordless: $250-400 (DeWalt, Milwaukee, etc.)

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12. How much wall area needs shingles?

Question: Total square footage for shingle calculation.

Finding:

• Net wall area: ~292 sq ft
• With waste allowance: ~320-335 sq ft
• In roofing terms: 3.2-3.5 squares
• Estimate uses 3.5 squares to be safe

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Final Recommendation

Siding approach: Cedar shingles over 1/2" plywood sheathing + housewrap

Rationale:

1. Industry-standard, documented installation method
2. Better weather protection than nailers-only
3. Easier/faster to install than dozens of precisely-spaced nailer strips
4. Clean interior appearance (plywood back vs. visible Tyvek or shingle backs)
5. Added structural benefit (racking resistance)
6. Only ~$250 more than the undocumented nailers-only approach

Final estimated cost: $4,282 before tax (~$4,625 with 8% tax)

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Sources Referenced

• Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau Installation FAQ
• Inspectapedia Wood Shingle Installation
• Houzz Discussion on Shingle House Without Sheathing
• Chase Construction on Skip Sheathing
• Canadian Woodworking: Board & Batten Siding
• NPS Preservation Brief 19: Wood Shingle Roofs
• Cedar Bureau Wall Installation Manual (PDF - referenced but not fully accessible)

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Files in This Project