How can i go about building a structure in my backyard?
Question:I live in Burlington County, NJ; i want to build a Decent sized building to have band practice in. I have an acre of land to work with but i only need a bit of space.
What are the steps i need to take to construct this building LEGALLY.
Answers:
You'll need to gain access to the county's zoning by-laws. No county has the same restrictions in regards to construction, so any advice should be taken with consideration to local restrictions.
The most common restriction is how close a structure can be built in relation to property lines and other buildings. There may also be provisions in which neighbours can voice concerns regarding things like aesthetics or any nuisance the building might create. (Shouldn't tell them it will be used for band practice -- tell them it's a storage shed)
In the end, you'll likely have to produce blueprints and architectural drawings (in most cases, for something like an outbuilding, a simply diagram will suffice) will need to be forwarded to the county's planning board, who will either approve, disapprove or request more information. If approved, you'll be issued a building permit.
As for building the structure, it is fairly straight-forward. If your going to contract the work out, get quoted estimates from five different contractors. Eliminate the highest and lowest quotes, then interview the remaining three. Get references and an estimated time of completion for each contractor. Always choose the best contractor for the job, regardless of cost. A job done right the first time will save you money in the long run.
However, if you have designs on building the structure yourself, I've listed the steps in which to follow.
1 Build foundation and provide service accesses; water, electrical, sewer, phone and gas (if required).
2 Frame structure; build sub-floor, exterior walls, interior wall and then roof.
3 Shingle roof, install windows and doors, sheet or clad exterior.
4 Plumbing, mechanical and electrical rough-ins; basically run electrical wires, heating runs and plumbing runs according to plans. Install furnace and hot water heaters.
5 Insulate and apply vapour barrier.
6 Drywall; start with ceilings, then walls -- working from the top down. Mud and sand; mud and sand -- until you have a nice smooth finish.
7 Primer interior; apply texture to ceiling if desired. Sand (scratch) wall after texturing and each coat of primer -- two coats should be sufficient.
8. Paint walls.
9. Install carpets and other flooring, followed by cabinetry, baseboards and trim. Tie in electrical outlets. Install plumbing fixtures and tie into rough plumbing services.
10 General clean-up followed by house warming party.
Calculating material is actually simple. Calculate the area to be covered and divide it by the dimensions of the material being used. Then multiply that number by 1.2 to account for waste.
Framing for instance, basically involves calculating the perimeter of the structure and multiplying this number by four. A standard wall has three plate; top, bottom and cap (which goes above the top plate). The extra set of plates is for the lentils, sills and header plates associated with doors and windows.
Divide that number by the length of the dimensional lumber you intend to use and that will give you the number of plates required. And if you estimate that you need one stud for every foot of plate, you'll be well prepared to start building. Most buildings have studs spaces at 16 inches on centre. However corner sets and jack studs (windows and doors) will eat up the difference.
For example, lets look at a 20' X 6' shed, not including the roof. Using standard studs, the building will be 8' tall.
Plate material.
Perimeter = 2(length + width) = 2 (20 + 6) = 52 feet
Total plate material = Perimeter x 4 = 52 x 4 = 208 feet of material.
Dimensional lumber in a length of 16 ' will allow you to cut 6' off the end, leaving you 10' (which is half of 20') . And it just so happens that 208 divided by 16 is exactly 13. So purchase 14 to 16 sixteen footers of whatever you intend to frame with.
So your framing package would be 16 - 16'ers and 52 studs.
As for siding material, the area is calculated as such:
Area = 2(20 x 8) + 2(10 x 8) = 320 + 160 = 480 sq feet.
A standard sheet of plywood is 4 X 8 feet = 32 sq feet
Number of sheet required = ( 480 / 32 ) x 1.2 = 18 sheets.
If you do the same for your project, you should have a better idea of the material required. Just remember that not every piece of lumber is going to be ideal. All estimates should take into consideration warped, cupped or bowed lumber. It is always better to over order a project, sort through the package when it arrives, toss the bad lumber to the side and use these for bracing, short studs (under windows), sills and plates for windows and doors, backing and other aspects which will allow you to cut in order to maximize your lumber package. And you'll always find some use for the left over lumber. And many of these calculations can be transferred to interior walls, drywall, insulation, vapour barrier and finishing woodwork.
I'm not certain about your local building codes -- these can usually be found the reference section of your local library -- but in Alberta, exterior walls must be constructed of 2 x 6s. Interior wall, with the exception of walls carrying plumbing (also 2 x 6), can be constructed of 2 x 4s. The reason for the thicker exterior walls is for insulation.
I think that pretty well covers all the bases. Good luck and happy building.
check with you local municipality about zoning restrictions and building requirements. If you live in an unincorporated area your county government will be the people to talk to.
.firstly you need , to find out what size ,you really need,
say you need a 20x20 build a 25 x25 ft one ,because after the band, you may wish to use it ,for something else, ??
then you need to summit plan to your local city planning office, you may need plans, and a pro to draw them ,for you ,all you do is give him a simple plan to work with ,
give your local office a call, the will put your right...
You need an education in local building practices,
Talk to at least five local contractors, and two home centers, and listen to their explanation of what they can build for you in the space on your land and the cost...
Estimates are normally free!
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