Lean-to off storage container

amnesia

amnesia

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How realistic is this as a a DIY job? My skills on a scale from 1-10 is probably a solid 2.5. I’ve tried a few local handyman types but they don’t want to travel more than 10 mins or they want to charge a ton. I’m ok paying for work but figured realistically it would take a day or less. The storage container is 40ft but i am only looking to do 8ft wide by 12 ft long.
 
No problem you can do it!

Take 2 days though so the concrete on the posts will be properly set.

Look on-line for deck projects with an overhang to get ideas and you'll be fine. Good small project, not too tall, what kinda roof material?
 
Ben Jefferson said:
No problem you can do it!

Take 2 days though so the concrete on the posts will be properly set.

Look on-line for deck projects with an overhang to get ideas and you'll be fine. Good small project, not too tall, what kinda roof material?
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Tin most likely. The handyman person that was willing to drive 15 mins gave quoted me $3k labor and another 2k for supplies. For that amount I’d sell the storage container and get a 3 sided metal carport.
We paid 9k for a 30x30x36 14 ft tall with upgraded weather trusses and a very roof.
 
Ben Jefferson said:
He's looking to get rich!

How tall is the container @amnesia!
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8 1/2 for but the side I want to do a lean to off of is on a slope so I don’t have to put the brace on the side of the building completely at the top. It’s a standard size shipping container.
 
Considering I’ll be helping a friend build a lean-to this weekend and I’ve roughly priced out what it’ll take to do something only a little larger than yours... $5k is absurd. He should also shop around for materials because that’s quite excessive.

I would expect $2500 max and 2 days. Day 1 confirm plans, prep area, set posts, let cement dry. Day 2 cut/install boards, cut/install roof.
 
Complicated question... How are you planning on framing it? Attachment? Securing it to the ground?
 
bigfelipe said:
Complicated question... How are you planning on framing it? Attachment? Securing it to the ground?
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I was planning on 6x6 posts 12 feet. Set in concrete with lag bolts acting as uplift anchors.

It will only have a roof on the lean to. I’d like a place to park the lawn mower, keep the chop saw with stand so both is out of the weather.
 
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I would suggest concrete for vertical posts.

I would use a ledger board on the top of the container of at least 2x8 pt.

I am ASSUMING code will not be an issue.
 
amnesia said:
I was planning on 6x6 posts 12 feet. Set in concrete it’s lag bolts acting as uplift anchors.

It will only have a roof on the lean to. I’d like a place to park the lawn mower, keep the chop saw with stand so both is out of the weather.
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How are you planning on attaching to the container?
 
6x6 is probably overkill bud, 4x6s hold up a bunch!

I would think double 2x6 or 8 beam and 2x8 rafters on 24 centers would be adequate.
 
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Shouldnt be a hard job and like mentioned two days tops. I would threw bolt upper side to the shipping container in several places to support it if your attaching to side of container and flash it well some how so it does not rot the wood attached to the container.
 
I have a buddy that might be interested in the work. PM me if interested and I’ll send his contact info. Where are you looking to build? He’s in the Matthews/Charlotte area.
 
J R Green said:
I'll come out and be your engineer. I've done several. I'll pm you.
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amnesia said:
I was looking at this for the plans but not 100%

https://www.barntoolbox.com/pdffiles/leanto-print-details.pdf
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Jr is good people and a better helper than most people I've met. With his help it will be a super easy project. He helped me put stairs one my back porch and a few other things.

I shouldn't say helper he was more of the director, helper, sensei than helper.
 
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Cowboy said:
Jr is good people and a better helper than most people I've met. With his help it will be a super easy project. He helped me put stairs one my back porch and a few other things.

I shouldn't say helper he was more of the director, helper, sensei than helper.
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upload_2020-4-27_23-57-33.png
 
bigfelipe said:
8' span with a metal roof will be fine with 4x4 posts, 2x8 header, 2x4 rafters on a 2x4 ledger.
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Now listen here Sonny, this is the internet. We don't talk people down from overkill around here. You go telling somebody they'll be fine using 2x4s, what's next? 5000 miles between oil changes? Credit cards aren't the devil? A chainsaw other than Stihl will still work? Harbor Freight tools are just fine for most people?

I agree, the original plan sounded like massive overkill. The only change I would make it to extend the overhang as far along the container as budget allows. If 8x12 is good, 8x24 is double good.


Personally I would try to avoid putting holes in the container if I could. You're compromising the biggest advantage containers have over wooden buildings: weather tightness.

I would use construction adhesive to glue pressure treated wood to the top and attach all my rafters to that.
 
Cowboy said:
Jr is good people and a better helper than most people I've met. With his help it will be a super easy project. He helped me put stairs one my back porch and a few other things.

I shouldn't say helper he was more of the director, helper, sensei than helper.
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So he was the big chief and you were the little indian???


bigfelipe said:
Can't open it on my phone...

8' span with a metal roof will be fine with 4x4 posts, 2x8 header, 2x4 rafters on a 2x4 ledger.

Gonna be tough to seal it to the wall of the container, being corrugated Corden steel. You don't want to create an avenue for water to get into the container through your ledger bolts.
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This ↑↑↑↑↑. The only weight you are supporting is whatever you use for roofing material. All else is overkill and money you could have spent on guns and ammo.


GoWolfpack said:
Now listen here Sonny, this is the internet. We don't talk people down from overkill around here. You go telling somebody they'll be fine using 2x4s, what's next? 5000 miles between oil changes? Credit cards aren't the devil? A chainsaw other than Stihl will still work? Harbor Freight tools are just fine for most people?

I agree, the original plan sounded like massive overkill. The only change I would make it to extend the overhang as far along the container as budget allows. If 8x12 is good, 8x24 is double good.


Personally I would try to avoid putting holes in the container if I could. You're compromising the biggest advantage containers have over wooden buildings: weather tightness.

I would use construction adhesive to glue pressure treated wood to the top and attach all my rafters to that.
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Refer to the statement above about guns and ammo. :oops:;)
 

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amnesia said:
How realistic is this as a a DIY job? My skills on a scale from 1-10 is probably a solid 2.5. I’ve tried a few local handyman types but they don’t want to travel more than 10 mins or they want to charge a ton. I’m ok paying for work but figured realistically it would take a day or less. The storage container is 40ft but i am only looking to do 8ft wide by 12 ft long.
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8x40 won't be big enough!!!!! Don't stop at 12....you will see!!!
 
BlackGun said:
$2200.00 will get you another 8x20 trailer and you can watch cartoons and drink beer.
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show a picture of that one. Bet it's rough as a cob and not watertight. $3700 for a new one here. Better off buying a 40ft as the 20ft containers cost 70% or more of one twice the size
 
Ikarus1 said:
show a picture of that one. Bet it's rough as a cob and not watertight. $3700 for a new one here. Better off buying a 40ft as the 20ft containers cost 70% or more of one twice the size
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They are all over Facebook marketplace from multiple ads.
 
Ben Jefferson said:
I'd love to bury a small one for a storm shelter!
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Until you find out that they won’t take the lateral pressure.

OP, you could weld tabs or angle iron onto the top long edge of the container and attach the roof support to them.
 
Schattenreiter said:
So he was the big chief and you were the little indian???



More like he was the skilled laborer and I was the gopher.

This ↑↑↑↑↑. The only weight you are supporting is whatever you use for roofing material. All else is overkill and money you could have spent on guns and ammo.






Refer to the statement above about guns and ammo. :oops:;)
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I was thinking about that. I would bury about 2/3 of the way with sloping sides. I would not be opposed to welding a few supports.

The angle should deflect enough wind by creating a low pressure zone over the top so as not to lift it out of the ground.
 
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