Finding a Builder (or not)

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” Maya Angelou

Full stop! Neither of my potential builders are available. So I’m re-exploring the idea of bringing in a prefab shed or garage. This prefab garage comes from Sheds Unlimited and will cost about $17,000. It measures 10 x 24 and will come in on a wide load truck and be slipped onto the foundation. I have spoken to a foundation contractor and am waiting for a quote.

Update: the building commissioner will not issue a certificate of occupancy on a pre-built unit. The build must happen on site so the unit will arrive in pieces and be assembled and attached to a pre-poured, inspected foundation. Further, the building commissioner is not friendly to my unconventional build and deflects my questions to “my builder” even though I have told him I am acting as the owner-builder. I am feeling disillusioned. The plans are drawn but I haven’t taken the next step, which is to submit either a special permit application or a building permit. In addition, the cost of the unit has increased since I increased the size to 14 x 24 and I will need to upgrade some of the structural framing to pass code for a dwelling. For example, garage windows don’t typically have headers, 2 x 4’s may need to be increased to 2 x 6’s, flooring will need to be thicker (it goes on.)