How we research
Product data
Every product on the site is a real Amazon listing. We store only factual fields: the product ID, title, brand, listed price and image. Footprint, material and whether a floor is included are read from the listing title; when the title does not state a footprint, we do not guess one. Prices are snapshots and change often, so every button leads to the live price.
Code and engineering references
- Permit thresholds: International Residential Code R105.2 (200 sq ft exemption for one-story detached storage sheds) and the 120 and 100 sq ft figures common in local amendments.
- Roofing: IRC R905.2.2 minimum slope and underlayment rules for asphalt shingles.
- Snow: the ASCE 7 flat-roof snow load formula with factors for an unheated, low-risk building.
- Ramps: the ADA 1:12 maximum for accessible ramps, and the 15 degree slope limit most lawn tractor manuals set.
Trade conventions
Some numbers are rules of thumb rather than standards, and we label them that way: a 1 ft gravel border, 1.4 tons of crushed stone per cubic yard, 10 percent for compaction and waste, the 1.5 aisle factor in the size calculator, and paint coverage ranges. The calculators let you change each one.
What we never do
- Claim to have tested, assembled or lived with a product.
- Invent a price, a rating or a specification.
- Tell you a specific structure is safe for your specific site. Loads, setbacks and permits are local: check your local code.
This page is researched guidance, not professional engineering, legal or building-code advice. Sizes, loads and permit rules vary by product and by town: check your local code and the kit manufacturer's instructions before you build.