I would like to build a 12'x16' workshop in my back yard. All the plans I see call for 8x8 members ( see here ), except for one 10'x14' shed that uses 6x6's ( see here ). My walls will only be 8' high or less. The roof will have 6 in 12 pitch. The 6x6's will be cheaper, easier to buy, etc..Please help!

p.s. the 10x14 uses pressure-treated timbers. What are the pros and cons of that?

I recently built a 14x16 shed that is being used by my wife for office, but it would make a fantastic workshop (A point I bring up with her quite often... ). It is framed primarily with 6x6 timbers (the tie beams are 6x8). A picture can be seen here: http://www.tfguild.org/ubbcgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000021

The design is by Jack Sobon.

Cheers,
Dan

Thanks Dan!

Very nice building. I like the 14x16 size, but I cannot build that high because the local building code limits the total height of the buidling to 16'. So I cannot have such a big loft.

I would be willing to buy a plan that fits my needs. The 10x14 mentioned above has plans available for $55, and I may go with it unless I find something better. The timbers for the 10x14 can all be bought at Lowe's. Plus, the 10x14 frame looks like it would expand to 12x16 in a straightforward manner. And the 7' walls ought to work for 8' walls as well. But I might be missing something.

Dan, all you guys are an inspiration to me. I greatly appreciate your help.

Pressure Treated would work, I guess, if you can handle the rounded edges, the green colour, the smell of the preservative, the toxicity of the sawdust you'll be breathing... and that's if you can find straight product. The impregnation process can distort the product quite a bit, I've found. Certainly I can see using it for the base if you are going to lay it directly on soil or concrete, but there must be a sawyer or two in your part of the world that could cut the few pieces you are going to need.
Take a look here... http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?board=11.0 Check out the Timber Framing thread on their site 'moderated' by Jim Rogers... there is an excellent thread on there about the tools and techniques you'll by needing and using for your shed regardless of the size and material chosen.
Best wishes for the project...

Thanks Jim. I am going to look into avoiding the pressure treated stuff if possible. I did a search for a sawmill and found one maybe 2-3 hours away.

And the tool list will certainly be helpful. This stuff is very scientific. I like it!

Anyway, I think I'm on the right path. Thanks for your help.

Took a look at the links above and I don't mean to discourage you, but the plan using the 6x's is lacking in Joinery, so the post size is okay. Probably the reason the other one uses 8x's is due to the requirement to consider the strength of the post after the mortises are made (removed) from the 8x's. (?)

Jim, what you say makes sense to me. I'm guessing the 6x6 frame is held together by lag screws or bolts. I built an 8'x8'x8' gazebo with 4x4 posts and notched out a place on top for some 4x6 beams. After this, the post was narrowed considerably, probably down to 2x2 at that point. But it had 4x4 braces screwed to the timbers, and it is still standing.

Hey, I just talked to a sawyer and he said that the cost of his timbers would be half that of pressure-treated! Doesn't specialize in timber-framing though. But I think it might work out.

Almost every day, I look at this photo that Dan Miller posted above:

Dan Miller\'s 14x16 Building