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Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

imkylelambert.com

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Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#91

Post by ApolloFortyNine »

stronglikedan wrote: post #84
ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my state they require: >160 hours of education/vocational training and 2 years’ verifiable experience in the trade To get the license to install minisplits (two years experience generally means working an apprenticeship). It's no wonder install costs are so much in the US. And as you've experienced, they're hardly rocket science to install. The 160 hours training would be more than enough, I'm not sure why 2 years…

Thankfully, the training is only required if you're doing the installs for/as a business.

I think in pretty much every state releasing the refrigerant 'requires' a license (if it's not a DIY model).

And in my state, I copy pasted what was required for a 'residential' HVAC license (idk if you meant commercial HVAC or just making money on installs).

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#93

Post by fckgw »

rootsudo wrote: post #43

Boy things are different in Portland where you pay people to insult sheds… But 8x10 for $20,000 just goes to show how expensive USA is for construction. There’s a point where I would review coworking space cost (not as convenient, I know) to just living and owning property abroad.

It was about $9k for the shed and the foundation, poured and installed. The other $11k was for everything else making it a living space and not just a shed. Not so bad in that context.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#94

Post by amatecha »

greenowl wrote: post #79
ryandrake wrote: post #3

For work-from-home, I can't emphasize enough how much of a game changer it is to have a physically separate building for your work, especially if you have a family with kids and noise and pets and things. Working from a spare bedroom, even one without a bed / outfitted as an office, is just not my thing. Even if your family "knows the rules" and let you work in peace. It subjectively still "feels like you're home". W…

Stepping back a bit, if you are working remotely that's likely a proxy for an increased likelihood of job loss due to AI. Why start and invest in a construction project for a building that may not be staffed long term? Perhaps renting a small coworking space in town is the safer financial move. And have your employer pay for it.

in the post:

> I had tried coworking spaces but didn’t love the vibe or the idea of spending hours in a phone booth.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#95

Post by turtlebits »

rootsudo wrote: post #43

Boy things are different in Portland where you pay people to insult sheds… But 8x10 for $20,000 just goes to show how expensive USA is for construction. There’s a point where I would review coworking space cost (not as convenient, I know) to just living and owning property abroad.

Theres a baseline cost for work to be done, the OP decided to build an 8x10, but easily could cost a similar amount or a few thousand more for a shed 4x larger.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#96

Post by psadauskas »

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #76
Jnr wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought my first minisplit ~4 years ago since none of the contractors were available in the hot summer. I bought the tools as well (vacuum pump, manifold, pipe cutters, etc.). It cost me ~650$ total. The next time I bought a minisplit (3.5kW one), I already had the tools and it cost me only 450$. A proper one meant for use during harsh winter would probably costs a bit more though, at around 1000$. So I have set up…

In my state they require: >160 hours of education/vocational training and 2 years’ verifiable experience in the trade To get the license to install minisplits (two years experience generally means working an apprenticeship). It's no wonder install costs are so much in the US. And as you've experienced, they're hardly rocket science to install. The 160 hours training would be more than enough, I'm not sure why 2 years…

Protection racket. They guys doing the installs now would make much less money if just anyone with some tools could start competing with them.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#97

Post by turtlebits »

dmitriy_ko wrote: post #5
biotinker wrote: post #2

Do you have an idea of the R-value of the insulation you put in? I'm wondering what this will take to heat and cool during the peaks of summer and winter.

R-19. You can see label in the picture.

Those are 2x4 studs, so R13, shoving thicker insulation in doesn't change much.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#99

Post by ipython »

veverkap wrote: post #68
ipython wrote: post #40

Looks awesome, but I would have run single-mode fiber between the house and the office. Eliminates any issues with lightning strikes taking out equipment or other electrical gremlins, not to mention providing opportunity for expanding bandwidth in the future by just swapping out the SFP modules on each end. Pre-terminated fiber from fs.com is inexpensive and easy to work with - just measure and install.

What do you use on the house and on the shed side to convert to CAT6?

you can use a media converter or a small switch - for example: https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/switching-utility/produc.... You may already have a fiber aggregation switch in the house to handle other fiber connected devices.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#100

Post by zie »

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #91
stronglikedan wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thankfully, the training is only required if you're doing the installs for/as a business.

I think in pretty much every state releasing the refrigerant 'requires' a license (if it's not a DIY model). And in my state, I copy pasted what was required for a 'residential' HVAC license (idk if you meant commercial HVAC or just making money on installs).

Not Montana apparently. They don't even have an HVAC contractor license anymore that I can find.
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