[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Diggin Jiggin

I'm going to be building an 8x12 shed. Besides storage, I am hoping to use it as a place to do all of my painting and finishing so I can get all the chemicals out of the house. To do that, I'd like to try and find a small wood stove that I can use to heat it warm enough to paint and epoxy in the winter.

I know basically what I need to do, but I've got some questions that I'm sure a bunch of you may know the anwers to.

The town said I don't need to pour footers for a shed that size but I am going to pour one for each corner anyways. The bottom is basically going to be pressure treated 2X8's, with 8' joists 16" on center, with 2 12' long 2x8's going the long way. Is the 12' span too long, do I need another footer in the middle to break it into 2 6' spans ?

Yes, put another footing at 6 ft. on each of those doubled 2x8's.

Ok, once the floor joists are put together, I was going to lay 5/8 plywood on that as the floor.

use P.T. if you can

The sides are just going to be framed 2X4's 16" on center. I would like to put in 3 large rectangular windows but I am not sure where to look for those. They don't need to be fancy double pane or anything like that, just large basic windows. Any suggestions on where to look for them besides the HD or lowes ?

Window company smaple windows are a great choice especially if they are free. I have some free transom windows if you want them.

I do not know what to do for siding. I'd like to have a rough sawn cedar look, Board and batten, T&G, ?? and if I could do that without also having to put in plywood sheathing on the sides that would save some money but I don't know if that's ok to do or not. I know that if I do it without the plywood and I do boar and batten I need to run horizontal supports between the 2x4's..

you live in Plymouth, I'd go with the 1/2" plywood, maybe stain it this year for now with a dark brown solid stain, then when you have time and more dough, put on white cedar shingles, it's a small shed so it shouldn't take long.

Does anyone have a good source for rough cedar siding is SE mass? The shed is in the woods so I'm trying to stay away from pine as I'm afraid of bugs.

maybe try grossmans bargain outlet or that place in Assonet

Last questions are about the roof. I have a pallet of asphalt shingles so I'm going to use them. First question is about the rafters. Do I need 2X6 and if so how far apart are they on center ? Some places I read said 24", and that just seemed funny with the floor and walls being 16" on center. Also, how thick does the plywood need to be for the roof, is 1/2" ok ??

1/2" ply is fine but your roofing nails will come thru, but that shouldn't be a problem since you most likely will toss some insulation up there. I'd go 16" on center with minimum of 2x6

IMO even if you are just going to do painting and epoxying out there, I'd consider going up to a 12x12 or 10x12 minimum.
Maybe you can heat with a propane fired wall unit heater of some kind.
good luck