Taxes and buildings

Now I'm tight and think it'd be cheaper to heat a small shop than a big one. So I was thinking if I build it myself on 8 foot centers, go about 16 feet high to the bottom edge of the roof, and maybe build it about 24x32, that should be big enough to have a bench in it, put in a service door big enough to get in a combine or an articulate tractor like my 4-150. Then depending on how finances and time go we'd insulate it first, maybe put in a concrete floor, etc. My eventual goal is to be able to work while it's zero out like today, rather than sit here.

But what I want to know is, can I write it off my taxes? I figure if I build it it myself and intend to use it for farm work I can write off building costs as "supplies". I know it'll probably drive up property taxes.

Now my dream machine shed... You can never make that too big! (But that's not heated and has a dirt floor.)

Bob

Size: I am like you, and dreaming too. You mention 'combine' so I suggest you make it a tad bigger than you have it. Most combine heads are 20 feet these days, if like me you don't have that now, you might in the future. You got a lot of hieght, you might as well have at least a 16 foot wide door. Building needs 2 foot of shelf & 4 feet of working room on each side, so 16 plus 6 plus 6 is 30 wide, and measure how long a combine is, or you ever want to pull an implement in with a tractor - you need it 40 feet deep and that means you can't store anything on the front wall at that.

You just can't work in 24 feet wide, with cambine & shelf & tools, no room to swing shields away, work, etc.

Would be nice to have a small simple door to get a pickup or medium size tractor out the opposite side of the big door. Can be a slider you insulate up real well semi-sealed shut, but just nice to be able to drive through a shop pulling something in if the need arises.

I have a 28x36 wood frame building that I'm debating if I insulate & turn into a heated shop. Would need to enlarge doors. Biggest problem is height, I don't know that I can easily get to 12 feet high. All my stuff fits inside an 11 foot door right now, but - future always brings higher, not sure I will be comfortable with a low shop..... Little small, but like you, hate to spend too much on heat, etc.

--->Paul

Pick something too big and I don't know I could put it together in a year or so, building it myself.