Raise the Walls
Once the floor is down and solid start lifting prepared pallets into place. By prepared I simply mean pallets with 2x4s screwed or nailed onto the open ends. Doing this quickly gives you four sides of the pallet to screw or nail into. It also makes the pallet stronger.
If you use non-standard (40′ by 48′) pallets you may find your walls are a little long and need the ends of the pallets cut off. This is easy to do with a reciprocating saw. Then just slide the 2×4 back in between the slats and screw or nail the slat boards back to the 2×4. Be sure to clean the slats ends off the 2×4 before doing this of course.
It’s also a good idea to stagger the pallets to avoid one long weak horizontal seam. This is easily done by cutting pallets in half. Be sure to add 2x4s onto the open ends of the pallets. Also note that you’ll have two extra horizontal 2x4s in the wall sections with the cut pallets which will add to the height requiring you to trim a little more off your cut pallets.
The walls require 24 standard 40″ by 48″ shipping pallets. If you have sturdy lighter weight pallets this is better for the walls. Place the heavier of the pallets lower in the wall simply because it will keep the center of gravity lower.
Next: Add Windows and a Door…
I like this pallet idea very much. Can you tell me what the best way to mount the floor to a concrete slab would be?
If you wanted to permanently attach wood to concrete drilling into the slab with a hammer drill (big drill that also moves in a hammering motion) and use anchors to tie it down. Bolting metal strapping to the slab and pallets would also be added insurance.
But be sure the slab drains, you don’t want to permanently attach the pallets to a puddle