How to Build a Shed
An outdoor shed is one of the best ways to clear out your garage and provide extra space for you. It is also an ideal storage place for your tools, gardening equipment and outside maintenance machines. There are many different kinds of sheds built with various materials. The most common of these is the wood shed, given its ease of assemblage and the supplies are just right at hand.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to build a wood shed.
Materials and Tools Needed
- Measuring tape
- Hammer
- String
- Penny nails
- Wood for posts
- 6 x 8 wood stock
- 2 x 8 wood stock
- 2 x 4 wood stock
- 2 x 6 wood stock
- 4 x 6 wood stock
- �-inch plywood
- Tar paper
- Shingles
- Hinges
Planning
- Select a suitable location in your back or side yard. The plot of land should be level and should have good soil drainage. Clear the area of rocks, trees, or anything that will get in the way of the structure.
- Decide on the size of the shed. The size of the shed for this project is 10 foot by 12 foot. This size provides ample space for storing different items and a small work bench.
- Check that the wood you will use is free of knots, dents and warts.
Building the Shed
- Measure the dimensions of the shed. Drive the posts into the ground to mark the dimensions. Tie the string to all four posts all the way around. Measure the area diagonally to make sure that the outline is square. Take the distance from the left top corner to the right bottom corner, then the right top corner to the left bottom corner. The distance between these measurements should be the same. Reset the posts until the distances are the same.
- Cut four 6 x 8 to its proper sizes for the foundations. Lay the wood out between the posts. Remove the posts then nail the wood pieces together at the corners.
- Cut several 2 x 8 wood stocks to its proper size to create the frame of the floor width. Set four of these 2 x 8�s on top of the 6 x 8�s. Nail the wood pieces at the corners.
- Join the bottom frame with the top frame all the way around by securing it with nails. Use the remaining 2 x 8�s to complete the inside of the top frame. Set them about 8 inches apart to fortify the floor.
- Cut �- inch plywood sheets to size so that it would fit across the top of the frame. Nail the plywood pieces in place.
- Build the frame of the back wall by measuring and cutting two 2 x 4�s the length of the wood shed. Measure and cut four more pieces for the ends. Join two of the end pieces by nailing them together. Do the same for the other two end pieces. Then join all four pieces of wood by securely nailing them together. Fill in the frame with more 2 x 4�s and set them 8 inches apart.
- Repeat the same procedure to create the outer frame of the front wall. Measure and mark the location of the doorway. Use two 2 x 4�s to make each side of the doorway frame. Nail the two pieces together. Measure and cut a piece of 4 x 6 wood to create the door header. Then cut and measure two 2 x 4�s to fill in the wall frame. Use three of the 2 x 4 pieces for the doorframe.
- Repeat the same process in building the back wall frame in building the side wall frames. Then let the walls stand and nail them securely to the foundation.
- Measure and cut a 2 x 6 board to the length of the wood shed to build the frame for the roof. Nail this on top of the front wall. Cut and measure three more 2 x 4�s for the side and the back. Nail them securely in place. Cut additional 2 x 4�s to fill in the roof frame and space them 8 inches apart.
- Cut and lay down sheets of plywood to finish the roof. Use tar paper and roof shingles to cover the plywood.
- Measure the door opening. Cut and measure enough 2 x 4�s to compose the width of the opening. Lay these boards side by side on a flat surface. Then cut three 2 x 4�s the width of the door. Nail these pieces across the top of the door, across the middle and across the bottom. Fit in hinges and a latch to prepare the door for hanging. Hang the swinging door in the shed�s doorway.
- Complete the shed by painting or staining the wood.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.