Steps in Building a Shed.pdf

Steps in Building a Shed

The design and location of your new shed will depend on how it will be used - a shed for

storing tools will be much simpler than one you intend to use as a small shop. For example, a

large shed for housing wheeled equipment will need a ramp leading up to a double barn-style

door or an overhead garage door and perhaps a concrete floor. A shed that doubles as a

workshop may have plywood floors, insulated walls, windows for light and ventilation,

overhead lights, and a few GFCI electrical outlets.

Although no rule says a shed must match the style of the house, using elements of roof

design, siding treatment, or paint colour can help unify the property and make the shed an

attractive feature of your yard rather than an obvious add-on.

Put your shed in a convenient location, but also take into account such things as terrain and

soil drainage, easy access to utilities, sun exposure, and view.

Building Codes and Permits

The building codes you must follow for a shed differ depending on whether it will just be for

storage or will have plumbing, heating, wiring, and interior walls. Another set of rules could

apply if you want to house livestock. Contact your local building department before you

begin. In some localities, you may not need to get a building permit if the shed is under a

certain size and is not built on a permanent foundation. There may also be rules about

location (setbacks from property lines or existing structures on your property), size, and roof

design that will affect your plan. After determining what codes apply, choose a plan that fulfils

your overall requirements and can be built within your budget.

Project Basics

Project:

Moderate to difficult, depending on

type of shed

Estimated Project Time:

2 to 6 days, depending on whether

working from a kit or from scratch

Start Tips:

Check local codes before you begin.

Safety Tips:

Wear safety goggles, hearing

protection, and a dust mask when

cutting lumber with a circular saw.

Recommendation:

Do-it-Yourself

Tools and Materials:

2x4s and 2x6s for frame

Circular saw

Safety goggles

Hearing protection

Dust mask

Wkl

Window (optional)

Ladder

String

Roofing materials (including roof

sheathing, tar paper, roll roofing or

hi l

il t l

Work gloves

Drill/driver

Hammer

Measuring tape

Framing square

4-ft. level

3/4- or 5/8-inch plywood or OSB sub flooring

Nails/screws

Plywood or other sheathing

shingles, roofing nails, staples and

staple hammer, etc.)

Siding

Door (1x8 boards or plywood, or stock

double doors)

Door hardware and other hardware

Instructions

Plans, Kits, and Prefabs

Plans

Building a shed from a plan with stock materials is well within the range of most do-it-

yourselves. A good set of plans will provide detailed materials and cutting lists, clear

diagrams, and step-by-step instructions that people with basic carpentry skills should be able

to handle. Typically, when starting with a level site, building a small shed from scratch will

take at least two or three weekends.

The Kit Advantage

Easy-to-build kits for the do-it-yourselfer are available in wood, vinyl, or metal. Prices often

are comparable to the retail cost of the materials alone. Most retailers also offer professional

installation or can refer you to a local contractor. The assembled kit can range from a barely

acceptable and not the least bit attractive utility shed to a fine-looking, durable building that

rivals house construction.

The pieces are all pre-cut; some elements, such as roof trusses or wall sections, may be

preassembled. Depending on the shed size, design, and the degree to which the kit comes

preassembled, you and a helper may be able to erect the shed in as little as a few hours with

only a hammer, drill/driver or screwdriver, measuring tape, and level. A weekend of work is

probably more typical. Kits may or may not come with materials for a floor, but you must

always provide the foundation.

Prefabs

If you want a nearly instant outbuilding, you can buy a prefab

(Fig. 1). Some of these units are delivered and set up by

trained installers or subcontractors. Others come in kit form

for you to erect on site. Before you buy, compare construction

details, options, services, prices, warranties, and the

company's reputation. You probably will be responsible for

some or all of the site preparation. You may be able to

support a small shed on pressure-treated landscape timbers

or a bed of gravel. Larger shed will need piers or a foundation

matched to the structure.

Fig. 1 (Courtesy of

Summerwood Products)

Foundations

The foundation provides a stable base for the shed. The type you need depends on the size

and weight of the structure, and to some extent the type of ground it rests on. A small shed of

less than 100 square feet generally can sit on pressure-treated 4x4 skids or concrete blocks

that have been cut into the sod and set level. If there is minimal or no frost heave in your

area, you can also pour concrete into parallel trenches 8 to 10 inches wide and 12 inches

deep. Skids may be considered nonpermanent foundations and eliminate the need for a

permit. Be sure to check before building.

A larger shed will generally require a traditional foundation - pier-and-girder, concrete or block

wall, or concrete slab - with footings that extend below the local frost line.

One of the most economical and easiest ways to support a

heavy shed is with a combination of concrete piers and posts.

Even on a sloping site, you can pour piers into preformed

tubes that extend a few inches above ground, and insert a

post anchor in each one before the mix hardens. Then you

can mount posts and cut them all off at the same level to

support the shed floor frame. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2

Building a Storage Shed

If you're a first-time builder with only basic tools and skills, work from a reliable plan with

detailed instructions. Take the lead from professional kit builders, and pre-cut your lumber, or

at least all the pieces as needed for each stage (such as for floor, wall, and roof systems).

Note: Below is a general overview concerning several of the steps involved when building a

basic storage shed. For the details on foundations, flooring, framing, roofing, installing

windows and doors, siding, etc., refer to your actual plan and to publications on these topics.

Keep in mind that the procedures mentioned below might differ from those for your particular

plan.

1) Build the Flooring

After the foundation is built, use 2x6s to build a

frame of floor joists set 16 in. on centre, and

attach 3/4- or 5/8-inch plywood or OSB sub

flooring. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3

2) Frame Up the Walls

Frame up the four walls with 2x4 studs set 16

inches on centre. Depending on the style and size

of shed you are building, the dimensions for each

wall may vary. Also remember that one wall will

include a doorframe for the door you will install in

a later step. Check each wall for square, and nail

on plywood or other sheathing. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4

3) Raise the Walls

With a helper, raise the first wall into position, adjusting it until

it is plumb. Use a 2x4 brace to keep the first wall in position

(Fig. 5). Install the other walls, following your plan's

instructions, again checking for alignment.

Fig. 5

4) Make and Install the Roof Trusses

You can make your own roof trusses by joining

timbers with plywood gussets or truss plates, or

use solid rafters (Fig. 6). Create one truss per

stud bay.

Fig. 6

Set and brace the end roof trusses first. Then you can string

guidelines, and tip up and nail the trusses between them (Fig.

7). Install roof sheathing next.

Fig. 7

You can finish the gable ends of the roof structure

with an extra layer of framing covered by a rake

board. (Fig. 8)

Fig. 8

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