6 Tips for Building a Shed

Charles Higginson Mother Earth News

If you've ever had a good little shed, you know their usefulness ranks right up there with rakes, chain saws and duct tape. If you've never had one, you may not know what you're missing. And it's not that difficult to build a simple shed. In fact, anyone thinking about building a house someday probably should build a shed ? it gives you a chance to practice many of the same design and construction techniques.

As with most major, semi-permanent projects, your eventual success depends on the time and thought you spend in planning.

A first consideration: Learn whether you'll have to deal with legal or zoning restrictions. Many localities have regulations that can affect the placement (and perhaps design and materials) of your shed. It's best to find out up front and avoid surprises later. A call to your local building authorities should be all it takes.

Now that you know what you can't do, take a look at your property and imagine what you can do. Look for reasonably level spots, and avoid areas with poor drainage. Think through how you'll use the shed: for tool storage, as a workshop, as a potting shed or artist's studio, or a combination? Different uses dictate different dimensions and sizes, as well as placement of doors and windows.

Think next about appearance. You could build a shed to match your house, or take off in a complete architectural departure. You can make literally hundreds of variations in design, style and finish. Basic proportions, roof shape, door and window style, and roof and wall finish surfaces combine to create your shed's ambience. Working on this scale, you can indulge whims you might not be able to afford on a larger building. Go ahead, add that cedar shake roof or weathervane or cupola.

Start by making rough sketches, refining until you get the design right. Once you're close, take it to graph paper to fine-tune sizes. At this point, do your best to take advantage of standard lumber sizes ? alter the plan if it leads to economy. Draw up the floor plan and a detailed sketch of each wall, including openings for doors and windows. With detailed plans, you can write up an accurate lumberyard shopping list.

When it comes time to build, here are some pointers:

Build a firm foundation. Whether you pour a concrete slab, pour footings, set posts in the ground, or build on rocks or block on the surface, make sure your foundation is solid and reasonably level.

Keep the building square, plumb and level. It's worth taking the time to get this right. Square off your rim joists by measuring for equal diagonals. With some foundations you may need to add shims to get the rim level. Before you raise the walls, square them up and add temporary diagonal braces.

Work efficiently. Designate a scrap pile, and put all cutoffs there. Settle on a place to keep your tools ? it's frustrating to spend 20 minutes looking for something you need for 10 seconds. If you need to make repetitive cuts, such as the angled tops and notches in rafters, craft a perfect template and use it as a pattern for the rest.

Consider critter-proofing. Put metal screen over ventilation openings, unless you want to share your shed with wasps and bats. If your floor is raised off the ground, screen or block off the area under the building. Otherwise, you may attract undesirable tenants such as raccoons or skunks.

Take your time. It's easy to get carried away by enthusiasm, but realize that it will take considerable time to build even a small shed that will last and look good. Make a reasonable estimate of the time you think each step will take ? then double it, especially if you're inexperienced.

Above all, work safely. Be careful with ladders and power tools, and be especially cautious when working on the roof.

If you've built a shed of your own, we invite you to offer your tips, joys, frustrations and suggestions. Just go to comments section and share your shed experience.

If you're interested in building a shed, several basic building books are available. One that stands out for its focus is Sheds: The Do-It-Yourself Guide for Backyard Builders, by David Stiles. This book guides first-time builders from the ground up to the final shingle. It's full of common-sense advice, building tips, hundreds of informative illustrations and an inspiring selection of color photographs.