Ahh the shed. Or as I like to call it, the Man Box. A good backyard shed is the perfect place to store your tools, all your backyard maintenance and gardening equipment, and depending on the size, a great place to complete your man projects in peace. If women store their valuable jewellery in a box, why can’t men have a box for their valuables? Depending on the size and materials, a prefabricated shed can be quite costly. Cedar sheds, ranging from 4’ x 2’ all the way to 12’ x 12’ can cost anywhere from $600 to $5,000 respectively. Vinyl coated steel sheds run from approximately $600-$1,500 depending on size, while galvanized painted steel sheds cost about half that. However, if you’re considering a shed in the first place, there’s a good chance you enjoy DIY projects, fiddling with power tools, and saying things to people like “Check out what I built.” The following is a basic guide to building your own backyard gardening shed, enjoy!
The first thing you should do is contact the city you live in to find out what the zoning laws are and whether or not you need a building permit. This will usually depend on the size of your backyard in relation to the size of the shed you want to build.
Needless to say, make sure you already have your plans and all your materials before starting any DIY project. There are many shed plans and material lists online, or you can visit your local hardware store and ask them for assistance.
Make sure the ground area for your shed is as flat and level as possible.
A shed needs a good foundation, and you can decide whether to build one out of wood or concrete. Concrete is definitely the more durable choice, but a good quality wood will still last for years, is more affordable, and is easy to cut and move.
If you live in an area where the ground freezes in the winter, you’ll want to protect the floor of your shed from the expanding soil water which can crack the wood. Support posts made of wood or concrete are excellent solutions as they elevate the shed off the frozen ground.
Your floor frame should consist of lumber that has been treated against wood rot and wood-eating insects, as should the plywood used for the floor itself, which will protect it from water dripping off any tools you might store.
You should construct the walls using 2” X 4”s and plywood. The wall studs should be 7’-3” high, they should be spaced 1’-4” apart, while the top and bottom plates can be as long as your plans call for. The easiest method for this is to nail the whole thing together on the floor, then erect it once completed. If you plan on working inside the shed during the winter, you can insulate the walls for added warmth.
Don’t forget to add a doorway into the front wall! You’d be surprised how many times people forget to do this.
Now, what type of roof you build is up to you, you can construct either a gambrel, a gable, or a saltbox roof. You will also need to know the difference between a rafter and a joist. The following is a decent guide on how to build a roof for your shed. Once constructed, apply 90lb mineral coated tar paper to the roof, starting from the lower end and working your way up using roofing nails and roofing glue.
Before you start painting your shed, make sure to apply a paintable siliconized latex caulk along all the exposed joints where water might leak in. Cover all the exposed wood with an exterior wood primer before applying any paint.
When choosing your shed door, make sure it’s wide enough for all your huge gardening tools like your lawnmower or snow-blower. A nice double sliding door is a good option. You can even install windows if you like, although sometimes complete privacy is what you need to truly express your constructive self.
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