Building a Garden ShedTips for Helping You Build Your Own Garden Shed

My wife and I recently moved house and fortunately there was not a lot of redecoration required as the previous owner, an elderly lady, had been very house-proud. The garden was rather neglected with a rickety outdoor garden shed that needed coming down before it fell of its own accord. It didn’t take me long to empty the shed and demolish it but it became obvious that it would need replacing as the old lady had left us all of her late husband’s gardening tools plus flowerpots, bags of compost and so on and there was no room in the garage.

I had some experience in building a garden shed so the first item on my list was to get a good set of outdoor garden shed plans.

There are quite a few things to take into consideration when planning your shed and I’ll list just a few here:-

- Is your area liable to suffer from heavy snowfalls in the winter if so you made need to a stronger roof or a flat roof may not be ideal at all.

- Strong winds would require you to use better fixings, tie downs etc.

- Security, is your area prone to burglary, sheds attract petty thieves looking for stuff to unload at flea markets? If so a good solid door and heavy padlock would be the ideal.

- Does it get really hot during the summer months; this may require venting the roof so as not to damage your contents. Also you will need to consider what roofing felt or sealant will be needed.

- Avoid using cheap timber and buy good sealants and paints.

A good set of garden shed plans should cover all the above scenarios and more. Some will include other projects that you might like to try.

Here’s a tip that you probably won’t find in your set of plans: I would seriously recommend that having decided on the size of your new shed that you select the next size up, if you only choose one with enough storage area for your present needs next year could see you without space for new acquisitions.

With summer on the way your thoughts may be turning to the garden and maybe investing in that new garden shed that you have been promising yourself.
If it has been the price that has held you up why not consider building your own?

Here are the steps you should take:

Firstly decide where you will site the shed taking into consideration how it will look in the garden, the floor area and drainage.

You can now invest in a set of garden shed plans; this should be your only outlay so far. Shed plans are available online and come in sets of many designs and sizes. You would choose from the ones that match your shed floor area.

When choosing your new shed you will need to decide whether or not you will need windows, electricity and importantly where the door will fit.

You now need to check that your shed does not violate any building codes or upset the local tenants association; you do not want to build only to be told to pull it down again. All the information required for these checks will be on your garden shed plans.

The foundations need to be prepared and you can choose a concrete base, a gravel base with the shed sat an inch higher on blocks to encourage air circulation or sit the shed on treated timbers.

You can now take your set of garden shed plans to your local suppliers and from them order all your wood and hardware (nails, screws and hinges etc).

All or some of your timbers can be pre-cut to size which is a great time saver, some suppliers will not charge for this.

While planning to build your own garden shed, you first need to decide how large to build it, as well as, the type or shape. There are many different shed designs to choose from such as, a barn type, a square type with gable roof, a diamond shape to fit into a corner or a lean to shape. While driving around the neighborhood and to building suppliers such as Home Depot or Lowe’s, you should look at the various shapes and designs. The following five tips as well as, your particular appeal, can help you plan which type or design of garden shed to build.

1. The amount of shed space needed; The shed should be large enough to house all your garden tools and equipment, as well as, provide workshop space to do small jobs indoors like building, repairing or painting small projects and therefore, keep paint odors and dust out of the house. The extra space you free up in the garage can then provide room for the car. Remember also, that the size of the shed must conform to local building codes.

2. The size of your lot or yard; In a small yard there may be only enough room for a small shed, but in a large area the maximum shed size would be determined by building codes. In the country, this may not be a problem. A larger shed can provide more room for shelving, work space and additional equipment.

3. Blend in with other buildings and landscape; The appearance of the garden shed, it’s shape, size and color should blend in with other buildings on your property and perhaps those of the neighborhood so it will not stick out like a sore thumb. The landscape including trees, lawn and slopes can also influence your decision.

4. The size of your budget; If you don’t have enough money to build the garden shed you really want, consider building it in stages. Start with a basic shed and design it so that windows, vinal siding, trim and electrical wiring can be added later as your budget allows. You may also try to get good used lumber and sheeting by looking in newspaper or Kijiji ads or buy new lumber in clearance and economy areas where available. Building the shed yourself instead of having someone else building it for you would save you a considerable amount.

5. Weather conditions in your area; To build an attractive and long lasting shed, the kind of weather, heavy rainfall, depth of frost or snowfall and high winds or twisters must be considered. In a generally wet area, sloping ground, deep frost, high windy or twister zone you should consider a concrete foundation with the remainder of the shed well anchored to it. On level ground and moderate weather, a foundation of treated lumber on a gravel base may be satisfactory. This may also lower the cost.

With the large number of shapes and designs of garden sheds and building plans to choose from, you should be able to select one that fits perfectly into your back yard; One that is both practical and attractive. Therefore, planning and building a garden shed should bring you much enjoyment and satisfaction.

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