How to build a shed: the 8 main steps

1. Find out if you need a permit

First of all you need to check your local building laws in order to know if it’s required a permit to build your shed. Laws may vary from place to place and depend on the building characteristics, specially the size.

2. Delineate a plan

How to Build a Shed
Picture Owner

Once you have knowledge about the building laws, it’s time to trace a plan.

Decide what type of shed you are looking for: storage shed, garden shed, tool shed…it depends on what you’re going to use it for. 

Then find out what will be the proper size for it. Correctly analyze the space you have and the things you want to put on it: dispose them on the ground as if it was your future shed and take the right measures. It’s smart make the shed a bit bigger than the ideal because later you may want to store more stuff. It’s better to have extra space than lack of space.

Once you have the measures, make a scheme of the building. It’s really important to make something functional. 

Make a list of all tool and materials you’re going to need. Organization is essential to avoid problems during the building process.

3.Build the foundations

The building stage starts from the bottom. Foundations are truly important because they will ensure your shed will not move and will keep it away from the humidity of the ground. You have many options, being the most used concrete piers or skid foundations. Find out which will be better for your shed: it depends on the weight you’re going to put on it, the size of the shed, the type of soil of place where you live and many other factors. To learn more about foundations check this post.

4.Build the floor

Make sure you build your floor using treated wood, because it will prevent it from rot and wood-destroying insects. It’s nearly impossible to guarantee your tools or tractors to be dry before store them. In fact, the most treated wood you use the better, no matter the section. But for low budgets using it on the shed’s floor is essential.

5.Build the walls 

Build the wall structure and then apply the outside plaques. It’s important to fortify all the corners with plywood or other material to make the structure strong enough to resist to forces that tend to twist your shed, specially the wind.

6.Build the roof

You can make your own roof structure but be sure you know how to properly build it first. If you feel capable cut your own beams and go ahead. If not, in alternative you can buy already made framework.

7.Add secondary structures

Add the door and windows (if it‘s suppose to have them). Make sure you have spacious access to your shed. The main goal is to take the best advantage of it.

8.Finishes 

Besides applying treated wood, a good way to prevent rot is using asphalt felt paper in the walls and roof plaques. Once you have applied it, cover the shed with siding. Asphalt felt paper will isolate your shed from any water that may penetrate in the future.

Final notes:

If you have no experience in this kind of work and you want to learn how to properly do it, I recommend you to talk with someone who is experienced. A good tool may be get plans which may have material lists and complete guides with step-by-step instructions, images and diagrams. Visit this post to know more about online paid plans.

Other helpful posts:

Get your outdoor shed plans

Building your outdoor shed's ramp
The importance of planning  
Building your outdoor shed's foundations
Common mistakes during the building process
The advantages of DIY 

Get your outdoor shed plans

Having a plan is half the battle for success

As have already been told before, have a good plan is fundamental for the success of your woodwork project. However delineate a plan might be a complex task, especially for those who have no experience in this kind of activity. If you don’t really know how to properly build your outdoor shed, a good solution may be get already made plans. This is probably a simple way to save time and complications and also improve your knowledge. 

This post is supposed to be a useful resource providing you a list of sites where you can buy outdoor shed plans with complete details (name, descriptive summary and link) for each one. Some of them not only sell shed plans as its products also include other woodwork plans, according to the information provided by them.

I honestly tell you that I have not tried any of the following products, so I can’t give an opinion about them. But you can go check for yourself what the companies have to offer and decide whether the products interest you or not.

Please note:

I earn a commission for the sale of the following products, since you buy them through the link presented in this blog.

However understand that this post’s as also the whole blog’s purpose is to supply helpful content and not advertise. This is simply a way to give you the opportunity of contributing and showing support for all the work done. If you disagree, there is always the possibility of going directly to the company’s site and I will not receive any compensation. Thank you very much for your understanding.

Without any more delay here is the list with the site’s name, a descriptive summary and link (all this information obtained from the sites): 

The price of the products seems to vary so is not displayed here.

Name: My Shed Plans

Summary:

  

- Free sample plans;

- More than 12000 design projects and woodwork plans, such as:

• Outdoor sheds;
• Garden furniture;
• Birdhouses;
• Full size decks and more; 
• A large number of shed plans projects;

- The indication for which materials you should buy;

- Step-by-step procedure with images and diagrams;

- 60-day money back guarantee;

Visit MyShedPlans

____________________________________________

Name: Ted’s Woodworking 

Summary:

- Instant access to over 16,000 woodworking plans and projects;

- Step-by-step instructions; 

- Easy to follow guides;

- Include blueprints and materials list;

- 60-day money back guarantee;

Visit TedsWoodworking

____________________________________________

Name: ShedBuilding101

Summary:

- 41 plans for:

• Storage sheds;
• Mini barns;
• Tool sheds;
• Garden sheds;
• Small garages;
• Hobby shops;
• Pool houses;
• Cabanas;
• Backyard studios;
• Home offices;

- Detailed construction blueprints;

- Access to dozens more free shed plans;

- Easy instant download;

- 60-day money back guarantee;

Visit ShedBuilding101

____________________________________________

Name: Shed Plans and Designs

Summary:

- 12,500 highly professional shed and woodworking plans;

- Step-by-step instructions; 

- Big size full color illustrations;

- Easy-to-follow plans; 

- 60-day money back guarantee; 

Visit ShedPlansandDesigns

____________________________________________

Name: Woodworking 4 Home

Summary:

  

-14000 woodworking plans and projects (sheds included);

-Step-by-step instructions;

-Photos and diagrams;

-Easy-to-understand plans;

-Instant access;

-60-day money back guarantee;

Visit Woodworking4Home

I'll try to keep the content updated and also add more sites.

Get to work!

Other helpful posts: 

How to build a shed: the 8 main steps
Building your outdoor shed's ramp
The importance of planning  
Building your outdoor shed's foundations
Common mistakes during the building process
The advantages of DIY  

Common mistakes during the building process

Due to lack of experience or simply trying to accelerate the building process, people usually commit mistakes that can affect the quality of their projects.  As you’re investing your own money on it, it’s significant to be aware of what is usually poorly done and avoid it.

Choose the cheapest materials

It’s a temptation reduce the budget of your project buying low-quality materials. Unless the purpose of your shed is not to last for long years (some people might build them just to temporary save something), you should opt for quality ones. What you’re saving now is going to cost you much more in the future.

Not check the spot before

It’s important to pay attention to what is buried in the place you’re going to build your outdoor shed. Look for water tubing or other kind of tubing so that you don’t damage it while building your shed’s foundations or in the future have to remove the shed to repair a leak.

Not ask for help

Especially if you’re novice in this kind of activity, you should ask for help. In first place because no matter how well written and explained is a plan, there is always some kind of trouble that is not mentioned on it, and having someone experienced in the subject will improve a lot your building process. Secondly, because some components might be heavy to carry and set in place, and a couple of extra hands may become useful.

Outdoor Shed Tips
Picture Owner

Build near trees

If you have the possibility to not build your outdoor shed near a tree, do it. Trees are a threat for the future of your building, for several reasons. It might be good to avoid your shed from being damaged by a broken branch during a storm. Besides, shady places tend to accumulate humidity that is wood’s great enemy.

Above all, it’s important to think twice before go forward and respect the limits.

Have you experienced a different situation?   

Other helpful posts :

How to build a shed: the 8 main steps
Get your outdoor shed plans
Building your outdoor shed's ramp 
The importance of planning 
Building your outdoor shed's foundations
The advantages of DIY

Building your outdoor shed's foundations

Importance of foundations

In the construction process choosing and building a proper foundation will determine whether your shed will be stable and durable or the opposite. No matter how well designed or built is a structure, if it doesn’t have a good support base it won’t last for long. Foundations have two main functions:

• Prevent your shed from being in contact with the humidity from the ground, which will cause rot in the wood. It should be at least 15 cm away of the pavement;

• Correctly distribute the shed’s weight and ensure it remains level;

Types of foundations
 

There are two main types of shed foundations: floating foundations and permanent foundations.

Floating foundations are the simplest and quickest to build bases. They are also cheaper and their components are easy to set into place and shift around because they are small and light, so it’s very easy to set up all and level.

A frequent technique is using flat concrete blocks which are placed in the ground in straight, evenly spaced lines to support your shed. You may use other type of special blocks as well: pyramid-shaped blocks.

Another technique is using skid foundations. It consists in using two or more long, straight logs placed on the ground in parallel, evenly spaced positions, acting as skids. The building’s floor frame is then built on the logs.
 

Shed foundations - Skid foundations

Most sheds are designed to be built with this kind of foundations because it offers accessibility and at the same time when properly built can last more than the necessary.

However, depending on the shed size and the weather conditions of the place you live on, you might need to use a stronger base, because some soils change in volume depending on the weather. That change will unlevel you shed.

Outdoor Shed Foundations - Piers
Picture Owner

This is achieved by building permanent foundations. Although they’re more expensive and difficult to build, they’re more stable and long living than floating foundations, as this type of base extend deep into the ground.

They are built using piers. A pier is basically a column of concrete poured into a hole you previously excavated in a specific place, in order to support the shed’s floor frame. So your structure will have a rock solid base to prevent it of problems related to ground volume changes.

Take the time to make the right decision. Properly analyze all the variables and only then start building your outdoor shed. 



Other helpful posts:

How to build a shed: the 8 main steps
Get your outdoor shed plans
Building your outdoor shed's ramp
The importance of planning 
Common mistakes during the building process
The advantages of DIY

The advantages of DIY

Outdoor Shed Plans - Advantages of DIY 
Picture Owner

Do it yourself (DIY) activities are becoming very popular nowadays. A main reason for this happening is the global economic crisis. 

A good way to save money

In fact, doing yourself some home projects (or all of them) is a very good way to save money. Paying a professional is generally expensive and the materials usually suffer inflation. Besides, who have never had a nightmare with home-paid services? Sometimes the “professionals” late the work or just don’t do the things right, or even worse, both of them. With respect to that by doing it yourself you have a very good advantage.

Of course it is not easy. Skills are required as also is patience and dedication. But like any other activity, with practice and respect for what you’re doing soon you’ll be able to do the accessible home tasks. Don’t hurry the learning process. You may start to look at it as a hobby, for example. Join the family and start with small projects. It will surely be fun and a good way to spend time, and at the same time you’re saving money.

Today you have a huge amount of information available. Television is overflowing shows about home makeover and so on. And in a more specific way, you can find in the internet companies selling guides and plans with step-by-step instructions, photos and diagrams.

The joy of building your own shed

In addition, it feels good to finish our own project and stare at it in the end and say “I built that!”. So for those who have never thought about it, I recommend starting learning how to do the usual home projects. And the most important of all: you will enjoy doing it!

Other helpful posts:

How to build a shed: the 8 main steps
Get your outdoor shed plans
Building your outdoor shed's ramp 
The importance of planning  
Building your outdoor shed's foundations
Common mistakes during the building process

The importance of planning

Outdoor Shed Plans - Planning

About outdoor shed projects is important to say that the primordial and central issue is the planning stage, simply because it’s the step that will trace the success of your building. Without a good plan you fail even without having started building.

So, before everything else, you need to thoroughly analyze some important aspects. 
In first place, find out if you need a building permit. This is very importante. Depending on the place you live, outdoor building projects such as sheds, garages and pools might be subjected to permission.

Secondly, check the ideal spot to build your outdoor shed. Be careful so that your shed will not be positioned over important tubing. Point down the measurements that should define your shed.

Next, transpose for the paper your idea, considering the form of the shed, necessary materials for the building, tools and most important of all make sure you make the right calculations to plan something functional. It may be quite complex depending on the type of shed.

A good way to concretize this stage is buying already made plans online. They may have all the information you need and more, and are accessible for everyone. This is probably a good solution to ensure that you’re going in the right way and save a lot of time. They usually have step-by-step guides, diagrams, images and other useful information.

Finally you only need to buy the materials, join the tools and start following your plan. Be organized, build your shed by stages and don’t hurry the process. Pay attention to details, because all together they make difference.


Other helpful posts: 

How to build a shed: the 8 main steps
Get your outdoor shed plans  
Building your outdoor shed's ramp 
Building your outdoor shed's foundations 
Common mistakes during the building process
The advantages of DIY