How To Build A Shed
From the monthly archives:
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November 22, 2009
- Good summary of the basic points. Stan
November 22, 2009
- Good tips here. Stan
November 22, 2009
- Shed plans are a good idea! Stan
November 22, 2009
- Some basic tips on how to build a shed ramp Stan
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Sometimes it’s nice to see what other people have done to use this for inspiration for your own design and efforts.
As such, check out this video which is someone’s how to build a pole barn video, showing a slideshow of pictures they took when building their own pole barn.
Let me know if you have any videos of your own efforts that you would like to share on the site to inspire others.
A longer post tomorrow 
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I can just about remember when I was really young and asked my dad to build me a fort in the backyard. Dad was a carpenter, so was more than capable of obliging. And he did.
What I ended up with was a two story fort which wrapped around a tree with a flagstaf on top. It looked amazing; even looking back at pictures, it looks amazing even today. When you’re that young, you don’t really appreciate the amount of time, energy and planning which would have gone in to something like that, but it was great because I had years of enjoyment from it, even as a teenager (when it became a place I’d hang out with my friends).
However, when I think about how I would go about making one today, I recoil a little bit! Knowing how to build a two story playhouse is only half the deal, as you then have to make it.
One of the reasons dad built it around a tree was for support. The second story was not really resting on the first story, but on some low hanging branches.
Therefore, any design that you come up with has to take into account the fact that either (i) the first story needs to be strong enough to support everything above or (ii) the playhouse needs to be attached to a sturdy tree in order for the tree to lend its support.
If you don’t have a tree in your backyard, this doesn’t prevent you from building a two story playhouse. All that needs to be done is to build a taller-than-usual shed structure, with the second story built as a separate, unattached structure inside. Obviously, this means a bit more work, but it’ll definitely be worth it.
With any playhouse, you’ll need additional decorative elements to show that it’s a playhouse (e.g. small windows, small door, crooked walls, etc). However, these can all be added afterwards. In effect, the basic structure is easy to build; you’ll then need to inject some of your own creativity to make it unique.
I have seen high-spec playhouses on the internet sell for over $10,000. I was blown away. You don’t need to spend anywhere close to that to get something which is even better – playhouses are not supposed to be polished works of woodworking art; just places where your kids can have a fun time in a place their parents built for them.
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Connected to the issue of building your own shed are the other things you might want to think about building. These things are just as easy to build as a shed and are, really, larger versions of the regular sheds we already have in our backyards.
A really popular shed is build is a carport. These are obviously designed to house your car or other vehicle over night, or for particular types of weather. Knowing how to design a carport is really important to ensure your efforts are not wasted.
You will need to think about exactly what purpose your carport will serve. This may seem obvious (i.e. to park my car in!), but how many cars do you want to house there? are your cars of a particular length or height? could you feasibly buy a longer or taller car in the future?
You’ll also need to consider whether you want to include any extra storage. Carports are excellent places to store things like tools and gardening equipment (obviously, only if you have yet to discover the joys of how to build a shed in you backyard!). If you intend to use the carport to store things, you may want to consider how you will need to secure the carport (will you need walls? etc).
When you have decided that you need a particular size of carport, you’ll need to have a think about its design. Do you have an existing carport that you want the new carport to match? Does your house have a particular design that could be complimented by a similar design of the carport? Are you a fan of any specific designs (obviously, if you want, you could follow a different path and – making sure you observe all planning regulations – have a completely different sort of design). It’s up to you.
Once you’ve decided on the design, I would urge you to use pre-printed blueprints or designs to follow which should you how to build a carport as they highlight exactly what materials and tools you need, as well as what you need to do and when.
photo credit: cogdogblog
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We are all guilty of overestimating our abilities. I mainly do this in relation to driving or predicting how many home runs my team will score, but I am also guilty of it when it comes to woodwork.
Perhaps this is a bit ambitious for your first shed...?
It is possible for many people to dream up a shed or other woodworking project, easily predict what materials and tools they will need, and have no problems with the construction. However, I think that these people firstly deserve a medal, secondly need to teach me a thing or two and thirdly are few and far between.
Therefore, how do we resolve this problem? Do we simply give up and get someone else to do the work? No. And the solution I’m offering doesn’t even mean you have to work harder: you just need to know exactly what you’re doing, step by step.
This is where shed blueprints come in. If you are after building sheds blueprints are essential for anything other than a simple cabin shed. They outline in great detail exactly what you need in relation to both tools and materials. Not only that, but shed blueprints are different to shed designs in that they give you very detailed drawings and specifications about your shed. These usually include a detailed sketch of each elevation (front, back, both sides), the roof, and an overview of the floorplan.
This is particularly useful if you want your new shed to not stand out and simply become ‘part of the backyard’. It will allow you to identify which parts of the shed work and which could be improved. Therefore, they allow you to include your own inventiveness in the design whilst, at the same time, ensuring that the basic structure and design of the shed will work.
In short, they are invaluable and anyone but the best carpenters should consider using them to make their woodworking and shed-building experiences more streamlined and more enjoyable!
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Trusty old ‘DIY’ (do-it-yourself). Excellent if you have relevant skills in what you are trying to do yourself; disastrous is you are a bit lacking.
I have had varying levels of success with DIY projects in the past. Plastering is something I will now leave to the experts after wasting countless hours and litres of plaster to no avail. One big mess!
Over the years, as I have built more and more sheds and other wooden outbuildings, I have come to rely less on printed designs. If you like, the printed designs have now become imprinted in my skull and I can work out what needs to be done.
However, if I’m building a shed that I haven’t built before (like one with a curved roof or one with a more complex structure), I definitely use printed shed designs to ensure I am doing the right thing.
DIY shed designs are great to have. They are created so that the reader can understand exactly what needs to be done in order to reach the end goal (i.e. have a completed shed).
They outline what tools you need, what materials you need and whether you will need any help.
They are an invaluable resource, and ensure that anyone using them is as fully prepared to complete a shed as possible.
There are so many available online that it can be overwhelming. Many online plans come as part of paid-for packages, which require a fee to join and see; some are free.
Generally, if you want a very simple shed to be built, free plans are a good option, particularly if you have some basic carpentry knowledge already.
If you’re new to woodworking and want a complete step-by-step plan which really tells you precisely what you need to do, using one of the paid-for DIY shed plans is a good bet.
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Children love adventure and the outdoors. How about encouraging your youngsters to spend more time in the fresh air with their imaginations by building them a playhouse?
I’ve just finished building my fourth playhouse because my children now insist on one wherever we move! However, I really enjoy building them.
My key tips on how to build a playhouse are:
Location. If you have a sturdy tree that looks like it could make a great treehouse, think about incorporating the tree into the design. It needn’t be accessed via a ladder, but could be useful if you decide to incorporate an additional floor level above the ground. Plus, children love them!
Size. Children grow! To ensure they get the most out of their playhouse, make the ceilings between five and six feet high. That’s short enough to make the playhouse seem small, but also tall enough to ensure it is used when the kids are older. If you’re incorporating a mezzanine, the overall height should be a little taller to ensure the upper level doesn’t require crawling.
Flexibility. Connected to the playhouse’s size is the theme of the playhouse. Old Mother Hubbard’s shoe-shaped playhouse may look great now, but it may fall out of popularity as your kids get older. Go for a design which is more timeless. A miniature replica of the main house is always popular, and will also look good in your yard.
Home Comforts. Depending on your climate, you may want to think about incorporating some insulation. This is very easily achieved and not very expensive. It will also ensure the playhouse is used throughout the year. A portable heater is also a good idea. In my latest creation, I included a power supply, but this will depend on how far the playhouse is from your house and how old your children are. If you want the playhouse powered, perhaps consider buying a small generator.
Materials. As the playhouse will be used by children, ensure that all of your materials are non-toxic. Children eat anything, so make sure they don’t have the opportunity to eat something harmful. Use non-toxic paint, and safety-glass or plastic for the windows.
Porch. I’d really recommend that you include a covered porch at the front of the playhouse to store muddy shoes.
Involve Your Children. Ask what they want their playhouse to look like and contain. Try to involve them in the process; they may be content with a much simpler design!
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November 22, 2009
- Making sure you have the appropriate council permissions is important before you build a large shed. Stan
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Protecting our vehicles from the elements has always been a concern of car owners. Fortunately, bricks and cement are not always necessary ingredients if you decide to build a carport to keep your car in.
If you want some initial pointers on how to build a carport, carry on reading…
Maybe a carport would have been a good idea!
Carport vs Garage. A carport is usually seen as being different from a garage, because it usually has one or more sides open – sometimes it is just a roof. However, this need not be so, if you would prefer to have walls. Including walls in your design would also be a good idea if you wanted to store other items in the carport.
Style. There are many different styles of carport to choose from. At my last house, I built a wooden version which was almost an extension of the house – it was a lean-to. However, at my present house, I built a carport which is a separate structure. Making this choice will depend on things like the style of your house, how far you want the carport from your front door and the local planning regulations. Although the structure of the carport is pretty uniform, you can inject a bit of personality with the style of roof and exterior finishes.
Door. If you decide that you want to include a door, you will need to ensure that the door is large enough for your current car. Also, check that larger vehicles can fit through the door to ensure your carport is still useful if you buy a larger car in the future.
Foundations. Due to the fact that a carport will usually have a car inside, the foundations will need to be strong enough to support the necessary weight (this also applies to the driveway leading up to the front of the structure). If you are building the carport on solid ground or rock, you may not need to lay foundations. However, if you propose to build it on soil or gravel, it would be a good idea to lay at least a shallow concrete slab. If you’d prefer to hire someone else to do this, make sure it’s done at least a week before you intend to build the wooden structure as the concrete will need time to set and cure.
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A pole barn is the simplest form of shed. It is constructed using poles onto which a roof is placed. They are traditionally used to shelter cattle or store agricultural equipment, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use one in your yard as they can be whatever size you want. Here are some tips on how to build a pole barn:
Suitable. The first step to building a pole barn is to decide whether any other structure would be more appropriate. Traditionally, pole barns are less secure with open sides, though you can obviously adapt the design to suit your ideas.
Approvals. After you’ve decided that a pole barn is for you, you’ll need to obtain the necessary local approvals. If your proposed pole barn is on the large side, you may have additional hoops to jump through. Your local planning department can help with this as rules vary from state to state (and country to country!).
Size. You’ll need to decide how large you need the structure to be, both in terms of floor area and in terms of height. If you need to have a second floor within the pole barn, this will not usually affect the exterior structure as the second floor is usually built as a separate addition once the pole barn is constructed.
Materials. Many pole barns are now made using metal. These tend to be the more expensive ones to construct as specialists are usually needed. A wooden frame is much easier to construct, but it will depend on how much time you have, how much money you have and the weather conditions in your area – metal pole barns are usually more sturdy.
Foundations. The depth of foundations required will depend on the material of the roof. The poles are inserted vertically into the ground to support the roof, so deeper foundations are required for a pole barn than for a regular storage shed.
Layout. Traditionally, a pole barn will be square or rectangular, as they are the simplest layouts to build. There’s no reason why you can’t have a different layout, but bear in mind that this will impact what sort of roof you can have.
Roof. Usually, there will be a pitch (or gable) roof. This is made up of two sections, each held up separately by opposite walls of the barn, and which join together in the middle, resting on top of slightly higher poles. This ensures the rainwater does not collect on the top of the roof (as it would do with a flat roof). However, there are many other roof styles to choose from, as outlined in this post.
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