Build Your Own Shed

Staying in a timber-framed house at a vacation hotspot is so alluring in itself that sometimes people go for building their own wooden house. But building the whole house out of timber to stay permanently is not possible for everyone considering the skill it requires. However, you can build your own shed in your garden with the same principle of a house and enjoy the charm of a natural environment around you. Build Your Own Shed4 Build Your Own Shed

Tools required to build your own shed are Panel saw (for studs/joists/cladding), Jigsaw or circular saw (for floor and roof decking), Electric drill and bits, Hammer, Tape measure, Spirit level, Screwdrivers.
Consider the location for the shed in your garden and decide on the size of the shed according the available space. The size of the shed also depends largely on the size of the timber you purchase. If you can cut the timber pieces yourself or manage to get them cut, you can have a shed of your own choice. Before you start for buying required materials for the shed, make a list and calculate the amount of materials required for the purpose. For that sketch the layout of the shed on a paper and consider various aspects of the shed. Whether you want a flat roof or pitched one? What would be the sizes of doors and windows? What is your expected design of the shed? Drawing the plan with positions of the timber will help you calculate the number of wooden boards you will need. If possible, order some extra pieces to meet your requirements in case there is a change in design.
Preparing the ground on which you are going to build your shed is the first essential task you should do carefully. Level the soil of that are or if it is soft, lay dense concrete paving slabs and add soil to make the platform for the shed. If this part is done properly and the slabs are laid at equal level, it will make most of the task easier for you.
Start with making floor of the shed. Prepare a perimeter frame with pressure-treated sawn timber and attach the corners using nails. While hammering the nails, take care that the nails are inserted at slight angle. It will prevent the joints from pulling apart. Make joists of the same material and attach them to the inner side of the frames as vertical and horizontal bars of the framework. Ensure that the entire frame is supported off the ground to prevent damage due to prolonged exposure to water. You can also use common brick to make a gap between the floor of the shed and ground. Attach the wide boards on the floor with nails.
Prepare frames for the walls of the shed in the same manner as you prepare the frame for floor. And then attach the boards to the frames. Take care that you leave space for doors and windows on the walls. Make one frame stand erect on the floor and brace it temporarily. Screw the base to the floor for a better support. Then attach the other walls one by one to the first wall and to the floor. Use L-brackets to join the walls.
Before you build the roof, decide whether you want a flat roof or pitched one. It is easier to build a flat roof; pitched roof is a better option though. Make a frame as that for the floor with length and width more than those of the floor. Attach the boards to the frame and fix the roof to the rails of the wall panel. You can purchase a frame for inclined roof, called rafter, and attach it on the top rails of two opposite wall panels. Bituminous roofing felt is popular option roof covering. However you can also opt for bitumen boards, corrugated fibre or corrugated plastic.
Attach windows and doors on the wall. You can also add wooden stairs in front of the door to enhance outer beauty of the shed.