Building a Storage Shed

Design

Designing and building a storage shed, a simple structure made with pole construction, can be built using plywood or metal sheets and 2x4 wooden posts or metal poles. The size of your storage shed should be based on the types of items you plan to store. Locate your shed in an inconspicuous spot in your yard, but convenient for accessing its contents. If you're storing lawn equipment like large mowers, you will need to plan for a larger door opening, like a garage door or over-sized plank doors. The floor of your storage shed may be concrete, plywood, or metal and may or may not require an entry slope to allow for easy access.

Materials

Stake out the perimeter of your shed with builder's string and small wooden stakes. The other materials you will need are enough metal poles with pre drilled assembly holes to be placed every to match the width of the metal sheets, screws and a screw driver. Building a frame for your storage shed using 2x4's and plywood is just as practical as using metal; just make sure you buy pressure treated plywood so it will hold up to the elements.
Frame boards or metal poles for framing the roof and sheets of plywood and tin for enclosing your storage shed are the remaining materials for the building. Concrete or other flooring material to your preference and a door round out the materials you will need to build your storage shed.

Construction

Begin building your digging holes for all of your frame posts. Remember to leave an opening based on the dimensions of your doorway. These should be anchored into the ground with concrete for security. Build a frame as a barrier for the concrete or as an outline for your floor joists and complete your floor before you finish building the frame for your storage shed. If you are pouring concrete, make a rebar frame for strength before you mix and pour the cement. Frame in the top of walls, the doorway, and the roof with metal plates and poles or by using pressure treated wood planks. Attach the metal siding to the poles and the roof, or enclose the walls and roof with treated plywood, then sheet with tin. Add the door and enjoy your storage shed.

Resources

• Storage Sheds