DIY Pallet Garbage Sheds

Discarded pallets provide the raw materials for many projects.

Building a pallet shed is a frugal method of reusing, recycling and repurposing readily available materials. Many pallets are thrown away after the business's products are delivered, providing a free source of wood for an enterprising homeowner, artist or woodworker. Using pallets to build a shelter for your garbage bins is a win-win proposition for your budget as well as the environment.

Things You'll Need

• 4 pallets
• Electric drill
• Carriage bolts with nuts, 4-inch
• Socket set
• 2 posts, 4-by-4-inch, 5-1/2 feet long
• Carriage screws
• 2 posts, 4-by-4-inch, 6 feet long
• 2 boards, 2-by-6-inch, 6 feet long
• Boards, 1-by-6-inch, 6 feet long
• Screwdriver bit
• Deck screws
• Boards, 1-by-6-inch, 3 feet long
• 1 sheet exterior-grade OSB board, 1 inch by 4-by-8-feet
• Primer, exterior latex
• Roller
• Painter's pole
• Paint, exterior latex

Instructions

1. Lay two 36-by-36-inch pallets side-by-side. Drill four holes through the sides, spaced an equal distance apart. Bolt the pallets together using four carriage bolts with nuts. These two pallets become the back wall of the shed.

2. Place a 5.5-foot-long, 4-by-4-inch post at each end of the wall, flush with the bottom edge. Predrill through the pallet and into the posts. Attach the pallet to the posts with four carriage screws.

3. Stand the back wall on edge. Place a pallet against each post, at 90-degree angles, to make the side walls. The boards in the pallets should be vertical. Predrill through the pallets and into the posts. Screw each post and side wall together using four carriage screws.

4. Attach the 6-foot, 4-by-4 posts to the front corners of the side walls. Predrill and screw together with four carriage screws.

5. Lift a 6-foot, 2-by-6 board to the front top edge of the two 6-foot posts. While a helper holds the board horizontally against the posts, predrill through the board and into the posts. Attach the board to the posts with two carriage screws at each end. Repeat with the second 2-by-6 board, attaching it to the back posts.

6. Attach the 1-by-6 boards horizontally to the outside of the back wall. Predrill screw holes in pairs every foot, through each board and into the pallets. Screw them together with deck screws. Repeat on the sides, attaching the 3-foot long 1-by-6 boards to the outside edges of the side wall pallets.

7. Lift and center the 4-by-8-foot OSB board on top of the shed. Predrill and screw it to the front and back boards using 24 deck screws, with one screw every 6 inches.

8. Roll a good-quality exterior latex primer over the entire shed using a roller and painter's pole, including the roof. Allow it to dry completely according to the manufacturer's directions.

9. Roll two coats of exterior latex paint over the shed. Allow it to dry before rolling the garbage bins into the shed.

Tips & Warnings

• Add doors to your shed if necessary to keep dogs or bears out of the garbage.

• Leave a space at the top of the shed for ventilation, between the side boards and the roof.

• Unlike most sheds, you don't need a floor. The garbage bins roll in and out at ground level.

• Align the pallets horizontally if you choose to install vertical siding. The pallets should always be perpendicular to the exterior boards.

• Recycled wood siding may be used instead of boards on the exterior of the shed.

• Wear gloves and safety glasses when working with pallets and power tools to avoid splinters and flying debris.

• Ask permission before taking pallets from behind a warehouse or business. If the company recycles its pallets, you could be arrested for theft.

References

• Oregon State University Extension Service: Beyond Recycling: Waste Prevention in Manufacturing and Distribution
• Self-Sufficient.co.uk: Build a Pallet Shed
• Mother Earth News: Pallet Woodshed

Resources

• OklahomaHistory.net: My Wood Pallet Shed Project - March 2009
• This Old House: How to Build a Trash Shed