How to Build a Bike Shed

Do you have bikes but do not have a place to safely store them? A great solution for additional storage is a simple wooden bike shed. This article provides easy directions on building a 5-foot wide by 10-foot-long bike shed capable of holding five to seven adult-sized bikes. All that is required to build one are a few basic tools, four types of lumber and hardware.

Things You'll Need

• Four 10-foot long 6-by-8s
• One 5-foot by 10-foot sheet of 3/4" durable plywood
• Measuring tape
• Circular saw
• Pressure treatment liquid
• Hammer
• Nails
• 2-by-4s
• 4-foot by 8-foot sheets of 1/2" plywood
• Water sealant
• Tin sheets
• Hinges

Instructions

Building a Bike Shed

1. First, you must prepare the area on which you want to build the bike shed. Make sure the area is solid ground and that it is also reasonably level because level ground is easiest to work with. Level the area using wood or brick support posts if there is a slight height variation.

2. After you have prepared the area, cut the 6-by-8s for the base of your shed. Leave two pieces at 10 feet long and cut three 4-foot-long pieces.

3. Pressure treat all five 6-by-8s along with the 3/4-inch sheet of plywood for the base to prevent rot.

4. Assemble the frame for the floor on top of the prepared and leveled area with penny nails. Nail two of the 4-foot long pieces between the 10-foot long pieces at each end, forming a rectangle. Equally space the two remaining 4-foot long pieces inside the frame between the other 4-foot pieces for floor support. Attach them to the 10-foot pieces with penny nails.

5. Lay the 5-foot by 10-foot piece of 3/4-inch plywood over the frame and line it up. Nail it down to the base for the floor.

6. The walls need to be at least 7 feet tall for head room. Determine which side of the shed you want the door on. Allow for a 3-foot wide by 7-foot high opening for your door and include in your frame plans. Use two 2-by-4s side by side on both sides and along the top of the door.

7. To make a frame for the 10-foot long side, assemble a 10-foot by 7-foot rectangle using 2-by-4s and nail it together. This rectangle includes two 10-foot pieces and two 6-foot 9-inch pieces.

8. Next, cut additional 6-foot 9-inch pieces of 2-by-4 for the vertical studs between the top and bottom 10-foot pieces and space them 8 inches apart. Build the 5-foot walls 4-foot 8-inches long because the ends of the 10-foot walls add 4 inches.

9. Stand all four finished walls up and nail them together. Nail them to the base every 6 inches and to each other every 4 inches.

10. Choose the position of the roof, determining if the slope will run down towards the 10-foot or 5-foot sides. Cut a 2-by-4 so it runs parallel to the slope and extends 6 inches past the sides. Nail it on edge across the top running through the center of the two walls. The purpose of this piece is to provide slope for the roof.

11. Cut sheets of plywood for the roof and nail them from the frame up to the 2-by-4, forming an A-frame. Make sure that the roof expands at least 6 inches past each edge of the shed.

12. Cover the outside of the walls with 1/2" plywood and then brush with waterproof sealant. Also cover the floor and roof with sealant.

13. Cover the roof with tin for protection. Cut pieces of tin to fit and then nail them to the roof.

14. See if you can have plastic doors cut to fit for a lightweight option. The other option is building your own using the framing technique. Hang your doors with heavy-duty hinges.

Tips & Warnings

• Be cautious when using power tools.