How to Build a Small Storage Building
Construct a basic storage shed with a well-drawn plan, lumber boards and exterior siding. You can even make the building out of totally recycled materials. However, a detailed building design is necessary to give the building a more professionally look. Using the best materials without a building plan can make the shed look less than ideal. Build your small storage building with an artistic flair to add to the ambiance of your backyard. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shed design books
- Backyard magazines
- Sketch pad and pencil
- Graph paper
- Concrete slab
- Concrete nails
- 2-by-4 inch lumber boards
- 10-inch stakes
- Circular saw
- 3-inch stainless steel nails
- Electric screwdriver
- Exterior siding
- Hinges
- Paint or stain
Instructions
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1
Review garden shed design books and backyard magazines. Gain ideas for the type of small shed to build. Sketch the building that will fit a particular backyard area. Design a roof line that is pitched no less than 30 degrees. Plan to construct the roof in such a way that it slopes to shed rain and snow. Convert the drawing to graph paper once you have established a design.
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2
Construct a concrete slab for the storage building. Use 2-by-6 inch boards to build a perimeter box for the concrete pour. Drive 10-inch stakes on the exterior of the box to hold it in place until the concrete dries. Allow the concrete to dry for 48 hours. Create a perimeter for the storage building by nailing 2-by-4 inch boards into the concrete. Use concrete nails to secure the boards to the slab.
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3
Cut 2-by-4 inch boards with a circular saw to make the wooden skeleton framing for the shed. Create a simple A-frame roof pitched at least 30 degrees on each side. Leave room for a front door in the framing process and any windows that will be included. Nail 1/2-inch plywood to the roof area of the building. Enclose any soffet areas under roof overhangs. Add tar paper and asphalt shingles to finish the roof.
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4
Install exterior siding on the building with an electric screwdriver. Drive 3-inch stainless steel screws into the siding to attach them directly to studs. Build a front door system by using 2-by-4 inch boards to construct framework. Add strength to the door framing by installing an X-shape frame on the top and bottom sections of each door. Cover the exterior of the doors with siding. Attach a single door or double doors to the building with four heavy-duty hinges on each door.
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Paint or stain the building. Construct a small ramp of concrete to push or drive a lawnmower into the building. Use cut plywood to construct a sloped ramp for the concrete pour.
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Tips & Warnings
Create a budget for your small storage building. Stretch that budget by purchasing materials at close-out sales. Acquire materials, such as extra plywood or boards, to construct interior shelves and work benches. Design the interior of the storage building to hold specific items in an organized way. It's difficult to add storage shelves and organizational tools once the building is full of items, so create the storage systems early on.
Don't seal the upper soffet areas of the building too tightly if gasoline for lawn mowers will be stored in the building. Leave breathing room for fumes to escape if you're going to store any type of fuels or cleaning fluids in the building. Avoid placing the building too close to a house or deck in case of fire.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sunny shed image by Tracy Horning from Fotolia.com
