Tag Archives: DIY shed plans

How To Build A Shed – On Sloping Ground

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Planning to build a shed on level ground sounds straightforward enough, and how to do this is well documented by standard DIY shed plans. But what if you do not have the luxury of enough flat land to build your shed? That might mean you have to build the shed into the side of sloping land, and that needs a bit more planning and expertise.


You would need to assess the nature of the land you want to build on. Is it loose soil, or are there trees in the land near where you want to build the shed? If there are, and depending how mature the trees are, it means there are likely to be tree roots which will need to be removed. You would need an excavator to clear the land anyway, and it is just one more level of preparation you will need to undertake.

It depends on the angle of the slope you are building into as well. Once you have cleared the site, you would need to remove any danger of the earth slipping back on to the shed, and causing damage. That might mean building a retaining wall of some kind. I would definitely think about having concrete foundations for this structure.

To get some more ideas, I would ask a builder to come and look at the sight, with a view to giving you a free quotation. Even if you do not intend to commit to have him build the shed for you, he will give you an expert opinion on what needs to be done, and that’s all you really need to know. He will also advise you on the materials and supports needed to ensure you have a solid and safe construction.

Should You Build Your Own Shed By Yourself?

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Many people like the idea of building their own shed, or putting one together by following some plans that came with a shed kit perhaps. But, then they question whether they have the basic skills needed to get the job done. It is as if the idea looked good in the brochure, or on the website you recently visited, then the reality hits home when the delivery arrives on your doorstep. Can I do this, you ask yourself.

Only you know the answer to the question, and if you have never done a project like this before you will never know unless you try. You can help yourself by giving yourself as much chance of success as you can. Planning and preparation is key when it comes to building your own shed.

Failure is the probable result if the project is badly thought out, and you do not buy the right materials. You can always pay someone to put it right of course, but that is not the priority.

How can you give yourself the best chance of successfully building your own shed? By following some good step by step DIY shed plans for a start. Then I would ask a knowledgeable friend to help you. Preferably someone who either does this for a living, or someone who has already built a shed, and knows what is involved. They will likely have all the tools and know how you need as well.

The ideal scenario is to work with someone who has advanced DIY skills. You can learn a lot in a short space of time by doing this, and it beats trying to learn from books and the internet.

My advice is to think the project through before making the commitment to build your own shed. Try to find out what is involved first. By doing some basic research, and talking to the people who actually sell these products, and those who have bought them ,if possible, you can come to a sensible decision, and perhaps save yourself some time and money as well.

Small Shed Plans – Using A Good Set Of DIY Shed Plans

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My problem is lack of outside storage space for the kind of equipment my wife will not let me keep inside our house. You know the kind of thing I mean. Electric drills, lawnmower, folding workbench, hammers, saws and various other woodworking equipment.

Us fellas like to keep those boxes of screws and hinges, and as they mount up, we need somewhere to store them. You never know when you might need something in those jars and boxes for the next woodworking project.

Inevitably, and for the sake of peace in the family household, we had to reach a compromise. So me and my wife decided on some small shed plans, as being the best solution. The kids could have some input as well, so that meant everyone would be part of the project.

I already had a small storage shed, but know one knows how old it is, and is in a sorry state of decay. We inherited it when we bought the house, and the plain fact is, it just is too small to store all my stuff anyway. I could have gone to the hardware store and purchased a shed kit which I only needed to put together with a few tools. The design of this particular product was not quite what I was looking for, so I decided to build my own shed, using my own set of DIY shed plans.

I could not have built this shed without a clear set of small shed plans to walk me through each step. Believe me, they make all the difference to a successful outcome in a DIY project of this kind.

I sat down with my wife and we thought about how big we wanted the small shed to be. Then we drew up a design of our own, on paper, to envisage what the finished shed would look like. This did help us to decide on the design we wanted, which we thought would look good in our location. It gave us a focus for the project as well.

When you get this far in the project, it is down to those small shed plans, and a good set of blueprints to work from. We were all pleased with the shed when it was finished and it gave each of us a great thrill to know that we had built the shed by ourselves. It was all our own work, and a great team effort.

Build An Outdoor Shed – Outdoor Storage Shed 10 x 8

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Once you have made the decision to build an outdoor storage shed, the next step is to locate a set of step by step, easy to understand DIY plans to walk you through the build. I don’t know about you, but blueprints have to be easy for me. I have seen some DIY plans which I know are way too hard for me to understand. My motto with self build shed plans is go simple.

I don’t have advanced woodworking skills, but I can follow step by step plans. That is what motivates me to build my own woodworking projects. If I did not have access to these types of plan, I could not do the job by myself. Simple as that. There is no doubt the easiest option to build an outdoor shed is to buy a kit with the wood pre cut. All you have to do is to put it together. And, it won’t take up too much of your time.

I was recently looking for outdoor storage shed kits on Amazon and I found one I liked selling for around $400. The only problem is, the dimensions are too small for my particular storage needs, and the shed is made of polythene. My choice for a shed is wood. Because the dimensions of this particular shed are a bit on the small side I looked at building something at least 10 x 8 in wood, and even that size might be too small for me.

Some of my friends have vinyl sheds and say they are pleased with them. The only reservation I have with an outdoor shed made of vinyl is the possibility it might get blown over. They have to be anchored down to stop this happening. There is also the possibility of wind damage.

You can build an outdoor storage shed in metal if you prefer. I don’t know much about the outdoor metal sheds, but it is best to check the quality of the materials you choose for the shed before you commit. You want a few years wear out of the shed, at the least. Wood, too, tends to be not as solid as it used to be, and is therefore lighter in weight. That said, as long as you treat it correctly and maintain it, then it should serve you well.

If you decide to go the self build route to an outdoor storage shed, the first thing I would do is check to see if you need permission from your local authority to build one. They will want to know details of the proposed size of construction, and where it is to be situated.  If you do need permission they will let you know what happens next.

Ideally you need to build the shed on a flat surface. If you need foundations, be sure you have the right foundations for your size of shed. If the area you have chosen to build on is prone to surface water flooding you will need to raise the shed floor and the quality of the foundations will need to reflect this.

The rest of the outdoor storage shed construction will depend on the design you have chosen. I would definitely select a design which is pleasing to the eye, and which adds to the overall look of your property. I suspect you will soon fall out with a shed which is ugly and stands out for all the wrong reasons.

Garden Shed Plans

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Plans for a garden shed can be had in lots of places, including online and the major DIY stores. There is no shortage of garden shed plans. That said, the key to building the garden shed of your dreams is matching the right garden shed plans to your own individual specifications. They should be exact and easy to understand.

The design and look of your garden shed will depend on what your purpose is in having a garden shed. You need to go through some thought processes to be clear what the finished project will look like. That means taking the time to make some notes on what you want to see happen.

Start by asking yourself some relevant questions. How big is the garden shed going to be? This is an important question, and from my own experience, whatever size you decide on, I would build a little larger than you plan for.

Decide on the best location for the shed. Close to the main dwelling, and on level ground if possible. Situating the garden shed close to the main residence is better for security, because it will be less remote.

Do you want to keep garden equipment in the shed? Or perhaps you want to store larger items of furniture, if you have a surplus of household items for instance. Deciding what you want to store in your garden shed, will determine the size and quality of the finished construction. You do not want good items of furniture to be ruined by rain dripping on them. The cost goes up when you factor in the price of weather proofing and insulating materials.

Most people choose a shed made of wood. But there are other options available, such as vinyl and metal. Wood tends to need more maintenance over time, while metal and vinyl will need less looking after.

Flat roof or arched? The cost of an arched roof is likely to be more expensive, though it does look more attractive, in my opinion.

Give some thought to windows, doors and shelving. Removable shelving is useful, as you can add or remove it easily, and shelving greatly increases the storage space.

Decide on a budget before you make any plans. That said, the budget does need to be realistic, so try and get an estimate from a reputable tradesman or qualified friend before deciding on a ball park figure to work with.

Consider whether you will need foundations. If so, of what type will they be. There are lots of variables which come into play, as all constructions have different environmental conditions in the immediate area. Is the ground level, and well drained? Is there enough natural light in the proposed location? Is it in an exposed or sheltered spot? There are many decisions to be made which depend on the answers to these questions.

All this might sound complex and off putting. But it should not. These are all common sense questions. If you do not feel able to work through them by yourself, ask a skilled friend or tradesman to help you. It will be worth it.

Once you have decided on the size and materials for your garden shed, all that remains is to get yourself a good set of garden shed plans.

Tools Needed To Build A Shed – Shed Building Plans Are Vital As Well

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On the list of most crucial and often over looked tools required to construct a shed is a good set of shed building plans.  You may not think of this as a tool but without it you will use more time and money than is required and your shed task may change into a real headache.

Once you have your shed building plans you can see what type of wood and equipment you will require and then you can make certain you have the right tools.  At the very least you will have to have a high quality hammer, a circular saw, a power or cordless drill and an assortment of hand-tools like screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers. And, I never know when I might need the Bosch 1590EVSK jigsaw.

You will require a spirit level, a framing square and chalk line.  Also, if you are using a permanent foundation you will need a shovel, post-hole diggers and something to mix concrete in like a wheel barrow.  Get a good set of work gloves at the same time.

You will need to finish your shed so you will require paint brushes or a paint sprayer as well.  It is a good idea to have a reciprocating saw for odd cuts on wood that is in place but this is not important with proper planning.  Again, the ideal tool of all is your set of shed building plans.

One great thing about a high quality blue print is it will also list all the cut sizes you need to produce and you can give this list to a lumber yard and for a nominal charge they will cut all the pieces to size for you and you just assemble it all together, like a big puzzle.  This could save you oodles of time and you will not need as many costly power tools if you do it this way.

There’s no doubt about it, a good set of shed building plans makes all the difference to a successful outcome to the project.

Saltbox Shed Plans

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A saltbox shed is a distinctive looking structure that can add trendy looks and
functionality to your outdoor living area. The special roof style allows for
extra storage on a small footprint  because the front of the building is
actually two stories and slopes back to a single story level, hence the unique
appearance of the roof which is short and steeply angled in the front and long
and gradually sloping in the back.

This style of roof requires some unusual and complicated cuts that will be
difficult to figure out on your own.  You therefore need to get your hands on a
good set of saltbox shed plans in order to get these cuts done accurately
and competently.  Remember, the number one thing that adds cost to your shed
project is incorrect measuring and cutting.

A detailed set of plans will also save you trips to the supplier because they
come with a complete material list.  No two ways around it, this type  of shed
needs to be built following a detailed drawing or you might end up with an
unsound and ugly structure that will have the neighbours and your wife
complaining to the proper authorities!

Saltbox sheds get their name from New England colonial structures and can add
character and charm to your backyard.  The raised storage area allows you to
build in a smaller space while increasing overall square footage.

These sheds are used for storing lawn tractors, snow mobiles or personal
water-craft because you can put double doors in the front while keeping a keen
sense of composition.

This is a unique design and a challenge to build but is
within the scope of most DIY enthusiasts as long as you have a good set of
saltbox shed plans.

Building A Wood Storage Shed – Build A Storage Shed From Scratch

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I was interested in building a wood storage shed a while back, when I had a look round my property and thought the wooden storage shed I already have was well past its sell by date. In other words, it was starting to rot at the base, and had bits of moss growing on the sides. So I thought it was time to look for a new outdoor storage shed.

Luckily, there are a few options to choose from when looking to either build a storage shed from scratch, or buy a ready built replacement. If you go that route, you will find you have to look for a best fit for your personal situation. If you are happy with a compromise, and if the price is right for you, then that would be your best choice.

If you decide you want to build a wooden storage shed from scratch, and think you have the necessary woodworking skills, then why not have a go? Obviously there is a lot more thought and preparation to the project if you decide to build the shed yourself. So time is going to be a factor, and you will need to make a lot of choices, such as location, size of the shed, choice of materials you will need, tools, and possible foundations.

On top of all this you will need to factor in the cost of the materials, and your own time as well. If you can coax some of your friends to help you, that would make the project a bit easier, and more fun. Building a wood storage shed from scratch need not be so daunting as you might imagine, if you have a good set of step by step blueprints to walk you through the build. You can search the Internet for some, and there are free storage sheds plans to be had as well.

Why not do what I did and claim your free storage shed plan, and discover for yourself how much more straightforward building a wood storage shed can be with a good set of plans.