1. How To Pick the Best Location for Your Shed

Placement of your wooden sheds should have careful consideration. You will need to have plenty of space around your shed so you will be able to build it and have room for the door to freely swing open. Your wooden shed shouldn’t look like it was just dropped in place. It should actually blend into its surroundings. The intended purpose of your wooden shed is going to determine where it will be located. For instance, if you are using it for your garden equipment and supplies, then you should locate it near the garden. Also, watch for places (like under a tree) that will most likely have bird droppings and debris falling onto your shed.

2. How To Chose Plans

Look for a comprehensive set of plans. They should contain step-by-step instructions with lots of details since you won’t be able to simply ask for help. There should also be photos of the shed in progress as its being built. Exploded diagrams are also very helpful. Good plans will also have a complete materials list.

3. How To Decide if You Should Buy a Shed Kit

Cost, time and skill level are the three main factors that help you determine if you should purchase a wooden shed kit. It should take approximately one weekend to build your wooden shed once it arrives. Your skill level of using tools is one you should be honest and comfortable with. Another consideration you will have is how much this will cost. Wooden shed kits tend to cost more but the time you will save is the big payoff.

4. How To Choose The Best Shed

There are four basic types of wooden sheds and they are differentiated by the shape of their roofs. A lean-to is great for storing smaller items and it shares or “leans to” a wall of an existing building. If you need more headroom towards the front of your wooden shed then build a saltbox shed. Gable sheds are popular because of their simplicity. Their roofs have two equal sides with the top being directly in the middle. A Gambrel looks just like a barn with its two pitches on each side of the roof. This allows for more room overhead.

5. How To Choose The Right Building Materials for Your Shed

The best material for wooden sheds is cedar. It contains oil that resists rot and repels insects. It also has an unmistakable natural beauty and aroma.

6. How To Properly Prepare The Shed’s Site

Start by removing any debris, including large rocks and plants or grass. You will want to make the site flat but slightly sloped from where the front of the shed will go to where the back will go. This will result in the best drainage for water and keep puddles from forming at the front of the shed.

7. How To Stake Out Your Site

First, determine where the first corner will be located and hammer in a temporary stake. Then, take a second stake and drive it just past the first stake but in line with one of the wall you are marking. Measure from the first corner to where the second corner will be and drive a stake just past that. Now, between these two stakes, run a piece of string. Do the same thing to stake out the next wall. To make this wall 90 from the first one, measure out from the corner point where the strings cross. Measure four feet (units) up on one side, and three on the other. Now, from these two points, the measurement should be five feet (units). Make any necessary adjustments until it measures exactly five feet. To finish, continue around the remaining sides in the same fashion.

8. How To Make Square Walls

When you have one of your walls or floor completely framed, measure the distance of the opposing corners (bottom left to top right, then bottom right to top left). The wall is square if the measurements are the same length. Make small adjustments if they aren’t by pushing in (or squeezing) on one of the corners with the longer measurement.

9. How To Take Advantage of The Small Spaces

The spaces between the studs are one of the most overlooked spaces in wooden sheds. Add 1×4 or 2×4 boards as shelves as these spaces are perfect for them. To make the shelves adjustable, use slotted tracks that accept shelving clips up the sides of the studs. You can find them at most hardware supply stores.

10. How To Make Your Shed Last A Lifetime

If your shed is made from the right materials and you take care of it properly, it is sure to last a long time. Use a high quality water sealant on all exposed wood and try to keep the roof clear of debris. It will make all the difference if your shed is made out of hardwood such as redwood or cedar.

You can find more info, tips and resources about your own wooden shed at Donald Rickerby’s new web site: BestWoodenSheds.com