Backyard Sheds

Before investing money into a backyard shed, you need to decide the location and size of the shed.

Any overhanging of tree limbs needs to be taken into consideration, as well as the slope of the yard. Obstacles, like backyard play areas, trees and landscaping areas, need to be accounted for when planning where the shed will be placed. Make sure you can enter and exit to and from the shed with your lawnmower and large garden tiller.

You should invest time and energy into building or buying a good shed foundation. Shed foundations are one of the best investments you can make. Added function and durability come with adding a sturdy foundation to place the shed upon. Foundations save the skirting of the sheds from rusting, rotting and cracking from standing in water soaked soil. Foundations for sheds are either floating foundations, on-grade foundations, or permanent frost-proof foundations. Shed foundations depend on coding zones, shed size and regional zones. There are many different plans available for floating and permanent foundations. A shed’s foundation should be chosen for the type of shed bought for outdoor storage.

Most wooden sheds are easy enough to assemble. For sheds already assembled, weatherproofing is easy with a clear coat of exterior stain or exterior colors in the desired shades. Pretreated wooden sheds will not need to be treated, but weather stripping and weather proofing, especially if it has windows, is still a great idea.

Wooden sheds that need to be assembled will require the proper assembly tools. Plans that are drawn up for building a wooden shed should be looked over closely, and all material should be assembled together before hand. The grade of material is important for wooden sheds as well as the roof grade. To ensure that the project turns out as promised by the expectations of the plans, using the recommended materials for the project will leave no room for last minute guessing and alterations.

Vinyl sheds are easy sheds for upkeep and maintenance. These sheds usually just need a good spray of water to hose off grime and dirt. Strong and durable to withstand years of weathering without fading and wearing down, these sheds are made of high quality PVC. Never needing a paint job, these sheds also never need to be treated for pest and termites. Some manufactures of these types of sheds guarantee them to be able to withstand high winds. Vinyl sheds come in a variety of colors, sizes and designs, for attractive outside storage.

Metal backyard sheds are the old stand-by, but have really been improved upon over the years. Known for their strength and bought for their maintenance free attributes, metal sheds are designed and engineered for sturdy backyard storage units. Roof appeal is also a key factor in buying a metal shed, as they are constructed with metal and are virtually windproof. Most manufactured metal sheds come with pre-drilled holes for quick and easy assembly of the panels.

Build a Shed

When I was a kid I had a friend and the two of us had one goal every summer.  We always wanted to build our own clubhouse.  At first we didn’t have any idea how to do it.  We thought that we could just nail together a frame and then apply outside materials to the frame and be done.  Our frame always fell over.  We got frustrated and failed each year.

When I grew up my spouse told me to build a shed for some of our stuff to go into.  When I went outside and picked a spot, my childhood memories started to come back.  I didn’t think I could do it.  I went back inside with a sour look on my face.  My wife asked me what was wrong.  I explained that I couldn’t build a shed.  I never was able to learn how.  She smiled and told me that she was sure I could do it.

Later that day I happened to watch a show about a building being constructed incredibly quickly.  I watched how they were able to achieve this.  What was happening was that the building was largely prepared before they tried to put it up.  I thought that if I could build most of it on the ground before I tried to put it up, I might be able to actually get it done.

The next day I was outside working with the wood.  The unit started out pretty large.  I started to worry a little, but I kept going.  I build the four sides of the shed first.  Then I worked on the roof.  This all took me a couple weeks of working on it whenever I could.  Then, I started to build the foundation.  I dug a deep hole and poured in some cement.  Then, I stuck in some poles so that I knew the foundation would hold.  As kids we were never able to get our hands on cement.  We thought then that we would have had a much better shot at it staying up if we had cement.

After the posts were in I started sticking the walls to it.  I was so close to being done, and then I realized that I had no way of getting the roof onto the top of the shed.  It was just too high up there and the roof was too heavy.  I thought about building a pulley system but that would be too complicated for my knowhow.

I sat there thinking and thinking.  Then, I realized that I really just needed one more person to help.  I called up my old friend that I hadn’t seen in years.  It turned out he still lived in my same neighborhood.  I asked him to come over.  He came over and helped me hoist the roof up.  Finally, we had made our clubhouse.

I was very proud of this experience.  I learned that it is possible to build a shed.  Anyone can do it if they are willing to do the preparation work first.

How to Build a Gazebo

The “do it yourself” (DIY) movement has never been stronger, and, with the wealth of materials online and in bookstores to help you out, it’s never been easier. If you have the space in your backyard there are few DIY projects more fruitful and satisfying than constructing a gazebo. These structures are extremely versatile, able to house BBQ parties, morning coffee moments, small get-togethers, and even weddings! They can also make hot summers shady enough to enjoy. Since you have decided to take on this exciting home improvement project, we are here to help you out.

Purpose. Due to the wide variety of choices concerning materials and style, it is vital that you have a firm understanding of how you will use the gazebo. If you plan to host BBQ parties there, you will have a much different experience building it than if you planned to use it for reading in the shade. It is perfectly possible to build a large gazebo that is fully equipped with a refrigerator and stove-top, but for the purposes of this article we will assume you have less ambitious goals.

Material. If you are building your own gazebo it is a good idea to use wood. One of the best choices here is to use something like cedar. Cedar is sturdy, and naturally weather-resistant. It is also extremely attractive.

Clear and mark the space. After you have your material, you will need to clear a space in your backyard to begin laying down the flooring. It is important to measure the area carefully, and then to mark it off with construction paint. Once you have the area marked, you should clear it of any obstructions such as plants, large rocks, and so forth.

San Marino 12 Round Gazebo
with FREE Second Tier Roof
(HHS19950-9)

Install stakes. You will need to install stakes or posts deep enough into the ground that they can provide support for the structure. You can dig the holes with a shovel, or rent a machine to drill into the ground. The latter method is probably better as it will save time. After you implant the stakes you will need to secure them with concrete.

Lay flooring. Once you have the stakes secured, you need to lay the flooring down. This is a crucial yet simple step. You will need to drill holes in the cedar planks, and then attach them using deck screws. The old adage “measure twice, cut once” is important here.

Construct body. Once you have taken care of the stakes and flooring, you should purchase a gazebo kit, and assemble it. This may seem to go against the DIY aesthetic, but the reality is, the fine craftsmanship required to sculpt the shell of the gazebo is simply beyond the abilities of the average home-owner. A pre-assembled gazebo kit will allow you to benefit from a professionals skills, while still enjoying the lower price of DIY. Even if you now know how to build a gazebo, you should utilize all the tools at your disposal, one of which is outside help.

How to Build a Shed Roof for a Storage Shed

Once you've got your four walls erected and your foundation laid, you'll need a roof for your shed. You start with one single roof beam. This supports that hold up the beam go on the ends, in the middle of each front or rear wall frame. Four end rafters will slope down from that roof beam to the edge of each corner. This creates the angle of the roof.

In-between each of those four rafters you'll need to equally-space more rafters. Each will be cut at the same angle as the angle that the front and back rafters make to the beam. (If this part sounds daunting, then realize that you can also purchase prefabricated trusses as long as you made the size be a typical size and you did your measurements correct).

More cross-wise noggings are employed to brace the whole roof; and then plywood sheathing boards will cover the roof frame. Once you're reached this step of the process you can worry less about how weather will destroy or warp your structure.

The roof will then be completed with such things as more lumber members, an underlay of fascia and the roofing material that you've chosen to keep the rain out. Again, check on-line for particulars. You'll have to ensure that no rain enters through he roof, or fungus will form.

Here is where you install the shed doors and shed windows in the spaces that you left for them in the walls. Look on-line for details on how you properly install windows and doors between rafters. Make sure that you have determined exact sizes for your doors and windows, verifying with the store that they carry those particular sizes.

To install the doors and windows you will need to use little wedges which will center the windows between the joists. Place a slanted windowsill, slanting outwards, so that the rain will run off instead of come back into the structure.

To be safe, you can always caulk every crack with latex caulking compound at any point where you fear that rain might come in, and you're done. The true test will be when you have your first downpour. Remember that you should pick a spot that is not at the lowest area of your property. It should be on higher-ground and the slope should draw rainwater away from the storage shed. If you have built it on skids instead of on a firm concrete foundation it will be easier to move.

If you're wanting to know how to build a shed roof, that's basically it. You might put a vent in the roof that has it's own built-in fan that turns when the wind blows. This will keep the structure from being outrageously hot during the summer months. If you expect that you might get buildups of hot air in the roof, under the front and back overhang you might put tiny louvered vents.

If you don't live in an area which has snow, you might consider just having a flat roof. Such places as Arizona and Southern Texas don't need a pitched roof; but if you live in New York State, you'll have severe problems if you don't. And, that's how to build a shed roof.