How Hard Is It to Build a Garden Shed?

If you are thinking about building a garden shed, you may want to find out as much as you can before beginning the construction. Thankfully, with DIY sites that supply this type of information willingly, you can even look to find step by step guides to walk you through the entire process.

Keeping this in mind, here’s 5 steps that can help you to build your garden shed from the ground up.

1. Prepare to lay the foundation of the garden shed first

Regardless of the type of shed that you build, you should know that a solid foundation is a critical requirement. Without a solid foundation, the entire construction will not last but may tumble down on the builders at any time. Therefore, the first step in this type of construction project is to lay a foundation that consists of pressure treated wood timbers or concrete blocks. These concrete blocks or treated wood timbers must be placed directly on the ground while being leveled with precision. After the foundation is in place, it is ready to support the shed’s floor frame.

It is also important to note that the ground in which the concrete blocks are laid must be completely dry and not wet. The place that is selected must also meet the requirements of an area that is exempt from the rain off and the possibility of erosion. The size of the shed that is built may also vary so all of these plans must be based on the specific square footage. Also, prior to getting started building the garden shed, the owners should check with the appropriate department for specific building codes. For instance, you may want to build a garden shed that has a diameter of 200 sq feet.

2. Provide the necessary provisions for air circulation

After the foundation has been laid, you need to make the necessary provisions for air circulation. Because there are many different factors that affect this part of the building process, you need to know what you need to do to protect its overall structure. For instance, here are a few things that you need to consider as you move forward with building a garden shed, a step by step guide informational solutions.

Wood’s worst enemy is water. Therefore, paying close attention to the space that needs to be allowed is key to avoiding, warp floors, doors, rotten frames, mold and mildew, and corroded hinges. For instance, if you want to make sure these areas are well protected, you need to make sure that the mudsill is positioned above ground by at least 6 inches. By following these guidelines, fresh air can circulate easily underneath the shed. In addition to leaving a certain amount of inches underneath the shed, it is also important to remember that air needs to circulate freely on each side of the structure too. So, you do not want to construct the garden shed too close to trees, fences, shrubs or any other structure that can prevent the natural flow of air from the wind. Most professional builders recommend a space on each side of about 2 to 3 feet.

3. Construct floor frame – must be weather-resistant

When you are constructing your garden shed, you will always find ways to economize. From installing a 3 tab roof shingles to using an inexpensive grooved-plywood siding, you can strategically choose to save money. However, when it comes to the building materials that you buy, it should be seen as a long-term investment, particularly when you use it for the plywood floor deck or its floor frame. By investing more money into this part of the construction, you can prevent your floor from feeling like inflatable moonwalks that dangerous to walk on. Also, unless the sheds are prefab that will be used as indoor sheds, professionals recommend using 2 x 6 or 2 x 8 pressure-treated lumber for these floor decks because they are highly resistant to insects and moisture.

4. Use low-maintenance materials

When you are building your garden shed, you need to pay close attention to the types of maintenance that will be required. Particularly, as it relates to the materials that will be used in the construction. To make smart decisions in this area, it is best to look for the materials that are designed specifically to be low maintenance alternatives. This is especially the case for homeowners do not want to spend that added time in maintaining all of the needs of their home and a garden shed too.

While low maintenance materials may cost you a bit more for the added convenience, you will find that the higher cost is well worth, especially where you compare the savings in time that you can benefit greatly from. For instance, if you buy white PVC trim boards as the trim for corner boards, fascia, and frieze instead of painted cedar materials, this new plastic will be resistant to decay and splitting. Also, if you are shopping around for the best options for low maintenance materials, you may want to consider using a wide variety of different low maintenance options, including steel doors, aluminum windows, fiber cement siding, and composite decking.

5. Be smart about door placement and the size installed

Though door placement and size may appear to be a simple decision to make, this is not necessarily true since a vary by factors goes into choosing the best options. If this is not factored incorrectly, the wrong decision can even result in having to remove the doors completely. Therefore, as you decide the perfect size door and its placement, you need to think about what items will be stored within. For instance, if you want to store your riding lawn mower into this space, you need to ensure the accommodations are made early on. If not, you may be forced to remove the doors in order to store huge items that will not fit through the door entryway.

If you want to build a garden shed, you may need to follow the step by step processes outlined above. By following this guide, you can advantage of a wide range of different great tips and recommendations, including those that will help you to understand how to design your doors, choose quality materials and eliminate the need for high maintenance garden shed solutions.