Building a storage shed

A DIY-shed may become the most functional buildingon your property. I don’t know what it is about a shed but they havethis romantic quality that brings you back to a simple hands-on timewhen we tended to horses, plowed our fields and stored our crops.

I don’t know about you but, I’vewanted to build-my-own-shed for as long as I’ve owned my home in anattempt to create more garage (wood shop) space. DIY-sheds are greatplaces to store all your garden tools, bikes,kids outside play toys or whatever else you canimagine.

Todays shed choices can be mind boggling. It’s notjust a shed but a destination with it’s own landscape, paving stonesand lighting. I had some decisions to make when it came time tobuild-my-own shed.

• I could buy or draw some simple plans,

• have a shed delivered completely built or…

• buy a kit and assemble it myself.

For me, a DIY-shed means that it’s all me… Theconstruction would be solid and it would last 20 years or more. What Ilacked was the time to do it all. To truly build-my-own-shed,here’s what I’d have to do…

• Create plans from a program like Googlesketch-up (it’s free),

• Create a materials list from my plans,

• Pull the materials from the local home center,

• Load my truck or have it delivered,

• Start from scratch and get it built.

Since I lacked the time to go through all that, Idecided to purchase a 8′ x 12′ shed-kit off the Internet and build(assemble) it myself.

A shed-kit won’t have thesame solid construction as one built from scratchbut I figured I could beef it up where it lacks the strength and savemyself time and money. After doing my calculations, I figured it wouldcost me about $400 less for a shed-kit than if I were tobuild-my-own-shed from scratch.

-Before You Begin -

Begin your decision making process by assessingyour needs. Make a list of every possible use you may have for aDIY-shed. Once you’ve narrowed your list and decidedon a function you can begin to determine it’s size and design. Ifyou’re trying to get your car back into the garage and don’t have a lotof backyard space a standard 8′ x 12′ should fit the bill.

You have several designs to choose from like asimple Lean-to, Gable, Salt box, Gambrel (looks like a barn) or a Hip.All of these structures are basically named after the type of roof theyhave. Take a Hip style popular on garages… the roof comes to a pointand slopes down from the top in four directions. A Gablestructure has two halves of the roof joined together in aclassic “A” frame shape.

First… Pick the right site!Check with your localbuilding authority before you set your DIY-shed foundation. There maybe set backs from property lines or easements, size limitations,permits and inspections especially if you plan to add electricity orwater.

In Virginia Beach, my shed doesn’t require apermit since it’s below 100 square feet and I’m putting it on skids,it’s basically considered an accessory building. Typically foundationsthat are NOT permanent such as skids or piers which can be moved, mightnot require a permit.

I did, however, have set-backs I had to deal with.I couldn’t have the shed within 5 feet of one side and the backproperty line. My DIY-shed couldn’t be within 30 feet of the other sideand 50 feet from the front property line.

GettingStarted…

Get your tools ready! The great thing about a shedkit is that it comes with all the parts pre-cut. You won’t need your miter-saw,circular saw or hand saws unless you plan to beaf-up the floor or wallswith some extra framing. It’s suggested that you add flooring joist ifyou plan to store ATV’s or motorcycles. I’m adding an extra skid in thecenter for strength even though I don’t plan to put in anything heavy.

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