Tool Shed – 10 Easy Steps

Tool shed plans will help you do the job right when the time has come that you need a place to keep all your garden tools, lawn mowers, and all the stuff that a typical homeowner needs to keep sheltered from the elements.  Probably you’ve looked at the local home and garden center, and either the price of those pre-built buildings or the looks of them has made you think about building your own.  It’s a great project that you can do yourself if you have some basic woodworking tools and are not afraid to use them. Some basic step-by-step shed plans should get you on your way to having your new tool shed up and ready for use.  It can be a fun project too, and the satisfaction of building a great shed yourself is awesome.

Step One

You should decide where your new tool shed should go.  You can put it near trees, but I would recommend if you want to do that, to build a wooden floor rather than using a concrete slab.  The ground where you put the shed should be flat, so you will be able to roll your lawn mowers and stuff inside easily enough.  The place you put it may also limit what size you can build.  Measure and stake out the spot where you want the shed to go.  Then, look at the area and think about how you’ll be using the shed.  At this point, you should have some overall dimensions for your tool shed in mind.  Sketch out your shed on a piece of paper with the length and width specified.

Step two

Take your sketch to your local home building supply store to the contractor’s desk.  There they will help you draft your materials list, as they do this sort of stuff all the time. Think about how you want your shed to look, and select the exterior materials, finish, and roofing shingles. You may have to allow them a couple of days to get around to it, so be patient.  If you’re lucky, they’ll also give you a step-by-step outline for construction. If not, you will need to get some garden shed plans.

Step Three

In a day or two, your home building supply store will have an itemized materials list for you.  Review it with them to understand all the stuff they have chosen for your project.  Have your materials delivered a couple of days before you plan to begin construction, and cover them with plastic so they don’t get rained on.  Make sure they’re not just lying on the ground, as they should be set on pallets or landscape timbers to keep them from getting dirty.

Step Four

Prepare your site for your building.  If you are planning a concrete slab foundation, then you’ll need to prepare the spot where the concrete will go and put up forms.  You’ll dig out around the inner parameter so that the edges where you’ll be setting up the walls will have thicker concrete.  If you are building a smaller building with a wood floor, you’ll at least need to dig a little to set concrete blocks in the ground on firm earth.  You’ll need to level the blocks or concrete so that when you build, the building will be level.  If you are building a wood floor, now you will build the floor joist system on those blocks that you just put in place.

Step Five

Now comes constructing the sidewalls.  You’ll assemble the side walls on the ground and then set them into place.  You’ll need to brace them so they will stand up.  You should have some how-to shed plans.  If you have a friend helping, please do verify that you’re following the instructions so that your building goes up right – don’t just depend on your friend’s memory unless he does this sort of thing a lot and is fairly well experienced.

Step Six

Build your roof trusses.  This is also something that you build on the ground and then lift into place.  You’ll likely need a partner to get the roof trusses built and set into place.  You’ll build one roof truss and use that as a guide to building the rest.  Your tool shed plans will tell you how many trusses to build.

Step Seven

At this point, you are starting to see the overall garden shed take its shape.  End walls are next.  Depending on where you put your door and possibly windows, then you will need to lay out these walls according to your plans.  Be sure to follow your plans exactly.

Step Eight

Congratulations in advance at this point, your  shed should be looking good.  Now you are at the point of plywood for the roof and putting on the boxing.  This will be done mostly from ladders, and you’ll benefit a lot from having a partner who you can work with to get these parts done right.  Your boxing is what really sets off the looks of your tool shed and gives it that finished look.

Step Nine

Hang your doors and windows, weather stripping, and calking.  Be sure to use a level when hanging your doors and windows so they look right and the door doesn’t swing open all by itself.  A little care here pays off with a nicely working building.

Step Ten

At this point you’re ready to paint your building’s exterior and apply your roofing shingles.  The wood must have protective layer on it to shield it from the elements as well as protect it from decaying. You should have this coating on hand from your original materials delivery, or maybe you’ve delayed that decision until now.  Regardless, it’s time to complete that step!

Fire Up the Grill

Tool shed plans that were good at helping you plan out the job along with your sweat equity have ruled the day.  Fire up the Barbeque and invite your friends over to help you enjoy the satisfaction of accomplishment!