The Complete Guide to ShedS 2nd edition • Utility • Storage • Playhouse • Mini-Barn • Garden • Backyard Retreat • More MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOtA www.creativepub.com 001-021_26196.indd 1 8/11/11 6:26 PM 001-021_26196.indd 1 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn (Text)((RRAAYY)) ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::11 Contents The Complete Guide to Sheds 66 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Choosing a Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Building Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Choosing a Site for Your Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Anatomy of a Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Lumber & Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 2222 Building Foundations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Ramps, Steps & Decks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 2299 3322 4422 001-021_26196.indd 3 8/11/11 6:26 PM 001-021_26196.indd 3 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn (Text)((RRAAYY)) ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::22 ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::33 Contents (Cont.) 4488 5599 Shed Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Lean-to Tool Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Simple Storage Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Modern Utility Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Service Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Timber-frame Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 7700 Salt Box Storage Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Mini Garden Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120 Clerestory Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128 Sunlight Garden Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142 Gambrel Garage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156 110066 112299 Convenience Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172 114433 001-021_26196.indd 4 8/11/11 6:26 PM 001-021_26196.indd 4 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn (Text)((RRAAYY)) ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::44 118866 118877 Rustic Summerhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186 Gothic Playhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204 Metal & Wood Kit Sheds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218 Shed Maintenance & Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Paint a Metal Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .238 Jacking Up a Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240 220055 Install Wooden Barn Doors on a Steel Shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . .242 Replacing Rotting Siding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .244 Installing an Anchor Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .248 Resources & Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Metric Conversion Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 221188 221199 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 223366 001-021_26196.indd 5 8/11/11 6:26 PM 001-021_26196.indd 5 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn (Text)((RRAAYY)) ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::44 ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::55 001-021_26196.indd 6 8/11/11 6:26 PM 001-021_26196.indd 6 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn ((RRAAYY)) ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::66 Introduction Few spaces are as useful and enjoyable as the contemporary backyard shed. Yes, you can store your tools and lawnmower in one, but imagine how a shed might enrich other aspects of your life—what if you had more space for your favorite hobby, or another place to relax? Often, those qualities are found in the same activity, and a shed can be customized to suit that activity and act as a natural extension of your personal style, expression, and habits. Some simply like a few hours’ bustling in the garden and a handy place to store their materials; others see their sheds as sacred and beloved environments to create and express themselves, an open invitation to get out and play. How will you use your shed? The custom buildings in this book are intended to get you thinking about how your shed might be conceived, built, and eventually outfitted with whatever fits your scope and style. The sheds featured here are meant to be versatile, practical, and adaptable, as well as serving as handsome additions to your house and home. In terms of property value, a shed can either be an asset or a liability. Nobody wants to see—much less buy—a rusty, ill-used and dilapidated shed, one with jilted doors hanging by a hinge, propped up on sunken concrete blocks. With a little planning beforehand, your shed will never suffer the same fate, standing tall and functioning well for years on end. A well-built shed can evoke the house it stands near or act as a private cabin or playhouse. A good shed appeals to its environment and complements your interests, hobbies and styles. When it comes to actually constructing your shed, you can do it in one of two ways: build it from scratch in true DIY fashion, or buy a kit shed for easy assembly. This book covers both options. Each of the custom shed projects features a complete set of construction drawings and photographs, a detailed materials list, and step- by-step instructions and photos for building the shed of your dreams. For those who prefer a prefabricated shed, there’s a full section of what to consider when choosing a kit shed, as well as instructions for the basic steps of two popular projects. Not everyone comes into a shed project with a scuffed tool belt and an outfitted work bench. No matter—the Building Basics section of the book walks you through the entire construction process. It will also help you choose the right foundation for your shed and give you the knowledge to make custom substitutions to the projects as shown. Many shed kits also involve a fair amount of freehand work, so you’re covered even if your kit comes without roofing or a floor. One of the best aspects of building a shed is that it doesn’t disrupt the daily life in your home; there’s no need to rearrange the furniture on a daily basis, much less sweep out the sawdust. So take your time, enjoy the process, and think about the future of your shed and how you’ll use it—it might just become your home away from home, not more than a few yards away. ■ 7 001-021_26196.indd 7 8/11/11 6:26 PM 001-021_26196.indd 7 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn (Text)((RRAAYY)) ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::66 ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::77 001-021_C64050.indd 8 8/22/11 7:59 PM 001-021_26196.indd 8 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn ((RRAAYY)) 08-C64050 ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::88 Choosing a Design The purpose and variety of sheds is as different as the people who build them. Storage shed or man-cave? A place to play or a place to study? Ask a dozen different people about how they’d use a shed and you might hear a dozen a different answers. How you use your shed will directly impact its construction and overall style. A shed doesn’t have to be just a building in your backyard; it can be an opportunity for personal expression. In other words, each shed was built by someone, in a certain place for a specific reason, something to match their personality and ways-of-being. Or doing. Or living. That’s what sheds are all about. One unsung trait of sheds is privacy— the ability to get away from it all, even in your own backyard. Like most buildings, your shed’s form follows its function. Answering why is a key factor in determining the scope of your shed. From floor space to headroom, natural lighting vs. electric lighting, storage vs. living space, level of security, amount of privacy, and certainly price—all these factors are decisions to make before pounding the first nail. Once the why has been determined, the next question to answer is how: a wide variety of styles, features, and materials are at your disposal. Will your foundation be wood or concrete? Will the exterior complement or contrast with the environment? Possibly the most important decision to make is the manner in which your shed will be built—some may enjoy the relative convenience of a kit or contractor to help with their shed. Others will seek the satisfaction of building the whole shed from the ground up in true DIY fashion. Wherever you decide to place it and however you decide to build it, the following pages will help you plan for your best shed, whatever its purpose may be. ■ 9 001-021_C64050.indd 9 8/22/11 7:59 PM 001-021_26196.indd 9 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn (Text)((RRAAYY)) 08-C64050 ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::88 08-C64050 ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::99 This graciously ornamented shed is easily built from a panelized kit. Special details like the dormer appear to be the work of a highly skilled carpenter but can actually be created by an ambitious do‑it‑yourselfer. This inviting sunlight shed combines the utility of a Some sheds defy easy categories; part Japanese storage shed with the floral beauty of a garden shed. Clear pagoda and part Mississippi riverboat, this hybrid shed polycarbonate roof panels work from the spring thaw through features unique architectural details and a bold paint the late fall, filtering light onto the plants below and infusing job. A water spout attached to the back gutter powers the shed with a warm, natural glow. The Dutch doors add a glass jug‑tipped waterwheel, while a little bonsai‑style further charm to an already delightful shed, and a small ramp hedge trimming complements the Eastern aspects of this makes wheelbarrow access a breeze. wondrous outbuilding. 10 ■ The CompleTe Guide To ShedS 001-021_26196.indd 10 8/11/11 6:26 PM 001-021_26196.indd 10 8/11/11 6:47 PM ((FFooggrraa 3399)) JJoobb::0088--2266119966 TTiittllee::CCPPii--119944998899 CCGG ttoo SShheeddss 22nndd EEddnn (Text)((RRAAYY)) ##117755 DDttpp::220044 PPaaggee::1100