Building a Shed
Getting started on building a shed can be quite the adventure. It’s a complicated process that involves a lot of steps and a lot of knowledge. This is especially true if you’re just learning how to build a shed.
Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. This is the definitive guide on everything you need to know to build a storage shed. Everything from regulations to placement to all the tools you need.
It’s going to be dense, so get comfortable as you’re about to learn all there is know on building a shed.
Tools Needed For Building A Shed
The first thing you should do when preparing to build a shed is make sure you have all the right tools for the job.
While this may not necessarily be an exhaustive list, here’s a reliable set of things you probably must have for building a shed:
- Tape measure
- Hammers
- A level
- Power drill
- A tall ladder
- A speed square
- Circular saw
- A nail punch
- Air compressor
- Roofing nailer
- Goggles
- Work gloves
Basic Steps to Build a Shed
1. Determine how large your shed will be.
The first thing you need to do after collecting your tools is figure out how large you want your shed to be.
If you want to build a small shed then you’re in luck as they’re relatively inexpensive to build and don’t take very long either.
An 8’ x 12’ shed can be completed in a couple of weeks as long as you have the right tools and the right plan in mind.
Feel free to draw out the dimensions of your shed on paper to get a better feel for its shape and size. This includes the shape and size of both the roof and the door or doors.
2. Determine where your shed will be built.
The next important step is figuring out where you are going to build a shed.
Level ground is very important so you want to make sure that the ground you’re placing it on is 5 or 6 inches away from being level. It’s not too important nor feasible to build anything on absolutely level ground, so don’t worry too much about it being perfect.
Once you’ve figured out the size and location of your shed, you can then determine the cost of building a shed. Prices vary wildly – you could spend as little as $300 or as much as $10,000. The final price ultimately depends on you.
3. Understand your area’s building codes.
Before you even pick up some wood and a hammer, you have to understand very firmly the building codes of your town or city. These codes vary from region to region and have different rules on placement, size and other factors. Sometimes they’re even specific enough to place restrictions on the style or materials used.
You don’t want to spend weeks building a shed only to find out that it’s violating any bylaws. Make sure your plans are up to regulation before laying a single board down.
4. Building a shed foundation.
Once your tools, plans, location and codes are all in the clear, you can begin the first physical act of building a shed. This means laying down your shed’s foundation.
A foundation can differ from region to region depending on the weather, but most likely you will be using wooden floor platforms resting atop blocks of concrete.
If you don’t have property with level ground, feel free to apply cement or concrete mix to create your own level ground for the shed’s foundation.
Once the foundation of wood and concrete is complete, you will want to add on a basic floor frame. Installing floor joists by nailing them in is a common technique, then topping it off with some plywood.
5. Installing walls, roof, and doors of the shed.
Next you should be placing your shed walls. Two walls should be bearing based and the other two should be gable-end based.
The roof of your built shed ought to consist of rafters, trusses, a ridge beam and collar ties. Most sheds have a triangular roof which is what necessitates these tools. You will also want several asphalt shingles to finish the roof installation.
The door of your shed can be made out of a variety of materials or woods. You can build your own door or buy a pre-hung door. Though keep in mind that using a pre-hung door means you need to build your shed with the dimensions of said door in mind.
6. Painting your shed.
Now that the construction of the shed itself is complete, you can move on to the most relaxing part of the process: painting it any color you want.
Ideally you should use paint made out of weather-resistant materials to protect it from rain and wind. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself re-painting the walls again and again.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not advised to be building a shed right against your house for many reasons.
For one thing it goes against most regulations or codes about building. If you were to ever move out of your house, the new owners might be annoyed with the close placement of the shed.
It’s also just unwise from a practical standpoint. All homes shift gradually over time, and your house’s infrastructure was not designed with a shed touching it in mind. It may be fine for a year or two, but eventually you can run into serious problems due to house settling if it is in direct contact with a shed.
Check the bylaws of your area. They will have specific details about shed placement and spacing. Often times a shed needs to be at least a few inches away from the house and several feet away from the actual property line, but there are exceptions to the rule.
Believe it or not, it is indeed possible and allowed to build a shed out of pallets. It’s also a cheaper and easier way since, technically speaking, some of the construction work of measuring wood and nailing is already done for you.
This is a great option to go for if you want a quicker job, are planning on building a smaller shed and are looking for a way to reduce the cost of building a shed.
Keep in mind that the wood pallets need to have some sturdiness in them. Any weak or old pallets could compromise the structural integrity of your shed.
It really depends on where you live and what kind of sewer line there is if you can build a shed over it or not.
This is one of the more complex matters when it comes to how to build a shed. Many different regions don’t allow it at all, and many ones that do have a lot of rules and restrictions regarding the process.
Generally speaking, you are usually allowed to build your shed on top of an easement.
If you suspect that you live on an easement, find out with certainty if you do or not. Even if you do, you still have some leeway towards building your own shed. There may be some legal limitations with utility or property easements but it shouldn’t stop you from building a storage shed.
Depending on where you live and where you plan on building your shed, you may or may not need a permit. Keep in mind though that many regions do require one.
Some regions have absolute rules and require you to have a permit for building a shed no matter what.
Other regulations and bylaws give you more wiggle room. Sometimes you only need a permit if you are building a shed on an easement. Sometimes sheds of larger size need to be built with a permit because they are more complex jobs and need to follow more rules.
Usually for these regions, the shed needs to be at least 100 square feet large in order to require a building permit to be acquired.
If you build a shed without a permit in an area that requires you to have one, and you are caught, you will definitely be met with some legal punishment. You won’t exactly be hauled off to prison, but one of a couple things will happen to you and your shed.
For one thing, you will almost certainly be subject to fines. Depending on where you live and the stipulations of your area’s building codes, it could cost you a couple hundred dollars or a couple thousand.
Another problem is that you could be forced to remove your shed entirely, even if it is on your own private property. This is arguably the most important reason why you need a permit for building a shed. Often times the shed itself is more expensive than the fines, and this is where you’ll truly be bleeding money.
Not to mention that all the days or weeks you spent building it in the first place will all have been for nothing.
Determining the cost of building a shed is surprisingly not the easiest task. This is because the variety in price points for sheds is so vast. Some sheds only cost $200; others cost $20,000.
On average however, you can expect a typical shed to cost anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000.
What ultimately determines the cost of a shed is the quality of wood you buy, how many tools you use, the size of the shed and if you plan on paying anyone for extra help with labour or installation.
As long as the shed isn’t too small and is made out of solid materials, a well-built shed will almost always increase your home’s property value.
If part of the reason you’re building a shed is because of the property value, then you need to go big. The bigger the shed, the bigger the increase.
Property value is also based on looks, so you will definitely want to jazz up your shed to make it look as professional as possible. Make sure to use a high quality paint that makes it resistant to the weather.
You will also want to choose a color that matches the vibe of your backyard or property. It’s also important to choose high quality wood that ages well and won’t look poor after years of absorbing moisture.
Lastly, it needs to be placed in an optimal location. There’s a difference between placing a shed in a useful spot because it makes tools easily accessible, versus building a shed in a location that makes your property look nicer or more symmetrical.
While building a shed that prioritizes function over looks can still increase property value, it won’t do so as much as a shed that feels as if it “fits in” with your property more organically.
A common question asked when it comes to building a shed is knowing what’s the biggest you can make it? Like a lot of questions of this sort, the answer kind of depends on your own area’s codes and regulations.
Keep in mind that there is also a difference between how large you can build a shed with a permit and how large you can build one without a permit. Keep this in mind if you want to build a particularly large shed.
As an example, some regions let you build a shed up to 100 square feet without a permit, but anything larger than that will need one.
You also have to be mindful of height restrictions as well as square footage restrictions.
How hard building a shed can be completely depends on how much experience you have with construction and how well thought-out your building plans are.
Another huge factor in determining shed building difficulty is if you are going to be building it by yourself or with help. You can always ask friends, family or neighbors for help but it should be obvious that hiring professional help will make the building process easier and faster.
While building a shed can be a challenge for many, there are a lot of clear instructions to follow that make the process manageable. Plus, the challenge of the build only increases the sense of satisfaction waiting for you at the end.
While it is technically possible, it is highly advised to not build your shed on grass. Grassy ground is not considered hard enough and because of this it is very difficult to keep heavy objects level on grass.
This is why laying a foundation is so important, because wood and concrete are hard and stable enough to keep your shed stable.
Another problem with grass is that the ground it’s on is constantly moving, so over time a shed built directly on grass will be prone to major tilts and even collapse.
Pavers are a perfectly suitable foundation for shed building. They are actually becoming a more popular option for shed building because of their ease and affordability.
This makes pavers a great option for shed builders who are operating either on a tight budget or a tight time frame. They also make great options for DIY builds for people who are in the mood to do everything by themselves.
In many places it is considered a bad thing to build a shed under a power line, even if it is legally allowed. A lot of places restrict this kind of building entirely just to err on the side of caution and safety.
If you have no choice but to build your shed under power lines and your city’s regulations allow it, you need to be very careful that you follow all of the rules and codes properly. You also can’t make your shed too tall because it could pose major problems if it comes into contact with the power lines.
Gravel foundations are a perfectly viable choice for building a shed. As with any foundation, it needs to be as level as possible. This probably means having to get rid of any grass or extra dirt in the way.
Gravel foundations are also widely considered some of the easiest foundations to build for a shed. They are easier to work with and install compared to wood or concrete foundations.
As a matter of fact, building a shed from a kit is becoming a more and more popular building method these days.
This is not only because they help make things easier on you by providing everything you need all at once, but they are also fairly affordable. Many shed building kits are only a couple thousand dollars. This makes them accessible to many people.
Many shed building kits also come with all the instructions you could possibly need. They need to be followed to a T, which gives you no room for freedom or creativity. But if you just need a serviceable shed for storage space, this won’t be an issue for you. Building a shed from a kit nowadays has never been easier. Good luck on yours!
