Purpose

We’ll start with why having a wooden shed is important. Sheds are an excellent way to store the overflow of items that won’t fit in your garage or is keeping you from being able to park your car where it should be.

Beyond simply storage, wooden sheds can be made for a wide variety of purposes. If you have a pool in your back yard, a shed can be made for the purpose of being a pool cabana. Pool cabanas can be used for storing pool equipment, pool toys, snack, drinks, etc. It can also be used to store away your pool chemicals that are otherwise dangerous to keep near your main house.

Wooden sheds are also commonly used as garden sheds for use near or in the garden area. No more going back to the garage to grab your gardening tools.

Some other common purposes for sheds are playhouses for the kids, retreat or small guesthouse, woodworking shop and artist studio. You are only limited by your own imagination.

Construction

Now let’s discuss how wooden sheds are made. Perhaps the easiest method is to build one from a kit. There are several companies that offer many different styles of shed. Some of these kits come with the walls and roof components already made so all you have to do is bolt them together. Others come with all the pieces cut to size so you’ll have some more assembly to do for yourself.

Another option is to build from scratch. The best starting point is to look online for a good set of shed plans. Once you find the set of plans that fit your requirements, you’ll need to take the materials list to the supply store and purchase all the pieces for your wooden shed.

You can build your shed on a concrete slab or build a wooden frame for your foundation. Wooden frames have the advantage of being able to move the location of your shed easily. They also come as an option that you can purchase from the wooden shed kit manufacturer.

These are just some of the basics to get you started. You’ll find there are a lot of advantages to having your own wooden shed and hopefully this article has inspired you enough to start researching more options.

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Start by assessing how you will want (or need) to use your shed. A couple of possibilities include storage or even your own mini retreat in your backyard. The size of your wooden shed is also an important consideration that you should keep in mind. It’s a lot easier to determine your shed’s size once you know its purpose.

Now is a good time to start your online research, and a great place to start is by searching for images of wooden sheds. There are hundreds of photos online that will give you a good idea of what other people have built. Once you have a few of your favorite shed photos selected, you can now search for downloadable shed plans. Some you can find free of charge but most will cost you $5.00US (which really isn’t that much).

For a really inexpensive option for wood, used wooden pallets work great. Some very creative shed enthusiasts have actually built complete wooden sheds just from the boards of old pallets. Look for companies that throw them away on a regular basis. If you ask, they will probably let you have them free (if you don’t go overboard). If you don’t feel comfortable asking or you just can’t find a company that is throwing them away, you can always purchase them. The cost runs around four US dollars per pallet.

You will have to be a little creative yourself if you build a shed from pallet boards since there are no existing plans available. It is very possible that the only items you may have to purchase are the hardware and materials for the roof.

It can really pay off to be resourceful. A “new” wooden shed is just a weekend away.

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Using wood over other materials (like metal or plastic) has many advantages. They blend into the environment better and have a very natural and comfortable feeling to them. They also provide better insulation which, in the winter months, protects you and the items you store in it.

Size is one of the first things you should think about when you are considering a wooden shed. Knowing what you are going to put in it will help you make this determination. Leave a little extra room to grow for some more items you may not even be thinking about right now. Just don’t use the extra room to store a bunch of junk you will probably never use in the future. That’s what the garage is for – just kidding.

When you are planning your shed, think about the height you will need as well. You may want to add shelves higher up or put items in the rafters for less frequently used items. See Organizing Your Wooden Shed.

Some garden sheds come with more than one room, which is perfect for use as a retreat, pool cabana or playhouse for the kids. However, its not necessary to have a multiple room wooden shed if you plan to only use it for storage.

Next, another important consideration is the type of floor your shed is going to sit on. Many garden shed kits have an optional wood floor that you build on a frame. The frame or “skid” allows the shed to be moved quite easily to other locations by simply sliding it.

Just like a house, you can pour a concrete slab for your shed. This is a much more permanent option, of course. Once you are finished with your shed, you have the option of staining the concrete, covering it with a flooring product such as carpet, painting it or leaving it bare.

There are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of design options available to you today on the internet. And, the best part, they come in a wide variety of sizes. But if you really want a custom shed then you’ll have to start with a good set of garden shed plans and at least one solid weekend of time. It won’t be long until you have a new shed building in your own backyard.

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The best part is, wooden sheds can be converted fairly easily from one use to another. If done correctly, a garden shed can be used for a couple of purposes at the same time. For example, a pool cabana is not only used to change into a swimsuit, but is also a great place to store the pool supplies and any chemicals that should be stored away from the main house.

So, why build one, anyway? Besides their versatility and storage capabilities, wooden sheds are fun to build and they can be a great starter project if you aren’t that handy with tools. And, it should only require a weekend’s worth of time to complete.

You know what you want a shed for, but WHY a wooden shed? Once you have built a wooden shed, you’ll notice right away the long-term value you have over a plastic or even a metal shed. They may cost more up front, but they are more pleasing to the eye and if you build from a set of good shed plans, you have way more options.

Plastic and metal sheds are actually harder to modify or add additional space to than wooden sheds. And, as far as repairs go, they are much quicker, easier and cost less for wooden sheds. If you have ever tried to fix a plastic shed, you know what I mean.

The best wood to use for sheds is cedar. Cedar contains oil that occurs naturally. This oil is what gives the wood its distinct aroma and also protects it from insects and rot.

Another option you have is to buy a wooden shed kit that comes already cut to size. And, depending on the manufacturer, a lot of the assembly is already done. This makes for a fast and easy way to get a shed put up in your backyard.

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Strength and Reliability

Although they are both durable and reliable, plastic and metal sheds do have their weaknesses. In warmer climates, metal sheds can get blistering hot. And, plastic (or vinyl) can be damaged over time if exposed to extreme heat. If wood is treated, wooden sheds can last for years even if overexposed to heat and sunlight. A real plus for all three types of materials is that they can all be painted to add protection.

Imagine how unsightly your shed would look with a few good sized dents in it. This is exactly what can happen to your shed if it is made from metal. Wooden sheds, on the other hand, are pretty easy to repair if they are nicked by filling in the hole with wood filler and simply painting or staining over it. Wooden sheds can also handle extreme weather conditions quite nicely since they are framed very much the same way that houses are.

Wood Gives You Options

It can definitely be overwhelming when you start to shop for sheds simply because there are so many choices. All of these shed types – whether they are metal, plastic or wood, come in many different styles and sizes. Perhaps the biggest advantage of using wood over the other two materials is that you are able to construct a custom shed from scratch.

There are hundreds of shed plans online that you can purchase and download for minimal cost. This is a great starting point for those who have some basic carpentry skills. You can even alter your plans to fit your particular needs. For instance, if you need to fit a riding mower and a snow mobile in your shed and you need to add extra room to accommodate both of them, simply add on the extra space while your building.

Appearance

The overall appearance of a wooden shed can’t be touched in comparison to plastic or metal. Take advantage of the wood’s natural beauty (especially cedar) by simply sealing the wood with a high quality water sealant or stain. Place your garden shed in a place where you can easily see it from your house. Metal and plastic sheds are better placed farther from view are even off to the side of the house.

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You probably prefer to build from scratch if you have not only the carpentry skills, but also the tools and time it takes (though relatively small) to build a wooden shed. The time it takes involves the planning and the execution of the project. An important first step is finding a good set of shed plans. Since you can find so many wooden shed plans online, you should be careful in making your selection. The shed plans you select should include plenty of illustrations or photos and clearly written instructions. A materials list is important as well since you will need this when going to the supply store to purchase all the materials.

With a good set of plans in your hands, the proper tools, and basic carpentry skills, you should be able to easily build a shed in a matter of only a couple of days. If you decide you want to build your wooden shed on a concrete foundation instead of a wooden “skid”, you should allow extra time and labor. You may even wish to hire a professional do this part of the job.

Not confident in your carpentry skills? Then a wooden shed kit has a lot of advantages over building from scratch. For most shed kits, all the pieces are already cut so the only thing you have to do is the assembly. Some kits even come with the walls already framed so assembly is easy and quick. So really, waiting for the kit to arrive is likely to be the most time you will spend on this project.

Since you may not have to buy or rent all the tools you need for building a wooden shed kit, you can also save some money.

As you can tell, either building from scratch or from a kit has its advantages and disadvantages. But, once its built, you will soon realize the potential this structure has.

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The best plans were designed by someone who has been there so as they designed the plans, they paid attention to how someone else has to work from the plans. Believe it or not, there are quite a few shed plans available that only have measured elevation views. You are expected to have a certain skill level to know how to put them together. And that’s fine for the experienced handyman but not so much for the average person.

Look for plans that say they have detailed instructions. Some plans just offer blueprint-type drawings. At a minimum, every plan should have easy to understand elevation drawings. But, it also helps to have clear cutaways or even three-dimensional drawings.

Some shed plans will include exploded views of the more intricate areas that need special attention. Although not critical, another great aspect in the drawings is to have color or shading. This really helps to visualize how pieces are put together and which piece goes on top or under another piece.

Photos or illustrations should also be included that show the completed shed or the wooden shed at different stages of the building process.

And, lastly, a complete materials list included in the shed plans is another feature to look for. When you are at the supply store picking up all the materials you need, you don’t want to go blind or guessing then its really not necessary.

The good thing is, you can find some great shed plans online. Knowing what to look for is the real trick. To help make your search easier, we’ve included a link below to what we believe is the best package available for shed plans. There’s even a free set of plans you can download that you can use to build from or just to see the quality of the plans that are available in the package.

Link to SHED PLANS.

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Let’s start with an outlined step-by-step process. Since this is a basic overview of the construction process, feel free to research any unanswered questions you may have as there are plenty of articles written on this subject.

Step 1 You should start by assessing your specific needs. How will you build the shed? You can either build from a set of shed plans, buy and assemble a wooden shed kit (which is the easiest and fastest method), or you can use special software and design your own custom shed.

Step 2 Now choose carefully where to locate your wooden shed. You may want to build your shed on a wooden frame or “skid” just in case you want to move it to a different location. A skid frame will allow you to slide the shed to another spot. Its also less permanent and easier to make than pouring a concrete slab. Be aware and research any zoning restrictions you may have on your property.

Step 3 In this step, you will prepare the site for construction. Start by removing all the large objects (if there are any) like plants, rocks or debris. Make the site flat using a shovel and rake. There should be a slight downward slope going towards the rear of the shed so rain water will easily flow off and not puddle under the shed. Its important to take extra time to make this right so you can avoid any headaches later on.

Step 4 Time for the fun part – actually building the wooden shed. Assuming you are building from a set of shed plans, follow the instructions for measuring and cutting all the pieces. Your plans will also show you step-by-step how to put the shed together.

Step 5 Adding all the details and options is the last step. You may choose to add some fancy trim or heavy duty hardware. These are the type of things that really make your shed a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Now that you are finished, the real satisfying part is the feeling you get knowing you built a great shed that will last for many years all by yourself.

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