3 Smart Tips For Constructing An Outdoor Storage Shed In Your Backyard

Constructing a shed on your property can be a challenging and fun experience. When you create your own outdoor storage space, you can customize it just the way you want it.

You may want to get yourself some detailed shed plans with material lists for wooden buildings and jump right into the assembly, but here are a few tips that will make your work a lot easier.

Find Complete Shed Plans For The Building You Have In Mind

There are many free shed construction blueprints on the internet that leave out several critical details required for crafting a sturdy structure. If you are an experienced woodworker, you may be able to guess and fill in these details. But if you are just starting out in construction, then there are many vital measurements and instructions you absolutely must have in your plans.

Check that the blueprints show elevation views for the shed from all four directions. The plans should include a bill of materials with precise measurements and a list of tools required for the project. These will help you estimate the cost involved.

The materials list will also help you shop for all the required timber right at the start of the project and have them all delivered to the construction site. This prevents having to make any hurried trips to the hardware store at the last minute to get missing items.

The plans should also give an overview of the different stages of construction, the order of assembly of each shed component, and instructions for crafting each section.

Select The Best Foundation For Your Outdoor Shed

Deciding what kind of foundation your shed will have is a key factor that will determine the durability of your shed. The most commonly used foundations are concrete slabs, piers or blocks, and skids.

If you live in an area that receives a lot of rainfall or snow, it is best to build your shed on a concrete slab base. This is a bit expensive option, but it will ensure your shed has a long life and doesn’t sink into the ground or get water damaged.

The next best option is to build the base on concrete skids or piers. It is less expensive than the slab option but is suitable if your region only receives moderate snow or mild rainfall.

If your region mostly experiences warm weather with little snow or rain, then you can build the shed on a base of pressure-treated skids. This is the cheapest option, but it is also the least sturdy choice. If you will be storing heavy equipment and a lot of gear in your shed, then a concrete slab base would be ideal for you, irrespective of weather conditions.

Install Shelves, Hooks, And A Foldable Workbench In Your Shed

Maximize the usable space inside your shed by attaching hooks to rafters and shelves on the walls. This will give you extra space to store lightweight tools and bags.

Create a foldable workbench into your shed’s wall that will unfold and give you a working space inside your building. You can use this space to organize items into containers, work on potted plants, or work on DIY projects. And once the task is done, the bench will fold neatly into the wall and not take up any space.

A workbench also saves you the effort of having to bend over or carry items outside the shed any time you need to combine two items together. Like when you mix soil into pots or simply nail a 2×4 as part of a project.

Make sure to add enough ventilation in your shed to prevent dampness inside your building. This will stop the development of mold and rot and keep the shed’s contents safe.

Following these simple shed construction tips will increase the lifespan of your shed and let you maximize the use of your outdoor building.