How To Build A Garden Shed – In Simple, Plain English
Firstly, lay a concrete pad that is 25mm smaller on all sides than the base of the shed, to create an overhang and prevent water accumulating around the timber floor and runners. To ensure good drainage this should slope slightly.
Next, centre the shed floor on top of your concrete pad so that there is an overhang of 25mm on all sides. Measure and mark in pencil the centre point of each edge, and do the same on the bottom batten of each of the side panels.
Lift the gable end without the door into place, and use a prop to hold it upright. Lift one side panel onto the base.
Screw the gable end and side panel together along the framing battens where they meet. Drill pilot holes then fit three 50mm countersunk screws at the top, middle and bottom.
Fit the other side panel in the same way. Then fit the gable end housing the door. But don’t try to fix your shed frame to the floor yet.
Fit the roof support beam across the top of the shed, slotting it into the pre-cut grooves at the top of the gable ends. Check that the shed is sitting firmly on its base and that the door opens easily. Then use 30mm screws through an L-shaped metal bracket to fix the beam to each gable end.
Lay the roof panels on the ground, one at a time, with the eave sections (wooden strips) positioned underneath flush with the bottom edge of the panel. Measure and mark six evenly spaced fixing positions. Drill pilot holes and then hammer in the nails to attach the eave sections to the roof panels.
Lift the roof panels into place one at a time. Line up the shed frame on the base using the centre markings then secure the roof panels with 30mm screws along the roof support beam. Fix them to the sides and gable ends of the shed using 40mm nails, or 30mm ails across the window heads. Check again that the shed is square on the base before finally nailing the sides and gable ends to the floor with 50mm nails.
Felting The Roof
Even if your shed kit comes with a roll of roof felt, you will probably still need to cut it to size with a sharp craft knife and a straightedge.
Unroll the roofing felt then measure and cut three pieces: one for each roof panel, and a third strip to be laid along the apex, to prevent water seeping in. The pieces covering the roof panels should run the full length of the shed with a 50mm overhang at either end. The third piece covering the apex should be the same length and extend at least 75mm over each roof panel.
Lay the first piece of felt over one side panel, with a 50mm overhang at the eave. Tack it along the top edge with felt nails about 300mm apart. Then fix it down along the gable ends and eave with felt nails at 100mm intervals. Repeat the other side. Place the third strip of felt over the top of the roof and nail it along each edge at 100mm intervals.
Tidy up the felt at the corners: cut it to the edge, fold it neatly and tack it down. Hammer the roof fascia in place using 40mm nails over the felt on the front and back gable ends. Use four nails per strip.
Secure each corner trim with three evenly spaced 30mm nails.
Finishing Touches
Shed windows are usually made of perspex, which slides easily into the window frames. Add a bolt, and then all that remains is to decorate the shed in the style of your choosing. You could treat it with coloured wood stain, and grow plants around it to help it blend in with the garden.
Standing outside the shed, slot the metal window sill into position along the bottom of the window frame.
Still outside, nail in the window cloaks (short strips of wood), using four 40mm nails in each. This secures the sills.
From inside the shed, slide the perspex into place, resting it on the sill. The beading is secured with 25mm nails. Start the nails first, then position the beading over the perspex sheet at the top and sides of the frame and hammer them fully home. Finally remove the protective film from the perspex.
Drill pilot holes and screw in the sliding bolt. This can be padlocked for additional security.
Davide Moss specializes in providing tutorial websites and help guides on the subject of gardening, home improvement and DIY.
For a large selection of gardening, home improvement and DIY guides and resources please visit :
www.diy-network.info
Please Rate this Article
Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Gardening Articles Via RSS!
