How to build a storage shed

Q: I've seen several garden storage sheds, and now havedecided to build one for my wife as a surprise. I want to make surethis garden shed is the correct size and not cramped. What are somecomponents a garden storage shed must have? Several months from now, mywife is going to be gone for two weeks visiting one of our kids. Do youthink I can build this shed start to finish in that amount of time?

A: Gardenand storage sheds are one of my favorite projects. It's very rewardingto build wooden garden sheds, as you use about 80 percent of the skillsyou need to know when building a house from start to finish.

Ifyou can enlist the help of a friend for a few days, and if the gardenshed you decide to build is not too large or complicated, you can dothis job start to finish in two weeks. The weather will need tocooperate, and you will need to be on top of your game each day. Youshould have all the materials and tools you'll need on-site hours afteryour wife leaves for the airport.

The first thing you need to dois make sure you can build the shed. Check with your local zoningofficials to see if outdoor buildings are allowed and if you need abuilding permit. If you need a permit, you'll need plans for the shed.If you live in an association of any type, you may have privaterestrictions that limit outdoor sheds, their size, location and design.Be sure to investigate that as well.

The way to determine thesize of the shed is to take all the things that will be stored in itand place these on your lawn in the manner in which you'll see them inthe shed. Then plan for enough space for some cabinets and a countertopfor potting and such. I would expect the countertop to be at least 5feet long, if not longer. Make sure there is plenty of open space infront of the cabinets so your wife doesn't trip over things in theshed. My guess is that you'll quickly determine you need a shed that'sat least 10 feet by 12 feet. You'll never regret having a shed that'stoo big.

If you want to really impress your wife, try to get fromher the style of shed she may want. Definitely don't guess and hopeyou're right.

Natural light is really important inside sheds. Ifpossible, try to plan for a window centered on the countertop whereyour wife will stand and work. One or two skylights in the roof willbrighten the space and make for a cheery interior, even on overcastdays.

If you're not a skilled mason, I'd recommend that youconstruct a wooden garden shed. This means building a deck frame closeto the ground and covering the joists with treated plywood. This takesaway all the worry of rotting wood as water vapor coming from the soilor water that gets on the floor from rain or wet implements will notharm treated lumber.

Give serious consideration to a narrowoverhead door instead of swinging doors. The overhead door is easier toinstall, and many are very handsome. I have a lightweight metal doorthat's only 6 feet wide and 7 feet high in my wife's Queen AnneVictorian garden shed. It took only two hours to install, and it's wideenough for my riding mower to get in and out with no issues.

Besure to plan for storage shelves for pots, hand tools, supplies and anyother things that will be stored in this shed. These shelves can bebuilt with plywood and framing lumber in just a few hours.

TimCarter is a licensed contractor. To view previous columns or tap intohis archive of information and sources of building materials, go towww.askthebuilder.com. You can write to Tim Carter at P.O. Box 36352,Cincinnati, OH 45236-0352.