Suggestions on building a garden shed

[knave]

I've been thinking about building a shed in my backyard for years. My thoughts over what size/shape/materials has fluxuated quite a bit over time but it's time to get it started.

I would say I'm a novice carpenter but have plenty experience using tools. I've framed walls but never built a whole structure.

My current plans would be to build a 4 x 4 foot shed using simple osb floors and a corrigated roof with primed smartpanel sides. I would slant the roof 2 inches per foot making it 8' high in the front and 7' 4" in the back. I can do the studs 16" apart giving two per wall. The shed would rest on pressure treated 4x4s after I level out the space.

I plan on using a air palm nailer, I think this project is small enough I don't need a full fleged fraiming nailer.

Am I missing anything? What would be some suggestions be? I'm trying to stick to a pretty modest budget but I want to have it look fairly nice and last a long time too...LOL

Any reccomended plans? I've found a few but this seems pretty doable as is but I'm a perfectionist so I want as much info as possible.

[phyrosis]

my only suggestion is when doing the base work for where your shed will fit, lay landscaping fabric and then gravel on top of that then do your 4X4 footing

this will prevent weeds, and any water at the base,

[Woodshop Flunky]

I've also been knocking around the idea of putting a small shed in our back yard.  I didn't want to build a huge shed... just enough for some light storage, and garden equipment (including the push mower).



One thing I noticed was with a small footprint, the shed looks VERY tall fast.  So, I cut the height down some, to keep it from looking so long.

BTW: The Sketchup file I put together is too large to attach (even after getting rid of everything except the shed).

[phyrosis]

must live somewhere crime free and warm... all sheds i would ever build have full sides, one window, roof vent, and a door with padlock. esspecially if i am storing my mower and such in it.

[Woodshop Flunky]

must live somewhere crime free and warm... all sheds i would ever build have full sides, one window, roof vent, and a door with padlock. esspecially if i am storing my mower and such in it.

Yeah... I only modeled the framing, and the area of my yard to see how things would look.  I'm wasn't too concerned with the siding or the door.  Any shed I made would have these things of course.

[eds1275]

if it's only 4x4 feet, I'd just use a hammer instead of a power nailer unless you already have one and are good using it. I also recomend the landscaping fabric and gravel, maybe dig a bit of a pit out of the lawn first so you have some room to have a decent amount of gravel in there.

This summer I plan on building a 10x13 foot shed complete with tool and kayak storage, a workbench, and 40 amps of power, fully drywalled and insulated on a concrete slab with deep footings. If I get around to it [it may go next year instead] I'll post lots of pics.

[TopJimmyCooks]

4x4 is too small for anything much  3'-4" square clear on the inside.  more like a closet than a shed.  Upside, you can consider it portable and not have to worry about zoning/setbacks etc. as for a permanent structure.

[knave]

4x4 is too small for anything much  3'-4" square clear on the inside.  more like a closet than a shed.  Upside, you can consider it portable and not have to worry about zoning/setbacks etc. as for a permanent structure.

I've toyed with the idea of a larger structure in the past. My plan for this shed is to store all my garden tools, lawn chairs, mower and any other related item so I can get them out of my garage. All my real tools, workbench etc are in the garage.

My other thought is that any improvements that I learn from this small shed can be applied when I design and build an 8 x 12 workshop later. (if I ever get around to it)

I already have a palm nailer so I plan on using that. I'm not opposed to using a hammer either and probably will for some of the sections where it may be easier.

The gravel and fabric suggestions are being added to my list. Thanks

[Rando]

The gravel and fabric suggestions are being added to my list. Thanks

Here is something else for you to checkout:
http://ezpads.com/

I used this under a hot tub over a level bed of sand and it is perfect.  I was unable to put in a cement base due to zoning issues, so this allows the structure to remain "temporary" but provides a really solid base.

Luck!

[phyrosis]

The gravel and fabric suggestions are being added to my list. Thanks

Here is something else for you to checkout:
http://ezpads.com/

I used this under a hot tub over a level bed of sand and it is perfect.  I was unable to put in a cement base due to zoning issues, so this allows the structure to remain "temporary" but provides a really solid base.

Luck!

those pads are awesome but costly... for a hot tub i would be all for it, for a 4X4 shed... use gravel and landscapping fabric.

[knave]

those pads are awesome but costly... for a hot tub i would be all for it, for a 4X4 shed... use gravel and landscapping fabric.

I agree, The pad alone is my shed budget.

If I can I'm going to double up on Materials so I can build my daughter a simple Playhouse too. I budget both so far for ~$500.

That said I think it's totally worth it to spring for some gravel and fabric.

[phyrosis]

just dont let the store people talk you into using poly sheets... they are cheaper yes, but water does not flow through it, and treated lumber goes south when soaked all the time... this is why it is not used for docks, they use a diffrent treated wood for docks and such...

[Vigo]

If you are only doing a 4x4 shed, why not just get a prefab? I see ones that are 5x4 for around a couple hundred.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_292709-25-BW54_0__?productId=3169613

[GregD]

I think a 4x4 shed is way too small to be useful for anything but storing garden tools.  The lawn mower probably isn't going in there.

[knave]

Vigo: I've considdered the prefab sheds and they are all pretty flimsey at that price point. (Sears has a 10 x 6 metal arrow shed for sale for about that price too...)
But really I want the experience designing and building something. Simple is good.

Greg: I will double check my measurments but my plan is to have garden crap (I don't have much) on half and the mower on the other half. A few shelves perhaps.
If I don't think my stuff will fit I will make it 4x6. I will think about the benifits of making it bigger...Now's the time.

[Vigo]

Vigo: I've considdered the prefab sheds and they are all pretty flimsey at that price point. (Sears has a 10 x 6 metal arrow shed for sale for about that price too...)
But really I want the experience designing and building something. Simple is good.

That is a decision I can always understand. Any time I need something like this, the building vs buying option always comes into thought. Building has an unfair advantage; I would rather build. Good fun good experience. Pride in work. Plus, I usually buy a new tool in the process. 

[phyrosis]

a few things i also just thought of,

a 4x4 shed will have a outside frame diameter of 4'7"x4'7" if you use 2X4 construction, plan for that, unless you dont want a true 4x4 inside dimensioned shed.

your doors should be hinged at the edge of your framing for a shed this small... if you do the traditional doors (some wall framed in and then a smaller shed door) you will wind up kicking yourself when you need to move things to shimmy your mower out

the shed picture that was linked by woodshop flunky is a garden shed, not a yard shed, a garden shed does not store machinery, therefor a 3 foot door can cut it, i know i would make a huge bloody door...

learn to properly frame a door no matter what. alot of homemade sheds i have seen are improperly supported and after two years of weather exposure start to sag and become off square, making it a pain to close and lock. your door frame and the support form of the door itself should be a firm but not snug fit, if you make it too loose they will swing open when you dont want it to, too snug you will want to shoot the bugger who built it...

[knave]

Those are really good points, between you and greg I'm reconsidering a few things. I confirmed that my lawnmower will not fit in a 4x4 shed...But that's not a dealbreaker.

I was hoping to make the structure small to keep it cost effective and to hone my skilz. But perhaps I should go bigger? Decisions decisions.

[phyrosis]

look close at your mower as well, you may be able to replace the nut and bolt set that hold the handle in place with a easier to open and close system making your handle fold forward giving you a much smaller base for your mower.