The thought of building your own shed can seem overwhelming at first. How big should I make it? Where should we build it? What permits do I need? We will examine the various materials that can be used to build your own shed.
What should the foundation be made of?
There are two main materials for a shed foundation, a concrete floor or a wood floor. A concrete floor is poured onsite via a concrete mixer. Depending on your experience, it may be beneficial to outsource this portion of the project. A concrete floor will outlast a wood floor but is more expensive. On the other hand, a wood floor is cheaper by nature but will not last as long. With some 2x6 lumber and some plywood almost anyone can build a wood floor
What can the walls be made of?
Most pre-bought sheds are made with smaller 2x3 lumber. If you are building your own you can take this route or upgrade to 2x4 dimensional lumber. It provides more support and is less prone to warping or twisting. If you are ambitious you can even make the walls from metal studs.
What are my choices for the exterior siding?
By far the most common exterior is T1-11 sheathing. T1-11 is found in almost any home improvement center. In case you are not familiar with it, T1-11 sheathing is essentially a 4 foot by 8 foot piece of plywood with grooves ever 12 inches or 8 inches. You simply nail it up and you are finished. There are two main downsides to T1-11. After some time the siding will decay and you have to paint it.
The other main option for exterior siding is vinyl or metal siding. Contrary to popular belief, vinyl siding is about the same price as T1-11. With vinyl siding you put it up and you are done. There is no initial or future painting its maintenance free! If you are hesitant about installing vinyl siding, don't worry it's not as difficult as it looks.
What about the roof?
The most common material for the roof is asphalt shingles. They are durable, relatively inexpensive and fairly easy to install. Shed builders in the Northeast are prone to using wood shakes. It's more expensive, but gives that authentic Cape Cod look. Another choice is a metal roof. These will outlast asphalt or wood shake roofs by far, but you will pay for it initially.
What about shed doors?
There are two main choices for doors. You can either buy them or build them. Building shed doors entails nothing more than a 2x4 frame and a piece of plywood on top. Then you trim the outside with 1x4 pine and paint. It takes a little time but is the most economical option. The only downside to wood doors is the can warp and are prone to deterioration over time. Metal pre-bought doors are another option. You pick out exactly what you want from a home center and install it. Metal doors will outlast wood doors by far and will not warp. They are more expensive however.
Are there any other accessories?
There are many accessories for sheds. One of the most popular is a window or two. Shed windows add valuable light to an ordinary shed and give your project a unique look. You can also add flower boxes, shutter, and even skylights. The choices are almost endless.
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