Building Garden Sheds

There are a huge variety of exciting garden sheds that would make great do-it-yourself projects, and we have included articles about many of them here in BuildThingsDirect.

Building garden sheds is one of the most popular diy home improvement projects for beginners and experienced woodworkers alike, and for good reason.  A well-designed and built shed is a satisfying and rewarding addition to any backyard.

Also, if you want a cheap garden shed, you really need to build it yourself these days.  You have probably had the experience of sticker shock already, if you have visited your local shed store!

We hope you find this summary interesting, perhaps enough to inspire you to make your own garden shed or to help you think about what just might be possible.

Building any of these storage sheds needs a set of good quality plans and materials lists before you start because, without these, you will waste a lot of time and money experimenting and reworking to get a structure that is safe, satisfying and a useful part of your garden or backyard.

Click here to check out great plans  for garden sheds

The following are probably the most common examples of timber garden sheds, and are usually constructed from wooden materials:

Garden Sheds

Outdoor garden sheds are typically 6ft x 6ft (small) to 12ft x 20ft (large), single-story, with adequate headroom. Sides made from cladding or weatherboard (cheapest), tongue-and-groove (better) or shiplap (best). Roofs are often marine ply covered with weatherproof membranes or tiles (if the roof trusses are strong enough). Bases are wood or concrete. Shelves for tools, pesticides, paint, etc. Space for ride-on tractors, push mowers, wheelbarrows, ladders, etc. With or without windows. Apex, sloping (pent) or Dutch roof style.

Tool Sheds

Usually smaller than a Garden Shed, often without windows, fitted with plenty of shelves and hooks.

Potting Sheds

Often pent-roofed with windows at the high side and wide shelves under the windows for potted plants and potting trays.

Garden Storage Sheds

Often another term for a Garden Shed or Tool Shed, might just be a structure with a door and perhaps some shelves. Can be customized for whatever the item(s) to be stored, such as bikes, motorbikes, boats, lawn and patio furniture.

Cabins

Usually a more substantial structure intended for some sort of human habitation, for example office work. Probably insulated, with windows, electrical power, water supply, toilet and washing facilities.

Garages

Substantial structure with space for one or more cars and often with extra space for a workbench. At the higher end of the market these buildings are often made of oak or cedar and are designed to add considerable aesthetic and monetary value to your property. Cheaper garages can be simple carports, without sides or doors.

Workshops

Shed with electrical power for lighting and workbench tools, usually with good windows and doors and plenty of shelving and storage space.

Pergolas

Open ornamental structure made of wooden uprights supporting a sturdy lattice of wooden beams, usually with climbing plants such as vines trained to grow over it and provide shade on hot days.

Gazebos

Open ornamental structure, often circular, and roofed to provide shade and shelter. Sometimes fitted with bench seats and balustrades.

Summerhouses

Usually three-sided, with the fourth either open or glassed-in and often leading to a porch or verandah. Elaborate or simple, these garden buildings provide much pleasure on hot Summer days or as quiet studios for painting, reading, etc.

Greenhouses

Wooden greenhouses are often regarded as the better alternative to metal ones, and should be glazed with proper safety glass rather than plastic. Usually fitted with ventilation windows, and the wooden frame ideally should be mounted on a concrete base.

Barns

Large structure capable of storing one or more agricultural vehicles, often with a second or mezzanine floor for overhead storage. Often windowless but fitted with large doorway for good access.

Smaller Buildings

Wendy houses, dog kennels, chicken coops, firewood stores – the list is almost endless – but generally built in the same way as Garden Sheds, only smaller.

This article does not include the many other forms of garden structures such as barbeque pits, children’s playground frames, spa and swimming pool surrounds, tree benches, footbridges over streams – the list is nearly endless.  Building sheds is quite a wide ranging topic!

You can find articles about how to build a garden shed and many of these other  projects elsewhere in BuildThingsDirect.

Remember, good garden shed plans are vital and expert advice is a sensible idea even for experienced do-it-yourselfers.  We believe these are always a good investment, especially since you can get them for so little money these days.

Our strong recommendation for good plans and expert advice on building garden sheds is the very experienced John Metz at Woodworking4Home, who produces a huge range of high quality plans, including some free ones, for all of these projects and many more.  His plans kit costs only a few dollars, and we consider it to be excellent value for money.  It also comes with a full, no hassle refund guarantee, which makes your investment risk free.

Click here to check out great plans for building garden sheds