A friend of mine named Jill G., helped me with a recent project at home, she owns a plumbing company called Jilly Plumbing, and she shared with me that building a garden shed is an excellent way to add extra storage and usable space to your outdoor area. It is also a fantastic project for handy persons of all skill levels. You can build a high-quality garden shed that will serve you well for years with suitable materials, tools, and instructions. Here’s how to construct your garden shed.

Select a Location

Choose a spot for your garden shed that is level, free from standing water, and has enough room for the size of the shed you’re building. Make sure to check with local authorities for any zoning ordinances or building codes that could affect the placement of your shed.

Gather Your Materials

You will need a variety of materials and tools to complete the construction of your garden shed. And this usually includes lumber, roofing material, nails, screws, hinges, door hardware, paint or stain, shims, and a variety of other items depending on what type of shed you are building.

Assemble the Frame

Start constructing the frame using 2x4s nailed together. Make sure the frame is level and square, using a carpenter’s square to check for accuracy.

Add the Walls

Attach the walls of your shed to the framework with nails or screws. If you want a more solid wall construction, you can use pre-cut panels of plywood or OSB (oriented strand board), but adding individual boards is also an option.

Install the Roof

Once your walls are up, attach roofing materials such as shingles or metal panels over them to protect your garden shed from weather damage. Building a shed roof usually involves attaching trusses or rafters to the top plate of each wall, then covering it with sheathing, followed by your chosen roofing material.

Add the Finishing Touches

You can now install doors and windows, paint or stain for a more finished look, then check for any loose nails or screws that need tightening. Lastly, the landscape around the shed, if desired, improves the overall look of your garden shed. You are now ready to enjoy the extra storage space you have created.

Ensuring you’ve built your garden correctly will last for many years. Follow these step-by-step instructions to ensure a successful construction process.