4x8 Yard Shed

[baneonrt]

4x8 Yard Shed - Interior shots added 11/1/09

I've been lurkiing on this site for quite some time now. A couple of months ago I finally got fed up with moving my lawn mower around in my garage so decided to build a shed. My house has a small yard even for the typical track home so I decided on about a 4x8 footprint. With the right interior planning I should be able to fit all of my yard tools out there as well as scrap material and other odds and ends.

Walls started and mocked up in my garage. In this picture the floor is finished and is leaning up against the wall on the right.

More walls done and figuring out the doorway.

In this picture I had moved the parts to the yard and partially assembled. Needed to build out from the house wall because in the end the shed will sit about 6" off from the house.

Back wall finished and the shed moved to it's final resting place.

I used those concrete blocks with the wood on top (trimmed to fit on the inside edge of the flooring frame). 3 blocks in front and two in back rest on about 3" of crushed rock. Seems pretty stable.

The rest of the Hardie Board siding installed and a coat of paint done. Hardie board is a pita to cut. Ended up scoring with a knife and breaking it. Turned out well with minimal dust.

Most of the trim installed and waiting for another coat of paint to cover the wood filler. Used a solid core 36" x 1 3/8" door. Everything fit great with no shimming.

98% finished.

I ran out of daylight and rain was forecasted so put the last drip rail on the roof and held it down with scrap wood. Sure enough, it rained. Picture was taken the next morning.

Now I'm working on the inside. Shelving, etc. Comments and questions are welcome. I'll take a few more pics once I make some progress on the inside.

Steve

 

[rieferman]

Looks great! One question.. In the pic beneath where you write

Back wall finished and the shed moved to it's final resting place.

it looks like there's a little vent near the floor in the center of the back wall. Do I see that correctly? If yes, what's the vent for? (maybe that's standard shed practice and I'm just unaware)

 

[baneonrt]

Looks great! One question.. In the pic beneath where you write



it looks like there's a little vent near the floor in the center of the back wall. Do I see that correctly? If yes, what's the vent for? (maybe that's standard shed practice and I'm just unaware)

Yep, that's a vent. There are two more about half that size toward the top of the same wall. I just wanted to make sure the inside had airflow. There are also two vents at the front of the roof rafters. All are covered with fine mesh aluminum screen to help keep the bugs out.

This is my first major build project. My friend and I drew up the design in Autodesk Inventor and I just figured it out as I went along.

Steve

 

[steven083008]

I wouldn't have thought of that, but it is probably a good idea since you'll have gas in there. That should completely eliminate any risk of fumes building up.

Looks great! It blends in really well and doesn't "look like a shed".

 

[Nostraquedeo]

Looks great!

Are you going to put a light inside of it?

 

[baneonrt]

Looks great!

Are you going to put a light inside of it?

Thanks! I am planning on installing a couple of those battery powered push-to-turn-on lights. I don't anticipate needing to access the contents much after dark. I originally had plans for a solar powered lighting system but I really want get back to working on my main garage so quick and functional is the plan.

Steve

 

[southpier]

nice job


if you have 3 roof shingles left over, cut a strip off the top as wide as the drip edge (at the high end) and using roofing mastic, cover the aluminum so it doesn't shine in the sun.


oh; and don't forget a lock!

 

[baneonrt]

nice job


if you have 3 roof shingles left over, cut a strip off the top as wide as the drip edge (at the high end) and using roofing mastic, cover the aluminum so it doesn't shine in the sun.


oh; and don't forget a lock!

Hehe, I have a whole pile of shingles left over. Only needed about 4-5 shingles beyond one pack to do the roof so have the remaining of the second pack left. The plan is to paint the back half of the drip rail the trim color, anchor it with nails and that black roofing sealant then use half shingles with either nails or just adhesive to finish it off. The drip rail overlaps the last shingle that's currently installed by about 3 inches so I believe with the sealant it should shed water well without it seaping under the shingles.

I used a brinks entry way door knob (got on clearance at Wally World) so it has a basic lock. Hard to justify anything more than that when the hinge pins are exposed like they are I'm not too worried about it. I live in a pretty nice neighborhood and won't be storing anything in there worth much.

Steve

 

[brianpgriset]

If you don't mind me asking, about what did this set you back? I was looking at buying one of those HDPE sheds but they go about $1100 bucks...

 

[baneonrt]

If you don't mind me asking, about what did this set you back? I was looking at buying one of those HDPE sheds but they go about $1100 bucks...

I've kept my receipts but haven't added them up yet. If I had to guess I would figure somewhere between $800-$900 in materials. It's taken me about 6 weeks but I'm a very meticulous worker. Measure 5 times, think about it for a bit, measure again, cut once

Steve

 

[WTF]

I've kept my receipts but haven't added them up yet. If I had to guess I would figure somewhere between $800-$900 in materials. It's taken me about 6 weeks but I'm a very meticulous worker. Measure 5 times, think about it for a bit, measure again, cut once

Steve

The finished prooduvct looks great!

I'd be curious to know what the breakdown is of the costs, if you don't mind sharing.

I'm sure the door wasn't cheap, but I'm planning a 6x8 and thinking I may be able to keep it around $400 (i'd be building a 'door').

 

[red98gt]

Oh WOW! Have been getting ready to build almost the exact same shed! also very close to the house, same size etc!

Can I ask how hard was it to move into the final spot? Going to have to build mine away from the house then move it. Looks GREAT!

 

[baneonrt]

The finished prooduvct looks great!

I'd be curious to know what the breakdown is of the costs, if you don't mind sharing.

I'm sure the door wasn't cheap, but I'm planning a 6x8 and thinking I may be able to keep it around $400 (i'd be building a 'door').

Once I get around to going through the receipts I can do a breakdown. In the meantime figure I have about $100 into the door and frame give or take 10%. Another $25 in hinges/knob (remember the clearance sale at Wally World , did I mention the knob came with a deadbolt I decided not to use?)

I'm sure you can build a shed in your range. My studs are around 16" on center could be spaced wider, I used a $33 sheet of plywood for the floor. Hardie Board siding was $22 a sheet times 6 sheets, etc.

I went into this figuring I'd spend about $400-500 on the shed. Then I got into the mentality that I wouldn't compromise on the materials (based on what I can get at Lowes or Home Depot) and am glad I went the way I did. I'm very happy with the results.

Oh WOW! Have been getting ready to build almost the exact same shed! also very close to the house, same size etc!

Can I ask how hard was it to move into the final spot? Going to have to build mine away from the house then move it. Looks GREAT!

Thanks! This is exactly why I documented the build, figured someone would be able to use it at some point

My cousin and I moved it into position by placing some 2x4 skids. We planned on using another 2x4 as a lever to shimmy/shift it into place but discovered that if we were careful we could shift it ourselves. Once it was lined up with the foundation we used the 2x4 lever to lift a side and remove the skids. After that a quick bump in the side and it sunk down around the little wooden tops on the concrete blocks.

Steve

 

[thomask]

Hey STEVE,

Great shed you built there. You have a great place to get yard stuff out of your garage. I built a 8x8 version several years back in the style of the New Yankee Workshop. Recently we had new designer shingles put on our house and the roofers said they just had to do the shed too. It matches the house with the cedar siding and new shingles. I would really like to build one more for the back yard as my wife's gardening shed and lawn mower garage. I would like to build it as a 8 x 12. I could then turn my other one into a car detailing shed.

Here I go, dreaming again....

It sure looks nice, please post some interior shots.

 

[tcianci]

A quick tip if you want to secure a door with the hinge pins on the outside... remove one of the screws and substitute it with a large finish nail, the head of which will fit into a hole you drill in the opposite hinge leaf. Even if you pull the pins out, you cant get the door to come out of the jamb because the nails are locking the hinge leafs together.

 

[baneonrt]

A quick tip if you want to secure a door with the hinge pins on the outside... remove one of the screws and substitute it with a large finish nail, the head of which will fit into a hole you drill in the opposite hinge leaf. Even if you pull the pins out, you cant get the door to come out of the jamb because the nails are locking the hinge leafs together.

That's a good idea. I'm not worried enough about it to do it now but if that ever changes I'll remember that tip!

Hey STEVE,

Great shed you built there. You have a great place to get yard stuff out of your garage. I built a 8x8 version several years back in the style of the New Yankee Workshop. Recently we had new designer shingles put on our house and the roofers said they just had to do the shed too. It matches the house with the cedar siding and new shingles. I would really like to build one more for the back yard as my wife's gardening shed and lawn mower garage. I would like to build it as a 8 x 12. I could then turn my other one into a car detailing shed.

Here I go, dreaming again....

It sure looks nice, please post some interior shots.

That's one area I did compromise. I just didn't want to go through the hassle of locating and figuring out how to install the big clay tiles I have on my roof.

I'll take interior shots hopefully this weekend. I've started putting up the shelf rails but haven't cut the shelves to size.

Steve

 

[Lawnman]

Very nice build Steve, I especially like how it blends in with the house. Looking at doing something similar myself as I live in a neighborhood with a 'no sheds' covenant, but could make it look as if it was built on the house. I'll probably put my door on the end though and maybe a small window on the side. Thanks for the posting, got some great ideas from it.

. . . and afterall, who wants their mower and lawn tools in a nice garage, right?

 

[GreyOwl]

A quick tip if you want to secure a door with the hinge pins on the outside... remove one of the screws and substitute it with a large finish nail, the head of which will fit into a hole you drill in the opposite hinge leaf. Even if you pull the pins out, you cant get the door to come out of the jamb because the nails are locking the hinge leafs together.

I did a similar pin on my door but I used a piece of 1/4" steel rod about 3" long. My hinge screws match up when they are closed so I took 1 out of each side and sharpened one end of the rod then hammered it into the jamb side with 1/2" sticking out into the door. I only did this on the center hinge so with that and the deadbolt it will take quite a bit to get through the door.

Charles

 

[baneonrt]

Very nice build Steve, I especially like how it blends in with the house. Looking at doing something similar myself as I live in a neighborhood with a 'no sheds' covenant, but could make it look as if it was built on the house. I'll probably put my door on the end though and maybe a small window on the side. Thanks for the posting, got some great ideas from it.

. . . and afterall, who wants their mower and lawn tools in a nice garage, right?

If it was more than 4' deep I would have put the door on the side, but as it is I didn't want to have to keep a clear path for the lawn mower to be able to get in and out. Right now the mower is stored to the left of the door with the handle folded in half. I have such I small yard I'm hoping to eventually pick up a cordless mower and hang it on a wall when not in use.

Steve

 

[Zrexxer]

It's hard to tell from the pics and I didn't see any discussion about it - but I hope the floor joists are treated lumber... sitting right at grade like that they're definitely going to rot otherwise.

 

[baneonrt]

It's hard to tell from the pics and I didn't see any discussion about it - but I hope the floor joists are treated lumber... sitting right at grade like that they're definitely going to rot otherwise.

Yep, they are treated. I also painted the top, bottom and edges of the floor plywood with a couple of coats of floor paint.

Steve

 

[Kornnut]

Looks nice. I plan on doing this next year.

 

[ProGun3400]

Nice work. Been kicking around doing something similar. Snow blower, ladders, rakes, shovels, bikes, etc., taking up too much valuable floor space in the (single car) garage.

 

[red98gt]

Going to put my door on the end...Distance between the house and fence would make it tight to have the door on the "front". and like Lawnman, plan on a window on the side. Got my original idea from here...

http://www.plansnow.com/gardshedcloser.html

 

[rustedgoat]

Two weeks ago I was in the planning stages for building the same type 4' x 8' shed. While at Lowes checking the prices they had arrow 8' x 3' garden sheds on clearance for $100 I took both of the ones they had. These were maybe 5'6" tall so they shorter than my fence. A wood shed would be better but these will hold me over, while I start to redo the garage. I just checked the lowes website and it shows nothing about the clearance sale I got.

How thick is the flooring you used and on what centers is the base?

 

[baneonrt]

Two weeks ago I was in the planning stages for building the same type 4' x 8' shed. While at Lowes checking the prices they had arrow 8' x 3' garden sheds on clearance for $100 I took both of the ones they had. These were maybe 5'6" tall so they shorter than my fence. A wood shed would be better but these will hold me over, while I start to redo the garage. I just checked the lowes website and it shows nothing about the clearance sale I got.

How thick is the flooring you used and on what centers is the base?

The floor is 23/32" plywood. The floor frame is PT 2x4s the 5 cross braces are evenly spaced across the 90" floor (about 17" OC). There is no noticable flex in the floor.

Steve

 

[baneonrt]

Just about "finished" with the interior.

First though, used a magnetic door stop on the outside. Worked great in the 20+mph winds we had last week.

I had some dual row track left over from some shelving at my last house. Finally found a good use for it.

I ended up making two more shelves for 6 total after all these pictures were taken.

A shot of the upper rear vents mentioned earlier in the thread.

This is the left wall. Found an inexpensive ($10) tool rack at Lowe's I thought I'd try. Seems to be working ok so far.

A shot from the inside of one of the front vents. I still need to install the screen to keep the bugs out.

Installed more rails on the back wall. This will be for hanging misc stuff including scrap material.

Started filling it with stuff.

I'm going to buy some brackets and hang the ladder on the backside of the door. For right now it fits well on the back wall.

I'm really happy with the way the interior has turned out. I can step into the shed and not feel overwhelmed with clutter.

Thanks for looking,

Steve

 

[andersen24]

Wow - excellent use of space!!!! Nice job!