DIY shed / storage structure

[PoorOwner]

I want to know if it is difficult to build a shed myself? Nothing like a barn just maybe 6x8 or 8x8. I have plan to build on a concrete slab


I am not a carpenter but I have a mitre saw and maybe I will buy a framing nail gun. Any other special tools beside square, level etc?

Motofloor tiles would be perfect too.

I can't stand those assemble yourself sheds, I want one that can match the house..

 

[73super]

Very easy to do. Do some web searches for basic shed construction. You can do it. Be careful... you'll want to build something else after that. The knowledge and satisfaction you obtain from this experience makes it just that much more fun.

 

[Krodad]

It's really very easy and satisfying to do it yourself. You can even make it easier by getting roof trusses pre-made. It's often just as cheap to get standard premade roof trusses as to make them.

Don't bother spending the $200.00 or so dollars on a framing nailer for a project that small. You'll have to buy bulk nails just to use in the gun,with probably 75% left over when you are done (for a project that small).

Use the cash on insulation or new saw blades, or nicer siding, or something that will make your project that much nicer.

Good luck. I just built a 4 season gazebo that was very fun to build, and very satisfying.

 

[W-Cummins]

I want to know if it is difficult to build a shed myself?

maybe I will buy a framing nail gun.

How about a hammer??? it's only an 8x8 max shed!


William...

 

[mike944]

How about a hammer??? it's only an 8x8 max shed!.....

Sounds to me that he's looking for an excuse to buy a tool...... and what's wrong with that? I'm always looking for excuses to buy tools!

 

[wrigh003]

I have a shed on the plan for kind of a learning experiment prior to taking on the building of a garage on the back corner of my property. Mine's going to be a little weird, though- I think I'm going to be salvaging/reconfiguring a shed that my mother-in-law wants to be rid of, so we'll have to see how that works out. I'll probably post pictures here when I'm done, just for kicks- it's not a garage, except that I'll probably make a lean-to on the side for my lawnmower.

Anyway, have fun with it. Buy a shed book, read up a little, then go nuts. Be **** on level and square and everything else will be fine.

Oh, and re: hammer v. nail gun. Nail guns are great- I don't hammer things for a living, so the nail gun saves me having to pull half the nails back out because I bent them. Saves me a lot of time/aggravation as a result.

 

[PoorOwner]

Oh, and re: hammer v. nail gun. Nail guns are great- I don't hammer things for a living, so the nail gun saves me having to pull half the nails back out because I bent them. Saves me a lot of time/aggravation as a result.

Hi, 100% agree with you, the reason I am avoiding hammer is that I frequently bent the nails. My friend who is more handy strike it properly. I know it's mostly practice but by that time I am messing up my project. I have a bostitch palm nailer though, I think it will do the job.

I am going to buy a book and it include some plans.

 

[PoorOwner]

BTW How long do you think it will take? Shouldn't take more than a couple of days right?

I think more time is spent at home centers finding the parts.

 

[PAToyota]

For an 8'x8'? Could pretty much have it finished in a weekend if you keep at it. I think that Lowes and HD have plans for little sheds like that - either free or fairly cheap. Good luck!

 

[W-Cummins]

Sounds to me that he's looking for an excuse to buy a tool...... and what's wrong with that? I'm always looking for excuses to buy tools!

True it's nice to buy tools! So lets give him a shopping list. If we are not hammering nails we will need; framing, roofing, and, finish nailers ( + a box of nails each). All for a little 64² ft shed....

Oh, and re: hammer v. nail gun. Nail guns are great- I don't hammer things for a living, so the nail gun saves me having to pull half the nails back out because I bent them. Saves me a lot of time/aggravation as a result.

Hi, 100% agree with you, the reason I am avoiding hammer is that I frequently bent the nails.

You 2 scare me.... You lack the coordination to operate a hammer but want to run, probably one of the most dangerous pneumatic tool ever invented.

William

 

[JMURiz]

Hopefully that's not a picture of you, haha.

I agree, using a hammer is a good way to get good at hammering too, practice makes perfect

 

[shocksystems]

True it's nice to buy tools! So lets give him a shopping list. If we are not hammering nails we will need; framing, roofing, and, finish nailers ( + a box of nails each). All for a little 64² ft shed....






You 2 scare me.... You lack the coordination to operate a hammer but want to run, probably one of the most dangerous pneumatic tool ever invented.

William

William: Can I find the story related to that Xray somewhere on the net? It looks like an interesting story. Cheers! Jim

 

[W-Cummins]

William: Can I find the story related to that Xray somewhere on the net? It looks like an interesting story. Cheers! Jim

Sure it's Here

Some guys fell off the roof and one got 6 in the head

It's not the link I was looking for. The one I remembered seeing was in fine home building a few years ago. That one had a single nail in the back of the head. The contractor had hired a temp and he was climbing back down the ladder with the finger on the trigger, and got the contractor in the back of the head!!

William...

 

[wrigh003]

You 2 scare me.... You lack the coordination to operate a hammer but want to run, probably one of the most dangerous pneumatic tool ever invented.

Aw, cmon. It's a lot easier to tack stuff in place with a nail gun while you hold it in place with one hand/knee/leg, drink beer with the other, squint (good as safety glasses, right?), yell at your kids, and lean far off the side of your ladder so you don't have to climb down and move it.

Don't be too scared- I have hammered some nails, and I'd say a good 3/4 of them went in straight.

In seriousness, though, if you're not scared of the thing, at least a little, you're doing something wrong. I heard on the radio the other day that nail guns cause something like 80000 injuries a year, most of those to homeowners (e.g., not folks who use them every day).

 

[Gummi Bear]

A few useful tips:

• The hammer head will strike where your eyes are. If you're watching your fingers, guess what gets hit? Focus on the nail head
  
• Buy quality nails. I like coated sinkers for framing better than ring shank, or bright finish. They hold really well, and offer some corrosion resistance.
  
• Hold your hammer at the end of the handle, not in the middle, not near the head. Get all the leverage out of it that you can. I learned this less on the hard way, my grandpa cut the handle off of my hammer when I refused to use the whole handle. It only took me a few hours to figure out that he was right all along. I was about 4 or 5 when this happened
  
• Buy a quality hammer. Estwing, Stanley, Plumb and others make quality units.
  
• Different hammers are for different jobs - for framing, I use a 20 oz Estwing with a smooth face and straight claws. If I need to hammer into heavy timber, I've got a 26 oz Estwing with a knurled face and straight claw. For little stuff like siding, I've got a 16 oz Plumb with a curved claw. I've also got different finish and tack hammers from when I was still building cabinets.
  
• Check your local codes before taking on this project. In many areas, anything with a slab, is considered a permanent structure, and subject to inspection. This is one reason why so many sheds have a framed floor and sit on masonry blocks. Don't forget to check your easement requirements as well. It would **** to get it built, only to find out that it needed to be another foot from the property line.
  
• If it's a low pitched roof, roll roofing works better than shingles, and is super easy to install.
  
• I use pre hung steel doors, rather than fab one. I can key it to match the house, and it gives it a nice finished look.
  
• Insist on decent trim boards. I used #1 white wood on mine. It was a good balance of affordability, and good looks.
  

Hope this helps. Have fun, and take some pictures!

 

[PoorOwner]

Well I will just stick with the hammer.. I think it's good practice for me, that's why I am building a shed, not a new room or new garage.

good call on the property line thing.. actually I think property tax can increase if it's on a slab, but only if they happened to assess it, that's why I want to build my own, maybe low enough and out of public view to avoid problems

 

[Vicegrip]

Want to go the power route but don't want to fork out for a framing gun? Get a 5 pound box of 3 inch drywall screws and some DeWalt brand tips and go nuts building. Screws hold way better than nails and you can take things apart without damage. Make the walls on the ground and stand them up make the roof on the ground and then before you skin it use 2 long 2x4 as ramps to slide it up and in place. I did a 8X12 shed in a hard working 2 day weekend and that included the wood floor. Remember to keep everything on center and in the ratio of 4X8. Where I live you can build a shed that is less the 8.5 feet tall and less than 105 SF on a wood floor with no permit and close to the prop line. Add a slab or go over hight and the setbacks get harsh.

 

[MAD]

Want to go the power route but don't want to fork out for a framing gun? Get a 5 pound box of 3 inch drywall screws and some DeWalt brand tips and go nuts building. .

Good idea except use coated deck screws instead. Although it may not really matter for your little shed, drywall screws are not for framing. If you end up having to get a permit inspection, you will fail for using drywall screws.

 

[chicane]

I want to know if it is difficult to build a shed myself? Nothing like a barn just maybe 6x8 or 8x8. I have plan to build on a concrete slab


I am not a carpenter but I have a mitre saw and maybe I will buy a framing nail gun. Any other special tools beside square, level etc?

Motofloor tiles would be perfect too.

I can't stand those assemble yourself sheds, I want one that can match the house..

I did my 8X8 myself (and before that a 12X12). I highly recommend a framing nail-gun, especially if you are doing it all by yourself. It will make short work of things. I would say any kind of framing job is a DIY job but the tools make all of the difference between you spending a week putting it together or a month. I would also recommend having a friend helping with a couple of things like the roof and maybe the floor joists.

 

[exmonkeypunk]

For me, I get way more joy building things by hand.
Hammer, Nails, Hand Saw, Tape measure, Level, Pencil. That should be all you really need to build a shed.
Maybe i'm just not lazy or something. lol. j/j/

 

[chicane]

For me, I get way more joy building things by hand.
Hammer, Nails, Hand Saw, Tape measure, Level, Pencil. That should be all you really need to build a shed.
Maybe i'm just not lazy or something. lol. j/j/

A nail-gun makes short work of any framing situation and your neighbors will love you for it.

 

[glider]

I do about a shed a week and this style is my favorite. 10' x16' saltbox. And a 10' x 20' saltbox with windows.

 

[exmonkeypunk]

A nail-gun makes short work of any framing situation and your neighbors will love you for it.

Yeah, Nail guns are nice and all, but i am never in a hurry to finish a project anyways. My neighbors are twice the hill rod i am, so i have straight pipe cars and bikes for them. lol. They hate this side of the fence. lol.

 

[Lloydthumper]

I love my nail guns I have either tendonitis or mild carple tunnel one. I can only drive about a handfull of nails and my wrist all the way back up forearm will hurt and draw tight untill I can't even grip a hammer. Typing does it to so I am thinking it might be carple tunnel. I have only had one near accident with my framing gun I shot and hit another nail and the nail I shot fragmented and a piece actually imbedded in my safety glasses. This was only a few weeks ago and I have been using one for maybe 10yrs on projects of mine. You just have to be careful and always think of it as a loaded gun. wrists are hurting now better stop.

 

[hdroadkingc]

Go rent a nail gun for the project. If you like it, go buy one for the next project. There will be a next project once you start.