Build Your Own Garden Shed Kit

As I mentioned there is a lot to consider when looking at the various Garden Shed Kits that are available. So let's look at what you are likely to use your Garden Shed for.

Smaller versions of the "medium" sized garden sheds might not be large enough to fit your lawn mower in though, and some aren't even made to store larger hand gardening tools either.

Larger garden sheds can sometimes be quite large, and many of them are quite elaborate these days too. Not only can the larger sheds accomodate your larger hand tools and extra gardening supplies, but often these sheds have plenty of room for you to set up a full fledged potting bench. Some of them also have room for you to set up a small greenhouse area too, so that you're able to get your seeds started even before the ground thaws each spring.

Elaborately designed garden sheds come in a wide variety of designs, which are meant to help you fit the shed nicely into your personal landscape and garden areas. Some of these for instance, are made to look like small English Cottages. There are even places where you can buy garden sheds which look like a miniature version of your own home too.

When buying a garden shed, try to take into account what garden tools and supplies you already have, and what types of things you're likely to buy in the next several years. With that information on hand, you should choose a shed that's large enough to accomodate both your existing supplies as well as those you'll be buying later.

Many people interested in having a garden shed enjoy the prospect not only of using it, but of building it, too. Unless you purchase both the shed and all its contents, you'll have to have some carpentry skills.

Many garden sheds have wooden floors. Relatively simple to construct, they can be made with 2 x 4's or 1 x 6's attached in a grid onto 4 x 4's that sit on the ground. Spaced a half-inch apart, that can allow drainage. Weeds that tend to grow between the slats can be kept under control with any commercial spray. Even the average do-it-yourself'er can easily make a good garden shed floor in a day.

From that point, the skills level goes up a bit. Constructing garden shed walls is a little tougher than it looks. Building a wall perpendicular to the floor isn't too difficult these days, especially using laser levels. But proper bracing requires a well thought out plan. You'll need a design and materials that can support a roof and stay sturdy for several years.

One way to develop that plan is either to buy one from any of the many sites online that offer garden shed plans, or study a shed under construction. The same principles apply. Either you'll need regular-spaced 2 x 4's (usually 16 inches apart) and/or a large number of L-braces (4 inches per leg or longer).

After you have the plans and/or the actual garden shed built, the fun starts for those who prefer to exercise their carpentry skills on furniture.

Any moderate-sized or larger garden shed will need one or more good tabletops. Many types are available for purchase, which is fine for those who want to go that route. Do-it-yourself'ers will enjoy making their own.

Here again you need to draw out what design you want before pulling out the hammer and nails or screws and drill-screwdriver. 4 x 4's make excellent sturdy legs. Be sure to buy or cut ones that have perfectly perpendicular ends to support the top.

One excellent and simple design involves laying a flat top (say a series of 1 x 12's with cross supports or a flat, sturdy piece of plywood) onto the legs. Nail or screw the top down onto the legs so you have something level and fairly sturdy. Then use some L-braces to increase the support in the horizontal direction.

Cap it by using plywood strips or 1 x 6's perpendicular to the top. Connect them to both the legs and the top with L-braces. Rock solid and attractive. Stain when complete to keep moisture from corroding the table.

You can use the same method to build benches for holding rows of plants or to sit on. Or you can use a trio of 2 x 4's attached to short 4 x 4's or crossed 2 x 4's, supported by a 1 x 10 running vertically down the middle and attached with L-braces.

You'll want some simple shelves, but you may want or need them to be free standing. Sometimes, purchasing a couple of small, plastic sheds is preferable to building your own. After all, there's a limit to what even do-it-yourself'ers want to make.