Garden Shed Plans

Let me tell you - building my own shed was fun, it was easy and we saved a heck of a lot of money! Friends and neighbors were so impressed, they asked me to build sheds for them, too! In fact, I've built seven sheds in the last three months.

I've been using an amazing resource of garden shed plans, pole barn plans, tool shed designs and literally thousands of other woodworking plans and projects. In fact, one neighbor who's not what you'd really call a DIY Type, keeps popping round to look at the plans and I think I might have some competition soon :-).

And a friend's son is very keen to build his own den in their back yard. He's been saving money from his week-end job and his father said he'll match watever he saves. The son is already thinking about turning shed- building and woodworking into a part-time earner!

But fun, excitement and saving money apart, I think the real reason why we enjoy building sheds and woodworking so much is the sense of achievment and accomplishment you get when you see a major project come to life. The sense of pride in your work and satisfaction upon completion is hard to beat.

I also think we have a connection to the earth and working with your hands and with wood in particular helps up maintain that connection. Heck, all you woodworkers know what I'm talking about :-).

If you're anything like me, you probably scout the internet looking for garden shed plans. There's a shed load :-) out there but a) they're expensive, b) you only get one plan, and c) you need more than just the plain blueprints to build a successful shed. You also need to know that the shed design works. If it's not quite right you need to buy another plan - and you may not know if everything will fit together until you try!

I've been doing DIY most of my life and the most important thing I've learned is to use a plan. If I'm building a garden shed I want a good garden shed plan. If the shed design is poor you'll struggle to build it and it may not even go together at all.

The secret, then, is to follow a proven garden shed plan that you know works. It also helps if you have a step-by-step guide to the shed blueprints.

I'm not the kind of guy that looks at shed plans and jumps straight for the saw. More haste, less speed. It makes sense to look over the plans and it makes all the difference if there are step-by-step instructions. Even the pros follow plans!


Now, I've worked my way through quite a few plans in my time - garden sheds, garage plans, pole barn plans and so on. I've seen the good, the bad and the downright ugly. I've also found plans that tick all the right boxes and I use them now for virtually all my construction.

Woodworking should be fun, not frustrating. The plans I use now for most of my projects are clear and well laid out. They include a materials list and, what's vitally important, especially for newcomers, they have step-by-step instructions. The package also comes with a very comprehensive woodworking guide so total beginners aren't left in the dark.

How many plans do you get? Well, quality apart, this was the real clincher for me. There are 12,000 Shed and woodworking plans in the pack! I can heartily recommend you Click Here to check it out!

I have spend years studying plans and I now know what you must look for before beginning a new project. I wish I had had this information years ago.

1. Clear schematics. This should go without saying but some plans are fuzzy when you get down to the detail. Clear, well-printed diagrams are a must.

2. Materials list. It's no hardship for the designer to add this but it's a really pain if you have to do it yourself. This is on my 'essentials' list.

3. Step-by-Step instructions. Even if you're a seasoned woodworker, a step-by-step guide will save you hours of work. If you know exactly what to do next, you don't have to worry about what order to build the shed.



4. Insulation and waterproofing details. Maybe not essential for seasoned pros but, like the step-by-step guide, it sure helps. And it's a must for beginners. You need to know how to protect your shed once you've built it!

5. Comprehensive woodworking guide. Another feature the pros may not need but another essential for beginners. And I often find I pick up a hint or tip along the way just by reading someone else's take on woodworking.

Click here to see the plans which tick all the boxes!

There are hundreds of woodworking tips you pick up when building sheds. These are a few of my favourites.

1. This is the oldest tip in the book - measure twice, cut once! You wouldn't be human if you never made a mistake but this is still good advice to bear in mind to minimise mistakes. I still remember measuring the longest piece of timber in a shed and cutting it short...

2. Buy quality tools. They will last for years and work as intended. Cheap tools break, wear, are inaccurate and cause frustration.

3. Take care of your tools. You want them to go on working for many years so store them correctly, oil them if necessary, keep them sharp and don't leave them in the rain or damp conditions.

4. Store and organize your tools using drawers, shelves and tool holders so you can always find the tool you need for the job.

5. Removing nails. To avoid damaging the wood the nail is in, use locking pliers and put a piece of scrap wood between the pliers and the wood. You can use a claw hammer and still put the scrap wood between it and the wood the nail is in but pliers will do less damage.

6. Be safe aware! This should be Tip Number One but you may have skipped this entire section :-). The precautions you take will depend on the tools you use but when woodworking you really need to wear safety goggles at the very least. Your eyes are just far too precious to take chances with.

7. You can never have too many clamps! When gluing pieces of wood together always use clamps and leave the joint for the time recommended by the glue. Wood glue often takes a little while to set and harden but when glued properly it forms a very strong bond.

8. Inserting stubborn screws. Screws can sometimes be reluctant to screw into hardwood. To ease its way, drill a pilot hole about half the diameter of the screw. You can also apply moist soap or paraffin wax to help it on its way. Do not use oil or grease as this may stain the wood.

9. Easy "squaring up". It can be difficult to square up large items such as shelving - and sheds. The way to do it is to measure the two diagonals from opposite corners. When they are the same the rectangle with be square.

10. Don't overcharge batteries. Some power tools, particularly older ones, come with warnings to avoid overcharging the batteries. To prevent this, simply use a plug-in timer, the sort sold as security items to switch house lights on and off when you're out. They can be had for pennies and will prevent damage to batteries.

You'll probably amass a large number of hand and power tools as your woodworking interest develops. I find power tools far easier to use - of course! - and more versatile. You need hand tools, too, but here's my list of essential power tools.

1. Circular saw. This is probably the first power tool you'll need.

2. Corded power drill. This is the second. Cordless drills are very popular and you may want to buy one as your tool collection increases or if you intend to work away from a power outlet. However, a corded drill often more versatile and are variable speed. If you're going to be fixing into concrete, get one that also has a hammer action.

3. Jigsaw. This allows you to cut out 'shapes' and you'll use it on all but the simplest projects.

4. Sander. For finishing and sometimes for shaving just a little off to make one piece fit another. You want your work to look good. Go for a random orbital sander as opposed to a palm or belt sander. They sand in a random orbit and don't leave the sanding marks that the others often do.

5. Table Saw. For cutting and trimming, needed especially for those big jobs.

6. Compound Mitre Saw. For bevels and cross cutting.

7. Powered Screwdriver. If you've tried to screw in even a dozen screws by hand, you'll know how useful a powered screwdriver can be! Cordless is fine and one with adjustable torque is more versatile. Make sure it's heavy duty enough for your projects.

8. Router. Used to hollow out shapes in wood. More useful in certain types of design than others but very versatile and a most worthwhile addition to your workbench.