Have you ever wanted a custom shed without the custom cost?
You can build your own!
Ready to build a shed but not sure where to start? You can build an amazing shed in a weekend – you just need:
– A material list – the wood and hardware you’ll need
– A cutlist – the cuts to your wood that will size them correctly for construction
– Plans – a good set of plans will not just tell you how to build your shed, they will also give you your material and cutlists
So What Makes A Good Plan?
A good shed plan is hard to find. This may surprise you, but the reason is simple – most plans online are not written by woodworkers. If you’ve never made a shed, you may be able to draw a diagram, but you won’t understand how the cuts are made or why it comes together.
A good plan should be designed by someone with hands-on experience and needs to have:
- Views from all angles of the finished shed. You need to know what you’re building and that you’ll be happy with your final product.
- Step-by-step instructions. This is what separates a good plan from a bad one. A good plan will be detailed and make sense, a bad plan may skip ahead or give instructions out of order.
- Lists of materials and cutting lists. The cutting lists include measurements.
- 3D and/or CAD designed drawings – what is CAD? CAD files are designs made with accurate drafting software. Most professional designs use CAD.
“Used for” labels to help you know what each material is used for and when you will need it.
A good plan should give you everything you need to make your project a reality.
Where do I get a good plan?
There are a few excellent online resources for shed plans – here are some of the best:
Ryan’s Shed Plans – with more than 12,000 plans developed by a professional woodworker, this is definitely the biggest and the best place to find your shed plan right now. The best thing about them is that they have free plans to get you started – choose from genuinely useful options like the 8’x12’ Storage Shed and Backyard Kitchen Pavillion for FREE.
Get your FREE shed plans and get started today!
2. Youtube – Youtube has a great mix of home professionals and carpentry professionals here to support your new project. While most of these aren’t start to finish, they are really important if you want to troubleshoot or just add some custom fun.
3. User forums – what is a forum? A forums is a place where passionate strangers from professionals to newbies all come together to share advice, tips, and new techniques. Check out carpentry and woodworking forums for people doing similar projects.
Other Online Resources
Never forget about the power of books and in-person learning. Check your local trade schools/community college for helpful workshops and classes and the following excellent books/resources:
Ultimate Guide: Barns, Sheds & Outbuildings: Step-by-Step Building and Design Instructions (Creative Homeowner) Catalog of Plans for More Than 100 Outbuildings – plus how to build your own foundation
Snap-together-sheds: want something in the middle of delivery and DIY? Try the Polar Aurora 10×14 or Windemere 10×12 Do-it-Yourself Wooden Storage Shed with Floor
Want something even easier? If you just want a shed up, try an easy resin model like the Suncast 8’x10’ or the easy little All Weather 8 x 6 FT Resin Garden Shed – these are quick to assemble and both come with a floor (if you’re buying a resin shed, always check if there’s a floor!)
Whatever way you do it, make this the weekend you commit to really building your new shed!
