Make a garden shed

Quick Project Guide

Hard Labour: 9/10
Skill Level: 4/10
Time Needed: About 6 hours (excl. drying time)
DIY For: ±R1 500 (excl. secondhand door)

Shopping List

• twelve 2400 x 38mm x 38mm treated pine for the frame
• 16mm shutter ply for the roof and floor
• two 2400 x 44 x 10mm pine cover strip
• eight 3600 x 225 x 9mm Everite Nutec fibre cement planks

A two 2300 x 38 x 38mm treated pine (front uprights)
B two 2150 x 38 x 38mm treated pine (back uprights)
C eight 735 x 38 x 38mm treated pine (horizontal supports)
D three 1958 x 38 x 38mm treated pine (vertical supports)
E eight 348 x 38 x 38mm treated pine (short struts)
F one 1020 x 1020 x 16mm shutter ply (roof)
G one 810 x 810 x 16mm shutter ply (floor)
H four 810 x 200 x 16mm shutter ply (shelves)
I four 1020 x32 x10mm pine cover strip
J thirty 810 x225 x9mm fibre cement planks
K one old door

PLUS

• waterproof wood glue
• 38 mm cut screws
• 75mm cut screws
• waterproof membrane
• 2 x hinges
• 1 x door latch
• panel pins
• paint roller and paintbrush
• acrylic PVA

Tools

• drill
• 3mm drill bit
• tenon saw or jigsaw
• spirit level
• hammer
• G-clamp
• square
• measuring tape
• pencil

Get Started

1 Use the wood glue and 75mm cut screws to construct the shed framework. First fix four horizontal supports (C) 100mm up from the ends of the front (A) and back uprights (B) to create the framework for the floor.

NOTE Use the 3mm drill bit to drill pilot holes to prevent any splitting to occur in the wood.

2 Now fix the remaining four horizontal supports (C) flush with the tops of the back uprights (B) and 150mm from the top of the front uprights (A).

3 Stand the framework upright then use a tenon saw or use a jigsaw to cut 38mm x 38mm squares from the corners of the floor section (G) so that it will fit within the uprights of the framework.

4 Position the three vertical supports (D) midway between the front and back uprights (each side) and midway between the back uprights. Measure 348mm between the uprights and vertical supports respectively. Fix in place using the 75mm cut screws.

NOTE The bottom ends of the vertical supports are to be fixed in place from underneath by screwing through both the framework and the floor. Then use the 38mm screws to fix the floor in position.

5 Place the waterproof membrane over the roof section (F), folding it over the edges in the process. Fix it in place using the hammer and panel pins. Position the roof section over the top of the framework so that it has an overhang of 105mm on all sides. Fix it in place by screwing through the roof and into the top of the front and back uprights. Use wood glue and 38mm cut screws.

NOTE The roof will now be pitched at an angle, sloping from front to back.

6 Use the panel pins to fix the cover strips (I) to the edge of the roof section, as shown. Now use the spirit level to ensure it is level before starting to clad the framework.

7 Fix the eight short struts (E), four on each side equally spaced between the top and bottom between the vertical supports (D) and the back uprights (B). Now slip the shelves onto the struts.

8 Use the 38mm cut screws to fix the fibre cement planks (J) to the sides and back of the framework. Start at the bottom and work upwards, overlapping the planks by 25mm each time. Use the spirit level to periodically check that the planks are level.

9 Fix the hinges to the door, then hang the door by fixing the hinges to the framework. Now fit the door latch.

10 Use the paintbrush and roller to paint the shed in the colour of your choice.