When you’re tasked with building a new outdoor shed, the challenge of doing so might feel a little ambitious, especially if you don’t have much DIY experience.
However, a garden shed is relatively easy to follow when you’ve got the right instructions and materials required. It involves careful preparation of the site and base.
In this guide, you’ll get a step-by-step walkthrough of installing your first garden shed, even as a beginner to DIY.
Tools and materials required
There are a number of handy tools and materials that are required for a successful build. These include:
- Essential tools – Spirit level, tape measure, hammer, electric drill/screwdriver, handsaw/circular saw, utility knife, adjustable wrench/spanner, step ladder, and safety gloves/goggles.
- Materials – Pre-fabricated panels, fixings like ground screws, roofing felt, windows/glazing, and door hardware.
A step-by-step guide for building a garden shed
Now that you have the tools, here’s a helpful step-by-step guide for building your garden shed from scratch.
Choose the right location and prepare the space
First and foremost, choose the right location. Think about a flat area of your garden that’s well-drained. You’ll then want to clear the site of all grass, weeds, debris, and rocks before measuring the area for the shed location.
Level the ground by digging out high spots and filling in any low spots. Use a spirit level to check for evenness across the entire area.
Choose your base and then install it according to the specific instructions required for that material.
Position floor panels and assemble the wall
Place the floor panels squarely onto your prepared and level base. Check that it is square by measuring the diagonals. These should all be the same length.
Position the first wall onto the edge of the floor panel and prop it up. Bring the adjoining panel so that it meets it, and then secure them together with fixings. Continue until all walls areupright and joined.
Secure walls to the floor
Once all wall panels are in place and aligned, secure them firmly to the floor panel’s base rails. Follow the lines of pre-existing nails as a guide to connect with the floor joists below.
Install doors and windows
Hanging the doors and windows is easy enough. Use the supplied hinges and fixes, ensuring they operate properly. Fit window glazing into the frames and then secure it with panel pins, sealing any gaps with a high-quality silicone sealant to weatherproof it.
Assemble the roof
Next comes the most integral part – the roof! Construct the roof panels and lift them up into the position on top of the wall frames and gables.Secure the panels to one another and then felt the roof, cutting out sections to the appropriate size.
Lay the first strips across the bottom edges and overlap subsequent layers as you work up towards the ridge to ensure watertightness.
Add finishing touches and preservatives
Attaching the bargeboards to the gable ends andcover any exposed felt edges. Add decorative finials if included and fit any corner cover strips to protect the panel joins from the weather. Install the door fastener and lock.
Finally, apply the preservative. This will help to keep the shed in good condition and ensure long-lasting durability.
