Building storage shelves for your shed or garage is not difficult and it also doesn't require a significant investment, but it will most certainly make your life easier. For example, if you are a handy person, you probably have lots of tools and accessories. By building basic wooden shelves, you could store your tools properly and you will find them easily, whenever necessary.
In this article we will show you several ways of building the shelves for your garage. On one hand, you could just secure wooden brackets directly to the bare studs, while on the other hand you could build free-standing shelves. Irrespective of your choice, both alternatives provide lots of storage space and require almost the same amount of money for the materials.
Building garage shelves directly to the studs
If you haven't installed drywall or plywood on the interior of your garage / shed, you could attach the brackets directly to the 2x4 studs. In this manner, you can save space and get the job done much quickly than you might think. Choose proper garage shelves plans, before starting the project. The first thing you have to do is to build the brackets out of 1x4 lumber and secure them to the wooden studs. Use a spirit level to make sure the brackets are level , otherwise the shelves won't look properly. After attacking the brackets into place, you need to build the actual shelves, using 2x4 lumber or plywood. Using 2x4 lumber is a good choice if you plan to store heavy objects, otherwise it would be cheaply to go for 3/4'' plywood.
Building free standing garage shelves
On the other hand, if you want to move the shelves or you just like the design, you could build free-standing shelves. Building garage shelving is fairly easy, especially if you use proper plans and materials. As a general rule, you should drill pilot holes at both ends of the components before inserting the galvanized screws, to prevent the wood from splitting. In addition, you need a spirit level to plumb the legs and to check if the shelves are horizontal. Moreover, check if the corners are right-angled, by using a carpentry square. Attach 3/4'' plywood on the brackets to build the actual shelves. If you want, you could also secure the shelves to the walls of the garage / shed, by driving in several screws trough the back of the shelves into the studs.
Building a simple shed in your backyard will not only add value to your property, but it would also create a significant storage space for your garden tools and outdoor furniture. In addition, the best part about building a small shed by yourself is that you can save a significant amount of money and show your friend the result of your hard work. In this complex article we will debate the easiest construction techniques, as any beginner to be able to get the job done in several weekend.
When planning a shed, you should always start with the local building codes. These legal requirement differ according to your geographic location, so you must pay a short visit to your building department, before choosing the plans for the construction. As you might easily imagine, there are certain things, such as footings depth, the materials used or the distance you have to leave between the shed and the property line. After getting done with these preliminary steps, you should make a list with all the materials needed for the job and requests quotes from several diy stores.
Building a simple shed
The next step of the project is to choose the location and to prepare the construction site. Remove the vegetation and level the land, as properly as possible. Use a long spirit level and a straight edge to check if the surface is horizontal. Next, lay out the base of the shed, using batter boards and string. Check if the corners are right angled with a carpentry square or apply the 3-4-rule. Building a wood shed is time consuming, but it will pay off on the long run.
You can attach the frame of the shed to 4x4 skids or you could pour a concrete foundation or footings. You should take the decision according to the local building codes and the location of the construction. If you will attach the shed to a construction, you need to pour concrete footings deep enough to support the weight of the shed. Otherwise, we use usually 4x4 skids under the shed.
Build all the frames on the ground using the basic woodworking techniques. Afterwards, ask a friend to assist you when fitting them into place. Use a spirit level to plumb the walls and to check if the floor and the plates are horizontal. Work with great care and attention, if you want to get the job done easily. Drill pilot holes trough the components, top prevent the wood from splitting.
If you don't have the right skills or enough time to build the shed by yourself, you could just hire a team of professionals or buy a kit. Nevertheless, you should remember that building the shed on your own will save at least 30% of the total costs, as compared to buying a kit.
Taking into account that winter is here, we all know that the firewood have to be stored properly, to protect them from heavy snow. In order to get the job done as professionals, you should plan everything from the very beginning, starting with the plans up to the location of the wooden construction. Moreover, it is also advisable to consult the local building codes, as to comply with the legal regulations. From our own experience, we cannot emphasize enough on the importance of the local building codes. For example the soil structure differs and so does the required depth of the holes.
A firewood shed should be placed quite far away from your home, otherwise the mice can get into your house. In addition, make sure you design the shelter large enough to deposit all the wood for a wintertime. In this manner, you will be able to keep them dry and ready for use.
Nevertheless, choosing the right firewood shed plans is maybe the most challenging task of the whole project, as you need to find the ones that fit your needs and budget. There are many free plans on the internet, but you need to check a few aspects, before taking the final decision. The plans should comply with the local building codes and should come with detailed step by step instructions. Moreover, the guide should also highlight the main steps of the construction process and come with a complete list of the materials needed.
1. A simple structure will not challenge your woodworking skills nor your budget. Therefore, instead of pouring an expensive and complex concrete foundation, we recommend you to place the shed on a couple of concrete blocks. Afterwards, build the flooring frame of the shed out of 2x4 or 2x6 joists, according to the weight it has to support.
2. 4x8' woodshed plans are a great choice, as the construction will be large enough to deposit firewood, while mot costing a fortune to build it. In addition, a lean to shape would be a great choice, as you can get the job done by yourself in a matter of days.
3. If you know the basic carpentry skills, you can save money by undertaking the project by yourself. Nevertheless, you don't need to forget that you need to several tools, such as a circular saw, a tape measure, a spirit level or a drill machinery. If you don't have these tools or the time to get the job done professionally, you should consider buying a shed kit. Therese kits come with all the components cut at the right size and shape, so you just have to assemble them together. If you ask a friend to assist you, you can event assemble the shed in an afternoon.
4. Make sure that all the components are installed properly and that the joints are rigid. If you want to get a professional result, we recommend you to plumb the walls with a spirit level, In addition, seal all the gaps between the rafters and the roofing sheets, otherwise the water might get the firewood wet. There are a lot of shed projects on the internet, so take a close look on them, before starting the actual project.
