Complete Materials List & Step-by-step Instructions
This Do-it-yourself manual(in PDF form)is a complete instruction guide to show you how to build a post and beam garden shed in your own backyard. Many companies are charging as much as $3,500 for an unassembled kit shipped to your home. This instruction manual gives a complete materials list and step-by-step instructions to build it yourself with only very basic tools. The cost of the materials is a fraction of the cost of buying a complete garden shed or even a kit. It includes videos to teach you how to do things like making the notches, laying out a rafter, and cutting the 4-inch beams with only a standard skill saw. It also includes tips on how to locate used or recycled materials for additional savings.
Note: The manual is in PDF form.
Specifications
It is a very versatile post and beam structure. It can be used for any of the following:
As we move toward a more sustainable way of living, this shed supports that effort. Many recycled materials can be used to build it. Many people are now growing their own vegetables and making 'farm to table' meals. In addition, it looks nice enough to have either in your backyard next to your pool or barbecue or in your front yard as a showpiece. Build a rock wall around it or next to it to add to the charm. Germinate your plants in the spring, then fold down the shelves and use them for storage during the winter months. It will also add to the value of your home.
Tools You Will Need
Optional tools to make the job easier
Recommended Safety Equipment
FAQ
A: Only basic carpentry skills are needed. You must be able to comfortably and safely use a hammer and skill saw.
A: If you buy everything retail, the cost will run around $1200. However, the manual also includes tips on where to find quality recycled materials to help drive the cost down. The materials for the shed we built for this manual cost us $600
A: Most of the work can be done by one person. There are a couple of steps that require another person to hold the beams in place as you set up the frame.
A: No. Timber Framing is the original method of joining the posts and beams with precise notches and wooden pegs. It requires years of practice and specialized tools. The method we use in this manual does include notches. However, they are very simple to do and can be done with a standard skill saw. We teach you how in the video included. We also use nails to join the notches, but the nails are hidden from view, giving it a very clean look.
A: We use a rough cut 4 inch by 4 inch beam. A 10-foot long beam weighs about 30-35 pounds.
A: For the first time, we would count on about 30 hours if working mostly alone.
A: All that is needed is a workbench. We used a portable one made with two sawhorses and a couple of old planks that were lying around. We set up the workbench in the garage on rainy days and outside when the weather was nice.
A: No. The purpose of the manual is to eliminate that need.
A: No. They are fixed plexiglass windows. There is a small ventilation door to keep it from overheating.
A: The shed does not have the floor. We put a tarp on the ground and then crushed rock. The shed sits on the crushed rock to allow water to drain into the ground.
A: Yes. A lovely lass from Vermont has captured his heart.
A: It is a PDF.