A Custom Tool Shed

It's easy to take an ordinary tool shed and make it extraordinary with a few details borrowed from the house. However, don't get too heavy-handed with ornamentation or the shed will compete with the house. Keep the accents simple so that the overall look balances the style set by your home.

Lenine-Cruz estimates that a professional would charge about $2,800 to custom design and build a tool shed (not including the cost of plants), or you can buy a custom kit starting at about $3,000. However, do-it-yourselfers can cut that cost to only $550 for the materials. This project is rated a 4 on a difficulty scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult). The project requires basic carpentry skills, and with the help of a friend, it can be completed in two weekends.

Step One: Constructing the Floor

Check each floor joist as you lay it out so that the natural curve of the lumber points up for more strength. Then fasten them to the rim joists (figure E) with 3-inch deck screws.

Set the frame on the pier blocks (figure F) and center the corners so that there's still room on the blocks to build up the shed walls.

Lay a 4x8 panel of 3/4-inch, exterior-grade plywood (about $20 per sheet) over the frame. Toe-screw the frame to the pier blocks and secure the plywood to the floor joists to complete the shed floor (figure G).

Step Two: Framing the Walls

The design calls for a flat, sloped roof, so the back wall is built taller than the front, with angled side walls. Walls with no windows or door have studs spaced 16 inches on center. Walls with a window or door need additional support.

Rice uses Douglas fir 2x4s ($1 per foot) for the back wall studs. Mark the top and bottom planks every 16 inches on center and nail on seven 7-1/2-foot-long studs. Mount the frame so that it lines up with the back edge of the floor (figure H) and secure it with deck screws.

Check that it's plumb, and then tack on a temporary brace (figure I).

Next, frame the front wall, which is 6 inches shorter than the back wall. Because it will support both a door and window, it needs extra support.

Attach planks as shown in figure J. Once it's complete, attach the wall to the flooring and add a brace to link it to the back frame (figure K).

Step Three: Setting Up the Roof

The roof is flat, sloping to the front, with 2x4 rafters between the high back wall and lower front wall. The 2x4s are covered with plywood, tar paper, and cedar shingles.

Nail the rafters to the top planks, spaced 16 inches apart. Cap the rafter tails with a 10-foot-long plank to complete the roof's overhang (figure O).

Figure P shows the completed shed framing.

Place 4x8 sheets of exterior-grade cedar plywood (about $20 apiece) over the framing and nail them to the studs. For the front and back walls, notch the plywood at the top to fit around the rafters (figure Q). Cut the side walls to fit, angled at the top.

Cut out the openings for the door and windows from the inside of the shed using a reciprocating saw. Lay a plywood panel on top of the rafters for the roof, and nail it in place.

Step Four: Adding the Extras

Add a simple Dutch door, shutters, and black metal handles and hinges (figure S) to give the shed a homey look. For the crowning touch, add a window box to bring in seasonal color.

Figure T shows the completed custom tool shed. Storage space never looked so good!

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