How to build a wooden shed?

[mikebarker]

Hi all, I am about to build a small wooden garden storage shed (3m wide x 2.4m deep) on a gravel base. I have been soaking up tutorials, reading the various excellent posts on this forum and on wooden framing and feel fairly confident about most stages but there are a few grey areas that I would love the community guidance on (and will likely lean on you for tips along the way!).

I previously prepped the ground and laid a gravel pad. The plan is to put 2 x 6 treated joists directly into TuffBlocks as the base of the shed and build on top of that.

So my questions are:

Flooring

1. I am looking at treated yellow tongue STRUCAflor is this suitable or is there a better alternative? Treated plywood looks very expensive but I don't mind paying if it means increased longevity.

2. Silly question, but given the fact an exposed tongue in these boards will be at one edge of the shed. Do you just cut these off or just fill the gap with sealant?

Walls

1. What options do I have for external wooden wall panels? I would like something that looks nicer than particleboard or OSB. Is there an outdoor option of these slotted panels? I guess I could use weatherboards but curious at alternatives.

2. Should I use building wrap?

Roofing

1. What are my options here? Just colourbond sheets? If yes, should I still put a plywood/OSB roof on and apply the colourbond to that or just attach it straight to the rafters? I assume I would have lots of gaps if I attach directly to the rafters.

2. If colourbond is the way to go, I'm curious to know what you use so that you don't just have sharp raw edges and what to use for the apex of a pitched roof?

Fasteners

I'm going to use screws instead of nails for framing (Personal preference, if I had a nailgun it might be different 😄). So I don't want to have to pre-drill or anything. What gauge is best, 12g? or thicker? Something like these Buildex RapidDrive Treated Pine Screws 12g x 75mm?

I think that's all I need to know at the moment, once I have these answers I can make my materials order and get stuck in!

Thanks so much

[MitchellMc]

What a thing of beauty @mikebarker! Love your work! That must feel amazing to get to this point. You've done such a great job.

Many thanks for the update.

Mitchell

[mikebarker]

@MitchellMc Yeah I'm really pleased! I just need to make a door, planning to either 90 x 45 or 90 x 35 pine for the main door structure with a plywood sheet on the front, clad with colorbond to match. 

What plywood would you recommend? Treated plywood seems hard to come by/really expensive. If there isn't a better option, could I seal the plywood sheet for some waterproofing? It will be mostly covered with colorbond but might have some water going on it.

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @mikebarker 

Cheering! Thats a nice looking shed! It blends in nicely and looks solid!

Being a door I would go for treated plywood as a backing. You have put so much effort into the shed imagine the frustration in a yeras time when the cheaper plywood expands a little and your door isnt as easy to close as it was comes to mind 😕 I know towards the end of a project where we just want things done and to stop costing it is tempting. I just find it bites us in the you know what long term.

How many times  have you walked out and just stood looking at what you have built!

Dave

[EricL]

Hi @mikebarker 

I totally agree it is a thing of beauty! In regards to your door project, I suggest having a quick look at this discussion - How to build an entrance door by @Smithrj. Mitchell gives a very good explanation on what parts you'll need to build a door and the practicality of purchasing a prebuilt door. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[mikebarker]

@Dave-1 Thanks! Yeah blending in was the idea, I would have preferred a dangerous-looking darker one but the missus favoured a blend in... plus a darker one would have cooked the contents in summer!

Ok noted, I'll get some treated from somewhere. 9mm ok you reckon? I can 12mm too.

@EricL Ah great suggestion! But I'm afraid I purposely made it a wider door so it's 1150mm-ish much wider than any of the off-the-shelf doors from what I can see?

[mikebarker]

Afternoon all! I'm onto the door and ramp now. Is there a material that would be suitable for running over the opening of the door and down the ramp to add grip? I'm using cutoffs of the treated flooring for the ramp and it's quite slick. I need to factor this in before cutting the final height of the door.

Thanks!

[JacobZ]

Hi @mikebarker,

How exciting! 

Do you have any photos of the progress that you could share? I'd love to see what you've done so far.

Two suggestions I have are Croc Grip 8m x 100mm Black Anti Slip Tape which could be attached to the ramp and exterior paint with sand mixed into it to add grit.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[Nailbag]

Hi @mikebarker 

I can vouch for that Croc anti-slip tape @JacobZ recommended. Besides being durable and long lasting, the adhesive backing is impressively grippy. I've used it on several low-level ramps made of treated pine decking that was very slippy under foot for elderly people. And I have also used it both on the A-frame and rear bar of my caravan which I regularly need to stand on dry or muddy. Just ensure the surface is clean and dry before applying.

Nailbag

[mikebarker]

@JacobZ There are some progress pics on the previous page but here is a fresh one with the door trim on (mostly attached). I'm planning to trim the door in a similar fashion to the walls.

And how I am going to attach any sort of door handle or locking mechanisms with only colorbond trim available to attach to I hear you cry?... I have no idea 😆 I mean, I'll get through to the wood behind it somehow but it's not ideal.

Thanks for the suggestion on the anti-slip tape, my plan is to run it over the join from inside and down onto the ramp to also reduce damage to the edge of the flooring. Unless there is a better suggestion?

I can't see it on the website but in this area in Bunnings yesterday I saw what appeared to be this stuff but I much wider roll. Is that the same stuff?

Thanks guys!

[JacobZ]

Hi @mikebarker,

I saw the pics from a couple of weeks ago but couldn't see a ramp yet so was curious if you'd progressed with that. Regardless, the progress is good, and you've done a magnificent job so far.

You can always put a screw through a trim into the timber behind it. You'll find a way I'm sure, but if you're struggling there's no harm in reaching out for assistance.

I'm sure I've seen it in wider rolls as well but I can't seem to find it on our website. There are these Croc Grip 500 x 150mm Black XL Anti-Slip Steps, but they are only 500mm wide. If you've seen them in-store and they are grippy in the same way, there's no reason at all you can't use them.

Can't wait to see the next update.

Jacob