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If you’re a novice builder, but are interested in building a shed, there are several factors you should consider before beginning.  The best way to do this is to create a step-by-step action plan.  And, to do that, you should first ask yourself these questions:

Building a Shed Question #1:  What will be stored in the shed?

At first, you might think “a shed is a shed, who cares?”  However, depending on what you will be storing, you may need to alter your construction plans.  Will it be a garden shed that will be storing plants that might need airflow?  Will you be storing your motorcycle or quads that might drip oil or gasoline onto the floor?  Will there be electronics that would be sensitive to moisture?  As you can see, the answers to these questions will determine the type of shed you’ll want, and the type of materials you’ll need.

Building a Shed Question #2:  What size of shed will you need?

Sometimes it’s easy to plan for what you will be putting in the shed today.  But, don’t forget to allow room for growth, especially if you will be storing some sort of collection (tools, plants, model trains) that will definitely grow over time.  If you’re going to go to the trouble of building a shed once, you don’t want to have to do it again later just because you didn’t build a big enough shed the first time. 

Building a Shed Question #3:  Where will your shed go?

Obviously, you’ll need to plan for enough room in your back yard (or wherever the shed will be placed).  However, also, make sure to plan for an accessible entry.  If your space is limited, you might be tempted to cut it close.  Sure, YOU might fit between your shed door and the fence, but would you and a wheelbarrow fit between the shed door and fence?   Do you have to tromp through your wife’s flowerbed to get to your shed?  Mark out your planned area before you start building, and make sure you have plenty of room all around it and to get in and out of it easily.

Building a Shed Question #4:  Does it need to be waterproofed or insulated?

In addition to preparing for what will be stored in your shed, you should also plan for the seasons in your area.  If it gets very cold or it snows a lot in your town, you may need to insulate or waterproof your shed to protect what will be inside.  Also, don’t forget to plan for blazing summers, as it can get meltingly hot inside an uninsulated shed.

Building a Shed Question #5:  Will you require a building permit?

This is always a sticky question.  If you’re planning on building a structure to cherish and keep for a long time, don’t skimp on getting a building permit, if you need one.  There’s nothing worse than building a shed you like, only have to tear it down because you violate city codes.  Run your shed building plans past your city inspector before you spend money buying materials.  Oftentimes, permits are cheap, and the city can show you very minor modifications to be compliant.

Building a Shed Question #6:  What is your budget?

This may quite possibly be the most important question to address before you embark on a new shed building project and will determine the scope of your final product.  This question probably led you to look up how to build a shed yourself, rather than buying a pre-fab construction.  Although you can usually save considerable money by building your own shed, it still pays (literally!) to determine your budget, and cost out your plans before you begin.  If you run out of money mid-project, having a shed with no roof will not be very useful. 

Building a Shed Question #7:  Where to get ideas, plans and help for building a shed?

There are many resources available to you to get help designing and building a shed.  Your local hardware store or Home Depot can be of great help.  Home planners or city inspectors can give great ideas, too.

Best of luck to you in your shed building adventure!