What Skills Do I Need To Build A 10x12 Backyard Shed?

The beauty of DIY skills is that you will continually design, create and repurpose anything in your home. Are you planning to build a 10×12 backyard shed? If you are confident enough, you can get a 10×12 shed plan and start immediately. But if you don’t, here are some skills you can utilize and make instead of hiring a contractor.

Let’s find out.

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What Things Should You Consider Before Building Your Backyard Shed?

There are a few crucial factors to keep in mind before starting your backyard shed project. Below are some of these factors.

Purpose Of The Shed

You can use your Backyard Shed for different purposes. It could be extra storage, a small workshop, a backyard getaway, or an animal shelter. If it’s going to be a storage space, what are you planning to store there?

A small shed would be practical if you are looking for a shed to put tools like rakes, shovels, or slashers, among others. But if you need a place to put extensive tools like a riding lawnmower, consider building a bigger backyard shed.

Are you planning to spend time relaxing in your garden shed? You can then install electricity and heaters to keep the place warm and comfortable.

Building Code And Guidelines Of Your Area Code

There are various types of shed permits depending on the area you live in. You need a building permit if your shed has a permanent foundation or has electricity. It might also be more significant than a specific size.

Even if your shed is small and doesn’t have any foundations or lighting, you should get a planning permit. Depending on your area, these permits control where you’re going to build your shed.

Foundation Of The Shed

Any structure needs a Solid Foundation to function effectively. A foundation also determines which shed you’re going to have. It can either be permanent cement poured or non-permanent pre-made.

In a permanent cement poured foundation, you need to pour concrete piers or a concrete pad for the shed to last longer. Such foundations prevent shifting and sloping and also keep the shed firm during the storm.

Non-permanent pre-made foundations are made of wood skids, concrete blocks, and deck footers. However, they don’t last as long as the permanent ones. You can go for this option if you are planning to move from that home.

How To Build A 10×12 Backyard Shed

Step 1: Create a sketch

As you start your project, you need to take a piece of paper and sketch out the shed. This will help you have an estimate of the materials required.

Step 2: Measure the Area of the Shed

Identify the area you want to build the shed and measure it. Dig nine holes with a depth of 18–inches in that area where you will place upright posts.

Take your wheelbarrow and mix the concrete, a bag at a time. You need approximately four bags.

To obtain a level floor, put nine 4 x 4 inches of treated posts in the ground with 18 inches depth.

Construct a floor measuring 10 x 12 feet from 2 “ x 6” x 10 feet and from four 2 “ x 6” x 12 feet treated lumber.

Use 14-2” x 6” metal joist hangers to create floor joists at 16 “ centers, and the width should be apart.

Put down four five-eighth inches 4” x 8” or four sheets of three-quarters plywood. Start by painting an oil-based primer on the top surface, followed by decking the paint. Let it dry for several days or a week.

Step 3: Setting Up the Walls

Put out walls with the center of 16-inch 2” x 4”. Place headers measuring 2” x 6” on top of the windows and doors.

The walls stand up and will be supported with 2’ x 4” until you install the four walls. You can then sheet the walls with ⅜ plywood.

Take 2” x 4” and 2” x 6” sandwiched boards to build a center support beam to free the rafters from the span. This is different from the truss design, which gives more ceiling height. You can fasten the top and the bottom with three-inch nails and hangers.

On each non-peak side, put up a 2” x 6 “ board, then lay down on the roof a half-inch plywood.

The next step is installing the windows. Utilize a level so that both of them are plumb and level.

Place a thirty-pound tar paper on the roof, then wrap the wall still using the thirty-pound tar paper with tar paper disk nails. You can reinforce the edges on the outside corner using 1.5” x 1.5” metal corner strips.

Step 4: Working On the Roof

Using a 1.5-inch roofing nail, place a drip edge on the roof. Begin with the bottom line and nail in shingles containing asphalt with six nails for each shingle. While four nails per shingle may appear to be sufficient, using six makes it stronger.

Ensure that the seams are overlapped by staggering and “staircasing” your shingles.

Metal and corrugated asphalt roofing are alternative roofing materials that you may choose. For a ten by 12-inch backyard shed, you need two squares and six bundles of asphalt shingles. You can choose 25 20, or 30-year shingles.

Trim the windows with 1” x4” lumber both inside and outside and at the corner edges.

Step 5: Completing the Project

Place up Hardie plank siding and overlap of one inch with 2.5-inch nails beginning at the bottom. You can make your job easier using an air nailer.

Select your best paint color like latex and paint a primer and the finish coat on your shed. With a 2” x4”, build an inside bench, then top it with plywood before painting it with long-lasting paint.

If you want, you can build your doors or purchase them. Just ensure that you get a standard 32-inch door of steel and a nine-light window made of glass. Your backyard shed front door should be composed of two 30-inch doors, and they should be wide enough.

The front door should also have an inner frame of 1” x 4” and an outer frame of 1” x 6”, which needs to be screwed together. Use T111 plywood to make the inserts.

After completing the front door, your backyard shed will be complete. You can now enjoy the fruits of your work! That’s how simple it is to create one. This project can take six weekends to be completed if done with two people. You should be ready to part ways with $3,000 or more.

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