How to build a simple SHED for about $3k | @DadAdviceFromBo

Important Notes:
- Materials are listed in each section but also in a full list at the bottom. All are from Home Depot and if any link is broken, please email me.
- I am just a Dad who built this in my backyard. I am not a professional shed builder.
- There are multiple ways to build a shed:
One common way you will see is with all 4 side walls assembled with straight, 90 degree cuts and the rafters “notched” at an angle to attach to the straight edges.

However, I chose to build this shed with 5 degree angled side walls instead of notching the rafters. In my instructions, you’ll see me use the phrase “Bow to Stern” regarding my 5 degree angled cut measurements. The “Bow” is the point of the board, and the “Stern” is the shortest side of the angle on the other end. See below:

              |----------------Measurement________________|

      Bow \                                                                                   \ Stern

NOTE: My measurements should be considered “Close Estimates”….be sure to double check all your measurements against mine for accuracy!

Step 1: Gather your materials
Use the list in each section or at the bottom to gather your materials. Remember: It’s normal to go back to Home Depot a couple times, so it’s okay if you buy them section at a time.

Step 2: Floor

Materials for Floor: 
2ea 2x6x12’ Treated     
12ea 2x6x8’ Treated 
3 sheets 4x8x3/4” plywood 

Instructions:
1. Cut two, 2x6’s at exactly 12 feet
2. Cut twelve 2x6’s at 93”
3. Assemble outside of frame first making a rectangle that measures 8’ x 12’.
4. Measure and mark each 12’ side with 16” spacing.
5. Next, attach the inside braces with 16” centers but “double up” the braces at the 4 foot and 8 foot measurements (one brace on each side of the 4” and 8’ mark).

Step 3: Side Walls

Side Walls Materials:
20ea 2x4x8’ stud  
2ea 2x4x10’ stud 
4ea 4x8x7/16” OSB 
4ea 4x8 Smartside 

Side Walls Instructions:
Cut list:
(Straight cuts both ends)
1. Cut two boards at 88 7/8”
2. Cut one 10 ½” spacer block
3. Cut one 14 ½” spacer block
4. Cut one 13 ¾” spacer block

NOTE: Cut below has 5 degree angle on both ends. Lay stud flat of 3 ½” side… make first 5 degree and we’ll call the point “the bow” (looks like this \ ). Then measure from the bow to what we’ll call “the stern” (looks like this \ ) which is the short side of the 5 degree angled cut.

5. Cut two at 89 3/8” (bow \ to stern \)

NOTE: All measurements below to be cut with 5 degree angle on one end, stud set on 1 ½ side for cut. Measure from square end to longest point on angled end.

6. Cut two 82 13/16”

7. Cut two 83 ¾”

8. Cut two at 85”

9. Cut two 86 3/16” (This stud on one side of 48” measurement)

10. Cut two 86 5/16” (this stud on the other side of 48” measurement)

11. Cut two 87 ½”

12. Cut two 88 ¾”

13. Cut two 89 7/8” 

Assembly (Side Walls): 
Assemble outside of frame with bottom stud (88 7/8”)….Top (angled stud) 89 3/8”….Long outside (longest) upright 89 7/8” and the short side (smallest) upright 82 13/16”

Important: Use your 10 ½” spacer block against the inside of the longest upright to attach your next smaller (88 3/4”) upright.

Use your 14 ½” spacer block to attach the nest smallest (87 ½”) upright.

Use your 13 ¾” spacer block to attach the next smallest (86 5/16”) upright

Install the next smallest upright (86 5/16”) right against the (86 3/16”) upright

Use your 13 ¾” spacer block to attach the next smallest (85”) upright

Use your 14 ½” spacer block to set your next smallest (and last) upright that measures 82 13/16”

Repeat above for the other side.

Note: you have the option to attached the OSB siding while the side frames are laying flat or you can attach the OSB after your finishing framing….your choice.

Attach both assembled side frames to the floor and use extra 2x4’s to hold the sides in place.

Step 4: Back Wall

Materials (Back Wall):
2ea 2x4x12’ stud    
12ea 2x4x8’   
3ea 4x8x7/16” OSB     
3ea 4x8 Smartside 

Cut List (Back Wall)
1. Cut two at 12’ (straight ends)
2. Cut twelve at 82 9/16” with one straight end and the other cut at 5 degrees with the stud lying flat on the 3 ½” side. Measure from the straight end to “the Bow” ( | to / ).

Assembly (Back Wall): 
Assemble the outside frame with the two 12’ studs and two of the 82 9/16” uprights to form a rectangle. Make sure the 5% angles are pointing in the same direction.

Starting with either side, use the 13 3/4” spacer block to attach the first upright.

Use the 14 ½” spacer block to attach the next upright.

Use the 13 ¾” block to attach the next upright.

Then, attach the next upright against the last with no spacer block (double uprights at the 4” and 8” measurements).

Use the 13 ¾” spacer block for the next upright

Use the 14 ½” spacer for the next upright

Use the 13 ¾” spacer for the next upright

Then, attach the next upright against the last with no spacer block (double uprights at the 4” and 8” measurements).

Use the 13 ¾’ spacer for the next upright

Use the 14 ½’ spacer for the last upright.

Note: you have the option to attached the OSB siding while the side frames are lying flat or you can attach the OSB after your finishing framing….your choice.

Attach the back wall to the floor and use an extra 2x4 to help hold it in place. Attach the side walls to the back wall uprights.

Step 5: Front Wall (with window and door holes)

Materials:
15ea 2x4x8’ studs 
2ea 2x4x10’ stud 
2ea 2x4x12’ stud 
2ea 4x8x7/16” OSB 
2ea 4x8 Smartside 
6ea 1x6x12” primed facia 
2ea 24 x 24 window 

Cut List: (Front Wall, Doors are separate)
Cut four at 89 3/4”
Cut six at 48”
Cut five at 23 5/8” (one is a spacer block)
Cut two at 18”
Cut two at 9 1/8” (these are spacer blocks)
Cut two at 45”: (one can be used as a spacer block but both will become the center bottom support)
Cut four 6” pieces

Extra layer of 2x4 on top of entire frame:
- Use your two 10’ 2x4’s to cut two pieces with 5 degree angles laying flat of the 3 ½” sides. The measurement is 96 3/8” BOW TO STEARN.  ( \ to \ )
- Using your 12’ 2x4’s cut two with straight cuts measuring 137 1/16”
NOTE: 1x6x12’ fascia boards to be trimmed and attached on all four corners and around the windows as desired.

Assembly (Front):
Build two separate sections by attaching the top and bottom, 48” pieces to two sides that measure 89 ¾”.

Using the 9 ¼” spacer blocks held against the inside of each 89 ¾” upright, attach two more 89 ¾’ uprights.

Using the 45” spacer block held against the inside of the bottom piece, attach the 23 5/8” lower window piece.

Using the 23 5/8” spacer block, attach the upper window piece.

Measure 24” in from the outside of your frame and make a marks on the top, bottom 48” pieces plus the top and bottom horizontal window supports.

Install the top 18” vertical support and the bottom 45: vertical supports using your marks to center each piece.

Repeat to assemble two complete front frames.

Temporally attach the OOSB sheeting to mark the cut out lines for the window. Remove the OSB and cut out both windows.

Hold off on installing the Smartside siding for now.

Assemble the Center Section by attaching the top and bottom 48” to two 6” pieces to form a rectangle. The mark lines at 16” and 32” and attach the remaining two 6” support pieces.

Attach each front section frame to the floor and to the sidewall frames (check for level).

Next, attach the center section to each of the front outside frames.

NEXT: Add one extra layer to 2x4 across the entire top of your finished frame to add support and tie everything together…

Attach the two 5 degree angled pieces measuring 96 3/8” along the side wall frames and overlapping both the front and back frames. Make sure the cut angles match the slope.

Attach the two 137 1/16” pieces across the front and back framed sections. The should fit between the two side pieces in the step above.

Step 6: Doors

Materials (Doors):
6ea 2x4x8’ 
1ea 2x6x8’  
1ea 4x8x7/16” OSB   
1ea 4x8 Smartside 
4ea 6” gate hinges 
2ea 6” black door handles  

Cut List (doors):
Cut four 2x4’s at 80 ½”
Cut four 2x4’s at 23”
Cut four 2x6’s at 20”
Cut one sheet of 4 x 8 sheet of OSB down to 85 ½” then rip in half so you have two pieces that measure approximately 24” x 85 ½”

Assembly Instructions: 
1. Assemble two outside frames using two 23” pieces at the top and bottom and two 80 ½” uprights.
2. Attach the OSB sheeting to each assembled frame.
3. One the inside, attach the two 2x6x20” pieces approximately 12” from the top and bottom of each door section (these are the backing for your door hinges).
4. Set the doors aside until after the OSB and Smartside siding have been installed.

Step 7: Roof

14ea 2x6x12’ lumber    
4ea 2x6x10’ Lumber  
4ea 2x6x8’ Lumber 
8ea 4x8x7/16” OSB  
3ea 4x8 Smartside 
6ea 1x6x12” primed facia 
1ea roll 15lb felt roofing paper   
6 sheets of 12’ metal roofing 
6ea eve flashing 
2ea Drip edge flashing 10’  
1ea bag roofing screws  
24ea strong ties   

Cut list (Roof):
-Cut sheet (2x6 lumber only):
-Cut fourteen @ 139” bow to stern   ( \ to \ )
-Cut two @ 8’
-Cut four @ 44”
-Cut sixteen at 28”

Assembly (Roof):
Slide eight of the 139” rafters onto the roof (make sure bow to stern are correctly oriented) attach the two 8’ end pieces to form a rectangle approx. 12’ x 8’. Then measure every 16” (or use spacer blocks) and attach all the inside rafters. Be sure to double up the rafters at the 48” mark so you have a rafter on each side of that mark.

Once the frame is assembled, center it on the front and back sidewalls (with the same 24” overhand and secure to the top of the sidewalls with Simpson Strong-ties.

On the ground, assemble the two side roof sections.

Start by laying out two 139” rafters  and attaching a 44” piece at each end inside the rafters to form a rectangle that measures approximately 139” x 47”.

Use a 28” piece as a spacer block to attach one more rafter inside the frame.

Measure for 16” centers down the length of the 139” pieces and attach the 28” pieces every 16” (or sue spacer blocks).

Full Material List: