DEAR TIM: Outdoor storage sheds are popular in my neighborhood. Since I can barely squeeze my cars into my garage, I now need a storage shed in my yard. How do I develop shed plans for this project? Should I just purchase a prefabricated storage shed? The gardener in me wants a garden shed as well. I don't know how to build a shed, but I have all the free time in the world. Do you think I can tackle this project with minimal errors? Marybeth B., Louisville, KY

DEAR MARYBETH: Years ago extra stuff swallowed one-half of my garage. Then not too long after that, I lost my other indoor parking space to a growing list of mowers, mulchers, tractors, bikes, etc. Two years ago, my wife finally said to me, "We need a shed. Build one that matches our house." I had my marching orders from She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, and three months later I had a deluxe storage shed in my backyard. As long as you have some helping hands at critical stages of the construction process, I feel you can do the same.

Free shed plans can be found on the Internet, but I feel you should probably develop your own shed plans. It is very easy to get the overall size of the shed by taking all of the things out of your garage that will be stored in the shed. Organize these things on your lawn in the shape of a rectangle or square.

Place enough space around each item so you can easily get to it without having to pull several things out of the way. Use stakes and string to create an outline around all of the things, and this overall dimension becomes the footprint of your shed. I'd be willing to wager that your dimensions approach or exceed 16 feet by 14 feet.

This basic method of planning, in my opinion, uncovers a problem with far too many sheds: they are too small. You may look at an assembled shed kit at a retail store and think it is huge. But once you put your things in it, you quickly discover it is too small. To get things out that you need, you have to move several things outdoors to make a pathway. That misery can be avoided. My neighbor has to do this several times a week. My shed is large enough so that I don't have to move anything to get to each wheelbarrow, mower or mulcher.

My shed does double duty. One-third of it is a garden shed for my wife. It has shelving for all of her pots and supplies, and a clever drop-down potting bench that tilts down from a side wall like a Murphy bed.

If you can build a deck, you have the skills to complete an outdoor storage shed. Use treated lumber for the posts that support the shed floor joists, and treated plywood for the shed flooring. Wet tools and machines will not rot these critical structural members.

Framing the exterior shed walls is very easy. The key is to make sure the walls are square, plumb and level. I prefer to apply plywood or oriented-strand board on the exterior of the walls for strength, but this material makes any wall over 10 feet long fairly heavy to lift into position. You will probably need help when you tilt up your shed walls.

The roof framing may be an obstacle. The good news is that any decent lumber yard can order small trusses for you if you don't want to explore the wonderful things you can do with a simple framing square. Roof framing is not hard to learn, and since you have time, practice cutting some simple rafters before you start to actually build the shed. There are many great books available that show you how to cut simple roof rafters.

Be sure to include a small overhead garage door in your outdoor storage shed as well as one or two skylights. Many people do not realize you can get miniature garage doors that are just 6 feet wide. This is the perfect size to get a lawn tractor in and out of a shed. Skylights brighten up an otherwise dark space. There are many affordable skylights. Consider getting ones that open to allow hot air to escape in summer months.

You can build an outdoor storage shed on a concrete slab if your lot is nearly level. But most lots are not level, and this is why adopting a deck-on-wood-posts design appeals to those who have built more than one shed. The other issue with concrete slabs is they must be protected from frost heave in areas that are subject to cold weather. A storage shed built on posts may only need six or eight piers dug into the soil.

If you build a roof that has an 8 / 12 pitch or greater, you will get added attic space above the floor of the shed. You will get maximum space if you frame the roof yourself. To get a decent amount of space using prefabricated trusses, you will have to specify that you want storage trusses when you place the order with the lumber yard.

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Comments: Welcome! I, Tim Carter, don't answer questions here. If you post a question here in the Comments Area, perhaps another visitor will help you. You need to go to the Ask Tim page if you want a question answered. Once there, look closely at how many weeks behind we are. Please be patient as you use this free service. If you have an emergency and need to talk to me, there is an option there for you. rick m 22 Feb 2008, 13:18 I bought a shed that is 5 years old. I want to paint it. How should I go about doing this. It need the old paint striped off. wHAT IS TTHE BEST PAINT TO HOLDUP TO BAD WEATHER. tHANKS rICK John 23 Feb 2008, 21:11 My City requires all accessory buildings (including storage sheds) to be 75% masonry, not including doors and windows in the calculation. I am having a difficult time finding sources, plans or examples of storage sheds made of masonry (brick or stucco) materials. Do you have any suggestions. AsktheBuilder 29 Feb 2008, 18:05 Rick, Read all of my Exterior Painting columns. John 01 Mar 2008, 07:25 What would be the best material to use when covering the inside walls of my storage shed? It's to be a wood working shed. Thanks,John AsktheBuilder 01 Mar 2008, 08:39 John, I am currently developing plans for such a shed! AsktheBuilder 07 Mar 2008, 20:44 John, Why cover the inside walls? Can't you hang things from the studs? charles godwin 02 Jul 2008, 20:38 I plan to build a workshop shed but have encountered a problem. My county requires a signed & stamped plan by a florida engineer or architec before they will issue a building permit. I don't mind building it to code but most engineers want at least $500. and this expense adds to much to the total cost. Any suggestions?smvjz phoebe 12 Jul 2008, 06:28 I'm running into the same problem as you charles, altho in my case it's getting an existing shed by the previous owner who built it with no permits, up to code & permitted. They still want the engineer plans for it. I'm in florida too. Matthew De Felice 24 Dec 2008, 12:19 I am also in Fla and need fla engineered plans for permit purposes. I plan to build myself, but where do i get plans that meet the local code without going to an engineer? Janis 24 Aug 2009, 12:50 I am building a 8 x 10 steel vinyl coated shed on an exisitng cement slab. The slab is a little bit larger than the shed. Should I attach the shed to the cement. I did not want to add a floor kit if possible. What are mu options. Please advise, Thanks, Janis      View all comments *Name: Email: Notify me about new comments on this page Hide my email *Text: Security Image: Security Image Text:   Remember, Tim Carter doesn't answer questions here in the comments. You need to go to the Ask Tim page.