Directions: Firewood-Garbage Shed

Index>Furnishings>Outdoor Wood Furnishings>Firewood-Garbage Shed>

BUILDING THE FIREWOOD/GARBAGE SHED

Step A: Build the Floor Frame

1.Cut the two side supports at 77" and the two end supports at 26". Cut the center support at 74".

2. Fasten the ends between the sides with 3 1/2" deck screws driven through the sides into the ends, following the FLOOR FRAMING PLAN. Position the screws where they won't interfere with the lag screws that will anchor the corner posts to the floor frame (see the FRONT and REAR ELEVATIONS). Fasten the center support between the ends so it's centered between the side supports.

3. Cut twelve 2 × 6 floor boards at 29". Make sure the floor frame is square by measuring diagonally from corner to corner: The frame is square when the measurements are equal. Starting at one end, place the first board flush with the side and end supports. Drill pilot holes and attach the board with 3" deck screws.

4. Cut two 1" spacers from scrap lumber and use them to install the remaining floor boards. If you are building the garbage shed, cut a l 1/2"-wide × 2"deep notch for the left door post, starting 26" from the left end of the floor frame. If necessary, rip the final board so it's flush with the end support.

Attach the floor boards to the frame, setting 1" gaps. For the garbage shed, cut a nothc for the left door post.

Attach the posts to the floor frame with lag screws driven through pilot holes counterbored to accept the lag washers.

Step B: Build & Install the Corner Posts

Note: Each corner post is made from one full-width 2 × 4 and one 2 × 4 ripped to 2"; the boards are screwed together to form an L. The top ends of both boards are cut at an 18° angle to match the roof slope. The garbage shed also has a center post—made from a single 2 × 4—at the rear side of the frame (this is installed in Step C).

1. Rip two 8 ft.-long 2 × 4s to 2" in width. Make an 18° angled cut at about 53", leaving one 43" piece from each. Cut two full-width 2 × 4s at 53" and two at 43", beveling the top ends at 18°.

2. Assemble each front post by placing the cut edge of one 53"-long ripped board against the face of a 53" 2 × 4 so their angled ends are flush (see the FLOOR PLAN and the CORNER POST DETAIL). Drill pilot holes and join the pieces with 3" deck screws driven through the full-width 2 × 4 and into the ripped piece. Assemble the two rear posts the same way.

3. Cut the posts to length with square cuts: Cut the front posts at 49", measuring from the longest point of the angled ends; cut the rear posts at 38 1/4", measuring from the shortest point of the angled ends.

4. Mark the insides of the posts 1 1/2" from the ends. Position each post on the floor frame so the mark is aligned with the bottom edge of the frame. Use a framing square to make sure the post is perpendicular to the frame and clamp the post in place. Drill counterbored pilot holes for the lag screws and washers and fasten each post with two 1/4" × 3" lag screws.

Fasten the outer rafters between the posts with screws. Drive two screws on the inside face and one at the bottom.

Attach the end slats to the inside faces of the corner posts. Set consistent gaps between all of the slats.

Step D: Add the 1 × 6 Slats

Note: The firewood shed has slats along the ends only; the garbage shed has slats along the ends and back side. Determining the size of the gap between slats is up to you—test your layout carefully before installing the slats.

1. On each end, cut the bottom slat to fit between the corner posts. Position the slat between the posts so its bottom edge is flush with the bottom of the floor frame and fasten it to the frame with 1 5/8" deck screws.

2. Cut the remaining slats to fit between the insides of the posts. Space the slats as desired, and fasten them to the posts with 1 5/8" deck screws driven through the backs of the slats and into the posts.

3. If you're building the garbage shed, install two bottom slats between the center post and the two corner posts, keeping their bottom edges flush with the floor frame. Install the remaining slats against the insides of the posts.

Cover the shingle ends at the top edge of the roof with a 1 × roof cap.

Install the door posts flush with the door ledger and header.

Step F: Complete the Garbage Shed Framing

1. Cut the 2 × 4 door ledger at 73". Position the ledger between the front corner posts so its top edge is flush with the top edge of the side support of the floor frame. Fasten the ledger with 2 1/2" deck screws driven through the side support and into the ledger.

2. Cut the 2 × 4 door posts to fit between the ledger and the front header. Position the door posts following the FLOOR FRAMING PLAN (note that the left post is on-edge and the right post is flat). Make sure the posts are plumb, and fasten them with 2 1/2" deck screws.

Add cleats to the door post and side and rear walls, then install the shelf.

 Directions: Firewood-Garbage Shed