Home Improver Guide 4
TIMBER STORAGE SHED
MATERIALS LIST | PLAN | SETTING OUT | FOUNDATIONS | PLY GUSSETS | FRAME CONSTRUCTION | SHED ERECTION
This Timber Portal Framed Shed is designed for strength, head height and clear internal span. The secret to its strength lies in the rigid plywood gussets at the internal corners which transfer the roof
loads directly to the ground and gives great stability. The flames can be constructed quickly and cheaply with a hammer and saw.
The shed is based on a width of 2.4 m. It has a centre height of 2.4 m resulting in good head height throughout.
Its length can be varied according to the number of frames you use. Doors and windows can be added between the frames or on the end walls and the shed styled and trimmed to suit your house. (For
example: Tudor, Ranch, Contemporary and Colonial.)
NOTE: It is essential that all sheds are tied down to foundations to prevent damage to surrounding buildings in high winds. Building approval may be required by your local authority.
TIMBER FLOORS
Timber floors should preferably be built off the ground on naturally durable or treated timber bearers
and joists, and comply with the timber sizes found in Home Improver Guide 1 Timber Decks.
CONCRETE SLAB FLOOR
A concrete pad should have'600 mm rat baffle wall foundations continuous around its perimeter and comply with sub-clause 40.2 (4) of the Queensland Home Building Code Appendix 4 (see Foundations 3).
For people who build on a concrete slab using untreated softwood framing and plywood, additional precautionary measures will be required to safeguard the structure against subterranean termites. In
this situation, the concrete slab should have an exposed edge to facilitate regular inspections, with the top edge at least 100 mm above ground level.
MATERIALS LIST top
TIMBER FRAMING
90 x 35 F5 Softwood
100 x 38 F5 Cypress
75 x 38 Fl 4 Hardwood
Bottom Plates 2/2.4 2/3.0
Columns 12/2.1
Rafters 12/1.5
End Centre Columns 2/2.4
Door Jambs 2/2.1
Door Framing 2/2.1 4/1.2
Fascia 125 x 38 2/3.6 (trim as required)
Battens 50 x 25 (F7 or better)
Fixing as per roofing recommendations.ROOFING
Corrugated Metal 8/1.300 |
CLADDING
Treated ply walls and door 9/2400 x 1200 x 12 mm or Weatherboards 175
mm 15/2400 for each short side, and 131 3000 for each long side. Chamferboards 122 mm 20/2400 for each short side, and 17/ 3000 for each long side.GUSSETS
Structural ply 1/2400 x 1200 x 7 mm NOTE:
Make allowance for openings and adjust quantities for alternative shed design. HARDWARE
l
/door latch, 2/door hinges, 14 framing anchors, 6/M10 galvanised cuphead bolts or masonry anchors with 50 mm embodiment. 2/3000 timber or metal angle braces (optional).
65 x 3.15 galvanised bullet or flat head nails
for cladding and trim.
30 x 2.8 galvanised flat head nails for ply cladding.
500 gms 30 x 2.8 flat head connector nails for gussets. |
OPTIONS
ROOF
Metal Sheeting.
External Treated Plywood.
Fibre Cement Sheeting.
Timber or Fibre Cement Shingles. Roofing must overhang sides and ridge flashing installed.
WALLS
Plywood, treated for external use, such as Hancock Texturewood.
Timber Chamfers or Weatherboards (Hardwood, Cypress or treated Pine). Fibre Cement products,
with battens. Cladding should overhang edge of the slab.
SHELVING
Use off-cuts of ply for shelves.
1. PLAN top
Decide on the length of your shed and the location of doors and draw a plan view to scale on graph paper. For example:
1 m = 5 squares.
2. SETTING OUT
top
Set out on the ground with a string line, tape and level. Locate the corners of the shed and then measure the diagonals to ensure that the structure is square. (The diagonals should be equal.)3. FOUNDATIONS
top
back
A level site should be prepared and boxed to allow for 100 mm of reinforced 20 MPa of concrete. A plastic membrane placed beneath the slab and tie-down bolts embedded 40 mm from edge, 80 mm
from corners as shown. Pour the concrete, broom finish and allow to Framing Anchor cure.
4. PLY GUSSETS top
According to the framing material you have chosen (Hardwood or Pine), use the gusset and nail pattern marked as suitable on the full size patterns supplied. Mark out and cut two knees and one ridge gusset for each end frame and four knees and
two ridge gussets for each intermediate frame. Be sure to mark nail positions on each ply gusset.5. FRAME CONSTRUCTION
top
Using the ply gussets as a template, mark out and cut the angles and lengths of the framing timbers so that the roof members rest on top of the wall members. Assemble each frame on a flat, hard surface, making sure they are square and true
before nailing on the ply gussets. All the frames should be identical, with the two end frames gusseted on one side only, and one frame curtailed for the door-head (see
Shed Erection V).Clad the two end frames with ply and trim with 75 x 25 mm edging to extend past the frame sides (not roof) by the width of the opposing cladding (for example:
weatherboard 25 mm) ready for use. Fixing other types of cladding will require additional end gussets and frame packing. If required in end wall, door openings can be included at this point.
1. PLAN |
2. SETTING OUT
|
3.
FOUNDATIONS
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4. PLY GUSSETS |
5. FRAME CONSTRUCTION
|
SHED ERECTION top
- Fix bottom plates to the perimeter of the slab and bolt. Plate off-cut for door openings is used as Door Head. Seasoned pine must have a damp proof membrane laid between the timber and the concrete.
- Accurately mark all flame stations at 600 centres on the plates.
- Stand up end wall panels and clamp on one fascia and one ridge batten. (Check for square and then steady with temporary bracing.)
- Slide in the intermediate frames and fix temporarily to batten and fascia. Fix to plates with metal framing anchors. Door Head is cut and nailed in place so its bottom edge is 12 mm
lower than fascia. Cut and fit curtailed frame to head. (See knee joint detail.)
- Fit timber or metal angle bracing to both sides (not required with ply sheeting). Fix cladding to all sides and trim with fascia, so that the top edge of the fascia follows in line with the top of
roof battens. Fix battens, roofing and ridge flashing as per manufacturers specification for the roof system you have chosen. Roof sheeting should overhang the sides, slightly.
back
- Make a rectangle frame which will fit inside the door opening with 3-8 mm clearance on all sides. Fit diagonal brace as shown and overlap cladding to give a neat appearance.
- Finish and trim shed as desired. For example:
TUDOR STYLE - White stucco or ply sheets with black battens
RANCH STYLE - Red weatherboards or cedar shingles, green trim
RUSTIC COLONIAL - Sawn hardwood bracing
NORDIC
- Diagonal treated pine chamfer board and shingle roof
Opaque exterior paints or natural oil stains will preserve and enhance the timber claddings. To
reduce heat, pale colours are preferred.
