Installing a shed is harder than you think if you don’t do your research. We show you how to easily install a wood, composite or metal shed & we show you the tricks to save you time and money. Without further wait, lets get right to it…
You will Learn:
- How to install Wood, Composite & Metal sheds
Also of Interest: 9 Best Shed Foundation & Options For You (New Tips For 2022)
Also of Interest: 9 Best Shed Foundation & Options For You (New Tips For 2022)
- Step-by-step directions for foundations for each
- Step-by-step directions to build
- Pros & cons of each
- Best option for your yard
Wood | Metal | Composite |
$600-$20000 depending on size | $400-2000 | $400-1800 |
Assembly: DIY, Kits or drop off | Assembly: Kits or drop off | Assembly: DIY, Kits or drop off |
Uses: Storage of backyard equipment (lawnmower, tools, supplies, bikes, chemicals, hand tools, etc) | Uses: Storage of backyard equipment (lawn mower, tools, supplies, bikes, chemicals, hand tools, etc) | Uses: Storage of backyard equipment (lawn mower, tools, supplies, bikes, chemicals, hand tools, etc) |
Requires a solid foundation of wood with a secure base | Can be placed on the ground | Can be placed on the ground or on a composite floor |
Pros: Lasts decades | Pros: lasts several years | Lasts 10+ years |
Pro/cons: Harder to assemble but is very durable and well constructed | Pros: Easy to assemble | Pros: Easy to assemble |
Cons: Maintenance is required (painting, shingles) | Cons: Maintenance is required (painting, must keep free of moisture to prevent rust) | Cons: susceptible to rodent, bugs |
Can be built on a slope but the foundation must be solid | Must be placed on flat ground | Ideally placed on flat ground. However, can be built on small slope if foundation is concrete or solid. |
Typical storage sheds
These are your typical “yard sheds” for all your yard tools, equipment. Think wood barn style shed in your neighbor’s backyard.
The shed that can allow you to store all types of your landscaping and gardening tools and equipment along with the toys of your kids, your bicycles and other sports items in your outdoors in a very neat and clean manner even if they are lying here and there inside the shed.
Shed kits are available in the market to install them yourself in your yard just by building a solid base on the ground. If you have no idea how to build a storage shed then you should consult a shed making service or contractor or search online to find the most suitable storage shed with maximum storage capacity for you.
Sheds for bikes, motorcycle storage
These types of sheds are typically smaller than “yard sheds” and are used for single type storage. Here are a few examples.
The best place to store your bike can be the shed made specifically for this purpose. You have to use the bike storage shed in your daily routine so it must have shed ramps and a roll up door so that you can protect your bike in all weather conditions
Also of Interest: 7×7 Shed Plans: Build a Shed In A Weekend (New 2022 Tips).
While constructing a shed for bike storage you should first of all focus on its size and the place in your yard where you will put it. Secondly, your focus should be on the materials used in it so that you can ensure the safety of your bike as well as use it for a long time with the least maintenance cost.
Wood sheds – How to Install (Step-by-step)
PLAN THE SHED BUILD
- Permits required? Check with your HOA and County to see if permits are required. If you have a larger shed than 12′ x 8′, they may be required. It is always better to check first. Save yourself the hassle.
- Call Miss Dig or Miss Utility to come and scan the ground for any cables or utilities. Call 811 or 811.com. Google it for your area.
- Prep the area. Remove any leaves, sticks, or debris on the ground.
- Measure it out. Use string or ground spray paint to mark the area you will dig up.
- Get supplies. Buy your SHED KIT, gravel, and concrete.
- Choose your foundation
- Gravel with shed posts, footings
- Pour a concrete slab
- Build a Wood frame over gravel
- Tarp, gravel in forms
- Hire the neighbor kid to hump it into your backyard.
- You will need a helper. So make sure he can help you with the entire project.
Wood sheds

While making shed building plans many people prefer to make wood sheds than steel sheds because of their suitability with the environment of the garden as well as their attractiveness.
The construction of a wooden shed is also easier than constructing a steel shed as you need not use any heavy-duty tools to install a wooden shed as compared to installing a steel shed. Additionally, it is easier to work with wood than with steel. However, you have to maintain both, steel shed as well as a wood shed, regularly to ensure their durability. Anyways, you don’t have to put a lot of effort for doing the same.
Build A Wood Shed
Tools:
Material:
Difficulty: 6/10
Time to build: 2-3 days depending on your level of expertise
Steps
1. Mark the area.
Make sure you already called Miss Digg
Check with your city or county 1st to see if you need a permit
before you start. Even medium-sized sheds require permits
2. Clear the area.
- Remove the grass from that area (cut it up or rent a grass cutter to quickly cut it up).
- Get down to the dirt
- Tamper & Level the ground.
- Add 3″ of gravel over the ground.
- Tamper again.
3. Foundation – concrete slab
- Foundation – concrete slab. You can have a concrete slab poured. This will cost more money but will be quicker and less work.
- Foundation – gravel with posts
- Mark your holes.
- Dig below the frost line in your area.
- Set the posts for each hole -Add quikrete, then the post and add the correct amount of water.
.
- Quikrete base: 6″ on the bottom of the hole.
- Make the quikrete top SLOPE so water runs off the post
and it does not rot! - Dig 6 post holes and set 6 posts. Wait until the concrete is completely dry before moving to the next step.
- Attach the cross member joists to the posts. This begins the outside of the frame for the foundation.
Posthole, cement foundation – PROS:
Posthole, cement foundation – CONS:
4. Foundation – Gravel in forms over tarp
Place the tarp down. You do not have to remove the grass. Just make sure the area is flat and as level as possible.
Place the forms over the tarp
Add the gravel to the form. You can use any type of gravel you have access to but it is best to use a small pea gravel which packs tightly while still allowing for drainage.
Tamper it down gently. To pack the gravel together.
Place the shed over the gravel
5. Build the walls
- Build the walls
- Studs- 16″ or 24″ on center
- Attach the OSB to the studs
- Attach the doors, hinges and hardware
6. Build the roof
- Attach the trusses
- Attach roof OSB
- Nail the shingles
7. Paint
- Paint the shed so it is weather proof
Gravel in plastic forms foundation – PROS:
Gravel in plastic forms foundation – CONS:
Setting Up Composite Shed – Steps
PLAN THE SHED BUILD
- Permits required? Same as a wood shed.
- Call Miss Dig or Miss Utility only if you plan on digging down in the foundation. If you are using a composite floor, then no, you won’t have to call them.
- Prep the area. Remove any leaves, sticks, or debris on the ground.
- Measure it out. Use string or ground spray paint to mark the area you will dig up.
- Get supplies. Buy your SHED KIT, gravel, and concrete.
- Choose your foundation
- Gravel with shed posts, footings
- Pour a concrete slab
- Build a Wood frame over gravel
- Tarp, gravel in forms
- Helper needed? You will still need help carrying the large composite walls into your backyard.
Tools:
Material:
Difficulty: 5/10
Time to build: 1-2 days depending on your level of expertise
Clean and prep.
1. Mark the area.
Make sure you already called Miss Digg
Check with your city or county 1st to see if you need a permit
before you start. Many sheds require permits
2. Clear the area.
- Remove the grass from that area (cut it up or rent a grass cutter to quickly cut it up).
Tamper & Level the ground. - Add 3″ of gravel over the ground.
- Tamper again.
3. Foundation –
- Foundation – concrete
- Foundation – composite floor
4. Build the walls
- Attach the composite walls to the floor
- Attach the composite roof overhead
- Attach the doors, hinges and hardware
Metal Sheds
Metal sheds are good for homeowners who just want a covering over their lawnmower, bikes, or lawn equipment, tools, ect. They don’t come with wood or plastic or metal floors. They are generally just placed on the ground. They are really easy to setup and are in the same price range as regular wood sheds.
You will have to make sure the metal is painted so it is protected from the elements and does not rust. If it does begin to rust you should immediate remove the rust so it does not spread. If left untreated, the rust could quickly destroy the shed.
Setting Up Metal Shed – Steps
PLAN THE SHED BUILD
- Permits required? Same as a woodshed.
- Call Miss Dig or Miss Utility only if you plan on digging down in the foundation. If you are using dirt or composite floor, then no, you won’t have to call them.
- Prep the area. Remove any leaves, sticks, or debris on the ground.
- Measure it out. Use string or ground spray paint to mark the area you will dig up.
- Get supplies. Buy your SHED KIT, gravel, and concrete.
- Choose your foundation
- Gravel with shed posts, footings
- Pour a concrete slab
- Build a Wood frame over gravel
- Tarp, gravel in forms
- Helper needed? You will still need help carrying the large metal walls into your backyard.
Tools:
Material:
Difficulty: 4/10
Time to build: 1 days depending on your level of expertise
Clean and prep.
1. Mark the area.
2. Clear the area.
- Remove lawn debris from the build area.
3. Foundation –
- Foundation – dirt (most common)
- Foundation – gravel
- Plastic
- Concrete slab
4. Build the walls, door, roof
- Attach the metal walls together
- Attach the roof
- Attach the door. Make sure it slides easily. If not you may need to add silicone grease for lubricant.
FAQs for Sheds
The best month to buy a shed
Most of the homeowners invest in sheds due to various reasons including improving the value of their property or to store some additional items etc. The best time to buy a shed is when you need it. You may need to buy a shed garden if you want to enjoy it during the summers.
If you are planning to change the settings in your home even then you should buy a shed so that you do not spend a lot of time outdoors until things are settled. You can also buy a shed during winters to avoid the rush of orders with the shed suppliers during the summer season. The months of spring can also be a good time to buy a shed as mostly people clean their homes deeply and reorganize them. So, the best month of buying a shed is when you need it.
For snow
If you are planning to buy a shed during winters then you should choose one that can withstand the load of snow. You should check the snow load rating of the roof of the shed while making the final decision.
Its roof should not collapse by the accumulation of ice or snow on it. It should have replacement doors and additional bracing on the roof to use it for a long time without any problem as it will avoid sagging of the roof by distributing the load evenly. A shed that can protect your belongings from snow in the winter season can be the best for you.
Generally, well constructed wood sheds will stand up the best to the elements . The foundation, walks and roofs are securely attached to each other. Not so much with metal sheds.
Shed cabin
Shed installation becomes more meaningful when you use it as a shed cabin in a fashionable manner. You can choose from various types of shed base options and shed anchors to make a long-lasting structure even if you are using materials salvaged by you for long.
It can be a perfect place to sit in during summers if it is surrounded by green fields and flowers. You can also use your shed cabin as a study room for your kids or a place where you can practice your hobby whenever you are free. In this way, you can plan to make various types of shed cabins according to your requirements.
To live in
The increasing prices of real estate have made it difficult for many people to afford the rent to own a house to live in. For this reason, many of them either look for rental sheds to live in or buy a portable shed to live in a tiny space. Many people, who already have shed in their yard but are not using it for long, usually hire shed repair contractors to repair it to make it liveable. They can convert a shed into a living space just by adding some plumbing and lighting in it. Such sheds can be used for renting out to the people searching for an affordable living place in the cities.
Thus you can find various types of best sheds for your yard which can be used for different purposes.