Beyond the Basic Shed

By: Joseph Truini (Page 1 of 5)

Photo: Smith/Baer

This handsome garden shed features a post-and-beam frame made with 6x6 timbers.

Photo: Geoffrey Gross

Massive red-pine logs and an overhanging gable frame a side window trimmed in mahogany.

Photo: Geoffrey Gross

Long screws are used to fasten the log frame together. The large logs are precut and notched at the mill.

Photo: Geoffrey Gross

A little muscle — and a large sledgehammer — help coax a stubborn log into place atop an end wall.

Photo: Geoffrey Gross

The exterior walls are framed with 4x4s, sided in cedar ,and then slid into place within the log frame.

Photo: Geoffrey Gross

The preassembled roof trusses are carefully lifted up and screwed to the red-pine log frame.

Photo: Geoffrey Gross

Short 2x6 rafters form a 5-in-12-pitch shed roof over the shed entryway. The main roof has a 12-in-12 pitch.

Photo: Geoffrey Gross

Evenly spaced 1x4s are nailed to the rafters. From inside, the roof resembles a traditional shingle roof.

Photo: Jerry Kolesar

This is no garden-variety shed. The Phoenix Solar Shed comes in a kit and features four 70-inch-long roof windows.

Photo: Jerry Kolesar

The plywood sub-floor is nailed down to the joists after the floor frame is assembled.

Photo: Jerry Kolestar

The wall panels are tilted up into place, nailed to the floor and fastened together at each corner.

Photo: Jerry Kolesar

Four 20x70-in. windows, which fit between the rafters, flood the interior with light.

Photo: Smith/Baer

A half-lap joint forms a strong, interlocking corner for the pressure-treated 6x6 mudsill.

Photo: Smith/Baer

A waist-high 6x6 is set between the corner posts; it connects to the short, center post with a mortise-and-tenon joint.

Photo: Smith/Baer

The rear wall is raised first. A tenon on the bottom of each post drops into a mortise cut in the sill.

Photo: Smith/Baer

The roof trusses are made using 4x4s for the rafters and 2x6s for the collar ties and ceiling joists.

Photo: Geoffrey Gross

Understated Elegance: This Adirondack-style cabin features a log frame and Japanese-inspired design.

Photo: Jerry Kolesar

The roof trusses are assembled on the ground and then leifted up into place on top of the walls.

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What You'll Learn:

Homeowners have always had a love/hate relationship with backyard sheds. We love the extra storage space, but hate the way they look. That's because the average prefabricated storage building is an unattractive, cheaply made sheet-metal or plywood box with all the durability of a rice-paper umbrella. This explains why many sheds are relegated to the deepest, darkest corner of the backyard. Some neighborhood associations have even banned outbuildings altogether because they consider them eyesores.

However, there's no reason that a shed can't be well designed and solidly constructed — a building that actually enhances the beauty of your yard, home and neighborhood. If this is the type of backyard building you've been looking for, your search is over. Presented here are three attractive structures that offer much more than just storage space. Each building can easily be adapted for use as a potting shed, workshop, children's playhouse, home office or retreat to write the great American novel.

If you are inspired to add one of these structures to your yard, mail-order building plans are available for the Adirondack Cabin and Timber Garden Shed. The Solar Shed is sold as an easy-to-assemble kit. However, before getting started, be sure to submit the plans to the local building department and get a building permit.