The easiest way to build a shed in the backyard is to make
a trip to the local Lowe's or other hardware shop to purchase a
shed-building kit. Never choose one from a picture in a brochure or
from the Internet. When viewing in person, you can check for important
quality control details such as thickness of timber, overlap structure
of panels, type of wood, whether it is pre-treated with a preservative
and the quality of flooring. Thick timber is longer lasting. An overlap
structure on wall panels is important to prevent water leakage. It is
beneficial for the shed to have been pre-treated with preservative, but
in your upkeep you will still want to treat it once a year. Flooring
should be thick so that it does not give with the weight of tools and
equipment you want to store. Do not skimp on size or quality, because
in the long run, you will be happiest with a large, lasting building.

Before starting, make sure you have a level base on which to
build the shed. Otherwise, the wall panels will not line up properly.
Double check that you have all necessary building tools for the
particular shed-building kit; you will not want to stop mid-project to
purchase more tools. Find out if you need permission to erect a small
building on your property. Detail an access route for getting large
panels and other materials to the site for the shed.

To begin, make sure the land is dry. Excavate a place to put
in a concrete floor. If you choose to make the shed above ground, then
wood boards are acceptable. Follow instructions and proceed to screw
all pieces together in the pre-made holes. Run a frame sealing mastic
around windows to prevent weather damage. To insulate, either use glass
fiber loft insulation or expanded polystyrene slabs covered with
wallboards. If the shed needs electrical wiring, be sure to bury cables
in the ground or run them high overhead. Wires should never drag along
the ground, wall or fence. Call a professional electrician for
assistance if you are not familiar with these procedures.

It is possible to build a shed without purchasing the kit.
Keep in mind that you are essentially building a box. Begin with the
same flooring process- either excavate for a concrete floor or use a
wooden floor. A simple shed can take the shape of a lean-to with one
large slanted wall nailed to three smaller side walls. If you feel
confident in your building abilities, then a more complicated shed
would be a four-sided rectangular shed with a pitched roof. To attach
the roof, nail the slanted slabs of wood to the upright walls. To
finish the project, apply a preservative treatment, and any insulation
or electric wiring that is desired.