| Build your own storage shed! The price of them | | | | trusses are made by you to fit your roof design. |
| has gone out of my price range, so I built my | | | | However you design it, it should have at least one |
| own. If you want one made of steel framing, | | | | foot of rise to every four feet of run. This |
| there are some things you must consider. First, | | | | means that if your shed was eight feet wide, the |
| you will need a method to cut the steel studs and | | | | height at the peak of the roof will be at least one |
| track. I used a Chop Saw that is made for cutting | | | | foot high. A sixteen foot wide building would be |
| steel. If you are using a lighter gauge steel, you | | | | two feet, and so on. This is so that if it snows in |
| can cut it with a good pair of aviation snips. Next, | | | | your area, your roof will let it fall off before it |
| you must have a place to put your building that is | | | | gets too thick and collapses your building. Now |
| out of the way. You should have some idea of | | | | let's discuss making the trusses. On your work |
| how big a shed it will take to satisfy your needs. | | | | table, lay out a piece of stud that will span from |
| You should sit down and draw out a rough picture | | | | wall to wall. this is the bottom of the truss. Find |
| of what you want. It doesn't have to be a | | | | the center and put an upright piece there that will |
| blueprint. A simple drawing will do. The reason for | | | | give you the ratio I discussed earlier. You will |
| that is so you can figure out how much material | | | | screw it to the bottom piece at the center mark |
| to buy to build one. A basic knowledge of framing | | | | you made. Now, from the top of it, measure the |
| is required, but you can find books about that | | | | distance to the end of the stud. It should be the |
| subject at those big retail Building Supply stores. | | | | same for both sides. Cut those pieces of stud and |
| It's pretty simple, though. | | | | attach them. |
| Next, you must decide what kind of roof you | | | | When you're finished, you should have a triangular |
| would like to have. If you want a plywood | | | | framework with an upright piece in the middle. |
| covered roof with shingles, you'll have to make | | | | Unless you are making a long span, this structure |
| the walls a little sturdier, because that kind of roof | | | | will be enough to handle the roof load for your |
| is heavier. If you go with a steel panel roof, there | | | | shed. Make one of these for every mark you |
| is less of a load on the walls and they can be built | | | | made on top of the top track of your walls. |
| with a thinner gauge steel product(cheaper). Next, | | | | These trusses will be screwed to the top track |
| you must choose a door style. I built mine with | | | | every 24 inches. It will be easier to put up the |
| only one opening. The door was wide and the | | | | first one in the front and the last one in the back. |
| shed was fairly small, so it works for me. You're | | | | This will allow you to stretch a string across at |
| not building a house, so don't go overboard here. | | | | the peak of the trusses. Use this to align the |
| The last thing to consider is what kind of floor | | | | other trusses into a straight line. When you have |
| you would like in the building. There are two main | | | | to screw down the ends of the trusses to the |
| options. Many people like a solid concrete pad to | | | | top of the wall track, cut a scrap of either stud |
| build on. I made an above ground floor system in | | | | or track into a 90 degree angle piece that you |
| mine. If you are going to store something like an | | | | can screw to the side of the truss and the top of |
| ATV or other heavy rolling object like a garden | | | | the wall track to hold it in place. once you have |
| tractor, you should probably use the concrete | | | | the trusses screwed in place, you should put a |
| slab. If you choose an above ground system, put | | | | scrap of stud or track across the trusses and |
| it on blocks or some other way to support the | | | | screw it down temporarily. This holds the tops of |
| floor. I poured concrete corner pads to hold up | | | | the trusses in place while you put the permanent |
| my building. OK, let's get started. | | | | cross pieces in place. I used a 7/8 inch hat channel |
| Build your floor support system, first. If you want | | | | to cross the trusses. Hat channel is called that |
| a concrete pad, pour it now. When it has set up | | | | because it looks like a hat in cross section. The |
| at least one full day, you can start to build on it. | | | | two flat sides (The brim of the hat) are screwed |
| When I poured the corner pads of my building, I | | | | to the truss every 24 inches down from the |
| had to build a floor system on top of it. Simple, | | | | peak of the truss. The top of the hat has a flat |
| really. Steel framing comes it two basic styles. | | | | spot where you will screw the roof panel down |
| Metal studs are the vertical pieces and metal | | | | onto the hat channel. |
| track is the horizontal part that the metal studs | | | | Now, in review, you will have a hat channel |
| fit into. I made a framework of studs and track | | | | screwed down to every truss and down from |
| that was the size of the floor of the shed. I | | | | the peak of the trusses every 24 inches. That |
| placed studs every 24 inches in the track. | | | | way, when you lay a roof panel down on this |
| Because it was a floor system, I put double studs | | | | framework, you will be able to screw it down |
| in, back to back. this increased the strength of | | | | every 24 inches, making a very strong steel roof |
| the floor system. Next, I covered them with 3/4 | | | | that's not too heavy. At this point, after you |
| inch plywood to make a solid floor. At this point, | | | | complete the installation of the roof panels, it will |
| you will be at the same place that the person | | | | become obvious that you need something to |
| who chose a concrete slab is. | | | | cover the ridge at the top of your roof. This will |
| Now that you have a floor, it's time to build the | | | | be a product called a ridge cap. It is screwed |
| walls. It's a good idea to lay out the walls on your | | | | down over the join area between the roof panels. |
| floor. Draw the metal stud wall thickness around | | | | At this point you should have a shedding roof |
| the edge of the floor, keeping in mind where your | | | | over your building. There are some details to |
| door will go. Then draw that on the wall outline. | | | | discuss here. If you want an overhanging roof, |
| Your door opening should be a rough opening size | | | | calculate how far out you want it to go and |
| and not the finished size of your door. For a basic, | | | | measure up to the peak of your trusses. That |
| four wall building, two of the walls should be the | | | | measurement will be how long to cut your panels. |
| whole length of your building. the other two will be | | | | Put the cut part of your panel at the top. It will |
| inside the marks you made on the floor. Once | | | | be hidden by the ridge cap. If you want a flush |
| you have these dimensions, you are ready to | | | | roof, the measurement will be from the edge of |
| start construction of the walls. Start with a wall | | | | the truss at the top of the wall to the peak of |
| that doesn't have the door. Place one of the | | | | the roof. If you want a flush roof, be sure to |
| horizontal track pieces on the marks you made | | | | calculate the thickness of a hat channel and the |
| for the wall. If it's longer than the floor, cut it to | | | | steel panel that covers it for the wall covering. |
| the right length. Now cut another the same size. | | | | Your roof should extend at least 1/4 inch past |
| these are the upper and lower pieces of the wall. | | | | that point. |
| Put them side by side and make a mark every | | | | Now we're ready to start covering the walls. Mark |
| 24 inches starting from the end of the track on | | | | off a 24 inch mark from the top of your wall to |
| both pieces. These are the locations of the | | | | the bottom on all four corners. Use that mark to |
| vertical stud placements. Take your studs, the | | | | install a hat channel horizontally 24 inches apart all |
| vertical pieces, and insert them in the two track | | | | around your building. If you have planned carefully, |
| pieces to complete the wall section. Now take the | | | | a 26 inch wide steel panel will wrap around the |
| fastener screws and secure the studs in position | | | | corner of your building. Put half on one side and |
| on both sides of the track. It's easier if you do | | | | wrap the other side around the corner. I did mine |
| one side first, then turn it over and do the other | | | | this way because I couldn't find a dealer that had |
| side. | | | | any corner trim pieces. None-the-less, it works |
| When complete, take a scrap piece of metal or | | | | well and when you wrap the panels around the |
| wood, anything that can be used as a brace, and | | | | corner, there are no drafty corners. When you |
| attach it to one of the vertical studs about two | | | | install the panels, screw them to the hat channels |
| feet down from the top of the wall. This will be | | | | installed every 24 inches. This increases the |
| used to brace the wall section when you stand it | | | | strength of the walls. Continue to wrap the panels |
| up. If you have a wooden floor, it's easy to | | | | around until you reach the door. There you can |
| screw the wall to the floor system. If you use a | | | | cut the panel to fit and lap over the other panel |
| concrete slab floor, you'll need a method to attach | | | | to complete the wrap of the building. The basic |
| the wall to the concrete. You can shoot it down | | | | structure is complete. The only things left to do |
| with a powder actuated tool, drive a nail in with | | | | are to install your door and a few trim pieces |
| an impact tool and hammer or you can pre-drill | | | | around your new building. There is a 3 inch trim |
| holes and use a masonry screw like the "Tapcom" | | | | piece made for flashing a roof. that will work well |
| system. Whatever method you use, go ahead | | | | for closing the gap between the wall panels and |
| and stand the wall section up and brace it well. | | | | the roof panels. |
| You will begin to feel a sense of accomplishment | | | | To install them, undo the bottom screw of your |
| for all your work when you see a wall standing. | | | | roof panels on the side that you're trimming out. |
| Use that excitement to help you finish the other | | | | Slide the trim piece under the roof panel and over |
| three walls. When you come to the wall section | | | | the wall panel. Re-install the screws you removed. |
| that has the door, place the studs on either side | | | | When you wrap it all around the building, your |
| of the rough opening and put a horizontal header | | | | building will shed rain and you are ready to drive in |
| piece of track over the rough opening hole. | | | | the tractor. |
| Measure the remaining distance to the top track | | | | A final thought and some info. Please don't work |
| and install the cut-down stud pieces over the door | | | | alone. You could be injured easily if a wall section |
| hole in the door header track. Maintain the same | | | | broke loose and fell on you. Besides, it's easier |
| 24 inch spacing as the rest of the studs in the | | | | when you have someone to help hold things. The |
| wall. At this point, you should have the four walls | | | | other thing was that you will need some specific |
| standing and are ready for the next step. Before | | | | tools to do this job. It can be done without most |
| we go on, I must mention the importance of | | | | of them but they make the job easier. First, you |
| keeping every thing level , square, straight and | | | | need a good screwgun or a drill with a |
| plumb. It's best to check these things as you go | | | | screwdriving tip. Go for the magnetic bit holder |
| along. Another thing to remember is to always | | | | that holds screws well. I have had many evil |
| wear safety glasses when working with any | | | | thoughts after dropping lots of screws. You'll also |
| power tools, not just these. It's also helpful to | | | | find one or two of those Vise-Grip type C-clamps |
| wear gloves when handling steel studs and track. | | | | handy. Use them to hold the stud and track |
| There are many sharp edges to watch out for, | | | | together on your mark when you screw them |
| so use caution. | | | | together. For special cuts, I used a mini-grinder to |
| The roof is the next step. Get yourself a ladder | | | | make the angle cuts of the roof trusses. You'll |
| and make layout marks on the top of the wall | | | | need a good level and a framing sized square. And |
| track pieces. If your plan calls for a roof with no | | | | one more thing. When you purchase screws for |
| overhangs, things will go faster. The pieces of | | | | the framing, get the kind that have a drill point on |
| stud you have made into trusses will be attached | | | | the tip. It saves a lot of pushing. Always keep |
| to the track where you made the marks. Once | | | | safety in mind and then go brag to your |
| again, 24 inches on center will be adequate. These | | | | neighbors! |