Sheds: The Do-It-Yourself Guide for Backyard Builders [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

I've used this book exclusively to build my shed. I took it out to the site and kept referring to it during construction. It even inadvertently spent a few nights in the uncompleted shed. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. There are materials lists for most sheds right down to how many pounds of nails you will need. I could go the local building supply place and ask for what I needed in an intelligent way. By the end of my project, the supply people knew me by name!

Be careful about the chapter called "More Basic Sheds." Things were going along as planned with my shed construction until I decided to alter my original design by using hints from this chapter. I say hints because that's all this chapter is. But it all worked out in the end and now I have an 8 x 10 shed with an extended overhang on one side and windows all across the back.

The author is up-front in saying that this isn't a book for novices; here's the last paragraph of the Introduction:

"SHEDS is written for creative, hands-on homeowners with do-it-yourself experience in weekend projects and basic home repair. You should have at least a few building and repair projects under your tool belt, be ready to tackle medium-sized, challenging projects and be willing to stretch your carpentry skills for worthwhile accomplishments."

The first three chapters of this book are very good, covering design, a general shed construction primer, and a basic 8'x10' shed with step-by-step instructions. After that, though, there are six more chapters that aren't up to the same level of quality.

The first project (the basic 8'x10' shed) is quite thorough. It has blueprint drawings (one plan and two sections). There are lists of materials, hardware, and tools needed. There's a construction schedule (8 days' worth). The step-by-step instructions are accompanied by 26 drawings to show construction details. This is an excellent start.

The very next chapter is a letdown, and the book never comes back to the level of quality set in the first project. For instance there's a section that tells you how to install Plexiglas windows, with a figure insert showing one of the screws holding the Plexiglas to the stud. But there's no mention of what size screw you need in either the text or the illustrations. Also in this chapter is a plan for a simple garden shed, with a list of materials -- but no list of hardware. The text tells you to nail the pieces together, but doesn't say what type of nails or what quantity is required.

The "Irish Garden Shed" project is quite inventive, featuring walls constructed of locust logs set in mortar. This is the project prominently featured on the book's cover, and you would (mistakenly) expect it to be covered in loving detail. But you get one plan and two section drawings, and not much more. The are no lists of materials, hardware, or tools required for the project. The text includes many instructions that just don't have enough attention to detail. An example paragraph:

"In a mortar pail, combine 6 parts sand, 6 parts sawdust, 3 parts Portland cement and 2 parts lime. Measuring accurately is critical."

It would have been easy for the author to write whether he meant parts by weight or parts by volume; if by volume, specify whether to compact the sawdust; or give an idea of what size "part" would be appropriate to fit in a mortar pail. But he didn't specify any of these things.

While "Sheds" is hit-or-miss when it comes to construction details, it's really very good when it comes to construction ideas. The foundations covered include pressure-treated skids, posts, poles, and concrete slabs. Wall types include the standard stick-built form, timber frames, and mortared logs. Roofing materials detailed are limited to asphalt and cedar shingles, but the text does mention that you need to use rolled roofing for shallow-pitched roofs. Windows include round and rectangular, either prebuilt or made from scratch. The author is even inventive when it comes to door handles, suggesting using a wooden mason's float -- which I'm using on my own shed project!