Ask Brian is a weekly column by Real Estate Expert Brian Kline. If you have questions on real estate investing, DIY, home buying/selling, or other housing inquiries please email your questions to [email protected].

Question from Bob in VA: Hello Brian, a few months ago, my girlfriend moved in. We have a two-car garage where we want to park both of our cars this winter. The situation is that I’ve been using half of the garage as storage space for my yard tools and a workbench. I’ve decided the solution is to build a shed in the backyard to store my stuff so that she can park her car in the garage. I’m pretty decent at carpentry at a homeowner level. What are your thoughts and tips for building an inexpensive but useful shed from the ground up?

Answer: Hello Bob. Great end of summer project. Not just because the weather is ideal for working outdoors but also because most people accumulate a few more yard tools and outdoor toys every year that they don’t want to stuff into already crowded garages, basements, and homes.

The first thing to do is consider what you’re going to use the shed for. What’s the largest item you plan to store in it? You may need double doors for a riding lawn mower or other large items. Bob, you mentioned a workbench. Are you planning to use your shed as a shop? That will require unique and more costly requirements like electricity and work space in addition to storage space. Also, think about the size and weight of the items you’ll be storing. You might want to build a taller shed to store lightweight items on overhead shelves. Overhead storage can save you money when a smaller foundation is needed. It will also take up less of your back yard. But in the long run, you might not want to be frequently lifting stuff overhead or want to dig out a ladder. So, figure out how you’ll be using the shed for the next ten years.

There are several ways you can cut down your costs for materials. One is looking for salvage materials. Check to see if there is a Habitat for Humanity store near you or another construction material salvage store. You can also talk to contractors that do major remodels and demolition work. Don’t underestimate the value of searching on Craigslist or Facebook. Besides searching for materials, put up your own ads for specific materials that you need. Another way to reduce material costs is by carefully planning your new material purchases. Plan the dimensions of your shed to use standard size lumber instead of needing over-length lumber that you’ll have to cut to create waste. This will also save time by reducing the number of cuts needed. However, there are some situations when buying longer lengths makes good cost sense if you can use the extra length for something else like shelving. Having a good plan really is important when building a custom shed.

Here are some more tips as you put your plan together:

• Take your plans to the local building department and apply for a building permit. If something doesn’t meet code, the inspector will point it out and offer code-compliant solutions - before you build it.
• Pick the site for the shed carefully. You don’t want to build at the bottom of a hill or you’ll likely have water drainage problems. If you build on a slope, you’ll want a post and beam foundation instead of a concrete slab because post and beam take much less work to build level. Know where any underground utilities are located. Also, violating code-required setback distances is the fastest way to get in trouble with a building inspector or your neighbor.
• If you’re buying new lumber, take the time to sort through the piles. In a perfect world, all of the studs would be straight, but since they aren't, make sure to pick the best ones. Sight down the length of each stud and purchase only the straight ones.
• Build the foundation and floor first. Not only because everything else goes above it but also because you’ll be able to use it as a flat and level work surface.
• Consider what type of roof you want. A truss roof is more expensive and complicated than a single slope roof. If you do go with a truss roof, you can save money by building trusses instead of buying these prefabricated. All you need to do is snap chalk lines on the shed floor to outline the truss parts. Then use the chalk lines as a guide for cutting the truss patterns and assembling the trusses. This means you have to build the trusses before you put up the walls.
• A good carpenter is constantly working to keep all the framing straight. The easiest way to build the walls is with them laying flat on the shed floor. Keep the walls square by measuring diagonally from corner to corner. Once the walls are square, add a brace on the inside to keep them square when you raise them into place. Once the walls are squared and braced, you can put the siding on before raising the walls vertically.
• If you plan to paint your shed, natural wood siding isn't necessary. You can buy sheets of OSB (oriented strand board) siding at a fraction of the cost of real plywood and it'll usually last longer.

Bob, it’s common to build a backyard shed with the homeowner level carpentry skills that you say you have. These tips should help you keep costs down as well as finish a quality job quicker and easier.

Please add your backyard DIY comments.

Our weekly Ask Brian column welcomes questions from readers of all experience levels with residential real estate. Please email your questions or inquiries to [email protected].

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Brian Kline

Brian Kline has been investing in real estate for more than 30 years and writing about real estate investing for seven years with articles listed on Yahoo Finance, Benzinga, and uRBN. Brian is a regular contributor at Realty Biz News

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