Building a shed

[sea2summit]

My post hole digger is only 8", I think. Needs to be bigger to make adjustments. You think you drill the hole in the right spot, but it just doesn't seem to work out.

I've got a 6", I mark and dig the holes with a PTO PHD then string my line and shave off the sides of my hole with a hand PHD until the post is in the right spot and vertical kissing the string. Usually doesn't take but a scrape or two and I don't even pull the dirt back out just drop the post on it.

 

[robbyr]

View from back yard.

 

[EddieWalker]

It's taking shape. How are you attaching your boards to each other? Screws hold longer then nails when the wood dries out and Mother Natures starts pushing it around. Technically nails and screws should not be used to support a load of any kind. Lag bolts are designed to do this. Regular bolts are better, and metal brackets are the best. Since it's for you, it's really a matter of how much do you want to spend, and how long do you want it to last?

 

[robbyr]

Two factors in play here. One is the very limited budget. The other is inexperience. I've done it all by myself from a six foot ladder and that platform on the hay forks except for some rafters my son helped with. Been using a nail gun. My thought was that corrugated tin weighs next to nothing so didn't worry with birdsmouth cuts on rafters mainly cuz I didn't wanna do that and/or take the time to relearn how to do that.

 

[teejk]

Two factors in play here. One is the very limited budget. The other is inexperience. I've done it all by myself from a six foot ladder and that platform on the hay forks except for some rafters my son helped with. Been using a nail gun. My thought was that corrugated tin weighs next to nothing so didn't worry with birdsmouth cuts on rafters mainly cuz I didn't wanna do that and/or take the time to relearn how to do that.

I think the pros use those ring shank spikes (5 inchers maybe)? And a big hammer (goes without saying). I would suggest you install those "hurricane" anchor clips where your rafters meet the top laterals (just pieces of galv metal that don't cost much in the whole vast scheme of things). With any part of an open shed you have to be worried about wind catching it and sending it into the next field. Otherwise looking good!

 

[PhysAssist]

I think the pros use those ring shank spikes (5 inchers maybe)? And a big hammer (goes without saying). I would suggest you install those "hurricane" anchor clips where your rafters meet the top laterals (just pieces of galv metal that don't cost much in the whole vast scheme of things). With any part of an open shed you have to be worried about wind catching it and sending it into the next field. Otherwise looking good!

A cheaper fix for that (and what we used to build our 12'x 12' wood shed out of scrap wood, used roofing tin, and pallets back in 1996 when we had just bought our house, and couldn't afford better) is flattened tin cans- just cut the top & bottom out, flatten the can, and drill, or poke holes with nails, and you have a 2-ply bracket that can be trimmed and/or bent to size.

It is't galvanized, but if your roof works, it will not rust appreciably, (at least ours haven't), and our wood shed has withstood 20 years of 90+ mph winds, 3'+ and more snow loads, and still stayed up when actual buildings collapsed under the snow loads.

Although, I have to admit, it is getting to be time to re-roof it one of these days, not looking forward to that now. ;-(

 

[teejk]

A cheaper fix for that (and what we used to build our 12'x 12' wood shed out of scrap wood, used roofing tin, and pallets back in 1996 when we had just bought our house, and couldn't afford better) is flattened tin cans- just cut the top & bottom out, flatten the can, and drill, or poke holes with nails, and you have a 2-ply bracket that can be trimmed and/or bent to size.

It is't galvanized, but if your roof works, it will not rust appreciably, (at least ours haven't), and our wood shed has withstood 20 years of 90+ mph winds, 3'+ and more snow loads, and still stayed up when actual buildings collapsed under the snow loads.

Although, I have to admit, it is getting to be time to re-roof it one of these days, not looking forward to that now. ;-(

When you look at the "hurricane anchors" you'll see that they aren't much in substance (maybe 24ga steel)? The charm is in that they have the holes punched and are bent to switch 90 degrees to attach to the header and rafters (galv roofing nails are typical). Any strapping material (e.g. your tin cans) to secure the roof will work. Doesn't take much to keep the roof from wanting to "sail".

 

[crackerjack222]

If you have attached the boards to the posts with nails or even screws, I would suggest you drill thru and put an all-thread bolt thru with large washers and nuts at each end. One 3/8" all-thread "bolt" will add a lot of strength to that connection.

 

[PhysAssist]

When you look at the "hurricane anchors" you'll see that they aren't much in substance (maybe 24ga steel)? The charm is in that they have the holes punched and are bent to switch 90 degrees to attach to the header and rafters (galv roofing nails are typical). Any strapping material (e.g. your tin cans) to secure the roof will work. Doesn't take much to keep the roof from wanting to "sail".

Yup, we don't really see hurricanes here, but there was a "snownado" back in the 80's, if I recall correctly.

We looked at the prices on the pre-made galvanized brackets and thought back to childhood fort-building techniques, learned in part from our depression-era parents, and since none of the so-called lumber used was any where near the usual dimensions of the called-forr rafters, etc, it seemed natural to improvise those as well, AND it was definitely less expensive, while still apparently very effective, in so much as the shed is still standing.

Oh, and I forgot, a 6"-8" (at the base) by 20'+ long black cherry limb fell on it at the end of last winter, and although some of the roof metal bent on the edge, it was otherwise unharmed.

 

[robbyr]

I'm not fast but getting there.