A barn in a dacha is one of the most important buildings; it is often one of the first to be erected. It can have different purposes. At the first stages of building a dacha, it serves as a shelter from bad weather, and later as a place to store equipment. A do-it-yourself garden shed can be made in various designs and from different materials. However, the simplest and most inexpensive to build is a wooden shed. How to build it and what to cover it with will be discussed in this material.
Optimal shed sizes
A barn in a country house should be easy to build and easy to use. The easiest to build is a wooden shed, for this reason most summer residents prefer this type. The simplicity of the design will ensure its quick construction and minimal investment. A convenient tool shed is one in which everything is at hand, so it is important to plan it correctly.
Fig.1.
The layout of the shed greatly depends on the purpose of its use. Depending on what and how much will be stored in it, the overall dimensions of the shed depend, as well as the presence of shelves and the layout of storage areas.
Fig.3.
Fig.4.
Fig.5.
- garden tools(rakes, shovels, pitchforks, etc.). To store this tool, a building measuring 1.5 x 1.5 m is sufficient. You can additionally install hooks or a special stand in it for storing pruners, hacksaws, etc.
Fig.6.
Fig.7.
Fig.8.
- Garden tools and additional materials(fertilizer, paint, materials for greenhouses and greenhouses, etc.). For these purposes, you will need a utility unit measuring 1.5x2 m. It will have enough space for wide shelves where additional materials will be stored.
Fig.9.
Fig. 10.
Fig. 11.
- Garden tools and park equipment(lawn mower, trimmer, etc.). To store the entire set of country equipment, you need a shed 1.5 m wide and 2.5 - 3 m long.
Fig. 13.
Fig. 14.
Shed construction diagram
The most universal size of the building: width 1.5 m, length 2.5 - 3 m. It will be quite spacious, you can install several rows of shelves in it and there will be room for a lawn mower and other large tools. Structurally, the utility block will be a rectangular building with a pitched roof.
Fig. 15.
Fig. 16.
Fig. 17.
The easiest way to build a shed is using frame technology. The frame is made of wooden blocks, and the facade can be sheathed with any material, from lining to siding. The roof can also be covered with any material; most often, corrugated sheets are used for these purposes.
Fig. 18.
Fig. 19.
To build a shed, timber with a cross-section of 80x80 mm can be used. In this case, the number of racks indicated in the drawing is sufficient. If the section of the board is smaller, the number of racks must be increased.
Fig.20.
Fig.21.
A 40x100 mm board can be used for the ceiling. To lay corrugated sheets, it is additionally necessary to make a sheathing from boards 20–25 mm thick.
Fig.22.
Foundation for a barn
Despite the ease of construction, a foundation for a barn is necessary. It is important to note two points. If you install a building without a foundation on the ground, the foundation boards will rot very quickly, even if they are pre-treated with an antiseptic. If the soil is prone to heaving and the foundation is not buried below the freezing level, then after winter the structure will sag and lose its original appearance.
For a wooden shed made using frame technology, three types of foundations are well suited: block, pile and monolithic slab.
- Block foundation- the easiest to assemble. This type of foundation is made of concrete blocks. The blocks are installed on a sand cushion in increments of 1 - 1.5 m around the perimeter. This type of foundation is good for use on soils with a low tendency to heave. Otherwise, after winter, the foundation blocks may settle, which will lead to the curvature of the building.
Fig.23.
Fig.24.
Fig.25.
- Pile foundation It is free from the disadvantages of block and can be used on any soil. Any piles can be used. One of the simplest options for piles is metal pipes, which are buried 1.5 m into the ground. For a wooden shed measuring 1.5 x 3 m, 6 - 8 piles are sufficient, depending on the thickness of the beam section at the base.
Fig.26.
Fig.27.
Fig.28.
- Monolithic slab the most versatile option. It is made from cement-sand mortar laid on a sand bed. For a country shed, the thickness of the slab is 10 cm, and the thickness of the sand cushion is 15-20 cm. To increase the strength of the slab, reinforcement is used. A monolithic slab can be easily made without special equipment in 1 day. The slab has its own advantages; there is no need for flooring. The floor will be the foundation.
Fig.29.
Fig.30.
We build a barn using frame technology
Building a shed using frame technology is quite simple. They start by assembling the floor. To do this, install and fasten together 4 bars. The bars are connected to each other in half a tree. The beams are secured with nails or self-tapping screws. If the building is no more than 1.5 m wide, then no additional crossbars are required. If the width is greater, then additional crossbars must be installed, otherwise the floor will play.
Fig.31.
Next, install the vertical posts. To ensure that the racks stand level, they are leveled and temporarily secured to the base with scraps of boards. The racks are attached to the base with metal corners. The bars on which the rafters will be installed are secured to the installed racks.
Fig.32.
After all the vertical posts are assembled, install the horizontal crossbars. They are necessary to give the structure rigidity. All elements are fastened using structural metal corners with self-tapping screws. At the same stage, rafters are installed, window and door openings are formed.
Fig.33.
This is how the shed frame is assembled. The final stage of construction is the roofing and wall cladding. It is important to consider that if the utility block is sheathed with siding or corrugated sheets, then its walls must first be covered with OSB or plywood.
The barn is an integral building on the site. A well-built structure can honestly last for more than ten years. Of course, you can hire workers who will build this building, but if you take on the task yourself, you will have a number of advantages.
So, you will significantly improve your construction skills, build the structure you like, save money and, of course, get a reason to be proud - after all, you built the building yourself. So, in this article you will learn how to build a wooden shed step by step without unnecessary difficulties with your own hands.
Foundation preparation
Most often, builders prefer a columnar foundation, since it requires the least amount of building materials. To do this, you only need sand, crushed stone and cement, and the formwork can be made from roofing felt rolled into a pipe shape.
Let's consider the algorithm for preparing a columnar foundation:
- Decide on the location of the pillars. Remove about 30 cm of plant soil.
- Each corner of the shed should have a post. The distance between them should be 150-300 cm.
- Use a garden auger to make a hole;
- At the bottom of the pit you need to make a layer of sand with a layer of 20 cm.
- Place roofing material in the hole.
- Insert the frame from the reinforcement. Prepare a concrete solution and pour it into the well.
- Wait for the foundation to dry. After this, the base will be ready for further action.
How to build a shed from corrugated sheets
After the foundation has dried, you should start preparing the floor. To do this, it is necessary to lay concrete blocks throughout the entire level. Don't forget to make sure the blocks are at the same level.
You need to lay a frame on top of the blocks, and then you need to lay 30-40 cm crossbars. Secure the finished frame with self-tapping screws.
Once the subfloor is ready, work on the frame. Prepare the vertical components based on the height you want the shed to be. Don't forget about horizontal beams: they will make the building more durable. Tackle the fasteners using corrugated sheets.
Please note that at least 6 screws must be used per square meter. Lay the sheets overlapping by 20 cm. After erecting the frame, you can start insulating the walls.
Now we need to work on the roof of the barn. Please note that it can be single-slope or gable. A pitched roof takes less time and effort, while a gable roof is suitable for building an attic in the future.
Use corrugated sheeting; a polyester coating is better. It will protect the building from corrosion. The sheets must be mounted using self-tapping screws with a rubber component, laid in a layer of about 20 cm.
Brick barn
A brick shed is the most reliable and easy to use, which is why this material is most often used to create a shed.
A strip foundation is the most suitable for this structure, since this type of foundation is very reliable and strong. It is also able to withstand heavy loads. Let us tell you in more detail the technique of making a strip foundation:
- Clear the soil from the fertile layer and make markings. Be sure to maintain right angles;
- Dig a trench to a depth of about 1 meter;
- Pour sand about 40 cm thick into the bottom of the trench and compact it thoroughly;
- Build formwork from boards, the height of which should reach about 20 cm from the ground;
- Make a reinforcement frame from wire and reinforcement;
- Fill the entire strip with concrete;
- Cover the resulting product with film and leave to dry for several days. If the base is too dry, water it with water.
After building the foundation, it is necessary to do waterproofing. After this, start pressing the walls: when laying, half a brick made of silicate material will be enough.
Prepare the solution based on the instructions and weather conditions. Do not forget to do the jointing while the solution is still fresh; ventilation is also an important point - it is necessary to ensure that the room is regularly ventilated and dried.
After you have completed the last row of bricks, move on to one of the most important components of the structure - the armor belt. After this, you can start preparing the roof of the shed. The choice of roofing material is yours, the main thing in this case is only the result, since the top should protect the structure from precipitation and ensure a long service life for your shed.
Plastic shed
Modern developments allow the owner of the site to build a shed of plastic panels for quick installation. It is noteworthy that the construction of a structure from this material does not require thorough construction skills, since the assembly method is reminiscent of a children's construction set.
The base of the shed is a metal frame, and the walls are made of special plastic that is resistant to low temperatures. The floor of the structure will reliably protect it from moisture, and a good ventilation system will ensure regular entry of fresh air into the building.
Please note that the average assembly time is approximately three hours. The shed can be moved from place to place, and careful handling of the structure will extend the life of the plastic shed to thirty years.
Barn finishing
The exterior decoration of the building depends on the material you chose when constructing the building. So, the timber can simply be varnished. However, if the building was constructed of brick or foam block, finishing is simply necessary: it is better to use plaster on the walls.
Floor installation
If the structure does not claim to have a long service life, you can use soil as a floor. You can also cover the ground with simple boards. If you prefer a strip foundation, before laying the floor you need to work on the waterproofing layer.
Only after this lay the logs, and then the wooden shield that acts as the floor. A columnar foundation may involve the use of boards 10 cm wide, which are nailed to the joists.
The barn is an important building, as it is where building materials and tools for working on the site are kept. Building a shed yourself requires certain construction skills, but this task will not be too difficult for you if you use the tips described in this article.
Photo examples of beautiful garden sheds
- Senezh TOR product for processing ends;
- Senezh NEO for wall treatment;
- Senezh Aquadecor for other elements.
You need to pay close attention to substances that protect wood from rotting, since the life of a building directly depends on their quality. Therefore, we recommend that you carefully study the characteristics of this product before purchasing. If you approach the matter wisely, the wooden components of the structure will be able to retain their properties, safety and excellent appearance.
Ask your question
A barn is one of the most important and useful outbuildings. In this building you can store various kinds of garden supplies, barbecue, garden and home care products, and tools. If you really want to, you can even install a toilet and a summer shower in the barn.
With proper preparation, building a shed will not take much time or money. There are several types of such outbuildings. Beginners are recommended to give preference to frame structures - they are the easiest to construct.
Instructions for arranging a frame shed will be given below. Read the instructions and get started.
Choosing a location for a shed
When choosing a location for your shed, use personal preference. Some owners prefer it when the barn is located in some nook of the site. For others, it is more convenient when the barn is located next to the house.
It is most rational to build a shed on an area that is least suitable for growing garden and various types of agricultural crops. You can find a similar place in almost any area.
At the stage of choosing a place for arranging a shed, take into account the location of other zones of the land plot, take into account the dimensions of the building being erected and its external data. Try to ensure that the shed fits well into its surroundings and blends harmoniously with nearby buildings.
Set for work
- Wood processing machine. You can do without a machine, but with it the work will be faster and easier.
- Electric jigsaw.
- Hand-held circular saw.
- Electric planer.
- Screwdriver.
- Electric drill.
- Chain Saw.
- Boards.
- Logs.
- Ruberoid.
- Fastening elements.
- Switches.
- PVA glue.
- Sockets.
- Oilcloth.
Prices for various types of construction boards
Construction boards
Foundation
Any building structure needs a reliable and durable foundation that can support its weight.
Columnar, monolithic, strip and pile-screw type foundations are suitable for arranging a shed. A columnar foundation is suitable in most cases, so experts recommend giving preference to this particular design.
Mark the area for the foundation. Any suitable pegs, cord and tape measure will help you with this.
Using a tape measure, measure the sides of the figure and its diagonals. The length of the elements must be the same.
Dig holes 500-700 mm deep around the perimeter of the marked area, in the corners, as well as at the intersection points of the internal partitions (sometimes deeper, depending on the level of soil freezing) for installation. The optimal spacing of the pillars is 1.2-1.5 m.
Build supports from asbestos pipes filled with reinforcement and concrete, or brick pillars - choose at your discretion.
Make sure that the pillars are installed evenly using a building level, fill the space around the pillars in the pits with a sand-gravel mixture to approximately 150 mm of the height of the recess, and fill the remaining space.
Leave the foundation to gain strength for several days.
Before backfilling and concreting, you can treat the support columns with a special mastic. It will help improve the waterproofing of the base and extend its service life.
Start assembling the frame of the future shed. Pre-soak all wooden elements with an antiseptic. The best option is impregnation with color. This product is simply more convenient to use - untreated areas will be clearly visible.
Place a timber support on the dry base. Select the dimensions of the timber in accordance with the dimensions of the shed being built.
Base - foundation and perimeter made of timber 
Lay the timber on support posts, previously covered with waterproofing material (roofing felt). Fasten the columns in any suitable way at your discretion.
Lay wooden boards 3-4 cm thick on the frame. At this stage of work, the main thing is to cut out parts of the boards near the vertical posts as carefully as possible.
Attach the boards to the floorboards “in secret”.
When determining the required number of support posts, take into account the presence of openings for installing double-glazed windows and doors, as well as the number of corners of the structure.
Place the beams strictly according to the building level. For leveling, use slope sticks. They will allow you to provide temporary fixation of the bars in the required position. Use nails to temporarily fasten elements together. Hammer them in approximately half the length so that in the future there will be no difficulties in dismantling the temporary supports.
Attach vertical support posts to the bottom frame frame. Fixation is carried out using corners, self-tapping screws, and pins extending from the base.
The frame can also be built on brick supports. In this case, first, several rows of brickwork are built around the perimeter of the foundation, and then wooden vertical posts are installed on them.
Use an electric planer to plan the three inner sides of the vertical beam. Bevel the sides facing the interior of the shed. Leave untreated only the sides that will later be sheathed with external boards.
Roofing and wall cladding
Attach the top portion of the shed frame to the exposed vertical support posts. Pre-prepare cuts in the timber according to the size of the posts. Fix the connections with corners and self-tapping screws.
Traditionally, barns are equipped with roofing structures. In this case, the length of the wooden posts on one side should exceed the length of the opposite supports.
This placement will further contribute to the effective removal of sedimentary moisture from the roof surface.
Build a roofing structure from boards 4-5 cm thick. The length of the rafters should be approximately 50 cm longer than the length of the frame.
In the places where the rafters meet the beams, make cuts first. Lay the rafters on the frame and secure with self-tapping screws. The installation pitch of the rafters is 40-50 cm.
Treat the frame with an antiseptic. Attach batten boards to the frame. Boards measuring 2.5x15 cm are optimal.
A roof made of boards requires a mandatory layer arrangement. Traditionally, roofing felt is used for moisture insulation. If you plan to install a more beautiful finishing coating, use polyethylene film for waterproofing.
Choose the finishing coating at your discretion. You can lay corrugated sheets, euro slate, etc.
Lining is suitable for covering the walls of a building; chipboard, boards and other similar materials can also be fixed. First, sheathe the front side of the shed, and then line the side and rear walls. Attach the boards without gaps.
If necessary, sand the outside of the boards with an electric planer. Typically, such treatment is only needed when covering walls with boards. Thanks to this, the material will become more attractive in appearance, and rain will linger much less on a smooth surface.
If you wish, you can paint the walls of the shed. Oil and water-based compositions are best suited for painting such buildings.
Carry out the interior arrangement of the finished shed at your own discretion. If the building is intended to store various kinds of tools and accessories, install convenient racks and shelves around the perimeter. Shelving allows you to make the most of the available space and easily access the things you need.
You can buy racks and shelves ready-made or make them yourself, for example, from boards, fiberboard, leftover furniture, etc.
At this point the barn is ready. All you have to do is bring it to it, if necessary, and install the required devices.
Happy work!
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Corrugated sheet
Video - How to build a barn with your own hands
When planning the construction of a private house or cottage, it is important to include in the project the presence of such an important building as a barn. During the construction of housing, the utility block will serve as a good shelter for equipment, and upon completion of all work it can serve as a storage room or chicken coop, or become a reliable place for storing firewood. Using various building materials and original designs, it is quite possible to install such a structure on a plot of land with your own hands.
Peculiarities
Country life begins not only with the improvement of residential premises, but also the garden plot. Therefore, to ensure convenient placement of things and keep the area clean, you will need a garden shed. Before building such a cabin, the summer resident must decide what functions it will perform. If you are planning a barn for a summer cottage, which will only house tools and gardening equipment, then you can erect a simple structure without a foundation with windows and a good roof. In the same case, when the owners want to store hay in it, vegetables and fruits stored for the winter, vehicles and poultry, then a more durable structure will be needed.
Since the barn will be a separate building on the site, it will have to be registered, having previously prepared all the necessary documents.
For the construction of utility blocks, the law provides for special standards, so they cannot be built without obtaining permits from the sanitary and epidemiological services. In addition, it is worth considering that permanent structures can shade the beds on the neighboring site, which will lead to conflict situations. To avoid this, you need to comply with the standards for placing the shed, according to which the distance from its borders to the driveway and borders on the street side should be at least 5 m. As for the distances inside the site, outbuildings can be installed from houses at least 3 m, other buildings - from 1 m, and from trees - 4 m.
The law also states that each owner of a land plot cannot infringe on the rights of neighbors. Therefore, the placement of the shed should be planned in such a way that it does not in any way interfere with other summer residents. It is recommended to install blocks without keeping birds and animals according to household and sanitary standards at a distance of 6 m from adjacent areas. Before registering a shed, you must also obtain permission from the fire department. To do this, representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations will go to the site and evaluate the plan and draw a conclusion on the technical characteristics of the facility.
Once all the documentation is in order, you can safely begin building and arranging the barn.
Design
Any construction begins with design, and the installation of a utility unit is no exception. As a rule, in dachas, a shed is used not only for storing tools and things, but also serves as a separate room for a shower and toilet. Therefore, depending on the purpose of the barn, the owners need to provide for the installation of windows and doors in the future building. The simplest design is considered to be a design made from boards with assembly, but there are also many options using other building materials. Before drawing up the drawings of the shed, you should decide on its size and location.
It is also important to take into account whether the construction will be permanent or temporary, which will help in the future to avoid all kinds of additions. On medium-sized plots, shed designs of 2x3 m in size and 2.4 m in height are usually chosen.
Plank structures are considered an economical option for construction; they are installed within a week and can be easily dismantled. If you are planning a permanent utility block, then it is best to give preference to brick buildings. They are strong and durable, but their construction is expensive.
In addition, at the design stage it is necessary to resolve the issue of laying the foundation. The lack of a foundation can lead to rapid rotting of the floors, which will reduce the service life of the shed. If, according to the project, a cellar will be placed under the barn, then the foundation must be installed. For this purpose, a drawing of the main and underground structure is drawn up.
Layout
The barn is a simple structure, so it is quite possible to build it with your own hands. In order for the outbuilding to fit harmoniously into the landscape design and serve as a convenient place to place things, Before installing it, you need to properly think through the layout and make drawings, taking into account the following nuances:
- It is best to place the building in the background of the site so that it is not visible from the main entrance to the yard.
- The location of the building is chosen in such a way that it does not restrict access to other buildings.
- To protect the structure from rain and melt water, it should be built on a hill.
- Layout options need to be considered before construction work begins. If the barn is additionally equipped with a summer kitchen, play area or workshop, then it is advisable to make two separate entrances.
- If the utility block will only serve as a place for storing equipment, then it is enough to put a small collapsible shed on the site and cover it with siding or clapboard.
- When planning a structure, you should choose the appropriate type of roof for it. Usually it is made single-pitch or gable.
- The location of the doors and the roof slope should be determined before construction, otherwise precipitation will flow directly above the entrance.
If the area of the plot allows, then you can build a spacious barn, the layout of which would include not only a spacious storage room, but also a shower with a toilet. This will allow you to rationally store tools, gardening equipment and take a shower after working in the beds.
Kinds
Depending on the design features, the barn can be permanent or temporary. Country houses that are planned to be used on an ongoing basis are usually erected in such a way that they fit beautifully into the overall appearance of the site and resemble a residential building. Such mini-houses perfectly decorate landscape design, since the same building materials are used to decorate their walls and roofs as for the main house. A permanent shed must be strong, so it is installed on a foundation. In this regard, for this type of buildings it is important to choose the right location, because after installation it is problematic to move them.
The foundation for a permanent shed is selected taking into account the material of its walls and the type of soil on the site. As a rule, a columnar, shallowly buried, monolithic or strip foundation can serve as a reliable foundation. As for the walls, aerated concrete blocks are considered an excellent option for them, which are easy to install and light in weight. In addition, many craftsmen use frame technologies for exterior decoration, covering the walls with decorated corrugated sheets, lining or siding.
If you are building a budget barn, then concrete blocks are suitable for it.
The roof of permanent structures is usually covered with ondulin. This sheet material is in great demand, as it is characterized by excellent performance properties and is available in various colors. Traditionally, these types of sheds are built with a toilet or shower.
Modular structures that have a collapsible appearance are no less popular among summer residents. They are placed mainly in small areas or when the construction of a residential building is not completed and further planning of the territory remains to be done. Temporary sheds are built as quickly as possible from scrap materials. Since the design is simple, you can build it yourself, without the help of specialists.
The dimensions of the block are selected depending on the number of items that are planned to be stored in it. Usually these are small sheds measuring 2x2 or 3x3 m. Their structure is framed, choosing wood as the cladding. This allows for quick disassembly and assembly. As for the interior decoration, the walls are often left unclad, since the structure is designed for a short service life.
How to choose?
The main components of any summer cottage are a residential building, a garage, a gazebo and, of course, a barn. These structures are necessary for comfortable living outside the city, so they must be included in the design plan of the territory. When the area of the plot allows, then household objects are built separately, but if the place is small, then they are often combined by constructing a barn. In such situations, it combines a storage room, a shower room and a small toilet at the same time; options for extensions with a firewood shed are also possible. Therefore, the layout and design of the shed must be chosen before construction begins.
The utility structure should be placed in such a way that it is located behind the house, next to the border of the site. To hide it from neighbors’ views, it is recommended to camouflage it using vertical gardening.
You can also choose the original type of building and install it close to the house. The size and appearance of the barn are chosen not only taking into account the area of the garden area, but also its overall design.
The simplest option for a summer residence is considered to be ready-made outbuildings that have a prefabricated type of construction. They are a monoblock structure consisting of a metal frame. The walls of such a barn are sheathed with metal and additionally insulated. Since electrical wiring is carried out inside the room, the structure can be used as a multifunctional unit, including a place to relax, a small storage room, a shower room and a toilet. In addition, some prefabricated models provide a folding canopy that allows you to install a veranda.
Ready-made sheds are considered beneficial for a summer cottage; they are quickly assembled, inexpensive and take up little space. To install a container structure, you do not need to lay a foundation; it is enough to use monoblocks or a columnar base. The only thing you need to consider is that when purchasing such a model, you will have to connect internal communications: electricity and water collectors with hoses.
Installation of prefabricated structures is carried out using a truck crane. Such sheds look attractive in appearance and fit perfectly into any landscape design. In addition, they are also durable and reliable in operation, and thanks to their mobility, utility blocks can either be sold after building a house or moved to another convenient location.
Economical sheds built from slabs are also considered a good option for a summer residence. For their installation, use an unedged board. The frame is placed on a pre-prepared base. Since the structure is light in weight, it does not require a foundation.
To protect the building from moisture, it is placed on wide beams or wooden pallets. As for the size of the barn, it is usually made 2x3 m with a height of 2.5 m; the frame of a budget barn is made of timber, which is sheathed with a slab. The attractiveness of such buildings is given by the pitched roof and planted climbing plants.
If the owners of the dacha want to see a more modern version of the barn on their site, then they need to choose frame structures. They are quick to install, but the main condition for their construction is the production of a durable frame of high-quality timber. The external finishing of such blocks can be done with siding, which can be easily replaced with another material over time. The roof is usually made of a pitched or gable roof and is covered with bitumen shingles. A columnar foundation is well suited for a frame structure.
Of course, choosing a shed for a summer cottage is not an easy task, but if you calculate everything in advance and create an individual project, then even the most ordinary-looking outbuilding will become a real decoration of the site. In addition, today there are many design ideas that will turn an ordinary pantry not only into a place to store things, but also an excellent relaxation area.
Materials
When planning the construction of an outbuilding, it is important to consider its location, size and choose building materials. Brick sheds are extremely popular among summer residents. They are durable, practical, and beautiful in appearance.
They also have disadvantages:
- Not everyone can do brickwork, so often you have to use the services of specialists for construction. And this will entail additional costs.
- Expensive cost. In addition to bricks, you also need to purchase gravel, sand and cement for work. In the end, the amount will be quite large.
- The need to organize a construction site. If the garden area is small, this will create certain problems and inconveniences.
Wooden sheds are in no way inferior in their performance characteristics. They are quickly and easily assembled from timber; MDF, boards or OSB are used for their cladding. The main advantage of such buildings is considered to be light weight, low cost and the ability to install them yourself. The only drawback of wooden structures is the need to constantly treat the wood with special protective agents or paint it.
In order for such a structure to look beautiful on the site, it also needs to be regularly restored, and this will require additional costs.
Sometimes cellular concrete is chosen to build a shed. At the same time, it is not recommended to use gas silicate, since it quickly absorbs moisture and, therefore, a structure without high-quality finishing will last a short time. Foam concrete is good for outbuildings; it is easy to install and inexpensive. Ordinary plaster can serve as its finishing touch. There are practically no downsides to foam blocks.
If you plan to install a lightweight shed, then polycarbonate will be the ideal choice. This material is usually attached to a support frame made of timber. The frame is usually made of aluminum profiles or plastic pipes. If installed correctly, the shed can be assembled in a few days; all work is completed without outside help or extra financial costs.
A budget option for a country shed would also be corrugated sheeting, which is used to cover the structure. It has an aesthetic appearance, but in order to extend the life of the structure, you will have to worry about protecting it from moisture. With intense condensation and dampness, the “iron” will rust. In addition, it is not recommended to leave tools and other garden supplies in such a block for the winter.
If the shed is intended for temporary use, then it can be built from scrap materials. In this case, installation is carried out using everything that is at hand: old boards, profiles and slate. After the site planning is completed and the residential building is built, such a utility block is dismantled and a permanent facility is installed.
How to do it?
A country shed is a simple structure, so it is quite possible to build it with your own hands. The most important thing is that everything needs to be done step by step and worry about the availability of tools and materials in advance. Recently, wooden structures have been in great demand among summer residents; they can be easily installed yourself at minimal cost.
Before starting construction, you should make a plan diagram of the structure and purchase the following building materials:
- brick;
- roofing felt;
- shaped boards with a section of 150×50 mm;
- slate;
- logs 25 mm thick;
- staples;
- nails.
If the work is carried out by a novice master, then the following step-by-step guide will help them complete the construction:
- First of all, it is necessary to carefully prepare the area and clear it of debris and plantings. Then, to protect the lower part of the building from moisture, “brick chairs” are built, on which a layer of waterproofing material is necessarily laid and covered with timber on top.
- The next step will be the installation of racks. Their number is determined depending on the size of the barn. When installing racks, a step of 1.5 m is observed. In the corners of the joint, they are secured with nails and the supports are secured with temporary struts.
- Then the top trim is prepared and the corners are fixed “to the floor of the tree.” All strappings and racks are secured with nails no less than 200 mm long. In this case, you need to pay attention to the fact that the ends of the strapping extend from the back and front of the barn by 20-30 cm. A sheathing is installed on the top trim, which is covered with roofing felt and slate on top.
- Next, permanent struts and beams with a cross section of 50×50 mm are installed. They should be placed diagonally on the corner posts. In the place where the doors will be installed, an additional stand is placed and a crossbar is attached to it. The door frame is inserted into the prepared opening, after which boards are nailed to the pillars of the structure. If the boards are even, then they are laid close to each other; unedged boards are best nailed one at a time.
- Walls made of boards are covered on the outside with roofing felt, this will protect them from the negative effects of the external environment. Roofing felt should be nailed in such a way that its upper edges extend beyond the lower ones.
- The final stage of work will be laying floorboards along the bottom trim. They also hang the door itself and attach the lock.
This instruction concerns the construction of a wooden shed for temporary use. If you plan to install a permanent structure, you must first lay a solid foundation, make a frame and cover it with any building material. For utility units that will serve not only as a storage room, you will also need to complete the interior decoration.
Arrangement according to purpose
A garden shed has different functionality, so you can arrange it inside in different ways. The most popular type of finishing for utility blocks is clapboard cladding. It is possible to decorate a shed in this way if it is intended for storing shovels, firewood and other equipment, but when a shower is built into the shed, then wooden walls will not be the best idea. To solve this problem, first a plasterboard partition is erected, which is then lined with inexpensive tiles.
An important issue in arranging a barn will be the installation of all communications, including the installation of lighting. For summer residents who plan to use the building as a workshop, it is necessary to provide it with spacious cabinets and shelves. Often, spacious barns have space for storing vehicles; in this case, to facilitate entry, a concrete ramp should be made near the entrance gate. In addition, the utility block should be provided with a canopy, which will serve as an excellent place for storing firewood.
Design
Recently, most city residents have been trying to spend their free time in their summer cottages. Therefore, the cottage should not only be comfortable for living, but also have an appropriate appearance that emphasizes the beauty of nature. This applies to both a residential building and all adjacent outbuildings. If you decorate your shed in an original way, a dusty and tool-filled storage room can easily turn into an attractive “room.”
It is necessary to create the design of utility blocks by placing them on the site. If the area allows, then it is best to build spacious objects with the same style and decoration as a residential building.
This combination will harmoniously fit into the landscape of the garden area. If the dacha is small, you can install neat structures, decorating their walls with climbing plants. This way they will be invisible and blend in with other plantings in an original way.
The color of the shed's finishing should be selected depending on its size and the prevailing palette on the site. For small cottages, it is best to choose light shades; they will help visually expand the space. In addition, decorative painting can be done on a white or pastel background of the walls, thanks to which the building will take on a fabulous look. To get an original barn design, it is advisable to use several types of building materials when decorating it. For example, combinations of wood, brick and metal look unusual.
Beautiful examples
- Today, there are many projects for building a shed, but interesting design options that allow you to turn an ordinary pantry into something original are very popular among summer residents. Regardless of the size and design of the structure, it must be improved with the help of climbing plants or a pot with flowers. Thus, a small barn with a shed and a woodshed will turn into a beautiful mini-greenhouse.
- Recently, most dacha owners prefer to replace ordinary barns with large buildings, complemented by windows and doors. Thanks to this, you get a spacious and bright room where you can not only store gardening tools, but also relax comfortably. In this case, it is recommended to install windows from plastic, and cover the walls with colored corrugated sheeting. A good solution would be a small office shed or library shed, in which electrical outlets, a fresh interior and smart design will allow you to enjoy coffee and read books in the morning.
This building does not amaze the imagination with its architectural forms. However, the need for a good barn arises for every homestead owner. Someone wants to acquire a warehouse for household belongings or a workshop, someone is going to raise chickens or rabbits.
It’s good when the thought of an outbuilding comes to mind when building a residential building. There are no problems with the material at this time. Excess blocks, timber, sheet metal - everything can be put to use.
But when the idea of a utility room appears later, you have to rack your brains over what to build it from.
In this article we provide an overview of options tested in practice. We hope that getting to know them will help you decide what kind of shed to build in your country house.
Frame construction technology is applicable to any structure. Barns are no exception to the rule. The main idea is to create a rigid spatial “skeleton” that absorbs loads. It can be assembled from a wooden beam or from a profile pipe. Any sheet and molded materials are suitable for cladding.
Wood (slab, board)
An inexpensive option for any task: keeping animals, garages, warehouses, workshops. A good owner always has some timber, a couple of cubes of boards or slabs in stock. They can be used to construct such a building.
Wooden frame posts should not be dug into the ground. Even impregnation with an antiseptic will not be able to protect them from rotting for a long time. Therefore, before starting to assemble the frame, you need to think about the foundation. It is best to use columnar or pile. Having made it, they begin to install the support frame made of timber. Stands are attached to it. The rafters of the pitched roof are placed along their upper ends. Having assembled the wooden “skeleton”, it is sheathed with a board or slab.
Over time, cracks appear in the cladding made from ordinary edged boards. Therefore, it is better to use tongue and groove material for work. If it is not there, then you need to fill the joints with wooden planks.
Another simple way to protect walls from blowing is to install herringbone paneling, when each top row of boards overlaps the bottom with its edge.
To build a warm barn for wintering livestock, you need to attach a wind-moisture-proofing film to the posts and place vertical bars on it to secure the sheathing. After this, insulation begins, placing insulation (mineral wool, polystyrene foam) into the inside of the frame.
Insulation of wooden frame outbuildings
OSB board
When thinking about what to build a shed from, many people opt for OSB boards. At a cost of 1 m2, this material is slightly more expensive than boards, but cutting and installation are less hassle.
The main condition for quality is to position the frame posts so that the joints of the sheathing slabs are in their center. If everything is done accurately and evenly, then cladding takes a minimum of time.
OSB board practically does not rot and does not warp from moisture. However, you will have to paint the walls. Not only for aesthetic reasons, but also as additional protection.
Metal (corrugated sheet)
The remaining metal left after installing the fence can be used in the barn. The frame for it is best made from a profile pipe, but a wooden beam is also suitable for this purpose.
There are uses for old water pipes. By concreting them in the ground, you will get reliable racks. Purlins for fastening the cladding are fixed to them (by welding or bolting).
Using steel pipes as posts
Sheet metal without insulation is an option for a cold warehouse. If the building is allocated for a workshop or for keeping animals, then its walls from the inside will have to be lined with insulation.
Polycarbonate
It makes sense to use this material for cladding the frame when building a utility block with an enclosed run for poultry. Transparent walls are not needed for warehouses, garages and workshops, although if there is no alternative, it can also be used.
According to the technology of installation on the frame, honeycomb plastic is similar to the OSB board. In both cases, self-tapping screws are used for fastening. Only for polycarbonate you need to buy special ones with a wide cap and a sealing washer.
Slate
A popular improvised material for outbuildings. The old wave slate left over after replacing the roof can be used. The best basis for its fastening is wooden posts and purlins.
A more aesthetic solution is a flat asbestos cement sheet. Large surface area reduces installation time. Resistance to frost, moisture and sun increases the service life of such a structure several times compared to planks.
Straw
When considering materials for building a barn, few people realize that ordinary straw can be used in this capacity. More precisely, pressed blocks from it. In rural areas you can always buy this cheap and environmentally friendly material inexpensively.
Straw “bricks” do not burn. They are quite durable and hold heat well. True, it is quite difficult to assemble walls from them without using intermediate posts. Therefore, compressed straw blocks are most often used to fill gaps in a wooden frame.
The best way to finish such walls is to spray clay plaster over a steel mesh.
The cost of a thatched building is minimal. In terms of its thermal characteristics, it is significantly superior to sheds made of brick and cellular blocks.
Sawdust concrete
For ancillary buildings, you can use the technology of a formwork monolith with a frame. The most affordable material for this work is sawdust concrete. Bringing a couple of truckloads of wood waste from the nearest sawmill and buying cement is not a problem.
The main condition for quality in this matter is strong and even formwork. So don't skimp on it. Make shields from OSB and securely fasten them to the frame. After this, you can begin pouring the mixture of sawdust and cement mortar layer by layer.
Pallets
You can buy them inexpensively by visiting any wholesale center. Pallets are not used as cladding. The gaps between the boards are too large. Walls are built from wooden pallets. To do this, they are placed on a foundation and tightened together with bolts or threaded rods.
Having assembled the walls and installed the rafters, they began cladding. For this work we recommend using OSB boards.
Firewood and clay
Anyone who wants to make a cheap barn for pigs and other domestic animals can adopt an eco-technology called. The combination of wood, clay or cement-sand mortar gives excellent results.
There are two varieties of this technology: laying walls from logs in clay mortar with ligating the seams like bricks and filling the gaps between the frame posts with them.
The high strength of clay-wood structures is optimally combined with good energy saving indicators.
Sheds made of blocks, bricks and stones
Blocks made of cellular foam and aerated concrete are most often used for the construction of solid outbuildings. Their main advantages are low price, large size, precise edge geometry and low thermal conductivity.
For year-round operation, the ceiling under a pitched roof must be thermally insulated with mineral wool. When using a gable roof, you can do without additional insulation.
Arbolite blocks are another popular material for utility rooms. They are not as fragile as aerated concrete and at the same time durable and warm. The plaster adheres perfectly to the rough surface of the wood concrete. Therefore, it is most often chosen for finishing.
Winter sheds made entirely of brick are rare today. The main reason is the high labor intensity of the work. Therefore, in practice, this material is combined with blocks (arbolite, gas silicate), using it for external cladding.
The stone from the quarry remaining after pouring the foundation will find its place in the walls of the utility block. Such a building cannot be called warm. For winter use, it must be insulated from the inside with a mineral wool slab and sheathed with flat slate or wooden lining.
Flagstone, a flat-shaped calcareous stone, is best suited for laying walls.
Timber, logs and sleepers
When building a house from logs or beams, they need to be purchased in such a way that there is enough for a barn. Buildings made from the same material look much better than buildings of different types.
It is better to entrust the assembly to specialists. Many of those who did this work with their own hands later honestly admit their mistakes and mistakes.
A log house made of timber or logs as a barn is the optimal solution for year-round keeping of animals and arranging a workshop. For a cold warehouse, it will be cheaper and easier to assemble a regular frame, covering it with slate, boards or metal profiles.
Occasionally on estates there are outbuildings made from old sleepers. Today, wood is rarely used for their manufacture, since it has been replaced by reinforced concrete. However, in remote corners of Russia you can still find deposits of sleepers that have served their purpose.
If by chance you manage to buy them, then there will be no special problems with the construction of outbuildings. Such a structure cannot be called beautiful, but it cannot be denied good quality and durability.
Assembling the walls is simple: sleepers are laid one on top of the other, tying them at the corners. The height of the walls is secured with steel brackets driven into the side edges of the beams. In corner joints, for greater rigidity, staples are driven in from above, connecting the joined rims with them.
There is another installation method. In this case, part of the sleepers along the perimeter of the building are dug vertically into the ground. The rest are cut with a chainsaw so that a protrusion is formed at the ends - a spike. A groove is formed on the pillars by driving two bars onto the sleepers.
After this, sleepers are inserted into the prepared grooves in layers, fixing them together with staples.
Prefabricated sheds
The progressive methodology of prefabricated construction is also applicable to outbuildings. A “designer” for a shed can be ordered along with the purchase of a house kit, or this can be done when the need for a utility room arises.
There are three design options for prefabricated buildings:
- SIP panels;
- sandwich (metal-insulation-metal);
- plastic panels.
From this list you can only make SIP panels with your own hands. To do this you will need an OSB board, glue, polystyrene foam and a wooden beam. Assembly is carried out according to the “sandwich” principle. Having laid a sheet of particle board flat, apply an adhesive composition to it and lay foam plastic so that there is space along the contour for installing the joining beam. After this, a second sheet is glued onto the insulation, and the load is evenly laid out on top.
The panels are installed by inserting joining bars between them. They are screwed to the edges of the slabs with self-tapping screws. To prevent blowing, foam is used at the joining areas.
Sandwich panels are familiar to everyone who has seen modern construction change houses. Their design is similar to OSB boards. In addition to polystyrene foam, rigid mineral wool can be used in them. The outer cladding is made of steel corrugated sheets. For installation, such panels require a metal frame.
It should be noted that the price of sheds made of SIP panels and sandwich is higher than the cost of frame and block structures. The main advantages of the fully assembled version are high installation speed and mobility.
The ubiquitous composite plastic has also reached outbuildings. Today, houses are made from it, in which you can store garden tools or set up a small workshop. They are not suitable for keeping domestic animals. The reasons are the small area and lack of insulation.
Plastic “containers” cannot be called cheap. Despite this, ease of assembly, durability, aesthetic appearance and lack of corrosion attract the attention of owners of private estates and summer cottages.