Tools Needed To Build A Shed

When you need a storage building for the backyard, a serious option for many people is to build their own shed from a plan.

There are many advantages to this but to do the job properly you will need the correct equipment, hand tools, and power tools. These will make the build a lot easier and quicker, and enable each phase of the work to run smoothly.

If you do home maintenance already you probably have a collection of tools and DIY equipment that can be used for this job. As a guide though, you will find it useful to have the following tools in your kit if you are going to build your own shed:

Essential Tools Needed to Build a Shed

• Hammer
• Wooden stakes, twine, and chalk for marking out the site
• 4 Foot Level
• Measuring Tape - accurate measurements are essential
• Carpenter's pencil
• Screwdrivers
• Nails and screws
• Framing square
• Hand saw - good quality with a sharp blade
• Wood clamps
• Wood chisels
• Sandpapers
• Wood glue
• Safety equipment - goggles, ear defenders, mask - especially if using power tools
• Pair of ladders or step ladders
• First Aid Kit - even the most experienced woodworkers get the occasional cut, so be prepared.

Don’t overlook the safety goggles. There’s going to be a lot of sawdust in the air and you don’t want to risk an injury to your eyes. Use a decent pair that doesn’t inhibit your vision and which provides full protection around the eyes.

You don’t have to buy power tools. You can do a lot of work the traditional way if you wish - sawing, drilling and so on, but if you do, make sure your saw is freshly sharpened and that your drill bits are not blunt.

Doing the work by hand can be tiring when there is a lot of it, and will probably take you a lot longer than using power-tools.

The main power tools used for shed construction are a Miter Saw (circular saw) and a drill/driver (or one of each). The miter saw makes short work of cutting multiple parts and is a great time saver. A drill/driver also saves a lot of time when you are drilling and driving lots of screws.

You could choose to use a nail gun instead of a power drill. These work out a lot more expensive and are best rented as this will be a much cheaper option. You’ll need to rent the nail gun together with hose and compressor and to buy a supply of the nails needed.

Of course, the renting option applies equally to the miter saw and drill if you don’t already own them. However, if you have plans for other home improvement projects, they are a sound investment.

Power Tools

Miter Saw