How To Build a Shed
Pine Harbor Wood Products

The following are instructions on how to build a shed with a Pine Harbor do it yourself post and beam garden shed and storage shed kit.

We would love for you to buy one of our shed kits, but if you don't live in the New England area it may not be economically feasible for you to have one of our kits shipped to you. 

While these shed kit assembly instructions are not exactly plans, they could be used to cut and build a post and beam shed out of lumber you may be able to buy from a sawmill near you.

The building measurements are relatively simple to figure out from these instructions. With the exception of the roof rafters and the notching of the posts to accommodate the purlins, all of the other pieces are straight cuts and either 2x4 or 4x5 lumber.

The floor frame should be assembled in place as it can be quite heavy with the larger sheds. Use spikes ( 16d) nails to assemble the floor frame.

The floor joists are nailed through the outside of the box into the end of the joist 16" on center. Use 4 nails per joist end.

Level the assembled floor frame and shim as necessary. You may want to take diagonal measurements to check the floor frame for square before plywood is applied.

Pine Harbor Pre-cut post and beam shed kits

Apply plywood starting in the corner using 8d nails. Plywood should be flush with the edge of the floor frame as the boarding covers down to the bottom edge of the floor frame. If it hangs over you will have a problem applying the boards.

Stagger (lap) your plywood joints and nail off entire sheet as you go. You can snap chalk lines to use as a guide for nailing the plywood. Locate your joists by the nailing on the outside box of the floor frame.

Be sure to nail all your plywood completely, and make your plywood joints as tight as possible to discourage insects and rodents from using your shed. Now is a great time to stain or paint your floor this will aid in cleaning and protect the plywood

Attach the corner posts with the 5" side toward the gable or narrow ends of the shed flush with the edge of the plywood. The notches should be facing each other on the inside of the shed. Use spikes for nailing.

Toe or angle nail the corner posts on all sides (use16 d nails)

Next apply the 4x4 top plates to the top of the corner posts. Apply the front and back top plates first, flush with the outside edge of the corner posts. This will leave a 1" shelf on the corner posts for the top plates on the gable ends.

Next apply the top plates on the gable, or short ends of the shed. There should be a 1" shelf left on top of the corner posts to receive the gable top plates. Trick nail a short board to the top of side plates to secure connection while nailing beams can fall off the 1" shelf

This is a great time to call on a friend to help, pull the posts inward as you install the top plates , a second hand to hold connection while nailing

Close up of top plate assembly. (looking at it  from the gable end)  see how the gable end top plate rests on the 1" shelf atop the corner post , nail all sides together (use spikes or 16d nails)