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If you are building garden sheds for your yard, you want to make sure that you do not end up with sheds that simply fall apart as time goes by. Building a shed is not hard; building it well is what takes a little bit of extra work. If you do not put in the effort, you will not have a shed that you can be proud of, that will last for a long time. Instead, you will have mess, something that needs to be torn down and replaced. The following are things to do, a few tips that can keep you from building a regrettable shed.

1. Pour A Solid Foundation
Many people do not think that a shed needs a foundation at all, but you will have much better odds of having a good shed if you have a concrete place to start construction. This is especially true if you are building it yourself on the spot where you want it to sit. Dig a shallow hole, pour some concrete, and start that way. You can buy bags of concrete mix and combine them with water — for something the size of a garden shed, you do not need to pay a lot of money or have a huge foundation. There are some exceptions, sheds that do not need foundations, but it can never hurt to know that the shed will not sink into the ground as it settles.

2. Use Too Many Nails
When you are framing the shed, use more nails that you think you need. Sure, you might be able to support an overhead joint with just three nails. It might hold for a while. However, you really should use five nails in a crossing pattern. This will give the most support and will make sure that the frame does not begin to come apart either in the weather or when the shed settles. It is much more expensive to have to go back later and repair the shed than just to use a lot of nails the first time through.

3. Treat The Wood
The wind, rain, and snow can all be hard on garden sheds. Make sure that you treat the wood in some fashion so that it does not rot and break. You could paint the shed if you want it to match your home. If you would rather that the shed retain the beautiful look of real wood, you could just put on a clear coat. Thompson’s makes a very good clear coat that will protect the shed, allowing the water to run off instead of penetrating the boards; it will also make the wood shine.

If you follow these three basic rules, you will have a strong shed. It will sit upon a firm foundation and will stay strong even in the wind. Water will not harm the integrity of the wood, which can cause the shed to break apart. Garden sheds built in this fashion will last for years.