How to Build a 4×8 Lean to Shed in a Week or Less?

For most people, building a shed sounds pretty daunting. Believe it or not, most of us think that this job is best suited for professionals, who actually charge you a fortune. It seems like a dead end! If you want to install a shed in your garden then you either have to pay thousands of dollars or die trying! If that’s been the case with you until now then luckily you are at the right place!

We at 3DSHEDPLANS are a group of professionals who provide you with easy and workable shed building solutions. All our shed plans are built by professional shed builders in an easy to follow for any new or experienced shed builder.

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started with building a 4×8 Lean to shed…

Step # 1: Inquire about the Legal Shed Building Permits

The first step is actually not building the shed but mainly inquiring about the legalities of your locality. You need to learn what type of permits you require in order to build and install a shed in your yard. Once you have the requirements set forth by your state, you will then be able to decide upon the size and type of shed to build.

Step # 2: Understand the Different Types of Sheds

Obviously, you will have to decide upon a specific shed size to build for your yard. But, what’s more important is to understand what type of sheds are best suited for what sizes.

• Lean-to Sheds: Lean-to sheds are usually small to medium size sheds. These sheds are attached to a wall in your yard, hence the name ‘lean to’ sheds. They are best suited for storing supplies & utilities.

• Gable Sheds: These are the most popular type of sheds around. The roof is a gable roof, which gives it the name. Unlike lean-to sheds, these sheds are standalone. Since they are standalone sheds and require minimum efforts to build, they can easily be built in any size you want; small, medium or large.

• Hip-Roof Shed: Hip-roof sheds are not as popular as gable sheds. The difference between the two is only in the type of roof. However, building a hip-roof might be a bit too complicated for new woodworkers. Also, hip-roofs are best suited for large sheds. Needless to say, they look exquisite.

Step # 3: Get the Tools & Materials:

We are now close to starting to build the shed. But, before we start, we obviously need the required tools and materials. Some common tools and materials would include pressure treated timber, galvanized nails, rafters, trusses, tongue and groove plywood, asphalt shingles and saw and hammer. In case you are still confused about the materials, we suggest you buy one of our PREMIUM SHED PLANS to get a complete list of materials and tools required to build the shed.

Step # 4: Learn the Dimensions & Style of Your Shed:

Since we are building a 4×8 lean-to shed, the dimensions would be 8 feet width from the font and 8 feet 1 inch from the top plate. Similarly, the sides will be 9 feet and 4 inches in height and 4 feet and 1 inch in width. Note that we will be installing a double door in this shed that would be 5 feet and 7 inches in width and 6 feet and 1 ½ inches in height. However, you can install any type of door you want while adjusting the measurements for it.

Step # 5: Building the Foundation & Flooring:

Now that we have the materials, tools and dimensions, let’s get started with building the foundation, which is the most important part of building a reliable and solid shed. You will be using pressure treated timber with a width of 4 feet and 8 feet length. We highly recommend pressure treated timber for foundations since it is a sturdy material that will last for ages. Once you have built the foundation, you will use ¾ inches thick tongue and groove plywood as flooring.

Step # 6: Building & Setting up the Walls:

After building the foundation, the next step is to start building the walls. The right and the left wall will have the same dimensions that would be 4 feet from the top plate width and 3 feet and 9 inches from the bottom plate width. The height of both the walls would be 6 feet and 7 inches. Use pressure treated timber for building the joists and skids for the walls. Once done, use 3.5 inches galvanized nails to attach the walls on the foundation.

A Few Pointers:

• Use temporary brackets to set up the walls while you fix them permanently.

• Make sure to cut out the area for the door.

• Use any form of siding to protect the walls and give it a professional finish.

Step # 6: Building the Roof

Now that we have the walls and the foundation in place, let’s get started with probably the most complicated part of shed building; the roof. While the roof seems like the most complicated part, if you follow our FREE or PREMIUM shed plans, you can do it in a matter of hours.

• For this shed, you will keep the overall width to 8 feet and the length to about 4 feet and 7 inches. Once you have built the rafters for the roof, fix them in place with galvanized nails.

• Once the rafters are in place, start adding shingles to the roof. We prefer using asphalt shingles since they are cost effective and highly durable.

That is almost it! You can now add finishing to your shed by installing a drainage system, using waterproof sheathing to avoid water entering the shed and adding siding on the walls and roof.

Still did not get the trick? Why not download one of our FREE or PREMIUM plans that come with 3D illustrations and step by step instructions on building the shed, diagrams to visually understand the placement of parts, and a complete list of materials and tools.