Come springtime, many of us take a look in our garage jam-packed with a hodgepodge of bicycles, lawn furniture, garden tools and implements and kid’s play equipment. The obvious solution is a storage shed, and a steel shed is a good choice. It’s not going to win a beauty contest, but its usefulness will conquer the clutter and provide much needed storage space.
You’ll find steel sheds sold at home and lawn and garden centers as well as online. The units are designed for do-it-yourself construction and made of pre-cut parts with the required fasteners and hardware included. The wall, roof and door parts are rust-resistant galvanized steel with a baked enamel finish. Swing-open, factory-assembled, core-backed doors are pre-hinged and include a key-locking handle.
The walls, roof and door parts are designed for on-location assembly, but the number of parts and hardware fasteners can be intimidating. Spend time studying the assembly instructions so you understand how it goes together, in what order and what tools are needed.
Check with your local building department to find out if a permit or a concrete floor is required. If that’s the case, budget more for a concrete anchor kit, plus the cost of a concrete slab.
A carpenter or handyman will assemble a 6-by-8-foot steel shed for $950, which includes labor and material. If you have carpentry skills and tools, you can build it yourself for $745, the cost of the shed, floor kit, plywood and anchors, and pocket a 22 percent saving.
Enlist a helper to hold the parts and put them in position while assembling the components. You’ll probably need a ladder, too. And wear work gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges during assembly.
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.
Pro Cost—DIY Cost—Pro time—DIY Time—DIY Savings—Percent Saved
$950—$745—5.0—8.0—$205—22 percent
