Building a Shed under a Deck
I used 3dsmax to model my deck and shed. I recently converted the 3D deck & shed plans into sketchup so that others can benefit.
Feel free to download the sketchup file and use Google Sketchup to view, measure, and modify my shed/deck plan for your own use.
FREE Google Sketchup Plans for my deck and shed.
Back in 2001 my new home needed a deck. I designed a deck that was small and simple. The 2 posts and single beam were massive screwed and glued planks. I am proud of the fact that I single handedly designed and built my deck. It was a lot of fun figuring out how to lift that heavy, wet, pressure-treated beam onto the posts all by myself. The posts weren’t small either, when you consider they are almost 6 feet underground! Overkill should be my new middle name.
Designing my deck with only 2 posts, allowed plenty of space for a shed. The first stage of building my shed was to build the roof within the joists of the deck. This stage took a long time and a bunch of thought. I decided to build an angled trough system with curved sheets of aluminum flashing.
Here you can see the underside and the gradual slope for rain runoff.
This was an incredibly tedious process. I used a large quantity of industrial caulk to seal the aluminum to the joists. This tedium will be worth it because it maximizes my sheds headroom.
I’m 6′ 3″ and there is just 1″ of headroom from the joists.
The next time I need to cut bricks… I’ll get a diamond blade. It sure took me a long time to cut them with an abrasive disc.
The shed roof survived the winter and showed no leaks. Now the next stage. I had a concrete pad poured. I decided to put my shed entry on the left side of the deck, so I had to dig the hillside down and create a patio for the doorway. This summer was incredibly hot and moving my sprinkler lines was no fun.
It’s took an eternity to figure out how to build the walls. I had to leave a gap between the walls and the deck. I expected the concrete to heave in the winter.
My excitement is building and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
The doorway is short and non-standard. I had to build a custom double door.
Another month or so would pass before I could finish my custom shed doors, but I’m happy with the result. I wanted my shed to look as nice as I could make it… so I wrapped it in matching vinyl siding. My trailer-lift project may have been my most gratifying project, but my shed has been the most useful. Good thing I allowed space for the concrete to heave in winter… because it did just that!
YAAA! My garage is clean and useable again.
’)
Great job! I have a similar situation but my deck is not square, but has a extension towards the back of the wall and unfortunately the deck was already built before we moved in. I am thinking about modifying your roof idea so I do not have to take up deck boards. If you happen to have any plans you can send me let me know and I will provide my email. Thanks Andy
This looks great. I’m very impressed with what you came up with here.
I’m about to start building a deck with a shed underneath it as you have done here.
I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing your plans for both the deck and the shed. My situation is pretty well the same as yours.
Thanks, Derek
OK… I converted my 3ds max 3D models into Google sketchup format and update this post.
Go to the top of this post and you can find the link to download the sketchup file.
Let me know if that helps!
@Andy
Andy,
I am in the same situation. I think the ideas about flashing the joists are fantabulous. But how do we accomplish this when your deck boards are in place? Very difficult to work from below. Did you have any ideas or recommendations?
It is impossible to do the flashing with the top deck boards in place.
I used screws to put down my top deck boards, just in case I need to remove the boards.
MAKE SURE YOU USE SOLAR SEAL BRAND caulk for sealing the flashing to the joists. That stuff is the best! Ask anyone who has used it.
If your boards are already NAILED down… You’ll have to un-nail them, do the flashing, and then screw them back down. Otherwise you’ll have to create a roof that is hung below the joists. There are some products on the market for this, but they aren’t very cheap.
I am also about to build a deck and office below. I was wondering if you thought about using a wooden platform floor or if laying concrete first is the way to go. I thought wood flooring would be less expensive. Thanks.
Boji
I suppose a wood floor should work. I just wanted a concrete floor. In either case (if your further north like me) then you need to allow for frozen ground heave. Sure would love to see photos when your done.
Wow! That looks great! We’re thinking of doing the same sort of thing. Wondering if you installed a gutter (or any other way of diverting the water run off from the trough)?
Your project sure shows well. Wondering about how your flashing is secured between the deck. Did you nail it in place or is it held by caulking only?
I used my air staple gun to fix the position of the aluminum … then the NPC Solar Seal industrial caulk.
Thank for the information and including a google sketchup model. A question though. How did you cover the wall closest to the house?
Thanks again.
@Eric
Good question.
As you can see by the photos… I built the wall tight to the vinyl siding of the house.
Since that shed wall can’t get any rain or exposure… I didn’t put anything on the plywood.
The shed’s vinyl corners also help hide the backwall. Even if your standing there and try to see the shed back wall… you can’t, because of the vinyl corners. There is probably a 1 to 2 inch gap between the house wall and shed wall.