How to build a shed under a deck. The following youtube video covers some important factors to consider when building such 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 looking project! Looking to do something similar – headroom issues also. How much caulking did you use up? My deck is about 2 1/2 times the size of yours. Looking at roughly 6 rolls of 20″ x 50′ aluminum flashing from Lowes. I covered a portion already that is a storage space.
I used quite a bit. Make sure you use NPC Solar Seal Caulk. The best caulk on the planet IMHO. This stuff is used to seal sunrooms, so it can handle the elements. It is super strong and plyable forever. The caulk on my shed has been good for a decade now and I haven’t had to do a thing. Still no leaks. IIbought my caulk from… http://www.wimsattdirect.com/products/PU_D_MFLC/PU_D_MFLC_121040.html
I also recommend a power caulking gun because of the quantity of caulking I was doing was made much easier with a power caulker. I used one by ryobi. http://www.amazon.com/Factory-Reconditioned-Ryobi-ZRP310-Power-Adhesive/dp/B0015IXMN8
Thanks for the quick reply! I was trying to gauge how much tubes because I was going to multiply the number by 2 and go from there. Also it looks like you came up with a good cutting scheme to get the aluminum to fit in between the joists neatly and uniformly. My deck is also already in place with deck boards. I have about 11′ x 25 ‘ of usable space under my deck – part of it has a concrete slab – would like to do all – dug it out already and put down gravel. I need a work shop bad – I have a bunch of woodworking tools that I want to put to use – probably could open my own contracting business with all the stuff that is here. My yard could use some curb appeal too! LOL. Thanks again – great work. I do a lot of work by myself too – way too much. Almost done remodeling the interior of my home all by myself. Problem is: now I am about done – what to do with all the tools that have been kept in walkout basement.
Isn’t aluminum expensive? Is there not a plastic or non corrosive sheet metal that can be used?
Actually a roll of sheet aluminum was pretty cheap…. an it should last a very very long time.
Sorry to bother again. What thickness did you use for the sheet aluminum! Thanks.
I was planning to do something similar. I just saw a YouTube video where a guy screwed corrugated plastic to the bottom of the deck. He stepped down boards underneath and screwed to those to create a pitch. It seems like a good idea, cheap and easy. Any thoughts?
That should work fine and was also my first consideration when I was designing my shed.
But, I didn’t want to loose headroom in my shed … and I wanted to hide the appearance of a visible roof.
Wow, quick response. I see what you’re saying about the head room. Fortunately, that should not be an issue with my project. Thanks
Thanks for the detailed overview of your shed, I plan on working on this project soon. You said that you left room at the top of your walls for heaving of the concrete during winter. Does this mean that the walls are not attached to the underside of the deck?
That’s correct… the walls are not attached to the deck. Most people might think that would make the walls flimsy and weak, but if you build all 4 walls and bolt them to a concrete slab… they are very solid and anyone that looks at my shed or pushes on the walls… can’t even tell that it is not connected to the deck. If you live in a cold winter climate like Michigan… do not connect your shed to your deck… IT WILL HEAVE IN WINTER and lift your deck. Over time that can significantly weaken your deck and can lead to catastrophic failure to the ledger board connection to your house. Good luck with your shed design… and please send photos. I’d love to see other designs and techniques. Good Luck.