Shed - Part 14: Doors

I was planning on building sliding barn doors for the shed, but I couldn't bring myself to pay for the hardware that I'd need. I instead looked all over the place for some nice big offset hinges. I finally found some that were a decent price. I mounted the doors on the outside of the hinges so I needed to use a spacer to make things fit. I used a big fat washer. It was the exact same thickness as the hinge metal!

The wood I chose to use for the doors is an ACX plywood (A is a good side, C is a not so good side, X is for exterior grade glue). The doors are about three feet by seven feet. I used one of the plywood remnants as a hinge placement template so I could local the hinges on the shed.

After mounting each door, I applied a coat of exterior polyurethane to both faces and the edges. The plywood will eventually turn gray, but I think it will take a while since the doors are on the north side of the shed.

All three doors are on. I have two more coats to apply. I also have to flatten the doors. They've warped just a little bit because of the beautiful PNW autumn humidity. I have a couple of ideas on how I'd like to true them up. Now for the handle and lock hardware.

Blueberry Harvest 2011

We picked all the ripe blueberries last week. It was a meager harvest. They're not it the best location (they need more sunlight), but that will be rectified next season since we're moving them. I think summer's late start didn't help, too. Still, they're our own and they taste really good!

Shed - Part 13: Paint

I painted the shed even though it was windy and rainy this last weekend (not really recommended). The paint brand that I painted the new parts of the house is no longer available so I had to get a match. The matched paint is close (a hair darker). The big square is the original and the small square is the new paint. The brand of paint is available in Canada, but I don't think I'll be driving to Vancouver just for paint.

I'm only painting the north and south wall of the shed right now. The east and west walls will be enclosed so they don't really need paint. One gallon of paint covered the front and back.

Here are some shots of the finished paint job.

My wife and I tried to get our two-year-old to help paint, but he didn't want to wear his painting smock (one of my old T-shirts). He went inside and took a three and a half hour nap instead.

Shed - Part 12: Glazing, Siding, and Window Unit 3

I got a lot done last weekend (and last night). The roof glazing, the siding, and the window are now all done for unit 3. Hooray! My wife and I have also decided to modify the additional sections on either end. We've decided to forgo the hot tub and enclose the west pad for gardening equipment storage (lawnmower, wheelbarrow, etc.). The east section will still be home for the table saw but will now be enclosed. Both the east and west sections will have bi-fold doors.

The color scheme will be the same as the house (blue with white trim, and natural wood for the doors).

The next steps are to paint the north and south sides of the shed and then install the sliding doors. I suspect I can get my two-year-old to help me paint.

Shed - Part 11: Framing Walls and Rafters Unit 3

A three day weekend with some free time equals shed work. Yay! I got the walls and the rafters framed for unit 3.

Shed - Part 10: Siding and Window Unit 2

It has unfortunately taken a while to get back the the shed project. I finally got some time yesterday and today to nail on the siding and install the window.

It's really starting to come along. I hope I can get unit 3 done in less time that unit 2 took. And I've decided to build all three units, then paint, then install the trim and the doors. I found a farm supply store locally that has the hardware for the sliding doors I want to built, too.

First Blueberries

The blueberries are beginning to get ripe. Very slowly. The two-year-old has discovered them and has be gently led away since he'll eat the green ones, too. It's very satisfying to see the berries change color since the summer has been so cool and cloudy. We'd thought they'd never get ripe!

No More Trailer

Notice anything different in the above photo? No trailer! Just sold it today. And, unfortunately, for less than we paid. A lot less. I am not a trailer expert. And I didn't have a lot of time to shop around and learn before making the trailer purchase last October. And while I think I got the best trailer available at the time and for our needs, it had some water damage and leaks that I didn't know about or understand.

I found a buyer that understood the issues and was willing to fix them so I can sleep at night knowing I didn't screw someone over. And now the end of the driveway is empty. Yay!

Shed - Part 9: Rafter Framing and Glazing Unit 2

I finished up the rafter framing and roof glazing on unit 2 this last weekend. Nothing really new or different to report. I did take advantage of the fact that the glazing is a little expandable to accommodate some of the creep that was showing up on the back side in the rafters. I was able add 3/8" to the run of 8 feet which was nice because now unit 3 can start from zero instead of being in the hole.

Shed - Part 8: Wall Framing Unit 2

I got the framing itch yesterday and today. And now the walls are framed for shed unit 2. I'm still shopping for the hardware for the sliding doors so I can't really proceed on unit 1. Well... I guess I could start building the shelving in unit 1.

Never-the-less... I framed the walls. I'm learning a few things as I go. Like... make the front perfect and let the back side absorb the errors in tolerances. And unit 2 is approximately 3.5" taller than unit 1. Since the doors will be the same size, that means that the header for the doorway is bigger.

Framing for unit 2 seemed to go more quickly. That's partially because I only framed three walls (the fourth was essentially already built). All the 2x4's are assembled using nails, but I'm using screws when attaching the walls together. I'm also using screws along with nails when attaching walls to the floor.

Then next post will likely be about installing the rafters for unit 2.

Shed - Part 7: Window

Installing the north facing window on the shed this weekend was the easiest part about the shed so far. I used Sunlite which is a clear twin-wall polycarbonate. It comes in 24"x96" panels and is 8mm thick (which is just under 3/8" which is the thickness of the siding). I'll be putting on trim around the window and along the corners of shed someday.

I used screws to attach the glazing to the shed. I cut little squares out of the top layer of the glazing so that the head of the screw was below the surface. Then I put a little piece of tape over the hole. You eventually won't see the tape or screws when the trim is on. I also taped the ends of the glazing panel. The tape will minimize condensation in the hollow glazing.

The sliding door comes next.

Shed - Part 6: Siding

I finished installing the siding on the first shed unit this weekend. I used a preprimed 3/8" thick OSB siding panel. Now that the siding is on, the shed is very stiff and doesn't rack at all. The interior is very well illuminated because of the translucent roof, but I am going to install windows the north wall above the doorway any way. I think it will look better and it will guarantee some additional light even in the winter or if the pine needle built up on the roof gets too thick.

I may start framing the next unit now since I'm still exploring ways to do the sliding door and the windows. We'll see. The weather is so nice right now that I may be able to crank through the next two units pretty quickly. Especially since my brother is moving to town and my brother-in-law will be in town for a little while, too. One of us will play with my son while the other builds the shed.

I should install shelving and peg board next. That way I can move stuff into the shed right away and clear out the entryway in the house.