Taunton Press Building Sheds

A backyard shed is a small building with big decisions. I started my project with a rough sketch, a list of must-haves (bikes, garden tools, a bench), and a sense that I’d need a reliable roadmap from ground to ridge. Building Sheds became that roadmap. It’s a practical, photo-rich guide that balances inspiration with clear, sequenced instruction, and it held up well from planning through to the last bit of trim.

Getting started: scope and structure

This is a 224‑page, fourth‑edition guide that walks you through site choice, foundations, framing, roofing, siding, doors, windows, and finishing details. The strength of the book is its structure: each phase of the build is broken into digestible steps, supported by sharp photos, diagrams, and callouts. I appreciated that it doesn’t assume a pro’s tool chest; it suggests efficient approaches with common tools and notes where specialty hardware speeds things up.

The book presents several shed styles. I built a compact, board‑and‑batten gable model and tweaked the dimensions to fit a tight side yard. The format made those adjustments manageable: the explanations focus on principles (layout, bearing points, rafter math) as much as exact measurements, so you can scale a design without losing the plot.

Site, layout, and foundations

Site prep and layout are where DIY projects often veer off course. The guidance here kept me honest. The section on zoning and setbacks is brief but timely—enough to remind you to check local rules before you pour money into lumber. Layout using batter boards and string lines is covered with clear visuals; I had no trouble squaring the footprint with the 3‑4‑5 method as shown.

Foundation options include skids, concrete piers, and other variations you’d expect for small outbuildings. I chose a pier-and-beam setup on a mild slope. The book’s step‑by‑step for setting piers, cutting beams, and shimming to level was straightforward, and the diagrams of load paths helped me understand why spacing and soil considerations matter. If you’re thinking slab-on-grade, you’ll get high‑level notes, but the book doesn’t go deep on anchor bolt placement, sill sealing, or moisture breaks. For slab builds, plan to supplement with local code guidance and a dedicated concrete reference.

Framing: walls, floors, and roof

For me, the floor platform chapter was where confidence clicked in. The author explains joist sizing, rim boards, and fastener choices clearly, and the material lists at the start of each build phase are practical shopping aids. I built the platform in sections, as suggested, which made transport and assembly easier in a tight space.

Wall framing is similarly well covered. Stud layout, window and door headers, and sheathing order are all shown with tight photos that match the text—no second‑guessing what you’re looking at. I liked the tip boxes that offer alternates: for example, using pocket screws and construction adhesive to keep frames square if you’re working alone.

Roofing gets a thoughtful treatment. There’s enough on rafter layout and birdsmouth cuts to get you safely to a first‑try fit, and the book offers multiple roof styles (shed, gable, and more). I built a simple gable with overhangs; the ridge setup, rafter spacing, and blocking guidance were easy to follow. If you’re new to roof geometry, expect to double‑check a few cuts; the book explains the why, not just the what, and that makes the learning curve gentler.

Doors, windows, and weatherproofing

Doors and windows are where a shed stops looking like a box and starts looking like a building. The book includes a solid, shop‑friendly method for a simple batten door, plus how to hang it so it stays true. I opted to build the door rather than buy prehung, and the instructions struck a good balance between accuracy and speed.

Window options include installing off‑the‑shelf units and building simple fixed windows. The flashing details are basic but clear—enough to keep water out if you follow the sequence. Trim and siding chapters tie the envelope together; I followed the board‑and‑batten section and appreciated the spacing and nailing guidance, especially around corners and openings.

Finishing touches and durability

A strength of the book is the attention to those last 10 percent tasks that make a shed last: drip edges, soffit vents, corner boards, and paint systems. The “finishing details” guidance helped me avoid fussy gaps where water would love to live. The advice on coatings and caulks is practical rather than brand‑prescriptive—helpful if you’re shopping at a local yard and not a big‑box store.

One area where I wanted a bit more depth was long‑term moisture control at the base, particularly if you’re not building on skids. The book suggests sensible practices, but if you’re in a wet climate or setting wood near masonry, you’ll want to seek additional detail on sill gaskets, capillary breaks, and hardware coatings.

Plans, dimensions, and adaptability

You can build directly from this guide if you have basic carpentry skills and read carefully. The photo sequences and diagrams effectively function as plans for several designs, and the provided material lists got me within a single run to the lumberyard. That said, this isn’t a portfolio of blueprint‑level drawings for every featured shed. Expect to make a few decisions (exact window sizes, hardware style) and do some light math if you deviate from the showcased dimensions.

I found that choosing one design and sticking to its proportions kept the procurement and cutting straightforward. Where I altered widths, a quick sketch and story stick helped me keep layout consistent with the book’s methods. If you’re a first‑time builder aiming for a complex roofline or a large footprint, pairing this book with a set of full plans can reduce guesswork.

Tools, materials, and time

The tool expectations are realistic: circular saw, drill/driver, level, square, and a miter saw if you have one. A nailer speeds sheathing but isn’t required. The author points out jigs and temporary bracing that make solo work possible and safe, which I found invaluable. On materials, the guidance assumes you’ll select straight lumber and reject twisted stock; that’s common sense, but it bears repeating if you’re shopping quickly.

As for time, my medium‑size build took a handful of weekends, with siding and paint stealing the final stretch. The book’s sequencing reduced backtracking. Pre‑cutting parts by wall assembly, as suggested, saved me hours during the standing and sheathing phases.

Design variety and inspiration

Beyond mechanics, the book earns points for design diversity. There’s a classic Cape‑inspired option with simple trim, a board‑and‑batten look with clean lines, and a more structural, post‑and‑beam‑inspired approach that uses metal connectors. Even if you don’t follow one style end‑to‑end, you can borrow details—window trim profiles, door strap hardware placement, roof overhang proportions—that lift the finished look.

Print vs. digital and usability

I used the print edition in the shop and on site. The paper stock and photo reproduction are excellent; images stay readable even with dusty fingers and questionable lighting. I also sampled the e‑book out of curiosity and found some small captions lighter than ideal on an older tablet. If you plan to reference this during a build, I’d choose print for the legibility and easy flipping between steps.

Navigation is solid: a quick‑hit table of contents for major phases, and an index that actually helps you find specifics like “rafter tail” or “drip edge.” The writing is even‑tempered and instructional, with an emphasis on sequencing, safety, and why certain best practices matter.

Where it falls short

• Slab‑on‑grade specifics are thin; anchoring and moisture detail will require supplemental resources.
• Imperial units only; metric users will be converting throughout.
• Not every showcased shed comes with complete, scaled plan sets. Confident DIYers can work from the photos and diagrams; beginners may prefer companion plans for complex builds.
• The e‑book’s small, light text can be hard to read on certain screens.

Who it’s for

• A first‑time builder who wants a guided, photo‑driven process for a straightforward shed.
• An intermediate DIYer looking to customize dimensions or mix design details with confidence.
• Anyone who values clear sequencing and practical, field‑tested tips over glossy inspiration alone.

If you’re building an oversized outbuilding, crossing into habitable structures, or working entirely in metric, you’ll outgrow portions of this guide. For everything in the small‑to‑medium storage shed world, it’s right on target.

Recommendation

I recommend Building Sheds. It provides a grounded, step‑by‑step path from site prep to finishing details, with excellent photography and explanations that help you adapt rather than just copy. Pair it with local code checks (and, for slab projects, an additional concrete resource), choose the print edition for on‑site readability, and you’ll have the confidence and detail needed to produce a shed that looks good, stays dry, and lasts.