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Ordering Shed Material

Ordering material for your shed project is critical, so lets talk about some tips and tricks! Our free article center was formed to help you build, plan, and execute your wood working project as smoothly as possible.

 

Ordering Shed Material
The key to a successful shed build is always budget! If you buy too much material, you will waste money. If you buy too little, you could delay your shed project, or miss out on volume discounts. This article is intended to give you a brief overview of how to go shopping to buy shed material. Before you leave, be sure to check out our Complete Shed Plans or Gazebo Plans Package and you will hopefully see how we have the best shed plans on the market.

Ordering Shed Materials

Complete a sample material list before you begin to shop for material to build your shed. If you are using one of our custom shed plans offered on this site, each plan comes with a complete bill of materials. If you have designed your own shed, create a materials list from the final design after approval by your local building department.

Once you have complete the sample material list, you should visit several reputable building supply dealers to shop for your materials. Be aware tat you will add to the cost of your project if you buy material in a piecemeal fashion. Obtain competitive bids on your bill of materials from different dealers. Keep in mind that the quality of the materials and the level of service provided by the dealer are hidden factors in selecting your supplier. Some dealers will offer you a low price but will not provide free on-site delivery. Delivery charges can more than offset a low initial bid.

Especially consider the quality and grade of the lumber you are purchasing. Poor quality materials will yield a meager return on your shed investment.

Don't hesitate to order at least a 5-10% overage of materials to make up for inevitable cutting mistakes or lumber defects. Be aware that dimensional lumber is sold either by the board foot, the lineal (or running) foot, or by the piece. A board foot of lumber represents the amount of lumber in a board 1" thick x 12" wide x 12" long. Use the following formula to calculate the board feet:

Board Feet = (Length(ft) x Width (in) x Thickness (in)) / 12

Sample Materials List

Materials List
Item Size Length Quantity Cost Each Total Cost

FOUNDATION

         
Concrete          
Sand          
Gravel          

SUBSTRUCTURE

         
Girders          
Skids          
Floor Joists          
Rim Joists          
4 x 8 x 3/4 Plywood          

WALL FRAMING

         
Bottom Plates          
Cripple Studs          
Wall Studs          
Top and Tie Plates          
Headers Over Doors          
Headers Over Windows          

ROOFING AND SIDING

         
Rafters          
Collar Ties          
Fly Rafters          
Ridge Board          
4x8x1/2 Roof Sheathing          
Roofing Felt          
Self Sealing Shingles          
4x8x1/2 T1-11 Siding          

WINDOWS AND DOORS

         
Windows          
Doors          

CONNECTORS

         
Nails          
Screws          
Bottom Plate to Stud Ties          
Tie Plate to Rafter Ties          

GRAND TOTAL

         
 
Make sure you take a look at our shed plans pages and browse through our store. All of our shed plans are available for immediate download. Here you can buy our whole package, or just one of our plans as a sampler. Our categories are always available on the left of your screen on any page of our site.

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