Fabricating A Shed Door

Constructing a shed door to protect stored items from the elements can be completed in a single afternoon.

Step 1

Measure the width and height of the shed opening. Make sure that the measurement is accurate to the eighth of an inch since the door will need to be precisely ½ an inch less than the door opening.

Step 2

Use the carpenter square to check that the opening for the door is square and plumb. If the shed is an older building, chances are that the opening will not be plumb and you will need to reframe the opening so that it is square.

Step 3

Choose the lumber for your shed door. You can choose almost any type of wood as long as it is completely dry so that it will not shrink after cutting. Good choices are redwood, cedar, and pressure-treated wood. All of these woods are insect resistant and hold up well in outdoor settings.

Wood should be 1-inch thick but can vary in width, which can make for an interesting-looking door. Lay out the boards across two sawhorses.

Step 4

Measure the total combined width of your boards. You will probably need to trim one board so that the door will be the correct width for the shed opening.

Step 5

Attach the braces that will attach the boards together. The first board will go over the top of the door, the second will go across the bottom of the door and the third will go diagonally. When all 3 boards are attached, this will create a Z-shape. Since your braces need to be shorter than the overall width of your shed door, deduct 2 inches from the total door width for your braces.

Use galvanized screws to attach the cross braces and the boards of the door together. Start by making sure the top and bottom braces are straight across the edge of the door that will be the opposite of the hinges. Then use the carpenter square to plumb the braces on the door.

Step 6

Now make the center diagonal brace. Draw a line with a straight edge so that you have an angled line on the top of the brace board. Do the same thing with the bottom of the board. Make these two cuts, and then fit the board into place between the top and bottom braces.

Screw the diagonal brace into place with galvanized screws.

Step 7

Cut the door to length.

Step 8

Install a handle on the door so that you can open and close it.

Step 9

Install hinges on the door and then hang it on the shed.