If you are someone who dabbles in gardening or DIY projects, then you must have a collection of tools and these need storage space. The ideal place for them is a shed where you can store them neatly and always know where a tool is when you need it.

Building an outdoor shed may seem difficult, but it’s not. Here are some simple steps.

• Step 1 is to have one of the best storage shed plans. These are widely available online. Look at the various plans and choose one that has the look you want and is scaled to the size of your house so it isn’t a dominating or tiny structure in relation to the house. You also want to make sure you comply with regional building laws and most likely municipal bylaws. In most areas, a structure less than 100 square feet does not require a building permit, but contact your local building authority to be sure.

• After choosing a plan, you should have a design for the shed. Mark the perimeter as you need to be very precise from the foundation stage. Use layout triangles or right angles to mark stakes, then tie string to outline the perimeter. Make sure the perimeter is a perfect square or rectangle by measuring the lines before you start working on the base.

• The next step is to create a foundation and this can be done with concrete pillars or concrete slabs but with a concrete block foundation. However, it will depend on the budget, the soil on which it is being built and how each type of foundation will be.

• The floor system is as follows. This is done by positioning the floor joists in such a way that the dimensions on the outside are in line with those of the shed. Use pencil marks every 12 inches on two parallel beams and draw right triangles using the triangle method. After this the brackets need to be nailed in and they should also be centered every 12 inches and start to slide into the stringers and then nail those in as well. The last step in completing the floor is to nail plywood across the entire surface. Tighten by laying plywood perpendicular to the joists or by applying a strong adhesive.

• The next step is the wall. Lay pre-cut rows of wood all the way around on plywood, laying them side by side and nailing firmly. Do this for all four walls, and then get help putting them up. Place temporary bracing to hold the walls together before nailing them together. Finish with a plank of wood around the top of the walls. You should now have a shed with four walls, one floor, and no roof, which is the last step.

To finish the roof, place four wooden beams perpendicular to the roof to form a triangle in the center of the shed. Then, nail the wooden planks one by one to complete the roof, nailing them down as well. The penultimate step is to attach the hinged door and lastly the window. You can choose to use blinds instead of glass pane windows.

Finish with a coat of paint of your choice or leave the shed natural.