How to Frame a Shed From Cement Slab

Walls

• 1

  Frame the walls of the shed with 2-by-4-inch lumber. Use straight construction grade boards. Measure the width of the side walls. Cut four top and bottom plates required to build the two wall sections opposite each other. Place the cut boards together on the edge. Measure from the end of the boards with a measuring tape and mark a line every 16 inches.

• 2

  Cut the vertical studs out of the same dimension lumber. Add two to the number of 16-inch marks made on one board to determine the number of studs for each wall. Make the length of the studs the total height of the wall minus 4 1/2 inches of thickness for the bottom plate and double top plates.

• 3

  Snap a chalk line from end to end around the perimeter of the concrete slab. Position the edges of the bottom plates along the line. Drill the holes for the concrete anchor bolts through the plates and concrete slab with a hammer drill. Use a drill bit with a slightly smaller diameter than the bolt. Do not bore holes where the studs or rough opening for a window or door line up.

• 4

  Nail the end studs between the top and bottom plate. Use the hammer to knock in two 16d nails. Nail a second board to the top plate to form a double top plate. Complete the other side walls and the end walls for the shed. Build the rough opening for the window and door as you construct the applicable wall section.

• 5

  Raise the walls in place. Use 16d nails to join them together at the corners. Secure the bottom plates to the floor with concrete anchor bolts.

• 6

  Measure and cut the ¾ -inch oriented strand board (OSB) for the walls. Use a circular saw with a fine tooth blade.Secure the OSB to the frame with galvanized 1 1/2-inch-long screws.

Rough Openings

• 7

  Determine the rough opening dimensions for the window or door. Add 3 inches and install the last full-length stud located on each side of the rough opening. This is called the king stud. Cut out the section of the bottom plate for a door opening.

• 8

  Cut two pieces of 2-by-6 boards for the header, which fits above the opening. Cut a piece of ½ -inch plywood the same dimensions. Insert the plywood between the two boards and nail together with 10d nails. Nail the header between the king studs with 16d nails.

• 9

  Measure the space from the underside of the header down to the concrete slab when framing a door opening. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 board called trimmers. Install the trimmer under the header and nail to the king stud. Nail short vertical components, called cripples, from the top of the header to the top plate. Nail a cripple to each king stud and as needed between the two components. This is the rough opening.

• 10

  Construct the window rough opening using the same basic methods. Install a windowsill between the king studs to form the bottom of the rough opening. Install the trimmers between the sill and the header and between the sill and the bottom plate. Install cripples above the header and below the sill.

Roof

• 11

  Start from the corner of the wall and mark off 24 inches along the entire width of each wall. Install the first end truss. Make sure that it lines up appropriately on each wall. Check to ensure the truss is straight.

• 12

  Fasten the truss to the top plate with 16d nails. Position the other trusses at the 24-inch mark and secure to the top plate.

• 13

  Measure the roof for the OSB and cut the panels. Make sure the first board is straight. Fasten the OSB to the trusses with galvanized screws.

• 14

  Staple roofing felt to the OSB. Follow the manufacturer’s instruction for installing roof covering, such as shingles or rolled roofing.