
One of my Facebook friends has been asking about the cabinet-style garden shed I’ve been building for my wife, so I figured I better feature it, now that it’s done. Well, “done for now” would be a better expression, but let’s call it done, because it’s hanging on the wall and soon it will be filled with, as Arlo Guthrie would say, “implements of destruction” and other such stuff.
I mentioned earlier how the shed was being built, but in case you’re not in a link-clicking mood, I’ll refresh that with an overview.
The door frames are 5/4 (five-quarter) pine, which is to say a little less than 1 1/8” because nothing in the world of lumber is anything close to what the nominal measurement implies. For you non-English-measurement folks, that’s about 2.84 CM. The frames are joined with “Biscuits” – which are small oval tennons set into precisely cut semi-circular slots and are glued in place. To secure them even further, the joints are held closed with “Pocket Screws.” The frame is then faced with ½” exterior plywood, secured by construction adhesive and staples. Then the whole thing was faced with PVC trim boards and panels, cut to look like boards.
The hinges are the second set of hinges I tried. The first set was too small. I confirmed that by showing them to the editor…”yes, too small.” The doors follow the pattern of the garage attic access doors, with a larger main door. The ratio between the two is roughly governed by the Golden Ratio, as is the relative heights of the upper and lower panels. You will find the Golden Ratio in woodworking and construction throughout history, it just works.
The reason I say that the shed is “done for now” is because it will have to come off the wall, when we change the siding so the T-111 siding can be removed and ½” exterior plywood installed. At that point, the wood shingles on the sides of the shed will be removed and the vinyl siding on the garage will be wrapped around the sides of the shed. That is, unless the editor decides that she likes those shingles.
The interior of the shed is pegboard, and I was happy to find pre-painted pegboard available for a few dollars more per sheet. Don’t tell Home Depot, but they could charge an enormous amount more for anything that is pre-painted, if they are selling it to me.
People have asked whether shelves wouldn’t be better for some things. They might be, but it’s very easy to make shelves that hang from pegboard. So, if the editor wants a shelf, no problemo, shelf she shall have. Since the previous shed was also pegboard, most everything in the shed can sit on the bottom or hang from a hook. That’s not my department. I would hang everything as high as I could, and then my poor wife would have to jump to get stuff down.
This might be the first time I actually let her define the height of the door handle. I am a foot taller than she is, and our marriage is marked by numerous location faux pas, including a peephole in the entry door that required her to pull a stepstool out to use. She can’t reach the upper lock on the left door, but I was able to make an extended bolt for that mechanism to make her life easy. These are the things you learn…eventually.
The shed had a brush with disaster during installation. It was a windy day and a wind gust blew it off its perch. One (non-structural) corner was broken. I repaired the corner and I will cover the seam with a decorative element that will be installed on all four corners, just like it was planned all along.
I’ll stop here, because the captions also tell some of the story. Click on any photo to start a slide show. These doors/this project is part of Thursday Doors, a wonderful weekly series of door art brought to us by Norm Frampton. Norm plants his garden in Montreal, but it grows in abundance all around the world. If you want to add to the crop, or join the weekly harvest, start with Norm’s plot. Look at his doors and then look for the blue frog – he might be in the low corner, feasting on flies. Click that little tadpole and enter a world of doors.
Okay, so it was a ‘miserably cold’, beautiful day. 😉 That new shed is so amazing. She turned out perfect Dan. I swear it is uncanny how much you and my hubby are alike when it comes to tools, building, and painted pegboards-oh my! And you both live doing “indulgent” things for the ‘wee folk’ such as the Editor and myself, like making it possible to get out of the house in a raging fire. 😏 Thank goodness for the deadbolt extension for the missus. 👏🏻I know what Maddies i slooking for, waiting for. “Let it snow, let it snow, paleeeease lat it snow,”she’s thinking. Lol
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Thanks Cheryl. I do enjoy the projects that help the Mrs do the things she likes to do. This project was fun, a little frustrating, but very much worth the effort. These are things you can’t buy.
Maddie is staring at the site of a future Mt. Maddie.
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I knew it! 😀
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Great way to start Thursday – a DIY door that causes my gardening pulse to quicken. I love this shed – perfect. That is a wonderful shot of Maddie, and yes, I’m thinking she is looking to where her hill belongs. :-)
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Thanks Judy. My wife really likes having her go-to garden tools easy to access and fast to put away. I think I addressed all the weaknesses of the original design. These doors open easire, she can open both, and the shed is 3″ deeper, so she has room for that bucket and the “Bucket Boss” tool carrier that goes over it.
Maddie does indeed have her eyes on Mt. Maddie. I think she’s waiting for the construction tape to go up ;-)
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Interesting post but I am glad you understand the Maddie requirements!
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Yes I do, Pam. Too many days without a picture of Maddie and I start to hear rumblings in the comments.
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Great work, Dan. I’m still impressed by the whole thing about grooving the PVC to make it look like individual boards. Funny about the small details that stick in our minds.
I’ve never heard of the Golden Ratio of construction before and honestly, I had to read it 3 times before the logic finally clicked in my early morning, pre-coffee head. I struggle with this kind of stuff because geometry and I do not talk to one another. Visually, I like things that are asymmetrical, so these door dimensions work for me.
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Thanks Joanne. This wasn’t a precise Golden Ratio project, because I was limited by the size of the panels, but it’s very close. Apparently, it’s a thing that works with humans and very often in nature. I, too like asymmetrical elements, and my wife likes the larger main door. Although she can reach the locks on the small door, she won’t have to on a regular basis.
The grooving of the panels to give the illusion of boards made a huge difference in the look of the shed, and of those attic doors. We tried it both ways, and the grooves won the contest.
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Okay. Joanne made me curious, so I had to go back and click on the Golden Ratio link… First thing I saw was the word “mathematics”… and my brain shut off. Sorry can’t brain now…
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Ha ha – it’s not that hard, and you will be amazed at how often you see it. If you’re nerdy enough (like me) to carry a small tape measure, you can prove to yourself that it’s all around us.
Humans love the Golden Ratio. It’s also found in nature and it’s related to Fibonacci Numbers. It was used in the construction of the Parthenon (500 BC).
Get some caffeine in you, Teagan and get your math on.
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In photography the rule of thirds is a simplified version of the Golden Ratio.
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Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.
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The grooves are a winner for me too 🙂
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I’m still completely impressed with the design and utility of this creation. I’d love to have one on the side of my garage. Hooks and shelves. Yes. That’d be super.
Also, it’s nice how you’ve learned to look out for the editor’s reach.
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Thanks! The editor left a comment on the draft indicating that my ability to factor in her height is still a work in progress. I do tend to hang things higher than she likes.
Hooks and shelves, and a treat. The black things hanging in there are sets of three baskets that hang from the pegboard. I’m pretty sure she can fill them up with no trouble.
The first shed was designed to provide temporary storage and vary with the season. She quickly put an end to that. This one was designed knowing that it’s all hers, all the time, so I addressed a few design improvements. My goal was to make it more water-resistant, so I don’t have to make another one.
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Uh, yeah, I think it’s swell that it’s all hers, all the time.
(I’m not jealous at all. There aren’t mowers in my garden shed. We don’t let FIL store stuff in there. Nope, not jealous at all.)
Very nice, even if your consideration is a work in progress, it’s very nice.
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Ha, I sense a hint of sarcasm. My mistake was hanging the original “seasonal” shed in the spring. If I had hung it in the winter, I would have been able to use it for 4-6 months.
I do tend to dominate the larger shed and the garage, so I guess it’s fair that I give her this one.
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Total sarcasm.
Yes it seems fair, and again, NICE.
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Ya done good, Dan! And i see your little garage buddy and Maddie showed up to add support.
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Thanks. We call that squirrel ‘Sally’ and she might be scoping out the garage as a future home. I’ll gladly feed her and send her back to her tree. Maddie, on the other hand, gets to go back inside. I think she’s hoping it snows soon.
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Tee-hee! I love that the squirrel shows up every time.
Dan, these cabinet doors are very deserving of their own “Doors” post. You always amaze me with the woodworking posts. Have a thriving Thursday!
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Thanks Teagan. One squirrel (Sammy) comes into the yard. This one (Sally) comes to the garage. They know there’s a good chance we’ll have something for them. I’m glad the shed has been hung. I look forward to getting the stuff back in it, so I can free up the space in my garage.
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Nifty shed Dan. And I agree with your wisdom to check with the design expert.
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Thanks John. Wisdom has been slow in coming, but I guess I’m showing progress.
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Just out of curiosity, you did not want to wait until your siding was installed before you built the shed? It seems like a lot of work to install it and then have to remove it. Unless Sammy and Sally like to keep you company….
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That’s a good question, Lois, and that was the plan. I had hoped to build both this shed and the garage access doors ahead of time but install them during the residing effort. Unfortunately, the injuries I had this past summer made the likelihood of completing everything pretty low. There wasn’t any place to store these things, so they both go in and they will both have to come out during the siding project. That shouldn’t be a big deal. I will build a stage under this shed, detach it from the wall, replace the plywood and reattach it. Easy peasy :-)
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I knew you had a plan, Dan!
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Yeah. “Had a plan” and “going according to plan” are two very different things Lois.
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I love to witness your construction projects. This shed looks like it could stand up to a bunch of winters and rain. Thanks for the post, Dan.
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Thanks John. The last one lasted almost 20 years and could have been repaired. This one should stand up better.
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:-D
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Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie.
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Thank you!
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That’s a fantastic gardening shed and I have no doubt it will be well used and appreciated. Your wife must be thrilled.
Love Maddie. She’s a beautiful girl. And Sally is a cutie pie.
Can’t wait to see your next project.
I have to go suck my thumb now because I’m having shed envy!😂😂
I’m a new subscriber to your blog and I really enjoy your posts and your sense of humor.
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Thank you, for the comment and for following. Sorry about the shed-envy. I think Joey (above) might be forming a support group. Sally is a cutie, but a fairly hungry one now that it’s turned seriously cold for a few days. Maddie, on the other hand, is hoping for snow.
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Your shed looks perfect. Nice doors. I’ve never seen a garden shed attached to the house in this way. Is that what’s called cantilevered? Also I like the squirrel pics tossed into the story. Made me laugh out loud.
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Thanks! I hadn’t thought of saying that it’s cantilevered, but in a technical sense, I suppose it is.It’s anchored to supporting structure in a way that doesn’t require outside support – I like that – thanks!
The squirrel pic gives you an idea of what I feel like when she shows up while I’m working. She dances around, underfoot, until I give her something. It usually takes three or four such exchanges until she decides she’s had enough. I guess that’s her idea of foraging.
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Impressive, Dan…one would look very nice in my garden :)
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Thanks Vicky. I’d sell a line of these if I could figure out how to make them faster, cheaper and lighter.
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I like your animal helpers! My husband has a hard time getting things done outside because the birds squawk at him for peanuts and the squirrel beg incessantly.
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These guys can be demanding 😏
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Isn’t that interesting -the same scenario as at my house – when building is done, the animals get curious and look on to what is happening!
Like what you have been building here -and proudly – biscuits is now a familiar term – am one of those who press hubby for all kinds of details when he’s talking “shop.” And that reminds me that I never finished our conversation of last week about your garage addition (sorry, had habit!). According to hubs it’s a good plan, and I know every addition cost money and time, so I hope for you both will come available soon!
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Thank you. I think the squirrels were wondering if I was building a place for them :)
The shop extension might start over the winter but it depends on how easy it is to work around the cars. I’m used to pulling them out, working and putting them back, but the space has to be clear.
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Oh, I can see that’s asking for extra time!
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I just showed this to Mr. R. and told him I’d like one…. he said maybe. I love the black hinges.
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Thanks Jean. Tell the Mr. I’m sorry if I put a project on his plate, but it was fun.
I have to paint the screw heads black. They’re construction screws, and they only come in that color.
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He loves a project, Dan. We both do, or we wouldn’t have taken on our tiny house.
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I am so impressed Ruth that project! You guys are serious.
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I remember the shed in the earlier planning process – nice to see it completed! :-)
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Thanks Ruth. It feels good to see it on the wall.
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A lovely twist on a classic. Nice project! I smiled when I read your mention of height. I’m not a foot shorter than my husband, but a few inches can be enough to get into funny or annoying situations. Kitchen cabinets and shelving are sure to trigger discussions. What my husband can easily reach required for me to stand on my tippy toes. Which is okay unless I carry a stack of plates or glasses. Also hanging frames to eye level? Who is the judge here:)
So yes, you should wait for your wife to decide where the shed should go:)
Love Maddie acting as the supervisor!
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Thanks Evelyne. The height difference has led to some funny and frustrating moments. I remember her height, but I forget that her arms are also shorter. So when I make a mistake, it’s doubled 🙁
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I really like this, Dan. Job well done!
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Thanks Jennie. I’m very happy with the way this turned out.
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Looks quite useful and sits nicely there. I enjoyed the fun size issues your wife encounters. Good of you to adjust for her. You’re a keeper.
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Thanks. She say the adjustments I make are still a work in progress. I forget she also has shorter arms. Hopefully I’m a keeper. I’d hate for her to throw me back after 34 years 🙂
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Great job on this project Dan. It’s fun to finish off something that you know is going to be useful around the home. I have a few indoor ones on tap for this winter myself.
And hey, greatest invention of all time for the DIY’er: pegboard or duct tape?
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I’m gonna go with pegboard. Or perhaps pocket screws
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It looks great! I like the hinges, and want one on the new house. :) I like peg board. When I built my DIY garden bench I had He-Man get me some. It’s been great for holding my hand tools. It has held up to the weather and sun for a couple of decades now too.
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Pegboard is amazing stuff. I really like that this was already painted. She’s filling it up now 🙂
Thanks.
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:) Having it painted already really makes it looks finished. More Professional.
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The old one never got painted inside. This looks so nice and bright.
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I’m not quite 5’4″. My husband is not quite 6′. The pictures we have hanging in our living room are too high up. Just guess who put them up. ;)
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🙂
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Nice shed, Dan. You do awesome work! I imagine The Editor is thrilled to have new digs for her stuff, right?
PS: What is a post without a Maddie photo?
PSS: Nice job last night against the Titans.
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Thanks Mary. The editor loaded her stuff into its new home this afternoon. It looks good hanging in there and I think she has a little room to grow.
PS – A post without Maddie seems to be prohibited by edict.
PSS – Thanks. I hope we can find that same offense next Sunday when that cold breeze from Green Bay blows into town.
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I think Mimi and Mumu need some equal time. We shall see about the cold breeze. I hope they play well on Sunday.
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Those two girls are pretty hard to get photos of. They seek out quiet places when Maddie is up. But we’ve had one fire in the wood stove so far, that tends to get MiMi’s attention. I’ll work on getting some pics – they are cuties.
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👍
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You are so efficient, professional and careful while you were building this, your roof over the patio and inside door projects. I like hearing how you have adjusted different latch’s, locks, and peephole to fit your Editor and Wife’s one foot shorter frame, Dan. 🙂
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I’ve learned to make some adjustments, but she still has little step stools stashed around the house. Thanks for reading these after your long week.
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I like to catch up and I won’t drone in about work! I’m off after we finish our work tomorrow till Monday. It will be busy since Marley turns 9! (What?) Party! 🎈 Skyler just turned 13, sigh.
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Enjoy!
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Was just given my “orders” to bring pies and real whipped cream, Felicia to bring vanilla ice cream and wine. 🍷🍾
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Mmmmmmm
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I am on my catching up with my guy friend, Dan. This was as far as i know my most recent post I commented on your blog. 🎉😃
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I have a step ladder and a stool in my little apartment. The grandies use them often to jump on to and off of my bed, sofa or coffee table. 🎢They use Felicia’s old yoga mat to slide also. Lol
Can’t wait until warm weather, which may come back once in awhile.
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You say the frames are joined with “biscuits”, and now I’m ready for some good southern cooking with lots of gravy. Oh, and good doors too! Nice work, Dan.
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I do love biscuits and gravy. Sorry for making you hungry (but that’s what they’re called). Thanks.
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That’s a good man. A foot difference sounds plenty. Good that you found each other. :)
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Me too
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Great-looking work, and very handy. Thanks for the Maddie fix!
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Thanks Marian. I know the rules about Maddie pics 😏
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