Dan Antion

Thursday Doors – The Other D-I-Y Doors

New Shed – Installed

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.

Assembling the door frames. the clamps are only temporary.
Fitting the door frames to the shed.
Adding the PVC trim to the outside of the doors.
The trim boards are joined with a simple lap joint. these boards are adhered with construction cement and brads.
Looking down, I think we’re going to need a floor.
My visitor. This guy shows up every time I’m working in the garage.
Ok, you can have a peanut.
Doors are hung, getting ready to add the latches and locks.
I know, I know, I need a picture of Maddie.
Tapping the new bolt for the upper lock on the left door.
Removing the old shed required cutting all the old screws, which had rusted.
This shed has been in place for almost 20 years. It’s tired.
Old shed removed.
Installing the pegboard requires a standoff from the wall for the hooks to work.
“Third Hands” are holding the pegboard in at the bottom. I held and screwed the pegboard from the bottom, working my way up.
Adding the sidewall shingles
New Shed – Installed
Ready for clean-up and loading.
Adding the roof shingles. It looks like a beautiful day, but it was only 24°f (-4°c)

85 comments

  1. 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 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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  4. 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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  5. 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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    • 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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    • 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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  9. 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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  12. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

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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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  13. 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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  16. 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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  19. 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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    • 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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  22. 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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  23. 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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  26. 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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