I’ve added a few elements to the shed since my last post on the subject. I put down a small, simple flagstone patio in the front. This makes taking out the lawn mower easier and gives me a dry spot to do it. And I found a firewood stand to sit on the deck where I left a little extra room next to the shed.

This past Saturday my Dad and I assembled my new shed. After two months, the project is complete.

The shed is a Big Max, made by Rubbermaid. We were able to assemble it in less than two hours and it’s seems very sturdy. And at only $500, it’s a very economical replacement for my rusted metal shed.

I’m officially declaring this project “complete”, but I may add a few finishing touches when I get around to it. I would like to put a simple flagstone patio in front of the shed to help raise that area a bit. I’m looking for a small firewood stand to place on the near side of the deck. I may pick out a planter to place on the deck as well.

I have finished the deck! Finally, after weeks of toil, I screwed the last board onto the deck this afternoon. The deck may only be the prerequisite to the shed, but it was also a very valuable lesson in backyard construction.

Now that I know I can create a sturdy platform, I think I’ll feel more confident about building other structures should Sharyl and I move to a new house. Maybe even something with a roof. I’ll probably stick with a rectangular shape though. It’s like I always say, “Leave the octagons to the Mennonites.”

This past weekend my dad came over to give me a hand on framing the deck. As you can see from the picture, we got the job done. Within three hours, the frame and inner joists were in place and waiting for the top to be attached.

But before the top boards can be screwed on, I’ve got to get more gravel into the pit. That means hauling ten bags of gravel at a time from Lowes in the trunk of my Mazda. So if I’m able to make enough trips to Lowes this week, I could be putting the top boards on the deck by this weekend.

I made a little progress on the shed project Wednesday. All of my concrete footings have cured, so I was able to put down landscape fabric to prevent weeds from growing under the shed. Click on the picture to see my shed’s future home looking rather formal and ready for a night on the town.

I swear the pace will quicken now that the concrete is cured. Rainy weather can hold me back no more!