It is often a married man’s haven, a fortress of solitude to which escapes the hustle and bustle of daily life, but to most it’s a handy place to store tools, equipment and the lawnmower. You can buy one pre-built but where’s the fun in that? Besides if you can’t build one then you don’t deserve it in the first place!

Firstly you will need to decide where it will go, its best not to stuff it up against the hedge but don’t be stupid and put it in the middle of your garden. Mark out an area on the ground a little larger than base of the shed. Although you won’t need to build foundations, a hard standing is essential to keep the shed sturdy. Begin by stripping the topsoil of your marked area and pour a couple of inches of sand which will compress over time. Then place a series of paving slabs onto the area, hammer them down with a rubber mallet and use a spirit level to make sure they are level.

If you already know what a shed is supposed to look like you can go ahead and design that yourself, it can be as big or as small as you want but remember that larger structures need more support. Build each panel with a diagonal support beam for strength and to avoid twisting and warping.

Your base can be made up of flat planks but to protect it from dampness you should apply an additional coat of wood preservative. Position the base centrally on the hard standing and consider the location of the door.

When you set up the first wall, you will probably need a helping hand unless you can find something to balance it against, nail the bottom of the wall to the floor and position the adjacent wall, ensure the corners are securely joined.

Your roof can be of any design but remember that it will drain water so do not position the lowest point above the door, which would be an error. You will need to waterproof your roof which is commonly done by using felt; this can be securely fastened to the roof of the shed but will need replacing every few years.

To help the wood deal with weather and moisture treat it with a preservative, many wood paints are pre-mixed with treatments. You will also need to make the shed watertight with silicone around all the internal joints.

Fit a sturdy door that won’t be blown open with the wind or broken in to easily, depending on the size of the shed and your budget you may want to include windows but these aren’t vital. Now just enjoy it, use it to escape life and all its troubles or just store stuff in it, whatever.

You can get your materials for a shed from any decent hardwood suppliers and there is a variety of hardwood and softwood timber you can use.