DIY Bike Shed With Free Plans (7ft X 4ft)

6 Materials
$200
3 Days
Medium

A DIY bike shed with double doors on the front that bolt from the inside and a single side door with a 5 lever lock. Includes my free downloadable 7ft x 4ft bike shed plans that you can print and build yourself too, and save money!


You can get my free plans from my original blogpost here.

For a while, our bikes have been in the house. And while some would prefer it that way for security reasons, some of us don't have space.


So, for a while, a DIY bike store shed has been on my to-do list. But, of course, this outdoor shed for bikes can be used for many other things. Such as:


  • DIY Motorbike Shed
  • Small garden workshop shed
  • Storing a lawnmower, pressure washer, etc
  • DIY Potting shed
  • Storing camping gear
  • Child's play house
  • Car maintenance things, such as engine oil, etc
  • And so much more!

Timber Used for My Homemade Bike Shelter Framework

  • To build your own bike shed, the base frame is built from tanalised CLS 63mm x 38mm structural timber.
  • The door openings also used CLS 63mm x 38mm structural timber to allow for heavy duty hinges
  • Middle spars of the back and side panel without a door also used CLS 63mm x 38mm structural timber
  • The rest of the framework used 38mm x 32mm


Note, for a pallet bike shed, you'll need to add more framework as I assume you'll struggle to find long enough timber for the cladding.

Cladding Timber

Throughout the build, I clad with tongue and groove cladding. Due to the time it would take to share a cutting list, I have only included the framework.


This is also because there are many different cladding options you could use, including external plywood, etc.


Note for Door Measurements

Please note, the door measurements do NOT include flashing trim nailed to the side of them. Therefore, if you skip this step, they will be too small, just in case you get confused!


In other words, the width of the framework excludes the depth of trim, so you can add it after and still hang the doors. The size of the trim we used for this project is the same thickness as cladding. *It's cladding, ripped down, as we had some that needed damage removing.

Free Bike Storage Plans

There's absolutely no need to buy a DIY shed kit, as you save money by . Then follow my step by step video here on how I built it from scratch.


Free Shed Plans Disclaimer

These are free electric bike shed plans for 2-3 bikes. Please note, there may be an odd mistake (although I measured twice!), so please take care as you build it.


You also may need to make different cuts, depending on the wood you use.

My DIY Shed Plans Step by Step


The first thing I did when building this DIY bike storage shed, built a base. And the same goes for any wooden shed.


After cutting tanalised structural timber to the size shown in my free plans, I ensured it was square before temporarily nailing it to a workbench.


Then cladded it with more tanalised tongue and groove timber using a nail gun. Note, the tongue section was ripped off on a table saw*.


Other Options

  • You could use a hammer and nails
  • Combi drill and screws
  • Clad with plywood
  • Router the lip off with a flush trim bit or cut with a hand saw

DIY Outdoor Bike Storage Panels

Note, you'll find all my framework measurements in my free downloadable outdoor bicycle storage shed plans above.


But, to build it, the quick shed building method my Dad taught me is very different from others. So, once you've built your base and you know it's square:


  • Build the shed panel frames on top, by temporarily toenailing the ends to the base, starting with the bottom frame
  • This copies the base's squareness without the need to constantly check with a tape measure
  • It's space saving
  • Quicker
  • And ensure your frame overlaps the base by about half an inch, which determine where your flashings go* (see below), so the panels aren't too snug when building at the end

Creating a Pent Bike Shed Roof

To fully understand this pent roof bike shed method, in a nutshell, after making the front and back panels the same width, but one taller than the other, I started working on the first side panel. But, ensuring the spars were taller than the back panel for now, giving me excess to cut down and match.


You'll need to:


  • Temporarily fix the spars downs
  • Transfer the height of the tall back panel on one side and shorter height on the opposite
  • Grab another spar and line up the pencil lines
  • Draw on the side on all 3 spars
  • Cut with a hand saw
  • Screw that spar on
  • Hand saw excess sides


Then copy that panel again to match it, but screw in the two wider CLS spars, which will give support for your single door and hinges.


Do Not Miss This Step

Once you have your two side panels matching, ensure you flip one over to prevent cladding on the wrong side.

Homemade Bike Shed Cladding Tips

  • Start from the bottom of your frame with a nail gun (or hammer and nails!)
  • Offset the first piece with an overhang, using an offcut for reference without having to measure all the time
  • Nail it down, the work your way up
  • To check your framework isn't bowing, temporarily nail a piece in the middle (this help you keep it straight as you go!)
  • Avoid nailing too close to the top of your tongue and groove as it can be difficult to slot the next one in
  • Ensure each one slots in properly
  • Don't forget you'll need a longer piece above door openings and windows, then cut them later


Trimming Excess Cladding

The neatest way to remove any excess cladding, is to trim with a router and a flush trim router bit.


Above, I removed it around the door openings and the final tongue and groove piece along the top.


Avoid doing this on the sides of the shed where the end grain is, as it can create tear out. These are better with a hand saw.


Other Tools

If you don't have a router, you could trim with a jigsaw or hand saw, ensuring you're not cutting any of the framework underneath, which usually starts to resist.

Squaring Up the DIY Bicycle Shed

Once I built and cladded the base and all four panels, (excluding the roof), I first screwed all the side panels together, while resting on the base.


I then checked for square, checking the overhang all the way round.


Once I was happy, I screwed the panels down to the base. *Note, I'm building mine away from it's final destination, so I only screwed it down enough to prevent it from being knocked out of square.

Adding Flashings

For flashings, we saved any tongue and groove with damaged edges and ripped them off.


I then nailed them around the door openings, except the tops and outer corners of the sheds.


Note, you'll need some more later for the doors.


Other Trims

  • I also nailed some quadrant trim above the door openings on the outside
  • And some under the front and back edge of the roof, which created more support when in place

Making a Waterproof Bike Shed Roof

You'll find some build the roof directly on top of the shed. But, as I'm essentially making a flat pack bike shed to take home, I can't do that. So here's how I did it.


  • I screwed on a "locator block" on either side of the shed's top, but leaving space for two battens front and back
  • Got another length, ran long the front and marked 3" either end for overhang
  • Took it to the back section and marked where the spars were
  • Matched those marks with another piece of wood
  • Measured the depth of roof to cut spars to match
  • Screwed a series of spars, with another one on the 3" mark
  • Cladding it again
  • Positioned on top of the roof


Note, we'll add the felt shortly. But, let's crack on with making the double and single doors first!

Making Shed Doors


I cut and built the frames of the doors using the same stacking method as I built the rest of the framework.


But, as I'm adding a 5 lever lock, I glued and screwed a C16 block inside, giving me something to chisel out and hold it.


Important Tip

*When adding flashing on the lock side, don't nail it where the block it, as it would prove difficult to drill out later.


Staining The Shed and Doors

Once the doors were built too, I gave everything 2 coats of stain, leaving it to dry overnight.


For tips on which shed preserve you should use, I recommend watching my Wagner paint sprayer review video.

Fitting Hinges


To fit, I lined up the hinges with the top and bottom spar, while offseting the mounting plates by 5mm.


I also ensured the hinges were straight, then pilot holed and screwed the main section of screws down. *Due to them being heavy duty, I required thicker screws.

Hanging the Doors

To hang, I worked on the single door first, propping up two blocks of wood, controlling it with my foot.


Then I could put the door up to where I wanted, leaving about a 3-5mm allowance on the hinge side, then screwed each hinge plate on.


Hanging Double Doors

With double doors, I found I needed to rest both in place to see what allowance I had all the way around.


Then propped one on some shims, so I could screw the hinge plates on without any help.


Once done, I worked on the last one. However, remember, you'll need to swap some screws over for security bolts later.

Shed Door Bolts and Stop Lats

For the double doors, I made them lockable from the inside with Hiatt Hardware bolts.


There's a bolt, top and bottom on one door, then a pad bolt on the opposite door. Note, you can screw the fastening plate of the pad bolt on a shim if you wish to remove any door movement, (or a cheeky screw behind the bolt bar).


Stop Lats

Another job I did was screwing on wooden plates, overhanging the back of the door's opening frame.


Stop lats prevent the door from being pushed inwards and damaging the hinges, so don't just use one screw; you'll need a few. And another top lat alongside the single door's door opening.


Fitting a 5 Lever Shed Lock

I also installed a beautiful black Hiatt handle on the single door, with a 5 lever reversible lock. You watch me fit it here from this point. However, the written version will be coming this week, as there's quite a bit to talk about.

Felting a Bike Shed

If you make a shelter for your bicycle, you'll want to make sure it's waterproof to prevent rusting. You'll also need to fit the roof felt using two strips:


  • Roll out the bottom strip, leaving enough overhang to cover the from roof's timber.
  • Clout nail along the front
  • Blanket fold on the corners and nail down, working your way back
  • Roll out another strip for the back section, and nail along the back
  • Mark where it overlaps along the edge with the front of a hammer and lines where you see the roof spars
  • Fold backwards temporarily and apply roof bitumin in a long line and zig zag
  • Put the felt back and press evenly with an offcut to stick down
  • Add one clout nail per spar on the top of the roof where it overlaps, then finish all the way around
  • Nail some wooden trim on the sides
  • Remove the excess felt with a sharp Stanley knife

Adding Bolt Hinges

To create secure bike shed storage, it's essential that you do everything you can to make it hard work for any burglars to break in and steal your bike. Here's what I did:


  • Drilled 6mm holes in the main hinge plate and fixed round head bolts with locking nuts from the inside
  • Added four smaller bolts per hinge mounts
  • I've also fixed them inside the shed as a bike anchor (more to come on that)


Is My Bike Covered on Home Insurance?

Some insurance companies stipulate that you fix your bikes to something on the inside, such as a put a hole in the floor for cement and lock them to it.


Additionally, it's common that outer buildings are locked with nothing less than a 5 lever lock.

Putting it Together

Once my bike shed was dropped off at my house, a team of us quickly leveled using wedges. Note, if it's not level, you may have issues locking, or even opening and closing your doors.


Then bolted and screwed everything from the inside, including the roof to the top of the panel's framework.


Do I Need a Shed Subframe?

Note, as mine is resting on permeable block pavers, where rain will seep through, I didn't make a sub base.


If it's a small build, sometimes you can get away with a few tanalised strips, or fence posts for it to rest on.

Easy DIY Bike Rack

For the easiest DIY bike rack, I found two hooks suitable and screwed them to the framework inside. (This bike rack fit on the back of our van when we're going on holiday).


And of course, for some essential bike accessories storage, I screwed a series on hooks inside the doors for bungee cords, etc.


Then fitted some London shelving bracket on the internal spars with an offcut of OSB to screw on top.

More Bicycle Storage Ideas

As you can see, our bikes are stood up with using their stands. However, you could make your own DIY bike stand, or use typical bike racks for a garage, horizontally, attached to the spars.


Or, make a taller shed if possible to allow bikes to be attached vertically with wall mounted hangers, which we can also recommend.


Is This a DIY cheap shed?

The total spend of the shed materials, excluding any hardware, was £200. However, I highly recommend looking for a local woodyard to find a similar price.


How to Build a Bike Shelter DIY

Prep Time

1 day

Active Time

2 days

Total Time

3 days

Difficulty

Some skill required

Instructions

1. Cut the framework for the shed and doors and screw together as seen in my free downloadable plans, ensuring everything is square as you go.

2. Clad using tongue and groove and a nail gun, or cladding of your choice of cladding with an overhang - see the post above for more details. Also, make sure when cladding the doors vertically, that it will match the overhang.

3. Remove any excess around door openings and roof with a hand saw or flush trim router bit in a router.

4. Nail the flashings on the doors, then cut into an L shape so you can close properly.

5. Screw panels around the base, square it up, then screw the roof on top.

6. Nail flashing trims on corners of shed in and the sides of the door openings, except the top.

7. Stain all the shed and cladded doors (which are not hung yet) with at least 2 coats of wood preserver and leave to dry.

8. Screw the hinges onto the doors, but ENSURE the hinges are NOT on the lock side (read the post above as there's only one direction the brace should face to prevent sagging).

9. Prop up the doors and screw them in place by the hinges.

10. Line the roof with felt and bitumin and nail with clout nails before trimming the excess with a Stanley knife and nailing more trim for detail.

11. Add bolts on the inside of the door.

12. For the single door, see my how to fit a 5 lever lock in a shed door post.

Suggested materials:
  • Wood
  • Nail gun
  • Hand saw
See all materials
The Carpenter's Daughter
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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