The Cottage – Garden Shed / Greenhouse

For our multi-purpose garden shed / greenhouse, Linda and I started the Dream phase of our Dream :: Design :: Do process with a simple wish list:

Two or three levels of Rubbermaid coated wire shelving
Potting bench w/ area for cart underneath
Not insulated
No electric / heat / running water
Big plastic window facing south
Sash windows on ends
Plastic roof
Door and window or double door facing north

We staked out an 8′ x 12′ area east of our existing garden, and our design began to take shape in SketchUp. With pavers given to us by our niece and nephew for an on-grade floor surrounded by 4×6 pressure treated sleepers, we decided on 24″ on center frame construction.

After some research, we decided to use a clear corrugated polycarbonate product called SunTuf from Palram for the south-facing window and clear roof. Three single sash vinyl windows from Jeld Wen and a fiberglass exterior door would provide light and ventilation on the remaining three sides.

After consulting with the guys at Chelsea Lumber, we decided to use pre-primed LP SmartSide lap siding for the exterior cladding, and Azek PVC for the trim. With a couple of coats of paint to match the Monterey Taupe on the house, The Cottage would fit right in!

SketchUp Model – Looking NW

SketchUp Model – Looking SE

Pavers, Sleepers and Gravel Bed Layout

Leveling a Pad for the Floor

Only a Few Inches Deep but Still a Lot of Work

Fine Tuning with a Spirit Level

Fabric In, Ready for Gravel

Half Yard of 21A Topped with Half Yard of 3/8 and Down

Leveling Gravel Bed

Sleepers Ready to Install

Securing Sleeper Corners with Timber Screws

Raking Out the Paver Base

Leveling Paver Base to Sleepers

Tamped and Ready for Pavers

Setting Pavers in Running Bond Pattern with 1/8″ Gap

About Half Way There

Full Pavers Installed

Marking Row-End Partial Pavers

Cutting Pavers with Rented Electric Concrete Saw

Pavers Complete with Play Sand Swept In

Lumber Delivery – I Think It’s for Me!

Linda’s First Wall and First Framing Job

South Wall with Lateral Bracing in Place

Cutting Header Components

Assembling Headers for Windows and Door

East Wall Being Fastened in Place

Three Walls In

North Wall Yet to Go

Enjoying the View

Installing Top Plates

Blocking for South-Facing Window Installed

SunTuf Corrugated Polycarbonate from Palram

Some of the Fasteners Needed

8″ x 8″ Gable Vents

SunTuf Horizontal and Vertical Closures

Time to Install the Sheathing

OSB Starting to Define the Space

2 – 3/8″ Ring-Shank Nails Attach the OSB

Time to Cut Some Openings

First View Through Southern Window

Shadows at Solar Noon

The Cottage is Starting to Take Shape

House Wrap Installed

1/2″ Plywood Gusset Plates for 4:12 Roof Trusses

Cutting End Gusset Plates

Gussets Complete and Rafters to Rough Length

Workbench Becoming Truss Assembly Jig

Gang-Notching Rafters for 14′ Purlins

First Truss in Assembly

Gusset Plates with Lots of Screws and Titebond III Glue

Five Common and Two Gable Trusses Completed

Trusses Installed with One Temporary Purlin

Roof Line Starting to Take Shape

Attaching Closure Strips to Purlins for Corrugated Roofing

Purlins Installed with Garden Beyond

Vertical Closure Strips Installed and Ready for Roofing

Murphy Inspecting the Progress

Single Sash Vinyl Windows Installed

Cutting the Roofing Material to Length

Attaching the Corrugated Polycarbonate Roof Panels

Beautiful Blue Sky Day for Roof Work

Each Panel Spanned 24″

I Won’t Be Able to Stand in This Spot Again

Marietta Wood Works Logo by Mike Mahan

Roofed, Ridged, Done

Successful Happy Hour First Trial Run

6′ x 8′ Southern Window is Corrugated Polycarbonate

In Case of Hurricane

Being Dried In is Always a Big Milestone

Azek PVC Trim Around Gable Vent

Linda Getting the Feel of the New Space

5/4 x 6″ PT Deck Boards Near Ground Level

PT Cut Ends Coated with Waterproof Titebond III

Azek Door Trim is On the Level

Just in Time for First Frost Warning

Azek Corners Beveled to 4:12 Pitch

Trim Complete and Ready for Siding

Linda Attaches the First Piece of LP SmartSide Siding

Spacer for Next Siding Course

Siding Progress

Sealing All Siding Cuts Before Installation

Linda Pre-drilling Siding Pieces

More Siding Progress

Home Made Jig for 6-3/8″ Lap Siding Reveal

Even More Siding Progress

Linda Nailed It!

Well-deserved Schnauzer Break

Two of Three 12′ Rubbermaid Shelves Installed

The Last Few Pieces of Siding Required Some Cipherin’

The Track Saw Was the Right Tool for This Job

Siding Complete!

Paint Color-matched to Monterey Taupe on the House

Painting Progress

The Cottage – Looking SE

The Cottage – Looking NE

The Cottage

Inside Looking W

Inside Looking SW

Inside Looking SE

Inside Looking E

Inside Looking NE

Inside Looking NW

Inside Looking UP!

In case you were wondering, we are calling our little garden shed / greenhouse “The Cottage” after the garden shed my dad built several years before I was born. Growing up, we always referred to that little white shed as “The Cottage.” It was a great place to play in the summertime, especially if you were successful at avoiding getting stung by wasps or scraped up by the rusty tools that lived there year around.