From:Emily Fazio Emily Fazio
Two shipping pallets are used for the base of the structure to keep firewood off the ground. This will help ensure it stays dry and doesn't rot.
Before we started building, we chose to stain the new pressure treated fences. Instead of using oil-based stains, we made a natural stain using steel wool soaked in apple cider vinegar. The chemical reaction dissolves the steel wool, leaving behind a rich brown solution that beautifully ages the wood as it dries. Keep in mind that the steel wool needs to soak in the stain for several weeks to reach maturity, so do this early. Use a sponge to apply the stain to the wood.
The single piece of track will be cut into three parts to form the back and two side walls of the storage frame. From the bottom up, measure 31-1/2" and mark a line across the width of the fence.
The two side walls will be formed by cutting the top of the fence panel in half. The roofline on the sidewalls will be angled to aid runoff. Measure eight inches from the top corners of the fence panel and make a mark on each side. The eight inch measurement on our panel fell where the horizontal board was attached to the back of the fence. If you can, leave that horizontal board intact for stability. Measure four feet in to mark the center point on the panel, and from that point, line up a straight edge to connect the two points. Repeat on the other side of the fence panel.
Use a circular saw set to depth and cut the fence along the marked lines. You should have a 96” x 31-1/2” rectangle (the back of the storage unit) and two wall pieces.
A breathable structure is important for an outdoor wood storage unit. Keeping the wood off the ground helps air circulate and keeps the wood dry. Lollipops are perfect for this and can be readily available, although they can vary in size. Paired side by side, this set is 90" wide and 42" deep. Place the pallets close to where you want your finished structure to sit, as it will be heavy when finished. For additional reinforcement, you may find it helpful to connect the two pallets together so they sit level and move as one unit.
If you need to trim the wall panels to fit the size of your deck, now is the time to make that adjustment. We decided to trim the two tallest pieces of wall paneling so that each side panel is the same depth as the pallet. Three vertical fence panels were also trimmed from the back wall to match the width of the joined pallets.
You've also likely cut the back wall such that the fence boards are braced with a horizontal cross brace on one end, but a bit of floppy on the other end. Nail the loose ends of the fence to a 2x4 to provide additional support to the back wall and roof line.
Use a nail gun to attach the fence panels directly to the deck base on all three sides, starting with the walls. Lap the corners of the fence to join the walls.
A simple frame with center braces will be strong enough to support the weight of the corrugated roof. To make the ceiling joists, two 2x3 boards were measured, cut and installed to span the horizontal length of the unit. Create vertical supports for the roof line by measuring the distance from the top of the deck to the top of the roof joist. Cut the last 2x3 to match those lengths (we used two). Attach vertical supports with nail gun. The vertical supports will reinforce the structure and prevent the roof from sagging under the weight of itself and snowfall.
The 2x4 that was previously installed at the top of the back wall serves as the third joist, supporting some of the weight of the roof. The wall itself provides enough ceiling support.
The cellulose fiber/asphalt roofing panels we use are sold in 48" x 79" sheets. Two sheets were enough to cover the width of our storage unit. Ridges in roof panels should be placed to allow rainwater to easily flow down.
To decide how much overhang should exist in your storage unit, place the panels on the joists. Be sure to note that one or two ridges overlap in the center where the panels meet. Mark your desired cuts with a pencil. On our roof, the eave was tapered to a ridge (approximately 2") while the front and back have a 4" eave. Use a circular saw to cut the ceiling.
Invest in special roof fasteners with polycarbonate washers to install corrugated roofing. The screws are self-tapping and attached to the weatherproof washer, which will help keep the storage unit free from dripping water from above. Install one screw at every second or third ridge interval, along each of the three roof joists.
From:Emily Fazio Emily Fazio
