Interactive lesson

Lean-tos and sheds, step by step

Interactive lesson: a 3 × 5 m lean-to on six posts, braces in both directions, a woodshed for two winters, a hay barn and a timber tool shed.

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The whole lesson as text

1. What goes under cover

First write down what is spoiling in the rain on your homestead, and only then choose the building.

What gets wet — A 3 × 5 m lean-to, that is 15 m², takes a compact tractor, a trailer and firewood. Put it next to the track, with the entrance on the level side.
One longer roof — If you need more room, build one longer lean-to (3 × 8 or 4 × 10 m) with a shed at one end. One roof, one gutter and one foundation are cheaper than three buildings.
Woodshed and shed — The woodshed stands in sun and wind, close to the house but not against its wall. The tool shed goes between the house and the garden or barn, where tools are needed most.
Hay barn apart — The hay barn is near the animal house but separate, roughly 5–10 m or more from the house and animal house, with access for a trailer.

Why: The mower, trailer, boards, cement and firewood all spoil in the rain. One good lean-to pays for itself in two or three years through tools that didn't rust and firewood that burns without smoke.

Fuel and chemicals go away from the house, sources of fire and the well, locked against children.
For each building ask the council or county what applies to your land.

2. Pads and posts

A 3 × 5 m lean-to stands on six posts, and each post on its own pad.

Set out 3 × 5 m — Post centres are 3.0 × 5.0 m, with posts 2.5 m apart. The diagonals must be equal: 5.83 m.
Six pads — Pads 40 × 40 × 80 cm, below frost depth. Set the post bases exactly on the post centres, at the same height, to a string line.
Cure the concrete — Cure the concrete for 7 days before standing the posts. Only then does timber go on the bases.
Posts and battens — Front post 2.6 m, back post 2.1 m, less the beam depth if the beam sits on top. Screw each post to its base and immediately hold it upright with two sloping battens.

Why: The sizes in this lesson are for the lowlands, metal sheet roofing and snow up to about 100 kg/m² (20 psf). A post buried or concreted straight into the ground rots; a post on a base above the concrete stays dry.

For tiles, hay on the roof structure, high snow areas and larger spans, ask a carpenter or engineer.
Turn the back towards the wind that brings rain and snow.