How to Build a Saltbox Shed

The saltbox is a traditional New England building style named for its resemblance to a medieval saltbox. The distinctive charm of the asymmetrical roofline has made the saltbox style a perennial favorite for sheds, barns and other outbuildings. Building a saltbox shed is essentially the same as constructing a standard gable-roofed shed; the main difference is that there are two sizes of rafters on a saltbox and that the roof ridge is not centered, as it is with a gabled building. There are numerous plans for saltbox sheds available online and through building plan retailers.

Things You'll Need

  • Basic carpentry tools
  • Excavation tools
  • Compactible gravel
  • Plate compactor or hand tamp
  • 6-by-6-inch pressure-treated timbers
  • 2-by-6-inch pressure-treated lumber
  • 3/4-inch exterior grade plywood
  • 2-by-4-inch lumber
  • 1-by-6-inch ridge board
  • Galvanized common nails
  • Trim lumber
  • Roof sheathing and roofing materials
  • Siding
  • Nails
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Set up layout lines with stakes and mason’s string, making the layout 6 inches wider and longer than the shed dimensions. Excavate the ground to 6 inches deep inside the lines. Fill the excavation with 6 inches of compactible gravel, then rake and tamp it so it’s flat and level. Set down two 6-by-6-inch pressure-treated timbers cut to the length of the shed. Use a straight 2-by-4 to make sure the timbers are level.

    • 2

      Construct the floor with pressure-treated 2-by-6s. Run the joists perpendicular to the length of the shed, and space them at 16 or 24 inches on center. Position the frame over the timbers, and measure diagonally between opposing corners to make sure the frame is square. Fasten the frame to the timbers with nails. Cover the frame with 3/4-inch exterior-grade plywood, fastened with nails.

    • 3

      Build the wall frames using standard 2-by-4s and nails, spacing the studs 16 inches on center. Install the walls on the floor, then add double top plates (tie plates) to the two long walls. Note: If you’re using a prehung door for the shed, buy the door in advance to ensure accurate layout for the rough opening.

    • 4

      Cut a 1-by-6 ridge board to length, then cut one of each type of rafter. Test-fit the rafters on the long walls, and make any necessary adjustments. Use these rafters to mark and cut the remaining rafters. Install the rafters 24 inches on center. Add fascia boards and other roof trim, if desired.

    • 5

      Deck the roof with plywood roof sheathing, then install asphalt or cedar shingles or other material, as desired. Install siding over the walls (plywood siding generally is a good choice for sheds, while horizontal lap siding offers a more traditional look for saltbox structures). Add corner trim and other details, as desired.

    • 6

      Install a prehung door, following the manufacturer’s directions, or build one yourself.