If you have any construction experience and can use hand and power tools safely, you should be able to understand the process and follow the steps to get your mini barn built.

The first step is to locate the four corners of your mini barn and dig a hole at each location for the corner posts that will support the floor. Be sure and use pressure preservative-treated lumber for the posts since they will be in the ground. Place a post in each hole and, using a spirit level to get them plumb, brace them temporarily. Now you need to check all of your dimensions several times to be sure the posts are where they need to be. The most critical dimension is the diagonal, corner-to-corner. These two measurements must be the same for your barn to be "square". You can now backfill the holes with concrete or well packed soil.

Before starting on the floor, you will need to cut the posts off level with each other. Hopefully you left them long enough to do this. You will be attaching a frame to the outside of the posts, so allow for the height of the floor framing lumber. Start with the post at the highest ground elevation, mark it accordingly and cut it off. Using a spirit level or water level, mark and cut the others.

To build the floor, first make the frame around the posts. The frame should be attached with bolts through the posts. Now you can cut joists to fit within the frame, running the width of the barn, and nail in place, spaced a minimum of 16 inches on center. Nail or screw the floor sheathing perpendicular to the floor joists for the most strength.

Building the walls of your mini barn is easy now that you have a nice flat floor to work on. Start with a top and bottom plate, cut to the length of the barn. Cut your studs for the wall height you want and nail between the plates, spaced a minimum of 24 inches on center. Before attaching the wall sheathing, it is critical you check the diagonals to square up the wall. If you skip this step, your walls will be crooked and the corners will never meet up. Also, any window and door openings need to be framed in before adding the sheathing. Now just stand up the wall, plumb it, and brace temporarily. Use the same process to build the other three walls.

When building the roof, I recommend you build simple roof trusses, rather than cut individual rafters with a ridge board. Trusses are easier to install, especially if working by yourself. Using the floor, draw a line equal to the width of the barn. At the center of this line, and perpendicular to it, measure a distance you've determined for the height of the roof. Connect this point with the ends of the line. You now have the "rise" and "run", or pitch of the roof. Determine the angles and cut lumber to match the lines, creating triangles. Use metal or plywood gussets at the corners for strength. Install your trusses and attach the sheathing, perpendicular for strength. Add shingles and the roof is done. Add a door and some windows, siding and paint and your mini barn is ready to be put to work.

I hope you understand how to build a mini barn well enough and are ready to get to work.

Now that we've solved your problem of "how to build a mini barn" let us set you up with customizable Mini Barn Plans today.