HOW TO BUILD A SHED?

3. HOW TO INSTALL FLOOR SHEETING

Step 1: Test fit the first piece of floor sheeting

The first step to installing the sheeting on the shed floor is to test fit the sheeting to make sure it will fit properly on the floor framing and to mark the edge of the first row of sheeting so you will know where to install the construction adhesive.

Step 1 (Cont’d)

1.You will start at the same end of the floor framing that you started the joist layout from. Lay the first piece of sheeting on the joists with the tongue edge on top of the rim joist and the groove edge out toward the center of the shed floor on the joists. The tongue on the floor sheeting will be cut off later so line up the hard edge on the piece of sheeting with the edge of the rim joist.

Step 1 (Cont’d)

2. Check that the sheet is square with the floor framing by making sure that all the edges are lined up with the joists below.

Step 1 (Cont’d)

3. Also check that the 4 foot end of the sheeting that meets the next sheet in the row sits on half of a floor joist. It should have three quarters inch bearing along its whole edge. The other three quarters of an inch will provide the bearing for the next piece of floor sheeting in the row.

Step 1 (Cont’d)

4. Take a pencil and mark the joists under the groove edge of the floor sheeting so you know where to stop the glue. You will put the glue down a few inches away from the line to make sure not to have it in the way of the next piece of floor sheeting.

Step 1 (Cont’d)

5. Once you feel good that the sheet will install properly you can remove it out of the way.

Step 2: Install adhesive on the joists

The second step is to put construction adhesive on the tops of the floor joists that the sheet will be installed on.

Step 2 (Cont’d)

1. Use a caulking gun and tube of construction adhesive and put down a ¼” bead along the tops of the joists where the piece of floor sheeting will sit.

Step 2 (Cont’d)

2. Make sure to not go past the line marking the edge where the sheet will sit.

Step 2 (Cont’d)

3. On the joist that has the joint between two sheets you will want put the adhesive bead about one quarter inch from the edge that is closest to the sheet you are installing. This helps keep the glue out of the joint between floor sheets.

Step 2 (Cont’d)

4. Only install adhesive on the joists that you will immediately put sheeting on.

Step 3: Set the first sheet and nail it on

The third step is to set the floor sheeting on top of the glue and nail it on.

Step 3 (Cont’d)

1. Try to set the sheet as close to its install location as possible so the glue is not smeared from dragging the sheet around.

Step 3 (Cont’d)

2. Align the edges of the sheeting with the edges of the rim joist and floor joists like you did before.

Step 3 (Cont’d)

3. Attach the floor sheeting to the floor joists using 8d nails.

Step 3 (Cont’d)

4. Nail two of the corners first to make sure the sheet is sitting square on the framing. Then nail the rest of the sheet. The edges get one nail every six inches and the center of the sheet get nailed every twelve inches.

Step 3 (Cont’d)

5. To install nails in the center of the sheet you can sometimes estimate the locations of the floor joists, as shown here. Other times you may need to mark their locations using a pencil or chalk line. This helps to be sure that you are hitting the joist below the sheeting. This will be shown to you later in the video.

Step 4:Install the remaining sheets on the first row and cut the last piece

The fourth step is to continue installing sheets along the same row and then cut the last sheet on the row. If you feel comfortable that the sheets will fit properly, you do not need to set the sheet and remove it you can simply install the glue by eyeballing it from the first sheet.

Step 4 (Cont’d)

1. When the shed length is not a multiple of 8 feet the floor sheeting will need to be cut to length. It can be cut either on the shed floor after it has been installed or you can measure and cut it to length and then install it.

Step 4 (Cont’d)

2. The first row on this shed is being cut before it is installed. The second row sheet will be cut after it has been installed to show you how that is done.

Step 4 (Cont’d)

3.You need to remember to keep the tongue and groove edges on the proper sides before cutting and installing so any subsequent rows will install properly.

Step 5: Install the remaining row of floor sheeting

The fifth step is used if your shed is wider than four feet which will mean that you will need to install additional rows of floor sheeting.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

1. The next row is installed with the joints staggered from the first rows joints, typically with a 4 foot offset but you can alter the joints location to maximize the use of the floor sheeting.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

2. After installing the adhesive and making sure the edge of the sheeting is lined up with the center of the floor joist as you did before, you will force the tongue of the new sheet fully into the groove edges of the first rows sheets.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

3. The tongue and groove connection is tight so it is often necessary to hit the opposite edge to force the tongue into the joint.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

4. Use a piece of 2x4 to act as a buffer between the hammer and the edge of the sheet being installed. Make sure the edge of the block is fully touching the edge of the floor sheeting. Hit the block with a hammer. You will need to watch the edge where you are striking the block to make sure that you are not damaging the floor sheeting and watch the joint to know when the new sheeting piece is fully seated along its entire length.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

5. Sometimes using your body weight and a sudden stop will seat the joint better than a block and hammer.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

6. After the joint is tight you will nail several nails along the edges to hold the sheet in place and then mark the joist locations so you know where to nail in the center of the sheet.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

7. Line up the edge of a long 2x4 with the nails on the first row of sheeting and extend that line onto the second row of sheeting. You can also peek over the edge and look at the nails on the rim joist. Once it is lined up, use a pencil to draw a line so you will know where to nail. Now you can install the rest of the nails on the sheet and know that you are hitting the joists below.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

8. To cut the sheeting after it has been nailed on you will mark a straight line on the sheeting that is in line with the floor joist below, this ensures that the cut will be flush with the end floor joist. Then use a circular saw set to slightly deeper than the floor sheeting thickness to cut along the line.

Step 5 (Cont’d)

9. Continue installing rows of floor sheeting until you have completed covering the floor.

Step 6: Cut the tongue edge off

The sixth and final step is to cut off the tongue that is overhanging the rim joist. It should be cut off flush with the edge of the rim joist. Use a circular saw set to the depth of the floor sheeting to trim it off.

Step 6 (Cont’d)

Once the floor sheeting is installed you are ready to mark the wall locations and built the roof rafters

NEXT STEP: HOW TO BUILD ROOF RAFTERS

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