During the cold winter months, if you don’t have an electric heating system (or even if you do), there’s something comforting about warming yourself up in front of a warm fire. But you don’t want to leave your firewood outside where the cold winds, sleet, and snow will make it soft and difficult to light.

Read on as we unfold a step-by-step guide to build a firewood shed on your own that will be strong enough to withstand rough weather and will protect your wood supply from the elements.

Sourcing Firewood Shed Plans

Before you start making your shed or cutting the wood, you need a proper plan to follow. You can find a number of websites such as Ted’s Woodworking where you’ll have access to different shed designs with varying levels of difficulty. Select the plan that works best for you and acquire the amount of wood needed to complete the design.

DIY Firewood Shed

We’ve outlined the basic steps of building any type of firewood shed, from a simple rack to a double story shed that can stand without being supported by the wall of your house:

Step 1: Collecting Your Tools & Supplies

Before getting started, you’ll need to gather all the necessary equipment and raw materials to build the shed, including:

• A firewood shed plan
• Ladder
• Saw
• Tape measure
• Set Square
• Marker
• Sawhorse
• Power drill
• Protective goggles and earmuffs
• Wood
• Sander & sandpaper (optional)
• Concrete blocks (optional)
• Screws
• Brush (optional)
• Paint (optional)

Step 2: Prep Yourself

Before you start sawing, drilling, or whatever else is required, you need to get ready for the project. Wear old clothes that can be discarded and make sure they cover you completely to avoid wood splinters or anything else from scratching your arms or legs. Put your safety goggles on (and your earmuffs when you start using the drill), and you’re set.

If you can find a hardhat, it’s a good idea to wear it for extra safety. Keep a first aid kit nearby in case of emergencies.

Step 3: Cut the Wood to the Right Sizes

The plan that you’ll be following will guide you on the size of the wood. The wood will be divided into different categories, including wood for the:

• Floor
• Door
• Walls
• Roof

Use your set square, ruler, and a marker to mark the wood. Place the wood sheet onto the sawhorse, and once it’s secure, cut it using the saw.

Step 4: Smooth Out the Wood

If the pieces of wood are very rough, you may need to use a sander and sandpaper to smooth them out. If you’ve bought wood sheets that are pre-sanded or don’t wish to spend any more time or effort on your firewood shed, you may skip this part. However, if the wood is rough, be ready for any jagged bits that may poke you as you work or when you try to get wood from the shed.

Step 5: Build the Wood Frames for the Firewood Shed

Following the plans you’ve selected, arrange the wooden slats to make the frame for each segment of the shed, including the floor and the walls. Drill screws into the framework to secure the pieces of wood into place.

If you’re using a plan where the shed is open from the top and front, then you don’t need to prep any wood for the door and the roof.

Step 6: Set Up the Foundation of the Shed

If you’re building your firewood shed as more of a rack against the wall by the door, you don’t need to prep the base.

However, for a shed standing on its own, you’ll need to build a solid foundation that won’t budge even if there’s heavy rain or snowfall. This is where the cement blocks come into place. On the spot where you intend to set up the shed, dig up some of the earth to create an indent in the ground. Using a set square and a ruler, place the cinder blocks according to the woodworking plan. Add the wooden base on top of this.

Step 7: Complete the Basic Structure of the Shed

Using a power drill and screws, secure the walls onto the foundation of the shed. If you’re planning on dividing it with a shelf in between to separate the different logs of wood, add the center slab of wood at this stage.

Step 8: Add the Roof

If you need additional protection for your firewood, you may need to add a roof. The good thing with a firewood shed is that a simple, single slanting frame will suffice. Prepare the wooden frame the same way you did for the walls and the floor and secure it onto the walls with screws and a power drill.

Step 9: Paint the Shed (Optional)

Although firewood sheds are generally not painted, you may want it to match the exterior of your house. If that is the case, clean the shed thoroughly to get rid of any small bits and pieces. Once you’ve painted the shed, let it dry completely before storing the wood in it.

Build a Shed That Is Functional

Throughout the process, make sure you use the right materials and a good power drill to ensure that the structure of the firewood is strong enough to deal with heavy rain, etc. In humid climates, most people prefer to add a roof and a door to prevent the moisture from ruining the wood. If you live in a climate that isn’t generally humid but is facing a bout of heavy rain, you can use plastic sheeting on top of your shed to keep the wood safe.

Different plans offer designs that combine functionality and style. Some sheds are pyramid-shaped to make taking the wood out easier without causing the domino-effect. Others are divided in half vertically or horizontally to separate the flint wood from the firewood.