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Shed Office Build
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items I built this office in my backyard shed without blowing the budget, and I made plenty of trial-and-error decisions along the way. This list is the gear and materials that made the cut, plus notes on anything I'd replace if I were starting over.
Sections
6
Structure
Tools
Interior
Power
Insulation
Air Conditioning
Structure
The shed and any other basic items
Here is the shed that I ended up using, I was tight on space so I went with a smaller option than some others on the market. This is the DIY option that I constructed with a friend and my dad, and saved a couple thousand dollars.
Handy Home Products DIY Olympia 10 ft. x 7.5 ft. Modern Lean-To Wood Garden Shed Storage w/ Floor, Windows, and Lock (75 sq. ft.) 19641-6
There were a lifesaver, I already have a concrete pad in my backyard so there worked out perfectly for the feet of the sheds. There are a multitude of ways to handle the legs of the shed so go with what works best for you.
Eurotec Deck Support Plastic Adjustable Pedestal PRO M - (10-Pieces / Box) INC946071
My shed did not come with any windows other than the little ones above the door. I recommend putting at least one more window so that it isn't too dark in the shed.
Handy Home Products Do-It Yourself Small Square Window 18810-7
Moisture protection for the roof, this is highly recommended. I haven't had any leaks yet!
Warrior Roofing #30 216 sq. ft. Felt Roof Deck Protection D414-0
This is important for the roof, and with my shed it was required for the warranty. The instructions gave exactly how much I would need for the shed building.
Gibraltar Building Products 2 in. x 2 in. x 10 ft. Galvanized Steel Roof Edge Flashing Charcoal RE22CH
You're going to need roofing nails to put down the roof, these were used in my pnematic nail gun that was purchased to make our lives easier.
Grip-Rite 1 in. x 0.120 in. 15° Wire Collated Electrogalvanized Smooth Shank Coil Roofing Nails 7200 per Box GRCR2DGAL
These are great roof shingles and were easy to put down with the nail gun, just heavy. The instructions should provide you with how many bundles of shingles you will need for the shed.
Owens Corning Oakridge Estate Gray Laminate Architectural Roofing Shingles (32.8 sq. ft. Per Bundle) HK20
You're going to need plenty of framing nails to put the structure together.
Grip-Rite 2 in. x 0.113 in. 21° Plastic Collated Exterior Galvanized Ring Shank Round Head Framing Nails 1000 per Box GR04HG1M
Another box of longer framing nails that are necessary in some areas with winder pieces of wood.
Grip-Rite 3 in. x 0.120 in. 21° Plastic Collated Bright Coated Smooth Shank Framing Nails 1000 per Box GR3011M
You will need half a dozen tubes of caulk to finish this thing out in the end. It was required for the warranty, but also just good practice.
DAP Alex Fast Dry 10.1 White Acrylic Latex Plus Silicone Caulk 18425
Highly recommend using screws as well, made it easier to pull the structure together versus the framing nails in a lot of situations.
Grip-Rite #9 x 3 in. Star Drive Dual Flat Head Coarse Thread Construction Screws 1 lb. Box 3GCS1
Tools
Great for putting nails into any tight corners when building the shed.
RIDGID Pneumatic 3-1/2 in. Full-Size Palm Nailer R350PNF
Very basic pneumatic coil roofing nailer that worked great for the project. I bought it just for this after having put shingles in by hand in a previous project.
WEN 3/4 in. to 1-3/4 in. 15 degree Pneumatic Coil Roofing Nailer 61783
You are really going to want these, my knees were hurting by the time we had finished working on the structure.
Husky Fabric Cap Foam Non-Marring Knee Pads 1H-22377-06
Going to need this for the nail guns
Husky 3/8 in. x 50 ft. Hybrid Air Hose AB-50C
I highly recommend a very comfortable caulk gun since your hands will start getting tired from all the work.
Husky 10 oz. Heavy-Duty High Leverage Drip Free Caulk Gun 19PT0902
Man I really recommend a hat, we all got very burned on the first day of putting the structure together.
Mission Unisex 1-Size Fits Most Cooling Wide Brim Hat 111622
You'll need this for all the caulk that you will have to lay on the structure
Husky 3-in-1 Caulk Tool CT31-HKY
This made cutting the drip edge a million times easier than any other way.
Crescent Wiss 7 in. Straight-Cut Drop Forged Tinner Snips WDF7S
Always make sure you have comfortable gloves, these have worked really well for me so far.
Milwaukee Medium Lightweight Work Gloves 48-73-8521H
Another kneepad option that I own that also pays off since its so easy.
Husky Soft Foam Kneeling Pad 90346
Interior
These are great if you have an orbital sander and a dust collection system to keep the dust out of your lungs and off of everything.
VEVOR 5 in. Mesh Abrasive Sanding Discs 50PCS, Grit 80/120/180/240/320 Anti-Clogging Ceramic Mesh Sandpapers, 2025 Update YPSMSW5INCHDT4JBZ001V0-251023
Self explanitory, you will need plenty of tape to paint this thing.
3M Scotch 1.88 in. x 60.1 Yds. Multi-Surface Contractor Grade Tan Masking Tape (6 Rolls) 2020-48TP6
You're really gonna need plenty of towels to keep everything clean.
TOOLBOX Professional White Rags (200 Sheets; 10 in. W x 11 in. L Sheet Size; Disposable Painter's Rags - Natural Fibers) 5820208
You'll need some of this to make sure that you can keep the doors nice and sealed from the elements.
Frost King 3/8 in. X 3/16 in. X 10 ft. Black High-Density Rubber Foam Weatherstrip Tape R338H
Moulding for the interior of the shed.
Woodgrain Millwork 623 9/16 in. x 3 1/4 in. x 96 in. Primed Finger Jointed Baseboard Moulding (1-Piece − 8 Total Linear Feet) 10000558
Flooring that I used to lay down in the shed, should put up to a beating from my office chair.
Home Decorators Collection Vinings Ridge Oak 12 MIL x 7 in. W x 48 in. L Waterproof Click Lock Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring (23.8 sq. ft. /Case) HL0008
This will help a ton with finishing the drywall corners near the doors and windows. You could hold off on buying these until you're drywalling so you have a good idea how much you need to purchase.
ClarkDietrich 1.375 in. x 8 ft. Galvanized Steel Paper-Faced Standard Leg Drywall Corner Bead CD1-WU
This tool helped a bunch for cutting out the gang boxes in the drywall, as well as cutting around any windows and doors. The ryobi one was a good deal, though buy what fits your batteries or a plug in one.
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless Cut-Out Tool (Tool Only) PCL540B
Here is a plug in rotary tool in case you don't have Ryobi batteries like I do.
DEWALT 5 Amp Cut-Out Tool DW660
Drywall rasping saw for making cuts if you don't want the rotary tool.
Milwaukee Rasping Jab Saw with 6 in. Drywall Blade 48-22-0104
You'll need a bunch of these honestly, the big pack has been helpful and these are nice and thick and won't break easily.
Husky Steel Utility Blades (100-Pack) 84-0977-0000
I lose my utility blades all the time, so I buy these three packs since they are good deal and fit those blades that I posted perfectly.
Husky HUSKY 3-PACK FOLDING LOCK-BACK Utility Knife 00073
Corner tool for putting joint compound on the drywall within the shed, this was helpful, but if you have practice you probably don't need it.
Wal-Board Tools 6.5 in. x 11.5 in. Large Inside Corner Tool Trowel 082-030-HD
This sander is great for sanding in the corners and other parts that need to be done more delicately.
Gator Edge Protect 3 in. x 5 in. x 1 in. Medium 220-Grit Angled Sanding Sponge 730620
Hand sander for knocking down any high spots on the drywall, this was a good price and fits the sheets well.
3M Drywall Hand Sander 3 1/4 in. x 8-3/4 in. (1-Each) DRHS-008
I only bought this grit sand paper since it is good to finish with. You could buy multiple if you need to knock down that compound more.
3M Drywall Sanding Sheets 4 3/16 in. x 11 1/4 in. 220 Grit Fine Screens (10-Pack) 99436P
You will need a bunch of this honestly, this big bucket helped out a ton.
Westpac Materials 4 Gal. All-Purpose Pre-Mixed Joint Compound 18720H
You'll need this mud pan in order to tape all the joints in the drywall, as well as putting skim coat if you are going that route.
Wal-Board Tools 12 in. Stainless Steel Mud Pan 023-002-HD
Power
Going to need circuit breakers for the shed sub-panel
Square D Homeline 15-Amp Single-Pole Circuit Breaker (HOM115CP) HOM115CP
You'll need one of these for each plug or light switch that you would like to put into the shed.
Carlon Electrical PVC 1-Gang 20 cu. in. New Work Electrical Outlet Box (B120A-UPC) B120A-UPC
Important to note that the first plug on each circuit needs to be GFCI off of the subpanel.
Leviton 15 Amp 125-Volt Duplex SmarTest Self-Test SmartlockPro Tamper Resistant GFCI Outlet, White GFTR1-KW R92-GFTR1-0KW
I used this subpanel since I only really needed two circuits for the shed.
Square D Homeline 70 Amp 2-Space 4-Circuit Indoor Surface Mount Main Lug Load Center with Cover HOM24L70SCP
Romex for running to all the plugs in the shed, I ended up using about 100ft from how I ran the wires. Though you could probably use much less if you are good.
Southwire 50 ft. 14/2 Solid Romex Simpull CU NM-B W/G Wire 28827422
You will need this to nail down the romex to the studs in the shed to keep them out of the way.
Gardner Bender 1/2 in. White Plastic Staples For NM Cable (50-Pack) PS-50
These are amazing if you have the roof within the gang box in the wall. They let you charge a laptop from it, my wife will love it when she comes to the shed to work with me.
Leviton Decora 15 Amp Tamper Resistant Duplex Outlet with 60W USB-A + USB-C Power Delivery Charger, White (1-Pack) T5634-W R02-T5634-00W
Plugs for the rest of the gang boxes in the shed you want to install.
Leviton Decora 15 Amp 125 V Duplex Outlet/Receptacle, White (1-Pack) 5325-WS R52-05325-0WS
Light switch for any lights you install
Leviton Decora 15 Amp Single-Pole Switch, White 5601-2WS R72-05601-2WS
Insulation
Great product for filling any large spaces that you won't be able to get the insulation into.
GREAT STUFF 12 oz. Big Gap Filler Insulating Spray Foam Sealant 363103
I put this on the door, it isn't the prettiest, but it has worked really well. I might replace with something or drywall over in the future.
Everbilt 16 in. x 25 ft. Double Reflective Insulation Radiant Barrier Staple Tab 16x25RI-SE
I used something very similar to this in mine, it was kinda messy, but was very quick and helped with the walls in my shed that had the thin side of the 2x4 and minimal room for typical insulation.
AG ADHESIVE GURU AG930S Insulation Foam All in-1 Set-18 Pack Spray Foam Sealant 32.8 oz and Foam Cleaner and Foam Gun and Safety Gear Set adgr_AG930S_InsFoamSet_18pk
Air Conditioning
This was a good cheaper option to put the mini split outside unit on to keep it off of the concrete or dirt
BRAMEC 18 in. x 36 in. x 3 in. HDPE Condenser Mounting Pad for Ductless Mini Split Outdoor Units 183633TL
This is the unit that I went with, it was not hard at all to install, I was very impressed. I honestly picked one of the cheapest options since I was price sensitive so this wasn't a big spend item in the grand scheme. It has been worked great so far...
LITHZEN 18.1 SEER2 12,000 BTU 1-Ton Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump with 9.8 ft. Lines 115-Volt Wifi Enabled HCST13094
You'll need a higher breaker for the air conditioner since it requires more power. This is what I needed for mine.
Square D Homeline 20-Amp Single-Pole Circuit Breaker (HOM120CP) HOM120CP
You'll need a power disconnect to connect the whip to for the air conditioner.
Midwest Electric Products 30-Amp 120/240-Volt Fused AC Disconnect (U035F2P) U035F2P
Power whip that I needed to purchase in order to wire up my AC.
Southwire 1/2 in. x 4 ft. 10/3 Ultra-Whip Liquidtight Flexible Non-Metallic PVC Conduit Cable Whip 55311201
This stuff was amazing, it made covering the delicate tubes and wires for the AC on the outside very easy. Was easy to put up and this kit was more than enough in order to cover everything on my shed.
DuctlessAire 4 in. x 14 ft. Cover Kit for Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Line Sets - Ductless Mini Split or Central DA4-14KIT
Good HVAC tape to put on anything that will be exposed to the outside that isn't in that cover I also included here.
Nashua Tape 1.89 in. x 60 yd. 398 All-Weather HVAC Duct Tape in White 1891331