Introduction
Assemble this easy-to-build storage locker to use as a lawn mower shed, garden storage shed or both! This storage locker is low and compact, yet spacious enough for lawn mower storage, plus all your long-handled tools and gardening materials.Outdoor storage cabinet project overview: Benefits, time and materials
Lawn and garden tools present a paradox: You can never find the right tool when you need it, then when you aren’t looking for it, it’s in your way. This simple-to-build shed which is the perfect outdoor storage locker that solves both problems. It stores tools so they’re easy to find, and it does so in a convenient location in your yard so they’re not cluttering your garage.
The locker’s 4 x 8-ft. footprint provides ample room to store space-hogging items like walk-behind lawn mowers and snowblowers. Long- and short-handled garden tools, lawn treatments and potting materials also fit nicely inside.
In this article, we’ll show you how to build this attractive outdoor storage locker using easy construction techniques. It’s a great project for beginners looking to expand their building skills.
You can build and paint this locker in a weekend, although you might need another half day to give the pressure-treated trim a second coat of paint. The straightforward construction requires only basic power tools—a circular saw with a standard carbide blade and a drill. An air compressor and nail gun aren’t necessary but will make the framing and trim work easier (and faster!).
We used fiber cement panels for siding because they resist rot and hold paint well (the panels come primed). If you substitute plywood panels, be aware that they’ll eventually rot along the bottoms where they’re in ground contact. We chose corrugated plastic panels for the roof because they let in light and are easy to install. Materials for our locker cost about $600.
A Clear Roof Lets In the Sunshine
These clear plastic roof panels let in sunlight so you can easily see inside. They’re lightweight, faster to install than asphalt shingles and don’t need sheathing underneath. You can cut them with a carbide blade in a circular saw. And best of all, they won’t peel or tear like shingles, and they last for decades. The downside is they’re not in stock at most home centers. You may have to special-order them.
