Assembling a DIY flatpack garden shed yourself can be done in one weekend, so you won't need to pay a tradie to do it. Easyshed DIY garden shed kits are designed around a straightforward process that gets your brand new shed up in a matter of hours, not days.
Most of the risk in a DIY build comes down to two things: rushing the base and over-tightening fixings early. Both are easy to avoid once you know to look out for them. Here's how the process actually works, start to finish.
How Do I Get My Shed Base Right?
Every flatpack shed needs a level, square, solid surface, and skipping this step is the single most common reason a DIY build goes wrong. If the base isn't square, the panels won't line up cleanly no matter how carefully you follow the instructions, and the problem only compounds as the walls go up.
💡 Pro Tip: Measure both diagonals of your base and confirm they're equal before you place a single panel.
How Do I Get Started Building a DIY Flatpack Kit?
Most DIY garden shed kits are designed so everything you need, aside from the tools, are packed in one delivery and sent straight to your home or depot of choice. Larger sheds may come in more boxes.
If you're looking for information on what tools you'd need to assemble a DIY flatpack shed kit, look no further. Our Build Your Garden Shed with These Tools! blog has your DIY checklist ready.
Easyshed DIY garden sheds come with a 5-Step Assembly manual where the instructions will keep you on the right track. Followed correctly, the fastest Easyshed on record went up in just 2-and-a-half-hours for a 3m x 3m Gable Roof Garden Shed.
Make sure you have the right tools for the job, have enough hands on deck, and set aside some time to go over the manual once or twice before diving in. Getting prepared with a clear head is way better than having to do over a step or two because you're doing it in a hurry.
How Do I Put Up the Steel Sheets?
Lay all the steel sheeting flat on the ground first. It's easier to take stock of everything when you're able to see them all in the open.
Follow the instructions and lay the panels that go together side-by-side, overlap them as instructed, attach the channels, measure twice, and drill once. Easyshed screws are self-drilling, meaning they have a drill-like tip so they will dig into the steel without the need for pre-drilling.
Once assembled, you can lift them into place and anchor the corners to each other, then fix the bottom channels to the slab with fixings or pegs.
Smaller sheds like the Easyshed 1.5m x 0.78m Flat Roof Shed can be done solo. If you're working on something bigger, it helps to have a second, even third, pair of hands around to help with the heavy lifting.
Should I Tighten Screws Immediately?
It's tempting to fully tighten every screw as you go, but doing that early makes it harder to adjust panels into alignment later. Leave connections slightly loose while you're squaring up each section, and only tighten everything fully once the full structure is up and checked square.
If you've already over-tightened something, back it off rather than forcing the next panel to fit around it.
Is It Okay if I Ignore the Assembly Instructions?
You've assembled sheds and other household furniture before and are feeling a bit cheeky. It's probably okay to just go with your gut right? Not this time.
Steps vary between DIY flatpack models, and even sheds that look similar can have different panel orders or fixing points. Always work from the assembly instructions that came with your specific kit rather than a general how-to, and check off each stage as you go.
Most manufacturers, including Easyshed, also publish model-specific assembly videos, which are worth watching once before you start if it's your first shed build.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can one person assemble a flatpack garden shed alone?
It's possible for smaller sheds, but most manufacturers recommend two people, particularly for lifting wall frames into place. A second pair of hands makes the build faster and safer.
How long does it take to assemble a DIY garden shed kit?
Most kits are designed to be completed in a single day by two people, assuming the base is already prepared and level before assembly starts. Smaller sheds like the Easyshed 1.5m x 0.78m Flat Roof Shed and the Easyshed 1.5m x 1.5m Skillion Roof Shed can be completed solo, provided you have the right tools for the job. Kits like these take anywhere between 3-4 hours to complete.
A Shed You Built Yourself
A well-prepared base and a bit of patience with the fixings are what separate a smooth DIY shed build from a frustrating one. The kit itself is designed to make the rest straightforward.
Follow the instructions for your specific model, take the lifting stage slowly, and you'll have a shed standing by the end of the weekend. No builder required.
You'll soon join 7,000+ other Australians who've put up their sheds on their own and rated us on Google and ProductReview.com.au!
2.25m x 1.5m Gable Roof Shed
2.25m x 1.5m Gable Slider Shed
2.25m x 1.5m Skillion Roof Shed
1.5m x 1.5m Flat Roof Shed
1.5m x 0.78m Off The Wall Shed
