How to Add a Porch to a Shed

This step by step diy woodworking project is about how to add a porch to a shed. If you already have a shed or another storage building on your property, but you still need extra storage space, building a lean to onto the wall is a good idea. In this tutorial I show you how to build the structure for a sturdy lean to porch and save tons of money. You will be able to adjust the slope of the roof and the size of the lean to and suit your needs.

When buying the lumber, you should select the planks with great care, making sure they are straight and without any visible flaws (cracks, knots, twists, decay). Investing in cedar or other weather resistant lumber is a good idea, as it will pay off on the long run. Use a spirit level to plumb and align the components, before inserting the galvanized screws, otherwise the project won’t have a symmetrical look. If you have all the materials and tools required for the project, you could get the job done in about a day. See all my Premium Plans HERE.

Projects made from these plans

 

Lean to Porch Addition to Shed – DIY Plans

Building-a-porch-addition-to-a-shed

Cut & Shopping Lists

• A – 3 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 82 1/2″ long, 1 piece of 4×6 lumber – 160″ long FRAME
• B – 4 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 36″ long BRACES
• C – 1 piece of 2×6 lumber – 160″ long LEDGER
• D – 12 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 110″ long RAFTERS
• E – 1 piece of 1/2″ plywood – 48″x88 1/4″ long, 1 piece – 48″x72″ long, 1 piece – 40 1/4″x48″ long, 1 piece – 48″x96″ long, 1 piece – 24″x48″ long, 1 piece – 15 3/4″x88 1/4″ long, 1 piece – 15 3/4″x72″ long ROOF
• F – 2 pieces of 1×8 lumber – 110″ long, 1 piece – 161 3/4″ long TRIMS
• G – 150 sq ft of tar paper, 150 sq ft of asphalt shingles ROOFING

• 3 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 8 ft
• 1 piece of 4×6 lumber – 14 ft
• 1 piece of 2×6 lumber – 14 ft
• 12 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 10 ft
• 2 pieces of 1×8 lumber – 10 ft
• 1 piece of 1×8 lumber – 14 ft
• 5 pieces of 1/2″ plywood – 4’x8′
• 150 sq ft of tar paper, 150 sq ft of asphalt shingles
• 3 pieces of 4×4 anchors
• rafter hangers
• 1 1/2″ structural screws
• 1 5/8″ screws
• 2 1/2″ screws
• 3 1/2″ screws
• 3 1/2″ lag screws
• filler, stain
• glue

Tools

 Hammer, Tape measure, Framing square, Level

 Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander

 Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses

Time

 One day

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 Building a lean to addition to a shed

Fitting the ledger – lean to addition

When installing the ledger beam, you need to make sure there is enough clearance for the doors to open. In addition, remember that you need to create a lean to, so there should be a height difference between the ledger and the posts. You will find more info on the pitch requirements by reading the local building codes. The ledger needs to be the same size as the rafters. In this case we will be using 2×6 lumber. Set the ledges to the frame of the shed using 3 1/2″ lag screws.

You should know this is an example, so you can see the techniques and use them for your project. This lean to is designed for a 12×12 shed, so you need to make modifications, if your shed has other dimensions.

Laying out the posts

We are going to use 4×4 pressure treated posts for the frame of the lean to. You need to place the posts less than 8 ft one from another. Dig 12″ holes in diameter, and aat least 3-4 ft in depth. Pour concrete into the footings and then install the anchors. Use a spirit level to plumb the posts when attaching them to the anchors. Use temporarily braces to lock the posts into place.

Support-beam-to-porch

Fit the 4×6 beam to the top of the posts and make sure the side overhangs are equal. Use strong tie connectors to lock the mean to the posts. Use a spirit level to make sure the beam is perfectly horizontal. If not, use a circular saw to adjust the height of the posts till the beam is level.

If you can’t find 4×6 lumber, you can join together two pieces of 2×6 lumber with 1/2″ plywood glue between them.

Fitting the braces to the posts

Use 4×4 lumber for the braces. Make 45 degree cuts at both ends of the braces and lock them into place with 3 1/2″ screws. Drill pilot holes before inserting the screws, to prevent the wood from splitting.

Rafters-for-lean-to-addition-to-shed

Use 2×6 lumber for the rafters. Mark the cut lines to the slats and then get the job done with a circular saw.

Fitting the rafters to the lean to

Fit the rafters to the top of the structure, every 16″ on center. Use rafter ties to secure the beams to the support. Use hangers to lock the rafters to the ledger beam.

Roofing sheets – lean to onto shed

Use 1/2″ plywood for the roof sheets. Cut the sheets as shown in the diagram and then lay them to the rafters. Align the edges flush, drill pilot holes and insert 1 5/8″ screws, every 8″ along the framing.

Side roof trim

Use 1×8 lumber for the roof trims. Make an angle cut to one end of the trims and then lock them into place with 2″ nails.

Front trim – lean to shed addition

Fit the 1×8 trim to the front of the roof, as well.

Roofing for lean to

You need to add a metal flashing between the roof and the wall of the shed, to prevent leaks. Cover the roof of the shed with tar paper and then install asphalt shingles. Read the manufacturer’s instructions, so you can install the roofing in a professional manner. You can also install metal sheets, if that matches the roofing of your shed.

Lean to onto shed plans – front view

You can use this lean to roof as a carport, or you can even add walls and close it off. As you can see, adding a porch to a shed is a straight forward job and you can achieve that with basic tools.

Porch onto shed plans

Lean-to-onto-shed-plans

Last but not least, take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood putty and smooth the surface with sandpaper. Apply paint or stain over the trims and post, to match the style of the shed. See all my workshop projects HERE. See the full list of my plans HERE.

Top Tip: If you want to enhance the look of the project and to protect the components from decay, we recommend you to apply paint or stain.

This woodworking project was about how to add a lean to porch onto a shed. If you want to see more outdoor plans, we recommend you to check out the rest of our step by step projects. LIKE us on Facebook and Google + to be the first that gets out latest projects and to hep us keep adding free woodworking plans for you.

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