12x20 Ultimate Shed Build from Start to Finish 

I've never seen a construction video so thoroughly narrated and each step rationalized. And there's a lot of videos out there, many very good ones, but this is the gold standard. Thanks for this!

Couldn't help but notice how loyal and faithful your dog is. I miss my dog following me around.

Awesome video. Like everyone else has said, this is the best start to finish video on building a wood framed structure I have ever seen. I will definitely be coming back to this video to reference on some of my future projects. Thank you for putting in so much time and effort to help educate everyone, I know this was a ton of work for you.

I’m a soon-to-be 74 year old man who just finished the video of the entire build. You are a young man with some impressive skills. Good on ya, Mate

Dude... You are a serious badass DIY'ER! It's hard to tell you just how helpful your video has been for me. I'm building a series of 400 square foot cabins, so about twice the size of this and the detail you show is both amazing and pricelessly valuable to someone like me. Thank you ❤️

This was a great video. The build was excellent too, but the clarity in the shooting, scripting and editing was top notch. Thank you for making this Pete!

What I love is why, "To get exactly what I want". Also, life is extremely short, why not try a project like this and be proud of yourself. At worst you waste some money, which you can't take with you anyway, and at best you have something functional that you can be proud of. I am a computer programmer by trade, not much in terms of hands on skills, but I am have built my own storage sheds and now I am building a home gym / golf simulator. Don't let fear hold you down, you can do it!. This is an excellent video, well edited and clear. Nice work!

thats not a shed thats a home, well done

As a PM of MEP design (knowing MEP and building codes), a woodworker, a totally DIY guy and a watcher of A LOT of youtube construction channels, I think you have made the most watchable, knowledgeable, beautifully filmed and edited (great audio too!) video I've seen. Bravo!!!!

The amount of time it would take to record almost every single step like this is staggering, and really difficult to do when you just want to make progress building. Impressively detailed! Thanks for sharing.

You have made the very best EVER construction video I have seen! EVER! Thank you for showing every detail on building the floors, I think, ❤ the most important part of building any structure. Well explained. I have learned lots of things I didn't know, thank you for the education.

Thank you for taking so much time and detail to this build, it's really inspiring to watch. I look forward to more of your projects.

I just watched this and probably gonna binge a bunch of your videos. I have an old garage I've been wanting to remodel into my home office, but never felt it was big enough. Kind of debating on building a wooden "shed" now instead. Your video was so well put together that I feel like I understand what is required and what the general process would be.

An hour! Time flys when your having fun, that was fascinating, makes me want to build something, such good video work and so logically laid out suddenly construction makes sense, thankyou.

Kudos to you Pete. Ain't a doubt in my mind I can build this and that could not have been said before I watched your video. Amazing job of understanding what so many of your viewers are looking for and then getting it all in the video. I'm sure the build was a major job and then to video and edit on top of it all....amazing!!

I love, love, love, the construction details you're providing. It helps a lot to know why it's being done a certain way. It also helps a lot to have help and heavy equipment

Great build, instructions and ideas! I'm an old carpenter who has not done any carpentry work in a couple of decades and am impressed. Thi is similar to what I am thinking of building for a two part L shaped tiny house, and you just helped explain it to my wife.

Fantastic. This video is very well done, and the warming shed is amazing. Thanks for sharing it and for documenting it so thoroughly. Beautiful work all around.

Awesome video, thanks for making this “step-by-step” enjoyable to watch and learn. You make me think I could actually build my shed! Thanks for sharing!

I'm super inspired! I've been thinking about doing something similar but on a much smaller scale. So glad I stumbled onto this.

Excellent video!!! I was contemplating having a garden office, having looked into the costs for the build done by a professional I half heartedly thought I could build it myself (no previous building experience) however, having seen your video, your build is exactly what i had in mind!!!! I am so motivated to give this a go!! I cannot thank you enough, the step by step explanation was brilliant. Clear, Concise, entertaining, and you left in your mistakes!!! Awesome!!! Thank you so much!!

Amazing build! You did a fantastic job. Crisp, clean, and solid. Love it!

Such a thorough description-thank you. We plan to line an existing garden shed/cottage to become a home gym and this has really inspired me. We actually had all of the windows in our house resprayed black inside and out for a fraction of the price of replacement. It was about 35 windows and the original color was a yellowish cream called primrose (we are in Australia and this was a popular color for windows in the 80’s and 90’s). The black windows totally transformed our home. We also love marketplace for bargain building materials!

Wow! What an excellent video. The time went fast and you were concise and thorough. Love your hockey rink and warming house. Sounds like a wonderful community winter addition for future years of memories and fun for family & friends.

42:05 November of 2022 is still 5 months out. 😉 Beautiful build... thanks much for sharing! I didn't figure you built this in New Mexico. 😉

Pete, thank you so much for making these videos. I am currently working on a shed but this would make a nice office space for my wife and I. Can't wait to show you how the shed turns out. Thank you again!!!!

Excellent work! God bless you and yours! Praying for you!

This is absolutely amazing. I can't believe how thorough you are with your building and narration. Well done

Absolute craftsman! I wish I had the ability to do this.

I am so amazed at the quality of workmanship. I want to build a backyard office and this building is my dream. Thanks for explaining all the steps so thoroughly -- it'll be very helpful when I get to building!

This is just awesome. As a person who finished my own basement and shed, I was smiling the whole time watching this. The most satisfying part is the last part when you see happy people inside it 😀 love from Massachusetts

What a great video. Very thorough and well narrated. Always good to see a fellow MN Wild fan out there doing good things.

Uau !!! Espetacular . Obrigado por compartilhar isto conosco 👏👏🙏🙏🙏

I will honestly buy your books or go to your classes if you ever consider going that route. The quality of your instructions with video reference, and your explanation for each step taken transmit to me (your audience) the love and respect you have for the trade. You sir are EXTRAordinary.. A+

That was awesome to watch. I appreciate all the detail and thanks for the list of products. 👍

Thanks Pete for make this video. Super detailed, I could understand a lot of details for built my cabin.

That was a lovely job you did, I built one a couple of years ago and only noticeable difference is I only used 18mm ply, that view is awesome

Holy crap this was amazing. At first I was like "I'll just skip around since it's 50+ mins long" but I ended up watching every second. Very engaging. I'm not a construction guy at all so I think I only understood about 20% of what you referenced in the build but this really generated some ideas that I've been noodling for an outside office in my backyard. Well done sir!!

Simply the most informative and well assembled how-to I think I have ever seen! Great job!

I can't wait to build my shed after watching this. Amazing and Cheers!!!

This was one of the absolute best narrated videos i have ever seen. Your work is very professional and easy to follow. You'd make an incredible instructor.😊

As people have mentioned already, really thorough narration of an excellent build. I have watched far too many build videos for my own good in recent years - mostly UK, but some US and Canadian and this is certainly my favourite so far (apologies for the UK spellings - the proper way!). I will clearly have to spend hours and hours watching through your back catalogue of projects - keep up the good work.

Great project . It came out very nice. I really enjoyed watching the whole process. Thank you for narrating it so thoroughly and for the information you shared. God bless.

Fantastic walkthrough of this project. Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

Excellent build! This helped fill in some of the blanks for when I build a cabin on my land. @47:01 You time-traveled to November, 2022 to buy your 1/2" plywood! 🙂

I gotta say this is one of the best tutorials I've seen. Thanks for talking us through it all. I really appreciated you explaining why you stagger seams and use tongue and groove.

what an awesome build that can bring family and friends together. Good job!

I'm in the project planning phase of a 12x24 home office shed, and this is exactly what I needed. Great video! thanks for the clear detail of the what/where/why of your build.

Very very impressive. I would like to say I have the patience to do all of that myself, but now I'll feel better about paying someone nicely to knock that out for me. Once our pool is done I'm putting one of these in as a game room/office/extra bedroom for our updated backyard. Well done Pete

I can't believe I stopped everything I was doing to watch this video! I don't even plan on working on a project like that in short term. There are definitely no regrets! I couldn't take my eyes of it (I even noticed that you said November of 2022, when you meant to say November of 2021 LOL when you got the plywood for the interior walls)! Amazing project! Amazing video in all aspects! Thank you so much for sharing this great project with us!

This was impressive! Of course, in South Texas, we would also need A/C. I love how this all went together!

Pete, love love love your videos! Always a pleasure watching what you come up with and how you go about putting it all together. Great work as always!

It's hard to believe this video is nearly an hour long. It really went fast! Excellently documented and huge amounts of detail. I don't think there's anything that you could've done better if I'm honest, but the overall look of the Warming House is fantastic. Super job you got a like+sub from me! :)

What an incredibly inspiring project! Your attention to detail in the build and the video narrative was so satisfying to watch- thank you.

Im blown away by how you really didn't leave any detail left behind. What a fantastic video! Cheers!

We built our home, took 17 months. Before we started that we built a 16x24 structure, laughingly call “The Shed”, so we would be able to stay there while we worked the bigger build. We did some similar deal shopping, garage sales and even dumpster diving. It turned out adorable and is a guest house , with a bath and kitchette & with a nice loft for storage. Our accent wall was plained barn wood. It has a covered porch that runs the full length of the front of the bldg (24 ft x 10 ft). Your video was so good and a real throwback. Wish we had it when we built.

This was SUPER helpful! I'm hoping to build a 20x16 workshop/studio and I'm essentially clueless. This video was incredibly informative!

Wow, very detailed video. I've loved watching the build on IG and to finally see the full video was really nice. Thanks for sharing Pete!

All that work and a 49” TV. Upgrade!!!! Great video.

Love how you explained everything in this video, and will be using a lot of your ideas for my 12x20 She Shed which looks similar to yours. Love the colors you picked out for it also and the scale of the TV fitting in. The accent wall is to die for. Thanks for sharing your work.

Dang this video is perfect! I am thinking of maybe building a mini home/cottage which would be about 24x24 (which would hold 4 bed rooms, kitchen, toilet and living room) and I wanted that style of building (almost exactly identical to it too, which is the craziest part!) and this gave me hope that I can do it. Almost everything you did matched what I thought needed to be done, but I was unsure and you clarified it all.

Great video! I see that there is no air barrier in the ceiling between the T&G and roof, wouldn't that be a problem for potentially getting condensation occurring in the ceiling assembly?

Love the warming house! Your video was great and so detailed. Well done!

52:55 single unit 18:54 Type of clamps for the roof 19:21 The cut for the roof panel (secure fit) 20:24 Installing the roof

Great job! 👍 I wonder how it behaves over several winters. Here in Europe we put all constructions on foundation walls or pilars, as deep as the ground freezing level. Rationale is that the ground above this level moves when soaks, dries and freeze. But this increase the cost of construction considerably. So this video makes me thinking whether I should also give a try to use an inch or two of gravel instead of foundation for my shed.

I use to inspect and draft structural drawings for houses and larger projects and i would have no problems giving this build a overwhelming two thumbs up! well done and very informative!

Great video! I drew out something like this a while back for a shed. Glad I saw this video. Gave me some new ideas!

Pete nice work on the warming house it turned out pretty awesome, I just completed building my first workshop the same size as your warming house. The only criticism I have is that unless you're able to timetravel I think you might have bought the plywood for the inside of the warming house in November of 2021 not 2022 🤔. I too had to build mine on my own and boy there was some very tiring days. I'm glad that RU-vid recommended your video as I've been thinking about putting in a logburner and now I've seen your video I'm definitely going to be putting in an order for one in the next day or two. Thanks for sharing 👍. As always buddy 💯% 👍 🇬🇧.

fabulous video! couple of questions 1) Why vapor barrier only for the walls and not the roof? 2) What is the chance of moisture & mold under the shed?

The is the only video I have watched on RU-vid which is nearly an hour long where I didn’t have to speed up the playback and enjoyed to the fullest! I wish I was able to build something like this, as I need a 12 square meters space like this. Love your work!❤

As someone who grew up with the Penguins, and has now spent more time living next door to the Capitals, and of course working with Maple Leaf fans, all I can say is: Thanks for a great video!

One of the best videos I’ve found on a lean to style shed! One question, though. How tall were the 2x4’s in the front versus the ones used at the rear?

I can't even cut a piece of plywood in half.

I can’t believe I watched this entire hour. It was so engaging, I couldn’t look away. Looks amazing

Amazing doing it all by yourself. Thanks so much for such an informative vid.

Why did I think this would be easy to do🤦‍♂️😂

Why do people choose to build on a rock foundation with a wood floor instead of just doing a concrete slab? It almost seems like more work and more expensive to build. PS I didn’t have time to watch this whole vid and watching without sound.

Great job! Everything is so precise. I really enjoyed watching your construction, so good!

Excellent work! What an inspiration!

2nd time around. Picked up more tricks. I don’t remember seeing all the people in there the first time. That was great to see all those kids in there. Definitely something they will always remember.

Well now...thank you very much. Simple, easy to understand, everything is RIGHT THERE. In one video, you took all the voodoo out of carpentry. Thanx Pete, for showing me my next career.

you can learn so much from this video. the framing techniques, the equipment, insulation, wiring... incredible! this is the best use for youtube.

I also decided on budling a lean-to style mancave and have watched so many videos regarding how to build one.. I honestly gotta say this ones my favorite. I really enjoy watching this. its well thought out and it came out great. Lord I wish I had that much property with the equipment you're able to fit out there but ill make do with my 12x14 even if I have to bring in each piece of wood one by one lol. Thanks for sharing this!

Great job and super in depth, so many little details other people don’t explain properly. You really cleared up a lot of things for me that I will use in my projects. Thanks so much god bless!

This is a nice video, well-done, and easy to follow. May I make a few comments that may be constructive, please? Not looking to be a critic here --- everyone has their preferences when building, of course: 1. The skid base is okay in many cases, but in lieu of a poured concrete base... here is what I do myself on sheds and smaller buildings.. When I build my floor I don't lay gravel, but use cinder block as footings/supports --- that initially get partially buried in the ground. I measure my area, place the blocks along the perimeter, but not many are needed. Meanwhile I build the base, much the same as you have done, Pete, but add extra horizontal base pieces ( for the screw rod ties later on ), then mark everything for eventual fastening together. As I assemble the perimeter, I mark, drill and countersink holes in the extra horizontal base/frame pieces, and, piece by piece, build the entire floor base onto the cement blocks, then re-check that everything is level and square. Then I fill the cement blocks with concrete, pass the screw bolts down through each drilled hole, I use 1/2" screw rod, run them into the wet concrete, hammer them down a little, and let everything set. A day later I come back and torque down down with washers and nuts all around. Just built an 8' x 8' shed using this method: used only 9 blocks in all and only needed to bolt down 8 times using this method. Yes, it sounds more complicated than it actually is... but it makes for a very secure base, and best of all... it can be taken apart easily if you ever want or need to move the building. Yes, it is more time-consuming, but when done correctly makes for a very solid base to build upward from. 2. I also never use nails or nail guns, except for trim. Everything else I use screws for. Why? They are easy to remove if you make a mistake, or if you need to take anything apart later on. Easy to torque down as well if you have warped or bowed lumber that needs tweaking. 3. What I also prefer is to use hex head screw bolts to attach the wall sections to each other. Easy to do with a hex head drill bit attached to any drill. I also countersink these holes as well. Much more solid that simple nailing. I also use screw bolts to attach the base of any wall section to the floor. 4. I also use OSB sheathing, but like to double up the thickness on the floor and the roof. Instead of one piece of 11/32" I will use two pieces 1/2" thick, cross-mounted together for reinforced strength. Always screwed down, not nailed. What this means is that you can easily take things apart if there is a need to make an adjustment or a correction later on... Or, take apart an entire building, then rebuild it if there is a need. Nailing does not give you that option... you would be prying all day long. Anyway... Thank you for listening. Pete I enjoyed the video, I also learned some things from you as well. I am a builder, carpenter, jack-of-all-trades, former movie-set carpenter... here... 71 years old.

Love this video. Thanks! Getting ready to build my home office out back and this is exactly what I want. Super cool video.

Love the way you explained everything. Thank you for your time

This video makes me want to move to Montana. SO beautiful.

I always come back to this video. Always impressed wishing to do it one day myself

This is a really great step by step methodical video. I was initially interested in learning some tips on making quick seat cuts on a mono pitch roof,, but you got me for the whole 53 minutes and I learned some extras. Thanks for taking the time.

The gems i found today. Thanks Pete! Watching from KSA

For painting the adjoining walls before installing the cedar panel accent wall, you have my utmost respect.

Dude, this was awesome. Really great job and great video. Thanks!

Loved this video, you did an amazing job and explained everything very well.

Agree with last comment. Well-narrated, will-put-together video. Thanks much! Love the black painted trim modification. Often I learn more from mistakes than when things go smoothly. I want to point out a few things that I learned (mistake-wise) from this video -- to round out the learning experience -- again, great video. I hope my comments are taken in the right spirit, as helpful not criticism. Bottom-line up front (6 major errors, 4 cautions, 1 suggestion): 1) Especiallly with a shed this size, excavate such that you are able to have a 4" (min) base of gravel to the height you will want and compact the soil/clay with a compacter 2) Use landscape textile on the soil/clay prior to putting down gravel so that the gravel doesn't sink into wet soil over time 3) Level gravel before building on top 4) Compact gravel using a compactor 5) Level skids before building truss frame 6) Square truss frame before attaching joists & re-square after attaching joists and installing corner hardware. Caution 1: Would recommend a frame around the gravel base. This could be either ground-contact rated pressure-treated or plastic lumber (e.g. 4x4s). This avoids the gravel migrating away from the shed and causing leveling issues over time. Caution 2: Consider if you need drainage (corrugated, silt-sock-covered plastic drainage tubing and install if needed along with a dry well Caution 3: Consider whether you need a gutter system and tie into the plastic drain tubing and dry well system. Caution 4: Use clean 3/4" gravel for best drainage. Suggestion: The shed is well-insulated everywhere except for I'd make an improvement to the roof to allow for a 6" - 1" airspace for soffit and ventilation. For this I'd suggest to install a ledger board 1/2 to 1 foot below the roof decking on the insides of the roof joists, then put soffit vents and the back side of the shed under the eaves, and exit vents or the front fascia or a ridge vent on the front top shed edge. Inside I'd put either solid foam with reflective top surface (and caulk edges) or put roof decking attached to the ledger boards with reflectix on top surface of roof decking. This will allow for hot air to flow and not be trapped inside the shed and give the shed a much-more controlled air space. Caution 1. Would recommend a frame around the gravel base. This could be either ground-contact rated pressure-treated or plastic lumber (e.g. 4x4s). This avoids the gravel migrating away from the shed and causing leveling issues over time. Error 1. Excavate such that you are able to have a 4" (min) base of gravel to the height you will want. Error 2. You will not be happy when the gravel eventually compresses into mucky/wet ground. My brother's entire driveway disappeared this way. Caution 4. Put down a commercial grade Use 3/4" clean rock. Regular chips and dust is cheaper but not as good for drainage. Recommend 4" depth (min). Error3-5. Once the frame is in, fill and use a gravel compacter and make sure it is level. This will take awhile and you'll want to use the longest, straightest board you can with a level on top of it. I can't underestimate the importance of compacting and leveling the foundation. Fixing level with a shed on top is no fun.Recommend 4". Error 6. Why force all the truss screws to bend if the frame isn't square? This doesn't make sense.

This is the kind of video you watch intending to learn how to build yourself, but by the end of it, you just want to hire the guy doing it so well. Awesome skills. Cheers!

Very cool project and excellent video production. I learned a lot. You gave me some ideas for a project of my own. Keep up the good work!

Wow! What an amazing build!

Good job. Fantastic technique. Someone can really learn from your video and even years from now build their own home!!!

Great, detailed video. Impressive and thank you for listing/talking prices and months you bought materials as most people forget these types of details.