Genius! DIY Trash Can Shed

A repurposing pro makes her own trash enclosure for $30—and you can too.

By Bob Vila Staff | Updated Sep 15, 2014 6:54 PM

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Who hasn’t admired a great product in-store before balking at the price tag? When daring DIYer Anne Davis saw a $300 plastic trash can shed, she was determined to build her own on the cheap. And she succeeded in doing just that—spending only $30! Now, that’s Genius!

This project is par for the course with Anne. “I love the challenge of building and creating things that I see and would like to have,” she says. But there’s a limit to her DIY prowess—when it comes to upholstery, she’d rather buy than DIY.

We often hear from readers who love the idea of DIY but have a power saw phobia. And believe it or not, Anne used to be one of those folks too. “I was terrified to use power tools in the beginning, but after watching YouTube videos on how to use the different power tools, I felt more comfortable trying them out. I bought a small circular saw to start—it was a cordless 6 1/2″ circular saw that was lightweight and easy to maneuver. It was the best tool I ever bought!” 

For readers looking to get their feet wet with power tools, she recommends a shelving unit for the garage. “If you mess up on the project, it isn’t front and center in your home!” she points out.

For pointers on making your own DIY garbage shed, read on.

DIY Garbage Shed

 MATERIALS
– (6) 2x4s
– (25) 3′ fence boards
– OSB board pieces
– (6) 10′ tongue-and-groove pine boards
– #30 tarpaper
– (6) roofing shingles
– Wood pallet
– Hinges
– Clasp
– Handles
– Paint
– Modified wood shed plans
– Circular saw
– Cardboard

STEP 1

DIY Garbage Shed Frame

I found a plan online for a garbage container and wood shed that looked fairly easy to build. I modified the plan to suit my needs and began cutting the wood. All I have is a circular saw, so that’s what I used. I used a cardboard template for the angled roof rafters so I could cut the two pieces with the same angle.

STEP 2

DIY Garbage Shed Walls

Then I built the very basic frame and began attaching the fence boards as siding.

STEP 3

DIY Garbage Shed Build

I used a pallet as the base.

Anne was able to create this project for $30 by using repurposed items she or her neighbors had on hand. Here’s the breakdown.

Here is the list of scrounged items:

– (25) 3-foot fence boards (didn’t use them all)
– Used OSB pieces I found while cleaning out my crawlspace as sheathing for the roof. (I had to add one more rafter in the centre because the OSB kinda sagged, the short piece of 2×4 was left over from the wood I had bought.)
– #30 tarpaper from my neighbor
– 6 roofing shingles found in my shed
– Tongue-and-groove pine boards for the doors (a little warped but serviceable!)
– (3) 2x4s

Bought new:
– (3) 2x4s
– Hinges
– Clasp
– Handles

There are still a few finishing touches that are needed—some lattice, paint and trim and the hinges need adjusting, but this is what it looks like now:

DIY Garbage Shed Brown

Total out of pocket cost: $30.00—a far cry from $299 plus tax!! Now I can have my garbage in my front yard, neatly hidden away. And it’s quick and easy to chuck it out to the curb on garbage day. I need to paint the underside of the roof and attach a couple of pieces of lattice over the triangular openings on both sides. But it looks not half bad, even if I do say so myself!

A year later, Anne gave her DIY garage shed an upgrade with new paint and hardware. It’s certainly held up to the elements and looks great.

DIY Garbage Shed Finished

Thanks to our Genius blogger Anne Davis for sharing with us!

To read more about her first repurposing project a mini greenhouse made from old windows, or check out her successful bathroom remodel, find Anne on her blog