Diagonal bracing for shed

[bsr]

Hi, I am building a pent shed. Similar to a garage, the front face is going to be doors and very little else. Currently it's made from 2x4 columns/studs and a 6x2 wall plate/lintel.

I've diagonally braced the sides, back and across the roof joists as usual. However the front is still a bit wobbly. Any suggestions? I guess replacing wood with a bolted steel frame would be the obvious option but would cost $$$.

• Small diagonal braces in the top corners (made from 6x2 offcuts), screwed and glued with waterproof PVA?
• Metal corner brackets like these?

 

[grantmac]

Adding some diagonal bracing in the top corners seems like a solid idea to stabilize things, especially using 6x2 offcuts. Metal corner braces are also good for added strength. Since you've already done the sides and roof, maybe check if everything's tightened up properly first? Are the anchor points on your floor secure? Could make a difference.

Are there any other areas where you’re noticing the wobble that might hint at additional weak spots?

 

[bsr]

I think the main issue is the stud to wall plate/lintel connection. This is skew screwed. The sole plates are solidly attached to the floor using hammer fixings.

Thinking some more, a ply or 6x1 gusset might work better as I could make a larger diagonal?

 

[Notch7]

Hi, I am building a pent shed. Similar to a garage, the front face is going to be doors and very little else. Currently it's made from 2x4 columns/studs and a 6x2 wall plate/lintel.

I've diagonally braced the sides, back and across the roof joists as usual. However the front is still a bit wobbly. Any suggestions? I guess replacing wood with a bolted steel frame would be the obvious option but would cost $$$.

• Small diagonal braces in the top corners (made from 6x2 offcuts), screwed and glued with waterproof PVA?
• Metal corner brackets like these?

could you cut a piece of ply to go with sied of the doors internally -take an 8 x 4 sheet of 18mm or 25mm ply, then cut out an L shape so it goes up the side and across the head

if you have no framing above the doors at all then, just 2 pieces plywood wood the full height of the frame both sides will stiffen up the building as it will turn the frames either side into a solid wall panel

brackets and gussets might help but you really need a a board that can be screwed to both vertical studs to make them rigid to one another

if you are putting celetex insulation in the studwork internally then put some in say 5mm small all round and fill the gap with spray foam.

 

[big-all]

my thought for what its worth
if you have less than perhaps 16" you will struggle with timber[internal 12"]
perhaps a flat bracket looking like a roofing square may work best??

if you are going to hang things off the walls avoid near the door
iff you must hang off the wall near the door favour the wall opposite the dominant door for the heavier stuff, so any slack will lift the door front edge up as it's easier to pull a door down than lift it up

 

[bsr]

Thanks All. @Notch7 I'll consider full size ply stiffeners if all else fails. Firstly I was wondering about big L brackets as @big-all says.

In hindsight I made a mistake with the framing. I rested the wall plate on top of the studs. I think bringing the studs to ridge height, and screwing into the end grain of the wall plate, would have given me a much more rigid connection.

Yes there is no framing above the door other than the 6x2 wall plate / lintel as I needed to keep height to a minimum.

I will also see what happens when I clad. I can try putting lots of screws through the corner cladding pieces to join the framing. That should help brace it all up.

 

[noseall]

Thanks All. @Notch7 I'll consider full size ply stiffeners if all else fails. Firstly I was wondering about big L brackets as @big-all says.

In hindsight I made a mistake with the framing. I rested the wall plate on top of the studs. I think bringing the studs to ridge height, and screwing into the end grain of the wall plate, would have given me a much more rigid connection.

Yes there is no framing above the door other than the 6x2 wall plate / lintel as I needed to keep height to a minimum.

I will also see what happens when I clad. I can try putting lots of screws through the corner cladding pieces to join the framing. That should help brace it all up.

Ply sheathing, ply gussets are a recognised way of stiffening (anti-racking etc) stud structures, but only if you have some framing to fix to. Galv brackets will help, in the absence of any expanse of timber. Regardless I'd sprag or prop the building square, prior to adding any stiffening.