Project Idea for Using Scrap Deck Pieces: Firewood Storage
With the price of wood sky rocketing I wanted to try and do something with the good pieces of wood that I saved from when we tore down the lower level of the deck. I decided to attempt to make a nice big wooden storage shelf for my firewood. I’ve collected lots of wood over the last year as I've been taking down dead trees and pruning up others. I have extra wood screws from another project that I’m going to try so I figured if it pulled it off, the project wouldn't cost me anything. We currently store firewood back along the fence line in piles and in the plastic box you can see in the pic below that the old owners left us full of wood.
I didn’t have an actual plan because I was using all wood scraps so the outcome was going to depend on how much I could get out of the scraps. To start, I laid down cement walking steps that used to come off of the deck to place along the bottom to help get the wood off the ground and to keep it level. Keeping wood off the ground helps protect it from bugs and keeps it dry.
On the bottom I saved two heavy beam boards to use for my foundation. Both were perfectly level and would be able to carry lots of weight. Interesting to note, these were the only two beams that were not touching the dirt under the deck. The rest we removed were completely rotten or soaked with water. Good lesson for those of you building new decks.
Next, I cut three equal boards from what’s called the joist on the deck to make sure the bottom was square and placed one in the center and the others on the ends.I then cut five boards (joists) equally that would go along the sides and the back/middle. I cut four smaller equal pieces (deck boards) that would help square up the sides. Knowing the bottom was square helped line up the rest.
I placed wooden boards on the ground that I could lay the boards on top. Once it was screwed in I could simply remove the bottom boards and it should be lined up. This helps when you’re alone building and have nobody to help hold a board. I basically built rectangles with middle supports and connected them together.
I started noticing I was getting low on longer boards. I used the two longest I had left to place on the top. On the top I placed one board flat and stood one board up. I did this because I was going to try and make a roof that was slanted. I placed the last of the five equal pieces along the back middle to connect it to the bottom and the top piece in the back.
I used scraps of wood to simply strengthen all the boards in hopes this will never fall down. Several places I added boards simply to have something to screw into. Throughout the process I used my triangle and level to make sure it was close to being square.
The final part was putting the slanted roof on. I wanted the roof to hang off more in the front and back, but according to my measurements I didn’t have enough wood (deck boards). I measured each board the exact same length and screwed them in on the top and bottom of the board. I ran out of wood screws so I had to switch to nails. Nails worked just fine for the top roof.
For no plan, and no actual building experience, I was pretty proud of how this came out! The fun part was organizing the firewood onto the shelf. I think it turned out great and was all free.
My true judge of the outcome is always based on if my wife would approve. She liked it and was impressed! I think she was most glad to get rid of the plastic box all the small firewood pieces were in.
I even had a neighbor ask where I got the plans from! It filled up with firewood quickly and cleaned up the back area of our yard.
Need a fix up? Here's what we used:
Scrap pieces of decking
Drill *
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