Basics

• A mini storage unit is a simple structure designed to hold and protect anything from lawnmowers to furniture. There are just a few basics to learn. The first is how to build a strong building, and the second is how to keep the storage unit off the ground. You will want to use two-by-four boards, high quality plywood and galvanized nails, since it will be built outside. You should also consider which type of foundation is required. For soft ground, a concrete slab is in order; for harder ground (and lighter units), cinder blocks and a layer of gravel will suffice.
  
  

Designs

• The design of the shed can be very simple. Four walls, a strong framed floor and a slant roof are all that is required to build a simple storage unit. The floor should be reinforced to support heavy equipment, and the walls made so they can hold insulation if yo choose to add it. A large doorway is also a necessity with a storage unit. Plan to make the door almost as wide as one of the longer sides. Or, measure the length, width and height of the largest object you want to store and build the unit a foot large on each side than those dimensions.
  
  

Materials

• Basic materials for a storage unit are plywood (pine or maple) and two-by-four boards (tempered pine). You may also consider building the frame from metal bracing and the walls from metal siding. This will require screws or rivets and the metal materials. It will be more expensive but will last longer. Consider what you are going to store and how much it weighs. Also think about where it will be located. In a warm climate, metal is a good choice because it will stay cooler in the summer and it resists rot. Wood will not last as long and requires paint or stain, but it is less expensive.