The process of buying sheds and garages can be a little intimidating, especially if you have a limited understanding of construction-related vocabulary. If you find yourself in this category we’ve prepared this article to help you understand construction terms so that you can be a smarter shopper for your next shed or garage.
The first step to successfully buying your outdoor building is to understand the terms used to describe the features of a backyard shed or garage. We’ve compiled a list of the most common terms along with simple definitions.
Pressure Treated Sheds And Garages
This refers to the treatment process used to protect wood against rot and decay. The wood is placed into a tank filled with chemical preservatives. The tanks are highly pressurized which forces the chemicals deep into the wood fibers. Pressure-treated wood can usually be identified by a slightly darker and sometimes green-tinted color and withstands rot and decay for many years. It makes excellent foundation and floor material for portable wood buildings.
Floor Joists 16” on Center
Floor joists are the pieces of lumber that run through the floor which are then covered with sheets of plywood. Think of floor joists as the skeleton of a floor and the plywood as the skin. 16” on center refers to the distance between the center of one joist to the center of the joist beside it. The floor of a wood storage shed, with floor joists that are 16″ on center will easily be able to support your lawn and garden equipment and many other items. If you’re planning to use your shed for vehicle storage, you’ll want the floor joists at 12″ on-center.
Wall Studs 16” on Center
Wall studs are to the walls what floor joists are to the floor. The studs provide the skeleton of the wall over which the siding panels are installed. 16” on center refers to the distance between the center of one stud to the center of the stud beside it. If you’d like more info on exterior options for sheds, we have an entire article on exterior shed wall materials.
(Note: spacing of 16” on center between wall studs or floor joists is the standard used in residential construction)