Picnic Shelter Plans

This detailed woodworking project is about picnic shelter plans free. Building a wooden shelter for your backyard is a complex project but anyone can get the job done by following proper plans and instructions. If you have  a tight budget, the only way you can pull the project off is by planning every step with attention. Moreover, gather all the tools from the very beginning in order to save time.

If you want to create a sheltered area for your picnic table, you should pay attention to the instructions and diagrams shown in this article. Moreover, we strongly recommend you to check out the rest of the related projects, as you might find out that a gazebo or a pavilion is what you are actually looking for. Irrespective of your choice, we recommend you to invest in high quality and weather resistant lumber.

Picnic Shelter Plans Free

Building a picnic shelter

Materials

• 1 – 6 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 108” POSTS
• 2 – 5 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 240” BEAMS
• 3 – 11 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 147″, 22 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 100″ RAFTERS
• 4 – 50 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 240″ SLATS   

• 50 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 20 ft
• 6 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 10 ft
• 5 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 20 ft
• 11 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 14 ft
• 22 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 10 ft
• 6 post anchors
• 22 rafter ties
• 100 pieces of 3 1/2″ screws
• 12 pieces of 7″ galvanized carriage bolts
• wood glue, stain/paint

Tools

• Hammer, Tape measure, Carpentry square
• Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander, Router
• Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses, Respiratory Mask

Time

• One day

Building a Picnic Shelter

Laying out the shelter

The first step of the backyard project is to lay out the picnic shelter in a professional manner. As you can easily notice in the plans, we recommend you to lay out the shelter in a professional manner, by using string and batter boards.

PRO TIP: Measure the diagonals and make adjustments until they are perfectly equal. In addition, apply the 3-4-5 rule to each corner to check if they are perfectly square.

Fitting the posts into concrete

There are several ways in which you can set the posts into place, so take the final decision according to the soil structure. If you live in a windy area the best choice would be to set the posts into concrete for at least 3′. Otherwise, you could also pour concrete footings and lock the posts into place with metal anchors.

PRO TIP: Plumb the posts with a spirit level and secure them temporarily with braces, until you attach the support beams.

Fitting the support beams

The next step of the project is to attach the support beams to the top of the wooden posts. Adjust the size of the 2×6 beams at the right dimension and lock them to the posts with 7″ galvanized carriage bolts. Place a spirit level on top of the posts to check if they are horizontal.

Building the roof structure

Afterwards, you need to build the trusses and to fit them to the support beams, as shown in the image. Cut the components at the right size by using a circular saw and lock them together with screws. Make sure all trusses have the same size and shape, otherwise the roof won’t have a neat appearance. Use 2×6 lumber for the bottom rafters and for the top ridge, and 2×4 lumber for the common rafters.

Fitting the trusses

It is essential to lock the rafters to the support beams with screws, in order to create a rigid and durable structure. Place the rafters equally spaced, as shown in the plans, in order to support the weight of the roofing properly.

Attaching the roof

You can cover the shelter in several ways (plywood, asphalt shingles, corrugated metal sheets, slats). If you want to get the job done quickly and to get a rustic result, we recommend you to install 1×6 slats starting with the bottom section of the roof. Insert galvanized nails through the slats into the rafters and make sure the slats overlap at least 1″.

Picnic table shelter plans

Last but not least, you should take care of the finishing touches. Therefore, we recommend you to check if the components are locked into place properly and if the frame is rigid. Make sure there are no protruding screws or sharp edges. Free plans for a 20×30 pavilion on my blog, so you might check them out.

PRO TIP: Fill the holes with a good wood filler and smooth the surface with 120-grit sandpaper. Apply several coats of paint or stain over the components, in order to protect them from decay.

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