Category Archives: build your own shed

How To Build A Shed – On Sloping Ground

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Planning to build a shed on level ground sounds straightforward enough, and how to do this is well documented by standard DIY shed plans. But what if you do not have the luxury of enough flat land to build your shed? That might mean you have to build the shed into the side of sloping land, and that needs a bit more planning and expertise.


You would need to assess the nature of the land you want to build on. Is it loose soil, or are there trees in the land near where you want to build the shed? If there are, and depending how mature the trees are, it means there are likely to be tree roots which will need to be removed. You would need an excavator to clear the land anyway, and it is just one more level of preparation you will need to undertake.

It depends on the angle of the slope you are building into as well. Once you have cleared the site, you would need to remove any danger of the earth slipping back on to the shed, and causing damage. That might mean building a retaining wall of some kind. I would definitely think about having concrete foundations for this structure.

To get some more ideas, I would ask a builder to come and look at the sight, with a view to giving you a free quotation. Even if you do not intend to commit to have him build the shed for you, he will give you an expert opinion on what needs to be done, and that’s all you really need to know. He will also advise you on the materials and supports needed to ensure you have a solid and safe construction.

Should You Build Your Own Shed By Yourself?

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Many people like the idea of building their own shed, or putting one together by following some plans that came with a shed kit perhaps. But, then they question whether they have the basic skills needed to get the job done. It is as if the idea looked good in the brochure, or on the website you recently visited, then the reality hits home when the delivery arrives on your doorstep. Can I do this, you ask yourself.

Only you know the answer to the question, and if you have never done a project like this before you will never know unless you try. You can help yourself by giving yourself as much chance of success as you can. Planning and preparation is key when it comes to building your own shed.

Failure is the probable result if the project is badly thought out, and you do not buy the right materials. You can always pay someone to put it right of course, but that is not the priority.

How can you give yourself the best chance of successfully building your own shed? By following some good step by step DIY shed plans for a start. Then I would ask a knowledgeable friend to help you. Preferably someone who either does this for a living, or someone who has already built a shed, and knows what is involved. They will likely have all the tools and know how you need as well.

The ideal scenario is to work with someone who has advanced DIY skills. You can learn a lot in a short space of time by doing this, and it beats trying to learn from books and the internet.

My advice is to think the project through before making the commitment to build your own shed. Try to find out what is involved first. By doing some basic research, and talking to the people who actually sell these products, and those who have bought them ,if possible, you can come to a sensible decision, and perhaps save yourself some time and money as well.

Building A Shed With No Previous Experience

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It is very tempting to build your own shed, even if you have had no previous experience. The mere fact that you have built a shed yourself though, will give your confidence a tremendous boost, and you will be the envy of all your friends. Just think, you will be able to look at the shed you built yourself, for years to come, and you will be able to take a lot of pride in what you have accomplished by using your skills.

People want to build a shed themselves for different reasons. Some do it for the satisfaction alone, and this is a great reason. Others do it to save money, or because they want to stamp their own personality on the project.

You will never know if you can build a shed by yourself unless you give it a try. You do not have to spend much money on timber, as you can build a shed from pallets or scrap wood if you want to. Some would argue that commercially produced wood is not that good quality anyway. If you believe that, you really have nothing to lose, and you could end up with a solid structure by using pallets.

I myself prefer wooden sheds, and if you decide to build one yourself I would make sure that the wooden floor is raised above the ground. This will help preserve the shed for many years to come and help protect it against rotting due to damp or wet conditions. Another thing I would do is make the walls as secure as possible so as to withstand wind damage. The best way to protect it is to use plenty of cross struts to stop this from happening and help make the structure tight as well.

If you want to save some money, you do not need to have a fancy roof. You could construct a sloping roof and cover it with some water proof material.

This is enough to get the shed built, and although you might not have the most elegant looking shed in the world, you will have the satisfaction of having built it all by yourself. Building a shed is not that difficult, if you put your mind to it.

Build A Storage Shed – Building A Storage Shed For Yourself

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If you want to build a storage shed for yourself, but do not know where to start, then I understand. Most people would think building a storage shed should be fairly straightforward, because the construction looks uncomplicated.

The key to success with this project, is having a clear and understandable set of DIY shed plans to follow. They do make the difference, between a frustrating experience, and one where the project stands the best chance of success with the least amount stress.

Building a storage shed needs preparation. Start by asking yourself how big you want the shed to be, and where you want to site the storage shed. Ideally, it is best to site the shed on a flat, dry surface, in an area where there is good all round ventilation, and preferably away from trees.

My shed is located under a very tall tree growing in my neighbour’s garden. It has pine needles which drop on to my shed every so often and make a mess. There is also the risk of branches falling on my shed, due to wind damage.

Once you have decided on the size your shed is to be, I would sketch it out on some paper, or have someone else do it for you. These drawings should be to scale, so you can take them with you to the lumber yard to buy the required quantity of timber needed to build the shed.

Ground preparation is important, and you should seek advice about whether or not your storage shed will need foundations. Draw up a list of tools you think you might need to complete the project, and check they are in good condition. You will also need safety gloves and a pair of goggles. If you have young children, be sure to keep dangerous tools and potentially harmful preservatives and chemical products out of their reach.

If you have never tackled a job of this scale on your own before, ask a friend in the trade to help. Or you could choose someone who has advanced woodworking skills. You can gain valuable woodworking skills just by working alongside an experienced tradesman. There are few better ways of furthering your woodworking skills than watching those who know what they are doing.

Be sure to make enquiries with your local planning office to see if you need their permission to build a storage shed. If necessary, you can photocopy the set of plans you drew up already, and pass a copy on to them for inspection.

Finally, success depends on the measurements and plans you have drawn up. If your measurements are correct, and you have bought the correct materials for the job, you should not have any problems.

Build An Outdoor Shed – Outdoor Storage Shed 10 x 8

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Once you have made the decision to build an outdoor storage shed, the next step is to locate a set of step by step, easy to understand DIY plans to walk you through the build. I don’t know about you, but blueprints have to be easy for me. I have seen some DIY plans which I know are way too hard for me to understand. My motto with self build shed plans is go simple.

I don’t have advanced woodworking skills, but I can follow step by step plans. That is what motivates me to build my own woodworking projects. If I did not have access to these types of plan, I could not do the job by myself. Simple as that. There is no doubt the easiest option to build an outdoor shed is to buy a kit with the wood pre cut. All you have to do is to put it together. And, it won’t take up too much of your time.

I was recently looking for outdoor storage shed kits on Amazon and I found one I liked selling for around $400. The only problem is, the dimensions are too small for my particular storage needs, and the shed is made of polythene. My choice for a shed is wood. Because the dimensions of this particular shed are a bit on the small side I looked at building something at least 10 x 8 in wood, and even that size might be too small for me.

Some of my friends have vinyl sheds and say they are pleased with them. The only reservation I have with an outdoor shed made of vinyl is the possibility it might get blown over. They have to be anchored down to stop this happening. There is also the possibility of wind damage.

You can build an outdoor storage shed in metal if you prefer. I don’t know much about the outdoor metal sheds, but it is best to check the quality of the materials you choose for the shed before you commit. You want a few years wear out of the shed, at the least. Wood, too, tends to be not as solid as it used to be, and is therefore lighter in weight. That said, as long as you treat it correctly and maintain it, then it should serve you well.

If you decide to go the self build route to an outdoor storage shed, the first thing I would do is check to see if you need permission from your local authority to build one. They will want to know details of the proposed size of construction, and where it is to be situated.  If you do need permission they will let you know what happens next.

Ideally you need to build the shed on a flat surface. If you need foundations, be sure you have the right foundations for your size of shed. If the area you have chosen to build on is prone to surface water flooding you will need to raise the shed floor and the quality of the foundations will need to reflect this.

The rest of the outdoor storage shed construction will depend on the design you have chosen. I would definitely select a design which is pleasing to the eye, and which adds to the overall look of your property. I suspect you will soon fall out with a shed which is ugly and stands out for all the wrong reasons.

Garden Shed Plans

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Plans for a garden shed can be had in lots of places, including online and the major DIY stores. There is no shortage of garden shed plans. That said, the key to building the garden shed of your dreams is matching the right garden shed plans to your own individual specifications. They should be exact and easy to understand.

The design and look of your garden shed will depend on what your purpose is in having a garden shed. You need to go through some thought processes to be clear what the finished project will look like. That means taking the time to make some notes on what you want to see happen.

Start by asking yourself some relevant questions. How big is the garden shed going to be? This is an important question, and from my own experience, whatever size you decide on, I would build a little larger than you plan for.

Decide on the best location for the shed. Close to the main dwelling, and on level ground if possible. Situating the garden shed close to the main residence is better for security, because it will be less remote.

Do you want to keep garden equipment in the shed? Or perhaps you want to store larger items of furniture, if you have a surplus of household items for instance. Deciding what you want to store in your garden shed, will determine the size and quality of the finished construction. You do not want good items of furniture to be ruined by rain dripping on them. The cost goes up when you factor in the price of weather proofing and insulating materials.

Most people choose a shed made of wood. But there are other options available, such as vinyl and metal. Wood tends to need more maintenance over time, while metal and vinyl will need less looking after.

Flat roof or arched? The cost of an arched roof is likely to be more expensive, though it does look more attractive, in my opinion.

Give some thought to windows, doors and shelving. Removable shelving is useful, as you can add or remove it easily, and shelving greatly increases the storage space.

Decide on a budget before you make any plans. That said, the budget does need to be realistic, so try and get an estimate from a reputable tradesman or qualified friend before deciding on a ball park figure to work with.

Consider whether you will need foundations. If so, of what type will they be. There are lots of variables which come into play, as all constructions have different environmental conditions in the immediate area. Is the ground level, and well drained? Is there enough natural light in the proposed location? Is it in an exposed or sheltered spot? There are many decisions to be made which depend on the answers to these questions.

All this might sound complex and off putting. But it should not. These are all common sense questions. If you do not feel able to work through them by yourself, ask a skilled friend or tradesman to help you. It will be worth it.

Once you have decided on the size and materials for your garden shed, all that remains is to get yourself a good set of garden shed plans.

Backyard Shed Storage

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The longer you live in the same house you will find that, over time, you will want to change things around a bit. Furniture tends to come and go over the years, beds, chairs, tables, are moved around and changed. If you like to save your possessions, that’s where backyard shed storage can help.

The problem arises when you have to decide whether to part company with the furniture you are replacing or whether to keep it. There are often good reasons why you would want to consider keeping your furniture. Sentimental reasons, is just one example.

Your children might need it to furnish their first home and you might decide to keep some of it for them to own in the future, or you might want to try and sell it at some point. Very often I have heard it said, I am sure we could get good money for this if we sell it. It does not always happen but it is an option.

In the meantime, the garage becomes the furniture store. When you have filled that, you might want to consider investing in some backyard shed storage space.

With the garage full, I did not have enough room to access the things I needed in there, so I bought some backyard shed storage plans. Before I built the shed I thought about the kinds of things I wanted to put in there. Then I decided that I wanted enough room to be able to get at everything in there, so I went for a larger floor space than usual.

This added to the overall cost and took longer to build, but it was worth it. It can be very frustrating shifting stuff around to get at what you want at the back of the shed. Then you have to move it all back again, and it never seems to go back the same way as before, especially if you have a lot of possessions in your shed.

If the shed you are planning to build is on the large size, make sure you have adequate foundations before you start. And, check with your local authority to see if you need permission to build.

Now that the job is completed, and after some reorganizing of my own, I now have enough space to continue using my garage whenever I want. Investing in backyard shed storage was a good decision for me.

Build Your Own Shed

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The desire and motivation to build your own shed is to be admired. If you have browsed around the part of the store where you can view complete sheds, the ones ready to ship to your home, you might have pondered the thought that perhaps you do not need to pay the price for a finished one. Maybe you could build your own shed, and save some money at the same time.

When you have a good look at some of the basic design features of some of the sheds, they do not look too complicated. That is why it is tempting to have a go at building one yourself. You might not even have a set of plans to guide you.

If you have some basic woodworking skills, perhaps you could draw up a design of your own. There are lots of DIY books available to buy and loan. These can give you valuable insights in to the design and construction phase of the project.

Does this sound too time consuming? There is no right answer. It depends whether you have the time and interest to see the project through by yourself. Many people do not realize how much detail there is in even a basic design wooden shed. There is the type of wood to be bought, cut and treated. And, it has to be cut just right, else it does not fit, and that can be a problem.

Before you do anything, check the building regulations for the area where you live. If you cannot have permission to construct the shed you want, forget it. The authorities can make you take the construction down if you build without their consent. It is not worth the risk of ignoring them.

If you have permission, the next thing to do is get yourself a good set of plans. This is important if your project is to succeed. These blueprints specify all the necessary detail of type of wood needed and the sizes to cut it.

Take care deciding where to locate the shed, in relation to your main living area. If you need to have water or electricity in the shed you will need to allow for that in your plans.

Adequate time spent in planning to build your own shed will be time well spent in ensuring that your plan goes smoothly and you end up with the shed which you have promised yourself.

Wood Shed Kits

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Wood shed kits are an ideal way to expand your storage space in the backyard. Wood is a good choice of material to use, as metal is subject to rusting and vinyl can be expensive. Vinyl also tends not to look so good as a wooden structure, in my opinion.

There are a few considerations to think about before laying out your hard earned money in buying a wood shed kit. The shed will need to be strong enough to withstand the outside elements. You do not want something which will take off into space when there is a strong wind blowing.

The shed needs to be big enough for your needs. You might require storage space only, or you might decide you want something larger, and more complex in construction. When comparing shed sizes, you need to compare the cubic feet of storage, which is not just floor size only but takes into account the height of the walls and peak roof height as well.

Some wood shed kits come with the wood already cut for you, while others leave the customer more choice of which materials to use. My preference is for a cedar finish. It just looks good. If you provide your own wood, it will need to be treated to protect it from the weather and this will help to prolong its life as well.

Make sure you have adequate foundations to site your shed. Sometimes people overlook this important point. Check with your local authority to see if you are keeping within the current legislation on constructing and siting your shed. You do not want to have to remove it after you have constructed it. Best to keep on the right side of the law, always.

Other things to think about when buying wood shed kits, is the cost of preservatives, if you need to buy them, and also the cost of any power tools you might need to complete the project.

Finally, make sure your wood shed is lockable. You do not want your prize possessions to be stolen from your new shed

Kids Picnic Table Plans – Suceed With Kids Picnic Table Plans

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Me and my wife have talked about having a kids picnic table in our garden for so long now, it has almost become an embarrassment for me whenever she raises the topic in conversation. The fact is, and you might have guessed already, that I have not yet done anything about building one of these. They do not look too difficult to build from the plans I have seen, so I thought I would have a go at constructing one myself.

You see, this project is on my to do list. And it is well known that ‘to dos’ have a long history of being left undone. I told myself this just is not good enough, and I made a resolution to take action before the month was out.

I have never made a kids picnic table before, so I suppose I was taking a chance that I have the ability to build one. But, life itself is a challenge, and sometimes we have to try and do new things ourselves, instead of relying on other people all the time.

I thought about the satisfaction and sense of pride I would have at completing this project by myself. Not that I would be big headed or want to brag about my achievement. I would be happy with the knowledge that I could complete the project.

But, where do I start? I would not say I am the most organised of individuals, but I would not let that put me off. I remembered seeing some kids picnic table plans in my garden shed, so I went and looked them out. I thought my best chance of success would be to follow step by step plans, showing me exactly what to do and how to do it. I had no idea about design or what were the best materials I would need for the job.

Anyway, I followed the plans, and to my amazement, I managed to complete the project. Given that my past history in the flat pack department is not good, I felt really pleased with myself. I was not in a rush to finish the job quickly, but rather took my time and tried to be thorough. I tend to work slowly anyway, when it comes to doing things with my hands.

The end result is, the family now has a kids picnic table which we can look forward to using whenever we want, and that is great. And we saved ourselves some money as well, by making it ourselves.

[Photo by 11950mike]

Lean To Shed – The Answer to Extra Storage Space Is A Lean To Shed

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We are a young and growing family. Our daughter has her own room , but now she wants to expand her private space to include a spare room we have up stairs. Which means we to need to move stuff out of that room into somewhere else.

At this point, I am out of ideas. We only have so much space to live in, and once that is all taken up, we either move to a larger property, or add a bit on to the one we are already living in.

We decided to add an outdoor shed to our house, and the solution we came up with was a lean to shed. If you do not know what one of these is, let me tell you it is typically a shed that touches up against a wall or garage.

They are a good solution for us because we can make it the size we want, and store garden tools and some furniture in there as well. We all have a certain amount of clutter around the home and our house is no exception. Putting the surplus in a lean to shed is the ideal solution for us. When we store our possessions in the lean to shed, we know that they are well protected against damp, humidity and rain. The outside elements, in other words.

It can be heartbreaking when you store your possessions in an outdoor shed, only to find they have deteriorated because of exposure to frost and water. That is why we decided to have ours correctly insulated and damp proofed as well.

We have a friend who is in the building trade, and he and his mates reckon they can put up the lean to shed in two weekends. So, it is not a big job. In fact, anyone with a good set of step by step plans could probably do the job themselves.

I don’t think my carpentry skills are at that level yet, but I can tackle the smaller and simpler jobs, providing I have a good set of step by step plans to go with the project. If you do not usually rely on these, but let me tell you they do make a difference to the successful conclusion of a woodworking project.

Of course you can always buy one of those lean to shed kits either online or at your local DIY shed store. They come with a set of plans, and are usually sold in fixed sizes. You have a choice of metal, vinyl or wood. The choice is yours, and there are pros and cons for each material.

It depends if you are watching your pennies. Buying shed kits can be expensive, while building your own lean to shed can be challenging and a lot of fun, especially as you can involve the whole family in the project.

Potting Shed Plans

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We have a large garden, so me and my family have to take an interest in its upkeep and maintenance, especially in the growing season.


Having your own garden can release those creative instincts within each of us, and they find expression in the arrangement of the plants and shrubs we plant in the garden.

The division of labour in our garden is that I do the digging and spadework, while my wife and daughter take care of the choosing and planting of the flowers and shrubs.

This last year or so my daughter has taken a keen interest in growing plants and flowers from seed. If you have an avid gardener in the family, you will know you can find plant pots of all shapes and sizes scattered all round the living area, and in the sheds and garage as well, depending just how enthusiastic they are.

We already have a garden shed and garage, which my daughter has filled with her plant pots, so I began looking for a set of potting shed plans, with a view to either build one myself, or buy one ready made. Potting sheds serve a particular need, but they can at least be used to store some of my garden tools as well, subject to my daughter’s approval of course.

Potting sheds are by nature small in size.  Whilst looking for potting shed plans, I wanted to allow for a construction that could be used for something else, so it made sense to me to not have it built too small. Apart from garden tools, I saw it as an outdoor storage overflow.

I decided on the traditional potting shed design, that is one having a single large glazed window on one side only. I was fussy about where I located the shed, because I did not want it too near trees or buildings which could encourage damp. I chose a situation which would give a reasonable amount of natural daylight.

I was not too concerned about the foundations, as it was only a small construction on clay soil. Because clay soil retains a lot of water I laid a layer of gravel underneath the shed to assist drainage.

Taking cost into account, I decided to have a professional set of garden shed plans to work from, as I chose to build it myself. I selected a softwood in preference to the more expensive hardwood construction. I installed a largish window that I would be able to open in the warmer weather.

The size of the potting shed is smaller in size than my garden shed, but big enough to store bags of compost and numerous plant pots and seed trays. Plus, I can store a few other things in there as well. I chose a flat sloping roof, so I have the option of putting the plant pots on there if I want to.

I could have gone to the store and bought a potting shed, but it really was not difficult to build, especially following the plans I had. It was a fairly simple construction of four corner posts sunk into concrete, then I added the walls, window, roof and door.

Perhaps some folk could have built a potting shed without plans, but I found them really useful, and a focus for me in completing the job to my satisfaction.

[Photo by Acradenia]

Storage Shed Plans with Porch – Add A Porch To Your Storage Shed Plans

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Depending on where you plan to put your shed, it might be a good idea to add a porch to it. If the structure will accentuate your perspective then this added feature can not only be an appealing supplement but a functional one as well. All you need is a set of storage shed plans with a porch and you are all set.

I have built a few sheds in my day and the one thing I always try to do is make every square foot of the structure functional. A porch can not only give you a spot to sit but it can function as a work place as well. And porches just look nice so the added value for the cost is worth it.

I recently built a potting shed for my wife and the porch gave her a place in the shade to do her stuff with the flowers. The construction had working space inside for bad weather but having the overhang obstruct the sun meant she could be outside and not get too hot.

If you get a good set of storage shed plans it will be easy to add the porch during assembly and the overall cost of the undertaking will only increase a very little. I always double up on the construction so as to add a porch swing should I want to at another time.

Having a porch on your shed gives it depth and allows the building to develop into a part of the landscape instead of an unwelcome eye sore. Building one is not difficult but you do need the correct blueprints to get the angles and loading right or your roof could collapse on you, so be careful.

Do not try and design this feature of the shed on your own. I highly recommend this addition to add a sense of fashion and usefulness to your outdoor project. You will be so glad that you did, and so will your family when they see the end result!

Shed Foundations – Solid Shed Foundations Are Essential

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Your shed foundations is one area where planning and making an added time frame, to be certain it is done correctly, will guarantee your asset will survive for years to come. There are different kinds of shed foundations for you to consider and I will go over a few in this article.

The easiest foundation for a shed is a dirt floor and this is acceptable for a pole barn construction. However, if your shed has real framing of the walls it will need to lay on a level, firm, and dry surface area to work properly.

If water drainage is not an issue you can just place your shed on 6 inches of crushed gravel. I would rather that you put blocks on this gravel and then place the sheds floor supports on these blocks to keep the shed up off the floor.

You could also use a concrete slab but this is expensive and nearly all home-owners are not comfortable pouring their own concrete slabs. Also, if you use a slab you must remember that concrete absorbs water and you must use pressure treated wood wherever it comes in contact with the concrete.

You could also use concrete piers that are poured below grade and attach beams, so that your shed will abut onto them. This is a great way to keep your framework off the floor while giving the strong assistance of a concrete foundation.

No matter what you decide to do you must be certain the shed will rest completely level so the doors and windows will fit and function correctly. You must also make certain that water is diverted away from the foundation so it will not settle and cause the building to lean to one side or the other.

A good set of plans will usually have a detailed description of the different shed foundation alternatives and which one is best for your building and placement. Remember to check with your areas building and permits authority to be certain you follow all the guidelines and building rules.

Saltbox Shed Plans

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A saltbox shed is a distinctive looking structure that can add trendy looks and
functionality to your outdoor living area. The special roof style allows for
extra storage on a small footprint  because the front of the building is
actually two stories and slopes back to a single story level, hence the unique
appearance of the roof which is short and steeply angled in the front and long
and gradually sloping in the back.

This style of roof requires some unusual and complicated cuts that will be
difficult to figure out on your own.  You therefore need to get your hands on a
good set of saltbox shed plans in order to get these cuts done accurately
and competently.  Remember, the number one thing that adds cost to your shed
project is incorrect measuring and cutting.

A detailed set of plans will also save you trips to the supplier because they
come with a complete material list.  No two ways around it, this type  of shed
needs to be built following a detailed drawing or you might end up with an
unsound and ugly structure that will have the neighbours and your wife
complaining to the proper authorities!

Saltbox sheds get their name from New England colonial structures and can add
character and charm to your backyard.  The raised storage area allows you to
build in a smaller space while increasing overall square footage.

These sheds are used for storing lawn tractors, snow mobiles or personal
water-craft because you can put double doors in the front while keeping a keen
sense of composition.

This is a unique design and a challenge to build but is
within the scope of most DIY enthusiasts as long as you have a good set of
saltbox shed plans.