Category Archives: DIY Building Plans

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.

Garage Building Plans – A Good Set Makes The Difference

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Building your own garage is out of the range of most DIY homeowners. You may wish to take this project on yourself or you may decide to hire the job out to a local builder. Whatever your decision, a very good idea is to get a good set of garage building plans so you can either use them to build the garage yourself or save money paying a builder to design the structure for you.

In todays economy there are all kinds of out of work full and part time builders, joiners and construction workers that will do just about any job they can get their hands on, just to get the work. If you have a set of garage building plans that comes with a material list you can go to a lumber yard and buy them yourself.

You then tell the builders, who are submitting plans for the job, that you will be supplying the materials and sets of plans. In the past most would have passed on the job because the materials could not be marked up, but as I mentioned, in todays economy everyone is playing by a different set of rules and you can save yourself some money on construction costs, if you know how.

Also remember that you can do other aspects of the building work as well like painting or wiring the garage or perhaps even installing the garage door or at the very minimum, the garage door opener. These are quite doable jobs for the keen DIY enthusiast. All of these little things add up and your contractor usually has to hire outside subcontractors for each phase of construction.

Each sub gives the contractor his price and then the contractor adds a percentage to it before passing on the final estimate to you. Cutting out just two of these sub contractors and doing the work yourself can save you hundreds of dollars! Again though, you need a detailed set of garage building plans so you know what you can and cannot take on yourself.