Category Archives: shed building plans

Plans For Sheds – The Foundation For Success

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It might seem like stating the obvious but plans for sheds are needed when you have an idea of the shape, size and location of your planned shed. If you search on the Internet you will find there are plenty of shed plans to look at. The ones to look out for are those that are easy to understand, step by step plans for your shed.

So where do you start planning for your outdoor shed?

1. Have a look around your property with an eye to best locations. Choose one that best suits your situation.

2. It is better to build the shed on level ground, that is situated in open ground, and has good drainage and light. Wooden sheds will last several years if you do not subject them to the ravages of wind and water.

3. Decide what size of shed you want. 12×12 storage shed plans are a popular choice with DIYers, but you can build it any size you like. It is best to plan shed a little larger than you think you will need.

3. This is where you look at some shed plans, from a variety of sources, be it the internet or your local hardware store. I like to look at pictures as my starting point for a new shed plan. Looks and size are important. Make your choice of material at this stage as well. I prefer sheds made of wood.

4. Before you go any further, you can choose to buy a shed kit, if this will suit your needs. If you decide to build the shed yourself, then a set of step by step shed plans are needed.

5. Take you shed plans to the lumber yard to buy the correct size and type of wood that you need, plus any other tools and safety gear that you need if you are building the shed yourself. If you do not already own a corded or cordless driver drill, I would recommend you read my review of the Makita 10.8v LCT203W, or the Bosch 1590EVSK Jig saw.

6. Finally, it is crunch time, that is time to build the shed. All the preparation and planning is completed and you are ready to go. This is why sheds for plans are so important. The finished construction depends on how accurate these are. If is your first self build, why not ask a more experienced friend to help you. You can learn a lot from a knowledgeable and skilled led woodworker, or someone who does this for a living.

7. If all this sounds a bit daunting, there is a product which will walk you through all this, and you can learn more about this by clicking the link. If you choose to buy a shed kit then none of this applies to you. But if you decide to build your own shed then the right plans for sheds are important, and you are more likely to be satisfied with the end result.

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.

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.