Moms Garden Sheds

Archive for the ‘Building a Shed’ Category

As outdoor sheds become more attractive in design and materials, they are being used for multiple purposes. In fact, some people have stopped using their storage sheds for storage and instead taken to using them as recreation rooms and guest houses! Some have turned them into playhouses for children. Give your imagination free rein and see what you come up with. Do you want to teach classes in gardening? Why not buy a new “storage” shed just for that purpose? I would be cheaper than adding a room to your house.

First, be sure to check your local and neighborhood zoning laws before adding a shed to your property. If it is permitted, it’s time to choose your shed! Wooden sheds are the most expensive and highest maintenance, requiring periodic repainting and re-roofing. But they can be painted to match your house. Vinyl sheds are not the least expensive but, along with plastic, they are the most maintenance free. Vinyl is also the most durable of all the materials, but it cannot be painted. However, it can be made to look like anything from a barn to a clapboard-sided house to an igloo. After deciding on the type of material you want your shed to be made of, figure out how big you need for it to be, which will depend on what you are going to use it for, and then select the style.

Plastic shed kits are the least expensive and easiest to put together. The interlocking panels go together in a snap. Vinyl shed kits are also easy to put together but are more expensive. Wood shed kits may be the most difficult. Depending on your skills and the size of the shed and the design, you can find what you are looking for.

After spending the money and installing your shed, it would be disheartening to have to take it down because you didn’t call about the zoning laws. So don’t forget! Also, be sure you place your shed on a level site with good drainage and an appropriate foundation. If you don’t, the durability as well as stability of your shed may be compromised. Preparing the foundation may take a little more time than putting the shed together, in fact, but it will be worth it.

Many avid gardeners dream of having a garden shed for their tools. They think about how great it would be to have a special, safe, and convenient place to store their tools and keep them clean and organized. What gardener really wants to toss his tools in the garage with everything else?

If you are one of these gardeners, it’s time to expand your dream and find out how easy it is to make it come true. Today there are garden sheds that double as work areas. They even come with a work table for repotting plants or starting seeds. Imagine having a private space where you can work and plan and organize everything!

You don’t need carpentry skills, construction tools, or special knowledge to make your dream come true. All you have to do is buy a garden shed kit. Beautifully designed sheds are available in kits! Some popular designs are log cabins, barns, and saltboxes. You can choose from a variety of materials: vinyl, plastic, metal, and wood. When choosing the type of material, keep in mind that wood and metal require the most maintenance; plastic and vinyl require the least. A high-quality vinyl shed is especially durable.

Assembling a garden shed from a kit is easy, even if you are all (green) thumbs. Everything you need, except for a few common tools, is in the box. Snap it together and you’re done.

Oh, before you put your shed together, be sure you have a level spot with good drainage to put it on! You’ll need to have a level spot ready even if your kit comes with flooring and a sturdy base.

Garden shed kits are available online or at your local home and garden store.

When choosing a shed, it’s easy to overlook the importance of having the right size and type of door. First, think about how you are going to use your shed and what you want to store in it. If you have chosen one with a single door, and you’re going to be taking your router table, lawnmower, or shop vacuum in and out, make sure the opening is wide enough before you buy. Maybe a shed with double doors would be better. Double doors are especially practical for a large item like a boat.

It’s obvious that the opening to your shed has to be wide enough for you to bring in the items you want to store. The opening should also be high enough for you to walk through it without bumping your head. The area outside of your shed should be unobstructed so that you can open the door or doors all the way. If not, a sliding door might be a better option. One of the advantages of a sliding door is that it will stay open and not swing shut on you.

Many shed owners add style to their sheds by selecting specially designed doors or installing fancy hardware. You can buy wooden doors that look like old-fashioned barn doors. There are vinyl and plastic doors molded to look like wood or bead board. Hardware comes in a virtually endless variety of designs and materials. You can choose the latches, handles, and knobs that best express your style.

When thinking about doors, don’t forget another opening: windows. Depending on how you are going to be using your shed and what you are storing in it, you might want a window or windows. Do you need natural light? Ventilation? Are you going to be water coloring or sanding in your shed, or are you just going to store your gardening tools there? If you are going to be doing any work inside your shed, you might want extra light and ventilation. If not, you may prefer a shed with no windows, as it would provide greater security. It is easier for a thief to break in a widow than break down a tough door with a good lock.

If you’re building your shed yourself, be sure the door frame is perfectly square. If it’s off, the door will not hang correctly. If it’s made of wood, it can warp and stick in humid weather.

Whatever kind of door or doors you decide upon, be sure that you can lock them securely. Your goal is to have a safe place for your tools and the other items you want to store in your shed. And don’t forget to use your lock at the end of the day!

A good foundation is basic to any structure. The better the foundation, the more secure the structure. It’s not just the type and quality of a shed that determine its durability; foundation plays a part, too. First, your shed should be on a smooth, level site with proper drainage. This can be achieved by laying down a bed of gravel or a grid of pressure-treated two-by-fours. You can also use steel and plywood or pour concrete. Securing your shed to a level, solid foundation adds to its strength.

If you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, you’ll need an outdoor shed that can withstand heat, cold, wind, rain, and snow. You’ll want a shed that will keep your tools safe from the elements, not one that will leak or blow away during a bad storm. A tough shed is constructed of a good design, durable materials, and a firm foundation that keeps moisture out.

Take a close look at the shed you are thinking of buying. Does it look sturdy? Do the panels lock together with a tight fit, or are there cracks where water can seep through? Does the roof have seams? If so, are they watertight? If you live in a cold climate where it snows, a pitched roof can help keep snow from building up and causing your shed to topple over. A good foundation will also help stabilize and weatherproof your shed.

Also carefully consider what materials your shed is made of. Vinyl and plastic sheds are waterproof and strong, and they don’t rot or rust. Vinyl sheds are especially good at withstanding fire and lasting many years in severe weather conditions.

When you think “tool shed,” what comes to mind? The tool shed of yesteryear was a rusty, sagging, desolate-looking thing with a crooked door sitting on dirt in a patch of weeds. Who would want to store valuable tools in such a decrepit structure? Even the high-quality sheds of yesteryear had a bland or unattractive look about them and were better hidden behind the house and out of sight to the greatest extent possible.

Today’s tool shed is a different story. Tool sheds now come in many different styles, colors, sizes, designs, materials, and finishes. The freestanding tool shed that looks like a little house is the most common type. It can be easily adapted to match any style of house. You can shingle it in beach-house style or add gingerbread trim or gables for a Victorian look. Some sheds look like log cabins or mountain retreats, adding beauty to your yard.

The lean-to shed and other space-saving sheds are designed to nestle into the side of your house or garage. If wood or metal, they can be painted and trimmed to match your color scheme. Freestanding cabinet-type tool sheds can be moved, combined, and rearranged easily.

Appearance is important, but it’s not everything. What’s on the inside counts, too. When choosing a tool shed, look carefully inside to make sure it either has enough shelving already or that more shelving can be easily added if it’s needed. Will the shed be good for storing the kinds of tools you have? Is it high enough to store your tall tools upright and wide enough for your work bench? Will the flooring it comes with support the weight of your generator or riding mower, or do you need to lay a concrete foundation first? Last, is it the right size overall for your yard? It shouldn’t overwhelm your backyard or block your favorite view.

Your tool shed can be a lure to children, animals, and thieves. Children are attracted to sheds because they’re like clubhouses. They also tend to be very curious about what’s inside such structures. This is dangerous if you have hazardous materials in your shed such as pesticides, chemicals, antifreeze, turpentine, or gasoline. You may also have an electrical outlet or extension cord and power tools in your shed. What if you left a power tool plugged in and a child turned it on by accident, or out of curiosity to see what it does?

Raccoons and other animals go exploring every night to see what they can find to eat. If you keep birdseed, dog food, or garbage in your shed, you’re likely to attract a four-legged bandit. If you store valuable tools, you may well attract a two-legged bandit. Even if your shed is not far from the kitchen door, you may not hear someone creeping around your house after midnight to see if they can free you of your new lawnmower or router.

A sturdy lock on your shed is essential to protect your valuable equipment from thieves and to protect the children in your neighborhood from the consequences of their own curiosity. You should keep your shed locked whenever you’re not using it. If you used your shed during the day, check before you go in at night to make sure it’s locked.

In addition to a good lock, you can maximize security at night by installing a light on your shed. Predators don’t like light; they like to sneak around in the dark where they can’t be seen. You can have an electrician install an outlet or you can run an extension cord. A motion detector light or a light on a timer that turns on at dusk will run off all kinds of pests. Having a light on your shed will also be a plus if you need something from your shed after dark.

Building a tool shed requires skill and imagination. It may be the perfect project for you! Maybe as a kid you always wanted to build a tree house or a clubhouse in the backyard. As an adult, building a special place for your tools and “toys” can bring out the kid in you again. But before you bring out the hammer and saw, you’ll want to do some research and planning first.

To begin with, check your local building codes and zoning laws. You may need to get a building permit, even for a 5′ x 3′ plastic tool shed, much less for a structure 10′ x 17′ in size. If you build a shed and it’s not up to code, you’ll have to tear it down and start over. You also need to find out how far from the property line your shed has to be. Call a local official to advise you on “setback” requirements. In addition to city and state regulations, many neighborhoods or preservation societies also have rules regarding the size, design, and placement of detached structures.

Next, decide on the type of foundation you want. You might need to level the ground, or pour concrete. A solid floor is important if you will be storing heavy or expensive equipment that you want to keep dry. Good flooring will also strengthen your shed and add to its durability. The type of shed you choose will have a bearing on preparing your foundation. Some plastic models come with heavy duty raised floors that can sit right on the ground. Large or less durable wood or metal sheds may need a foundation of pressure-treated wood or concrete.

Before building a shed, think about what you are going to use it for. How big does it need to be? How much space do you have in your yard? How much money do you want to budget for it? Answering these questions will help you build the shed that meets your needs. After all the work you will put into it, you want to be happy with the finished product.

Are you thinking of building a shed for storing all those tools and other items you’ve collected? Are you tired of stumbling over them in the garage or hunting for them throughout the house? Are you frustrated with storing them in a damp basement where they rust? Do you like to do things yourself?

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you might be tempted to build your own tool shed. You might think that it would be less expensive to build it yourself than to buy one or to hire someone to build it for you. By building it yourself, you would also be sure to get just what you want. Wouldn’t you?

Well, maybe—if you’re a skilled, professional carpenter! If not, you might reconsider. It takes planning, time, and know-how to build something even as simple as a tool shed. You’d need to choose or design a plan, go out and buy the building materials, and do all the cutting and sawing and sanding and finishing. You might even have to buy a few new tools to do the job right. It could take weeks and would inevitably involve many unanticipated trips to the hardware store for odds and ends that were overlooked or forgotten the last time. There would always be just one more thing to buy.

Shed kits are an option designed just for the do-it-yourselfer. You can order a kit online or buy one at a home and garden store. You can choose from many different sizes, styles, and materials, from molded plastic models to wooden barn designs. All the pieces are premeasured and precut. You can put it together in an afternoon with only a few simple tools. Building your tool shed from a kit is a great way to get professional looking results. You can tell your friends you built it yourself, but you don’t have to tell them that it only took a couple of hours.

Because a vinyl shed can last for a lifetime, it’s especially important to choose the right one. Many home improvement and online stores sell vinyl sheds in a variety of colors, sizes, and styles. With the many styles available, you can find one to complement your home. But be sure to pick one you will want to live with for a long time!

What advantages does a vinyl tool shed offer that a wooden tool shed doesn’t? First, vinyl tool sheds generally come in easy-to-install kits. You can install most of them, from small lean-to’s to large structures, with minimal tools in a few hours. If you’re really pressed for time, you can have it constructed and installed or order it ready-made and delivered to your house.

Unlike wood or metal sheds, a vinyl shed won’t rust or rot. Its natural insulating properties keep tools dry and protected. Since it is waterproof and naturally insulating, it is weather tight and ideal for outdoor use. As for maintenance, a vinyl shed will never need to be painted, no more than the popular vinyl siding used in house construction. For a shed that’s simple to install, cost effective, and durable, a vinyl shed is a good choice.

To select the best shed for your yard, first identify the work you like to do. If you have a small flower bed or a few rows of tomatoes, a small shed will do. However, if you have a lot of landscaping and enjoy other projects, you might want to have a larger shed with room for bigger tools, a potting bench, or a cultivator.

Before you buy a shed, first check your city zoning laws and building regulations. Even a small plastic shed may require a permit before you can begin installation. A building code official can also advise you of where to place your shed and how close it can be to the property line. Many neighborhood associations or preservation societies have rules about erecting additional structures. If you live in a mobile home park or are part of a designed community, you will want to find out the placement and design requirements before making a purchase.