Posts Tagged ‘garden sheds’

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How To Make Simple Shelving For The Small Spaces In Your Wooden Shed

Friday, March 5th, 2010

If your wooden shed has exposed studs on the inside walls, you can fill in all those spaces in between the studs with shelves. This is a simple and very inexpensive storage solution for your shed. A lot of people who put up shelving in their sheds attach them to the front of the studs. This leaves a gap between the exterior siding and the back edge of the shelf. Here’s how you make the shelving (and its fully adjustable, as well):

The first step is to remove any existing shelving. By doing this, you will have room to work which will make the project go a lot quicker. Make sure you don’t throw anything away since you will be taking them down only temporarily. Now, attach lengths of shelf standards between two of the studs. Shelf standards are rolled metal that are available in brass, zinc, or coated with colored epoxy (such as white). There are horizontal slots cut into the strips every half inch for positioning.

Route out grooves for the tracks if you wish to have them flush with the surface of the studs. Otherwise, surface mount them by simply screwing them in. Install two tracks up the sides of each stud. Put them in about three to three and a half inches apart for added stability. To make sure your shelves will be level, the slots on each side should be the same distance from the floor.

Now you can take the support clips (four for each shelf) and insert them into the slots at the desired height for the shelf. Measure the distance between the tracks from one stud to the other. Now, cut 1×4s to this length for your shelves. Since the 1×4s match the width of the 3×4 studs, there will be no need to rip any boards down to size.

Now you can reattach your existing shelves right back where they were. Put in as many shelves as you want. They are perfect for all those small items you have laying around.

For more about wooden sheds and detailed drawings of this project, visit Don Roth’s web site: BestWoodenSheds.com

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Why Hire A Pro To Build A Wooden Shed When Its So Easy To Do Yourself?

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

In order to build your own wooden shed in your backyard, just what skills do you need? Well, this is certainly the perfect project to learn basic carpentry skills if you don’t consider yourself handy with tools. By far, the easiest way is to purchase a precut wooden shed kit. A precut kit comes with instructions and all the pieces necessary to simplify and speed up the process. And because all the pieces are already cut, assembly is as simple as laying the sections out flat on the ground and putting them together.

Since sheds are relatively small in size, making the foundation, setting the walls and adding the roof can all be done by yourself (if necessary). As an example, when you set the walls, simply nail on temporary braces to hold up the walls while you attach them to each other.

For the most part, you will only need basic tools to get the job done such as, a hammer, a drill, a level, a saw (even though kits are precut, it will still be necessary to make a few cuts) and a tape measure. You will use the tape to measure walls to make them square. This is done by measuring the distance of opposite corners (such as bottom left to top right). Then measure the other two corners. If square, the measurements will be the same.

Screwing all the boards together instead of hammering them with nails would be my recommendation. Its not only easier to screw together but its also makes the connections much stronger and if you mess up simply put the drill in reverse and back the screws out.

One of the most important tools you can use is a level. Usually, the longer the level is the better your results will be. But for this project, a 12-inch level should be fine. First, check to make sure the foundation is level horizontally. If not, you will have to add or subtract dirt or sand under the cinder block(s) that need adjusting. Check for level both ways – North/South and East/West.

When you start adding the walls, you will also need to check that the walls are level vertically (or plumb). Its really important to have all the walls plumb, level and square or you will have noticeable problems when you start assembling the roof.

Remember, building your shed should be fun as well as a great learning experience. The reward comes in knowing that you built it with your own two hands.

Dan Reiling has built garden sheds for over 20 years and consults other with how to build their own. Before you start building your own shed, make sure to visit his wooden shed web site for information on plans, materials and construction tips.

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Why Build Wooden Sheds For Your Backyard?

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Its obvious that wooden sheds are great for storing any small to medium sized object. But they can really be used for so much more than just storage. So, even though you can call them “sheds”, they can just as easily be used as a pool cabana, workshop, playhouse for the kids, artist studio, guesthouse, etc.

Converting your shed from a storage shed to, say, a garden shed, or some other purpose is fairly easy. You can even use a wooden shed for a couple of purposes at the same time, if done correctly. As an example, you could use your shed as a garden shed with a potting bench as a place to pot your plants and also to store any chemicals that should be stored away from the main house.

So, why build one? Besides their versatility and storage capabilities, wooden sheds are fun to build and they can be a great starter project if you aren’t that handy with tools. And, it should only require a weekend’s worth of time to complete.

Aside from WHAT the shed will be used for is WHY a wooden shed? Sheds made from wood may cost more than a metal or plastic shed, but the real value is the long-term satisfaction you get from having a shed made from natural materials. Not only are they more pleasing to the eye, you have more options from a shed that is custom built from a set of shed plans.

Metal or plastic sheds are not as easy to modify or add on to as it is to wooden sheds. And, if repairs are required, they are quicker and less expensive to make on a wooden shed. You’ll know what I mean if you have ever tried to fix a dented metal shed.

The best wood to use for sheds is cedar. Cedar contains oil that occurs naturally. This oil is what gives the wood its distinct aroma and also protects it from insects and rot.

Buying a wooden shed kit is another great option. Some kits already come with the walls pre-assembled so all you have to do is bolt them together. This makes it super fast to build a shed for your backyard – and super easy!

You’ll find more information and tips on construction and how to use garden sheds to their fullest potential at: BestWoodenSheds.com. Also included are shed plans, wooden shed kits, and more!

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Wooden Sheds Categorized A Different Way

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

The most common way to categorize wooden sheds is by the type of roof they have. For example, gambrel, salt box, lean-to, etc. Since it doesn’t really matter much which kind of roof your shed has, they can also be categorized by how you use them. Here is a list and descriptions of the five most popular uses for wooden sheds:

1. Storage Sheds

By far, the most basic shed is the storage shed. They consist of four walls, a roof, door, a floor and that’s about it. This is to keep out potential thieves. The floor can be made either out of wood on a frame or on a slab of poured concrete. Since space is usually at a premium in small storage sheds, its important to keep them well organized.

2. Garden Sheds

If your garden is some distance from your house, then a convenient garden shed may be for you. Its much easier to find your garden tools if you know exactly where they are which is the main purpose of a garden shed. You can also use it to store all your gardening supplies, pots, seeds, planting calendar, potting bench, etc.

3. Tool Shed

Is your wife tired of all your important tools piling up in the corner of your garage? A tool shed is one place to hold all your tools and should be secure like a storage shed. Just add a few cabinets, pegboards, shelves, a workbench, etc. You may even hear an end to the complaining, with the exception of, “are you out in the tool shed again?”

4. Converted Sheds

This is my personal favorite. Sheds are so easy to convert from one use to another. A converted shed can be used as a mini retreat if you add a few items like cozy furniture, a nice rug, etc. You could also change it into a pool cabana or an artist studio – the list goes on.

5. Playhouse For The Kids

As described in the paragraph above, you can convert an existing shed into a playhouse for the kids or you can build one from a kit (or scratch) for this specific purpose. When your kids are too big for the playhouse, simply convert it back.

There are several other types of sheds you can categorize by their use but this is a basic overview of the five most common. Hopefully you will see the need to build one of your own. You won’t be disappointed.

You can find a lot more on wooden garden sheds at BestWoodenSheds.com, the most comprehensive site on the web for wooden sheds. The site includes FREE shed plans, shed kits, a FREE ebook, and lots of information, tips and ideas for your own backyard shed.

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Tips For Choosing The Best Wooden Sheds

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

There are quite a few uses for wooden sheds, even though the most common are for storing such items as woodworking tools or gardening equipment. Some of these options are to use your shed as a playhouse for your kids, as a potting shed for your gardening, or simply as a mini-retreat. And, we could all use one of those.

As a building material, wood has many advantages over metal or plastic – especially if its made from a rot-resistant wood like cedar. You just can’t get the same comforting feeling you get from wood with metal or plastic. Wood also has the added benefit of being a better insulator during the winter months which helps protect you and the items stored in it.

Size is one of the first things you should think about when you are considering a wooden shed. Knowing what you are going to put in it will help you make this determination. Leave a little extra room to grow for some more items you may not even be thinking about now. Just don’t use the extra room to store junk you will probably never use in the future.

Height is another important aspect to consider when you are planning your wooden shed. You can always use the extra room up in the rafters to store items that you rarely use.

Some sheds come with more than one room, which is perfect for use as a retreat, pool cabana or playhouse for the kids. Its not necessary to have a multiple room wooden shed if you plan to only use it for storage.

The next important consideration is the type of floor you will have for your shed. Most shed kits that you can purchase online have a wooden floor option that you build on a frame. This allows you to move the shed once its built to other locations by simply sliding it.

A concrete slab can be poured for your shed just like a house is built. Of course, this is a much more permanent floor than a wood skid. When you are finished building the shed, you can cover the floor with wood, stain it, paint it, or leave it the way it is.

The design options available to you range in the thousands. The best part is, they come in various sizes. But for a fully customized wooden shed, you will need to start with a high quality set of plans. Allow at least one weekend and in no time, you’ll have yourself a new shed to be proud of in your backyard.

You’ll find more information on wooden sheds, shed plans and wooden shed kits, by visiting our web site: BestWoodenSheds.com. There are also plenty of tips on construction, organization, and how to get the most out of garden sheds.

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Precut Wooden Shed Kits – Is It Worth The Purchase?

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

There are quite a few considerations to be aware of if you are looking to build a wooden shed in your backyard. You might be asking yourself if its best to purchase a precut shed kit or is building one from scratch the way to go. Aside from costs, here are a few of the pros and cons of shed kits:

Pros

The time it takes to build a precut shed is one of the biggest advantages. It takes a fraction of the time to put one of these kits together as compared to building from scratch they come with all the materials and step-by-step instructions. You also don’t need to be able to read a blueprint. Since all the pieces are cut precisely, there’s no need to measure each board – another time saver.

Precut shed kits are a great option, especially if you feel that you don’t have the necessary skills to build from scratch. And, all you really need are a few basic tools. By having all the boards already precisely cut, its easier to make everything square and straight. Manufacturers engineer their shed kits with great care to make sure everything fits correctly. Another added benefit is safety since there is a lot less cutting involved and fewer steps.

Cons

These kits aren’t for everyone. As an example, handymen or woodworkers would probably rather build their shed from scratch. And, although there are quite a few plans to choose from, you might not find the exact plan you had in mind or desire. Building from scratch does allow unlimited possibilities. In this case, you may already have plans you intend to use. Make sure your plans include a materials list. This will help save you the headache when it comes to shopping for all the pieces.

As you can tell, there are plenty of advantages to building from a precut kit as opposed to building from scratch. Your choice comes down to your comfort level working with tools. But, even with a little experience, a shed kit can be a terrific way to start learning.

Find out more on wooden sheds, wooden sheds and shed plans by visiting BestWoodenSheds.com. You can also download a free eBook: Getting the Most Out of Your Shed. It contains over 100 tips to help you maximize your shed’s potential.

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How To Build A Wooden Shed In Just One Weekend

Monday, December 28th, 2009

So you have all of this stuff (like tools) that’s piling up in a corner of your garage. You cant get rid of it – its IMPORTANT! Its gotta go somewhere so a wooden shed is the perfect solution. Here’s a quick overview of how you do it in two days (lets assume you’ve picked up the materials you’ll need from the local supply store).

Day 1 – Floor and Frame

First things first – preparing the site. The site should be fairly level. However it is best to have a slight pitch downward towards the back for optimum water runoff. Next, get rid of any large rocks or debris. You want the foundation to be as smooth as possible. And, since this is only a 2-day project, you will have to make your shed with a wood floor, preferably skids, instead of a concrete floor. If you do want a concrete foundation, allow a few extra days to your plan to allow for drying. The advantages of building a wooden floor are its faster, cheaper, easier and more portable. Now use patio (or cinder) blocks for which to rest the frame of the floor. Make sure they are level.

Next, start working on the actual building. You need to cut the floor joists at equal lengths by using the first on as a template for the rest. For added strength, use deck screws instead of nails. Using a power drill makes construction go very quickly and is actually easier than hammering. Once you are finished framing the floor, check for square by measuring opposite diagonal corners. If square, the measurements will be the same. If they are off, push on one of the corners with the longer measurement towards the opposite corner until the measurements are equal. Now you can nail the plywood subfloor to the frame making sure to stagger them (similar to a brick pattern). This will prevent you from having four corners of four different pieces of plywood meeting in the middle of your floor causing a weak spot.

Start building the walls by using the same process used for building the frame for the floor. Frame any desired windows at this time. Use T1-11 plywood for the siding. It has vertical grooves cut into it which gives the appearance of tongue and groove siding. But since it comes in sheets, it has a huge time advantage over nailing individual boards. Now place a piece of T1-11 (outside facing up) on top of one of the wall frames. Make the wall frame square by using the same method used to make the floor. Start nailing the siding to the frame by working from one side to the other. Trim down the siding to the outside of the frame by using a router. Now that you have all the walls put together, attach them to the floor and temporarily brace them with 2×4s to hold them up until you have them firmly screwed together. Take your level and check the walls for plumb. They should be perfectly straight up and down. Now rest up for tomorrow.

Day 2 – Roof, Door and Trim

You’ll start today off by building the trusses. Simply follow the plans and assemble all the pieces of the first truss. Don’t nail this together yet. If the pieces all fit correctly together, take each piece and use as a template for each of the corresponding pieces of the remaining trusses. Now you can screw (or nail) the trusses together and attach them to the top of the shed walls. Next, cut and nail plywood sheets for the roof. Just like a house, for installing asphalt shingles, you will first have to put down tar paper (roofing felt). Make sure you start from the bottom and overlap each row going up. For the top ridge, use a couple of layers for strength. To apply the shingles, offset the seams and work from the bottom up like you did with the tar paper. For the ridge cap, cut down a length of shingle (they come in a line of three) into a single shingle and nail them along the top. Don’t forget to overlap these as well.

You should use a door on your shed that is prefabricated which will save you a huge amount of time since all you need to do is attach it with hinges. You will want to finish off the door with trim.

A few details have been omitted from this short article as it is simply intended to show you how possible and simple it is to build a wooden shed in only one weekend.

Find out more on wooden sheds, wooden sheds and shed plans by visiting BestWoodenSheds.com. You can also download a free eBook: Getting the Most Out of Your Shed. It contains over 100 tips to help you maximize your shed’s potential.

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New Garden Sheds

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about garden sheds? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about how to build a shed.

Garden sheds could be found in many gardens all over the country. They have become something more than just a place for storage, and are often used as offices and playrooms as well as summer houses. Garden sheds come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. Those interested in garden sheds have innumerable options from which to choose. Garden sheds are also being used as offices for people who work from home.

Garden sheds are now also used as play pen for young children. They can put as many toys as they want on the floor without irritating other adult occupants. Garden sheds have achieved mythical status as being the perfect place to return to, and it’s said that no two sheds are ever the same. If you don’t have a place to escape to in Blackburn perhaps it’s time you thought about investing in a garden shed. Garden sheds can also be subdued so they blend in with the architecture of your home and landscape.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about how to build a shed, keep reading.

Shed kits are also a much faster way to the end product. You simply find a size and style that works for your application, order it, have it built (or build it yourself), and you’re done – simple and easy. Shed kits are exceedingly easy to put together, and it should only take you a couple of days or so to set up a beautiful garden shed. Just cut out the parts and assemble them – if you make a mistake, you can just take a step back and try again.

Shed kits can be expensive, but it will be faster and easier to build. Building it yourself can save you money, but take into consideration if you will have the time and skills to build. Shed kits are manufactured in several sizes and styles to suit specific functions. They are usually made of aluminium, wood or wood composite. Shed kits can be bought in different materials. Although wood, especially pine, is traditional for a garden shed, when you build a shed yourself you may choose a metal or synthetic shed.

Online, there are many sites that offer backyard or outdoor shed plans. You can also get free plans, but that is very limited. Online shed plans are low priced and are available to download instantly. On any given day eBay will list a hundred or more shed plan auctions.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about how to build a shed.

Jeffery Cribb is the author of this article. GardenShedSearch.com offers useful information about the very latest garden sheds and can show you how to build a shed. You may reprint this article provided this paragraph and all hyperlinks are included

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Garden Sheds

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about garden sheds? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about how to build a shed.

Garden sheds could be found in many gardens all over the country. They have become something more than just a place for storage, and are often used as offices and playrooms as well as summer houses. Garden sheds come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. Those interested in garden sheds have innumerable options from which to choose. Garden sheds are also being used as offices for people who work from home.

Garden sheds are now also used as play pen for young children. They can put as many toys as they want on the floor without irritating other adult occupants. Garden sheds have achieved mythical status as being the perfect place to return to, and it’s said that no two sheds are ever the same. If you don’t have a place to escape to in Blackburn perhaps it’s time you thought about investing in a garden shed. Garden sheds can also be subdued so they blend in with the architecture of your home and landscape.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of how to build a shed, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Wooden sheds are versatile and very durable, and they will last for years with just a little maintenance. A periodic inspection, and an application of a coat of paint or stain each year, will more than protect your investment for many years to come. Wooden sheds can blend into the garden or stand out as an attractive addition to the garden. To protect the wood from the elements, termites, mould and damp, a good wood finisher is needed to prolong the life of the shed. Wooden sheds usually look the most natural in gardens. But they need to be treated regularly for better maintenance.

Plan your space well by putting it down on paper. Draw everything to scale. Planning and preparing the construction process is a highly important stage of any building. And building a garden shed is not an exception. Plans for building a storage shed can be downloaded from the internet. With step by step, easy to follow instructions, even a novice will building in no time.

Concrete or brick piers with bearers and joists on top to support the shed floor will be necessary. Levelling up your piers can be tricky, so unless you’ve used levelling equipment, you may want to call in a tradesman at this stage. Concrete slabs, and compacted gravel are some popular ones. Concrete slabs are probably the best because they don’t hold water and they tend to be the strongest.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about how to build a shed.

About the author: GardenShedSearch.com provides useful information about the latest garden sheds and free plans on how to build a shed. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this paragraph and the hyperlinks are kept unchanged.

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Garden Sheds And Storage Shed Kits

Monday, December 21st, 2009

The following article includes pertinent information on garden sheds that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

Garden sheds are traditionally used to stock garden and household utensils plus other household items, but many homeowners have found other purposes for it. It could be used as a workshop for crafting or construction work, since some activities can be quite messy and they are better finished outside the home. Garden sheds must be easy reachable from any part of the garden. And, secondly, but not less important, they should be well maintained. Garden sheds could be built of different materials. They may also differ in their shape and size.

Storage sheds can make a hell lot of discrepancy as it gives an extra look and make your outer space or the exterior look healthier. There are distinctive kinds of garden sheds, as it is seen that as individual disparity occur so there are a mixture of kinds of it and as per requirement you can use it. Garden sheds are also obtainable in different materials. The most standard material used for building garden sheds is wood, and wood can be expensive or reasonable, looking on which type you choose. Garden sheds could be found of different sizes on the market. But the most affordable are the simple plastic garden sheds.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on storage sheds now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

Shed kits are available in almost any style that you desire. Shed kits may have vinyl siding, wood siding, or metal siding. Shed kits are exceedingly easy to put together, and it should only take you a couple of days or so to set up a beautiful garden shed. Just cut out the parts and assemble them – if you make a mistake, you can just take a step back and try again. Shed kits contain all the parts needed to build your shed, some even come partially built with complete panels provided. No expensive woodworking tools are required, a basic toolbox is all that is needed.

Plan your space well by putting it down on paper. Draw everything to scale. Planning and preparing the constructing process is a highly important stage of any building. And building a garden shed is not an exception. Plans for building a storage shed can be downloaded from the internet. With step by step, easy to follow instructions, even a novice will building in no time.

Storage sheds come in a wide variety of sizes and styles and they are designed to give you more room and make your life a whole lot more organized. Storage sheds can be silent made fm. Storage sheds come in all shapes and sizes, which is why there are many different kinds of plans available for DIY storage sheds. You should look through all the plans available to find one that will compliment the exterior of your home. Storage sheds are pretty simple to build, but if you feel it is beyond your carpentry skills, consider hiring a local handyman.

Now that wasn’t hard at all, was it? And you’ve earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert’s word on storage sheds.

About the Writer: GardenShedSearch.com offers free information about the latest garden sheds and valuable tips on the best storage sheds. You have total permission to reprint this article provided this paragraph and the hyperlinks are kept unchanged.

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